New Zealand Gemstones

New Zealand has many beaches, rivers and forest areas that you can collect gemstones. In the rough they don't look much to the untrained eye. Wet stones are more interesting and easier to find as they have a polished look. 

Birdlings Flat in Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

A popular beach to go rock hounding. the photo above is what I collected the other day down at the beach.

Some polished agates, petrified wood and carnelians from Birdlings Flat. These have been tumbled in my stone tumbler and come out with a polished, shiny look.

Moss agate with dendrites found at Birdlings Flat - polished

Moss Agate found at the Rangitata River mouth. This stone has been cut in half and polished to perfection and the photo does not really do it justice.

Petrified wood from Birdlings Flat. 

Petrified wood is a fossil and takes millions of years to petrify.

 This is a rear find - a eye agate or circle agate, the colour in the photo is pretty acurate

Joon Agate from Tewai Point, Southland, New Zealand. This stone is cut and polished

Another Joon Agate from Tewai Point, cut and polished and a hole drilled through to make a pendant