Aluminium Oxide

[brickie in oz]

There is a mine called Triple Chance and its just west of Broken Hill in NSW Australia that has a great story to tell.
When first discovered after the rush to Broken Hill it had beryllium crystals 3 foot tall sticking out of the ground.
Beryl is also the gemstone Aqua Marine and much prized.
Apart from the beryl (Al02) it had garnet crystals the size of soccer balls.
My son and I visited Tripe Chance some years ago to fossick for some garnet crystals only to be told that the mine was closed to tourists and had been for some years even though it still appears in the tourist guide.
When I pointed out the fact that the mine was in the fossicker tourist brochure and that my son, then 14 so wanted to look that they let us in.
We picked up garnet crystals the size of eggs from the mine floor.
Going back in time, NASA put the word out that they wanted Alo2 for their ventures into space, "send all you can and we will pay you for it".

They thought they would get a few buckets full at most.
Triple Chance sent 3 shipping containers full of the stuff, NASA paid and all were happy.
Story has it that NASA are still to get through all the Al02 Triple Chance sent.

[david s]

"Apart from the beryllium (Al02)"
Interesting, however
Beryllium is a metal not Aluminium oxide. Perhaps the two materials were present in the ore.

[brickie in oz]

Sorry my blue, insert Beryl instead.

[brickie in oz]

Actually, I was right the first time.

Beryl: The mineral Beryl info & pictures (aquamarine, emerald)

Minerals | Beryl

[david s]

It's beryllium aluminium silicate not aluminium oxide.

[brickie in oz]

Ok, so the titles wrong? I couldnt get what you were on about as you seem to talk in riddles.

[david s]

Sorry, you had me confused. Your reference to Beryllium as being AlO2 ("Apart from the beryllium (Al02)" led me to believe that you thought Beryllium was Aluminium Oxide. I have no idea what Al02 is. (the formula for Aluminium oxide is Al2O3)