Happy hunting, rock hounds

Press, 24 February 1987, Page 8

Happy hunting, rock hounds

There must be few of us who have not picked up and treasured for a while an unusual or colourful stone, especially in childhood when we are so much closer to the earth. For many people it is the beginning of an absorbing lifetime interest with immense scope readily available wherever we may live.

In her introduction to a Canterbury Museum publication, “Beneath our Feet,” Margaret Bradshaw, the museum’s senior custodian and geologist, writes “Almost every corner of Canterbury has something to offer geologically ...” which means that rock hounds — the term usually applied to collectors ol stones — have not far to go to find a happy hunting ground. Formed by age-long processes, every rock and stone has played its part in the development of our planet and has its story to tell for those who wish to know. Sediments have become mudstones, sandstones and conglomerates; enormous pressures have produced the more crystalline forms; plants and animals have contributed to the existence of coal and limestone and great heat and volcanic action have resulted in a vast series of igneous rocks — all are grist to the mill of the enthusiastic rock-hound.

Rock hunting goes on all over the world, and has been popular in New Zealand now for about 25 years. Enthusiasts are well catered for by 35 clubs, a national association, a quarterly magazine, and at least 15 shops throughout the country.

In Christchurch we are fortunate in having a rock shop run by a very knowledgeable, pioneer rock-hound, Hettie Sawyers-Wells. Born in Indonesia on her father’s rubber plantation, Hettie eventually settled in New Zealand. She attended her first official geology lessons in 1954 at the University of Canterbury and continued her interest through membership of a Workers’ Educational Association, Field Club, Lapidary Club, and Geological Society and now makes her wide knowledge freely available too all who visit Hettie’s Rock Shop at 110 Birdwood Avenue.

Another enthusiast, Natalie Ferendez, in her book “The New Zealand Rockhound” published in 1981, writes "In ’66, when we had sold our farm and decided to be gypsies for a year, we started our wanderings in the South Island. We were advised to see Hettle ...”

In seeking information for local collectors, I followed her example and visited Hettie at her amazing little Rock Shop, so full that it is difficult to know where to start looking. Fortunately Hettle’s enthusiasm is so great that a decision is not necessary as she points out treasure after treasure, often reminiscing about its origin and recent history. I think she may sometimes be a rather reluctant seller though she may perhaps be interested in exchanging. Our illustrations show the packed interior of Hettie’s Rock Shop and two of the many unusual and extremely interesting pieces to be found there. One is a “Trilobite,” a fossil of Cambrian age, which means that the little creature fossilised lived about 550 million years ago. The lovely piece of Arahura River greenstone was carved by a Christchurch artist, Kelvyn Anderson, and I doubt if Hettle could be persuaded to part with it. People collect rocks and stones for as many different reasons as they do anything else and most are catered for at Hettie’s. Those who can afford rare and expensive specimens not usually available to most of us outside a museum, may find what they are looking for here, but others who like to make small pieces of jewellery from local stones are also served.

There are large selections of variously coloured and shaped small stones both in their natural state or already tumble polished, and a variety of bits and pieces of almost everything of interest to a young or not-so-young collector. If you have a mystical interest in these pieces of the earth's history and share Hettie’s belief in the healing power of some of her pieces there is something for you too.

Since the beginning of human history people have used stones for healing. Some were ground up and taken Internally, with dire results in some cases, we would think today but perhaps the faith of the patient prevailed or some mineral content really had an efflcaceous effect Hettie has written some pamphlets on the subject in which she outlines some of the beneficial properties believed to be possessed by the various stones. Agates are said to be beneficial to the stomach areas when upset while a person wearing a Cornelian will be protected from a falling.roof during an earthquake. A good stone for wearing in New Zealand perhaps! I was also shown a copy of an article printed in 1983 in the publication “Australian Gem and Treasure Hunter” which dealt at length with the healing powers of quartz crystals. These are believed to have the ability to purify water though as I am not a great consumer of undiluted water I have not yet had an opportunity to test its efficacy. . . ••• < It is claimed that holding a crystal over a glass of water 9l will eliminate any impurities. tj

Ip addition to the geological Interest of the Canterbury area local collectors, and those thinking of taking up rock hunting, have another great advantage readily available for study in the magnificent displays in the Antarctic and Geology Halls of the Canterbury Museum.

Founded by Julius von Haast, himself a geologist, the museum has consistently maintained a high standard in this department. Recently, some generous benefactors have made it financially possible to purchase remarkable collections both from within New Zealand and from abroad.

There are unusually large quartz crystals from Arkansas; a large tribolite, and what must surely be one of the best displays of fossil crabs to be found anywhere. If you have not visited the museum lately make a point of going soon.