Fossick MapDo you need a licence?
It depends on where you are.
| Where | What you need |
|---|---|
| One of the 11 declared fossicking areas | No licence |
| Anywhere else | A prospecting licence. Fossicking outside the declared areas without one is illegal |
A prospecting licence is issued for up to 5 years. A group licence covers up to 20 people, which suits clubs and schools. Apply at a Service Tasmania shop or with the application form. Fees are in the Mineral Resources Tasmania fee schedule.
The 11 fossicking areas
Coal Hill, Colebrook Hill, Gladstone Hill, Killiecrankie Bay, Lord Brassey Mine, Lune River, Magnet Mine, Penguin, Tunnel Marsh, Weld River and Weymouth. Mineral Resources Tasmania has a page and map for each. An area can sometimes sit inside an exploration licence, so check the area’s page before you go.
In the fossicking areas
- Hand fossicking only. No powered or mechanised equipment, and no explosives.
- No metal detectors.
- Dig no deeper than 2 m.
- Take no more than 10 kg of stones and rocks in any 48 hours, and only your fair share.
- Fill in your diggings before you leave.
- What you can carry out by hand is yours, but you can’t collect for sale.
With a prospecting licence
- Hand tools only, and you can dig to just under 2 m.
- Metal detectors are allowed anywhere you’re allowed to prospect.
- The licence is for recreation or education, not commercial collecting.
- You need permission from the owner for private land, and from the holder for a mining lease or exploration licence. National parks and reserves outside the fossicking areas need a separate permit.
Rules everywhere
- Leave heritage alone. Don’t damage or remove Aboriginal artefacts or historic relics, mining relics included.
- Keep vehicles on formed tracks.
- No fires without the land manager’s permission.
- No big digs into stream banks.
- Report big finds. Material too heavy to carry by hand must be reported to the Director of Mines. A meteorite must go to the Tasmanian Museum.