If it wasn't for sparkly anthills, the famous Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia may never have been founded.
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The mine - in the Kimberley in the state's remote north - is set to close in 2020.
It's known for being the largest pink diamond producer in the world.
"The diamonds were discovered by prospectors noticing there were shiny things on top of the anthills," Hunter artist Sharon Davson said.
"Basically the ants rejected the diamonds because they were a bit too sharp to have in their homes."
Warren Atkinson, a member of the original exploration team, recounted the story in a book on the mine's history.
On October 2, 1979, Atkinson said he saw a small diamond embedded in an anthill.
"We saw several of those,'' he said.
Davson's latest artwork - displayed on valuable coins - features the story of the Argyle mine [including the ants] and some of her iconic imagery, such as jigsaw puzzle pieces.
She worked on the project, titled Unearthed, with Newcastle jeweller Craig Leonard to produce 288 silver coins trimmed in rose gold and set with four Argyle pink diamonds.
The coins will be sold for $7000 each - $2 million overall.
The first coin will be available for viewing from 10.30am to 11.30am on Thursday at Leonard's Jewellers in Newcastle.
Davson said the outback origin of Argyle diamonds were reflected in "every shade of the desert sunset, from cherry blossom pink, soft rose and alluring violet to dramatic red".
The Argyle mine has been responsible for more than 90 per cent of the world's pink diamond supply.
It's been operating since 1983. More than 800 million carats of rough diamonds have come from the mine.
The rarity of pink diamonds reflects Davson's art and makes them a target for investors.
Experts say the key is getting the right advice to select a diamond of sufficient beauty, rarity and size. The more vibrant in colour, the more valuable it is.
Davson has only completed 120 paintings in a 40-year art career.
And, yes, she is a fan of diamonds.
"One of the things about diamonds is they really hold their sparkle," she said.
"A well-cut, good quality diamond will sparkle through everything.
"Sometimes if you're feeling a bit down and you're wearing something that's beautiful, sparkles and has value, you can look at it and it does actually help maintain confidence."
Rail Line Lives On
How often does Google Maps actually update? Not all that often, apparently.
Newcastle Herald journalist Ian Kirkwood noticed that the heavy rail line was still firmly in place on Google Maps.
Considering the last of the rail was removed in December 2016, Google Maps is clearly dragging the chain on updates - at least in our corner of the world.
"Is it too much for a map showing the way we are, not the way we were?" Ian asks.
Topics did a quick check to see if the BHP steelworks or Pasminco smelter were on the map. And was that Joey Johns we could see running around at the stadium?
On the other hand, pro-heavy rail folks may well prefer Google Maps to stay just the way it is.
Chicken Memorial
Animal rights group PETA has called for a roadside memorial for chickens that died in a truck fire on an Adelaide motorway.
The planned tribute would feature an image of a chicken next to the words: "In memory of the chickens who suffered and died at this spot. Try vegan".
