Post by 1halfgram4three on Aug 23, 2012 22:21:06 GMT 10
THE KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL PROSPECTING ARE OBSERVATION & KNOWLEDGE.
Step 1. INFORMATION and MAPS ON GOLDFIELDS.
A. There are books on nearly every goldfield.
B. Mining reports. On CD Rom
C. Mining records. On CD Rom
D. Old goldfield maps. (1/4 Sheets, Parish Plans.)
E. Geological maps. On CD Rom.
F. Modern maps, (1/25000 Topographic etc.)
Step 2. HAVE A PLAN. Know about the following
A. Pick a specific area to work.
B. What to expect before you get there.
C. E.G. Gullies and which direction they run.
D. Hills and the position of reefs in the area.
E. Old gold workings nearby?
F. Richness of the area (coarse gold, nugget reports etc.)
G. Never think all the gold has been found !
Step 3. WHEN YOU GET THERE.
A. Leave your detector in the car.
B. Walk over a fair sized area for 20 minutes.
C. Look for the better spots to detect.
D. See where there is a good chance of getting gold.
E. Don’t waste your time on unproductive ground.
Step 4. GUIDES and INDICATIONS.
A. Use the signs the old timers left to guide you.
B. Old diggings in gullies and side feeders.
C. Surfacing on slopes.
D. Old leads dug on the sides of hills.
E. Reef diggings etc.
F. Use modern signs from the last 25 years.
G. Lots of old detector holes in a small area.
H. Old raked spots, Blazes on trees.
I. Markers tied in bushes and trees.
Step 5A. OTHER INDICATIONS.
When you know there is a rich worked reef, or a line of reef above you on the hill or slope:
A. Look for indications of gravel flows and gutters under the soils.
B. See this is made up of compacted water worn quartz, ironstones and country rock.
C. Look in the side banks of graded tracks, roads and drains.
D. Check any holes formed from upturned or rotted stumps.
E. The sides of old unfilled detector holes, animal scrapes etc.
F. Build up of gravels at the base of large trees.
5 B. TREES, SHRUBS and GRASSES.
They can be used as a good guide to gold areas:
A. Find out what types grow on the gold bearing ground in your goldfield.
Step 6. REEFS and MAPS.
Prospect along rich reef lines by:
A. Locating reefs or outcrops on mining maps firstly, etc.
B. Work out the general trend of the reefs in your particular goldfield.
C. See how many degrees off magnetic north they run, (most are towards the west,
sometimes to the East)
D. Use a compass or GPS in the field to keep on this line.
Step7. DETECTING HILLS and SLOPES
A. Avoid detecting on steep hills and slopes.
B. Stay on gentle inclines where possible.
C. Work the lower regions near the drop off line.
D. Always zig and zag to cover more ground.
E. Look for gravels as you go and work these.
F. Try further up the slope after working the drop off, as there may be a more recent
shedding in a localized area near to it’s primary source.
G. Cover all possibilities before you move to the next area.
SUMMARY you need information.
• Use maps to plan your trip.
• Know the layout of the land before you go.
• Have a plan and stick to it.
• Walk and observe before you start, use every indication you can see.
• Put yourself on better ground and know how to detect it to your greatest advantage.
• Observation and knowledge is the key to leading you to gold when prospecting.
Step 1. INFORMATION and MAPS ON GOLDFIELDS.
A. There are books on nearly every goldfield.
B. Mining reports. On CD Rom
C. Mining records. On CD Rom
D. Old goldfield maps. (1/4 Sheets, Parish Plans.)
E. Geological maps. On CD Rom.
F. Modern maps, (1/25000 Topographic etc.)
Step 2. HAVE A PLAN. Know about the following
A. Pick a specific area to work.
B. What to expect before you get there.
C. E.G. Gullies and which direction they run.
D. Hills and the position of reefs in the area.
E. Old gold workings nearby?
F. Richness of the area (coarse gold, nugget reports etc.)
G. Never think all the gold has been found !
Step 3. WHEN YOU GET THERE.
A. Leave your detector in the car.
B. Walk over a fair sized area for 20 minutes.
C. Look for the better spots to detect.
D. See where there is a good chance of getting gold.
E. Don’t waste your time on unproductive ground.
Step 4. GUIDES and INDICATIONS.
A. Use the signs the old timers left to guide you.
B. Old diggings in gullies and side feeders.
C. Surfacing on slopes.
D. Old leads dug on the sides of hills.
E. Reef diggings etc.
F. Use modern signs from the last 25 years.
G. Lots of old detector holes in a small area.
H. Old raked spots, Blazes on trees.
I. Markers tied in bushes and trees.
Step 5A. OTHER INDICATIONS.
When you know there is a rich worked reef, or a line of reef above you on the hill or slope:
A. Look for indications of gravel flows and gutters under the soils.
B. See this is made up of compacted water worn quartz, ironstones and country rock.
C. Look in the side banks of graded tracks, roads and drains.
D. Check any holes formed from upturned or rotted stumps.
E. The sides of old unfilled detector holes, animal scrapes etc.
F. Build up of gravels at the base of large trees.
5 B. TREES, SHRUBS and GRASSES.
They can be used as a good guide to gold areas:
A. Find out what types grow on the gold bearing ground in your goldfield.
Step 6. REEFS and MAPS.
Prospect along rich reef lines by:
A. Locating reefs or outcrops on mining maps firstly, etc.
B. Work out the general trend of the reefs in your particular goldfield.
C. See how many degrees off magnetic north they run, (most are towards the west,
sometimes to the East)
D. Use a compass or GPS in the field to keep on this line.
Step7. DETECTING HILLS and SLOPES
A. Avoid detecting on steep hills and slopes.
B. Stay on gentle inclines where possible.
C. Work the lower regions near the drop off line.
D. Always zig and zag to cover more ground.
E. Look for gravels as you go and work these.
F. Try further up the slope after working the drop off, as there may be a more recent
shedding in a localized area near to it’s primary source.
G. Cover all possibilities before you move to the next area.
SUMMARY you need information.
• Use maps to plan your trip.
• Know the layout of the land before you go.
• Have a plan and stick to it.
• Walk and observe before you start, use every indication you can see.
• Put yourself on better ground and know how to detect it to your greatest advantage.
• Observation and knowledge is the key to leading you to gold when prospecting.