Recent content by Hawkear

Unfortunately prospecting is not normally something that you can pay your way by finding enough gold to sell to buy better gear as you go. Probably the way to start is just get out there on your own and immerse yourself in say finding the best panning spots. A short cut maybe to to join a...

I wouldn’t be in a hurry to put it in a dolly pot just yet rather firstly check it out with a detector optimized for small gold as per grubstakes suggestion. If the specimen only contains a miniscule amount then probably not worth destroying a discussion piece. On the other hand sometimes...

Their indigenous name apparently more easily found than the rest of the their score.

Medium coil you find the spot and most of the stuff. Large coil you get the bigger deeper stuff. Small coil you vacuum up the carpet and behind the furniture.

Just adding to my comments about having a small coil to take advantage of the 5000’s improved small gold performance. Don’t go too small as you don’t want to be in competition with a 2300. An 8” to 9” round seems to be able to detect nuggets in that mid range depth below what a 2300 can detect...

For human reasons just about every detector operator feels they can improve on what Minelab have suggested with their factory settings. I would suggest start from there and practice on known targets to see what settings you can get away with. As you would no doubt be aware, identifying a target...

“No dog ever abandoned its master because he was too old or too sick.” Anon. Edited. Just realised there are two ways of interpreting this quote each equally meaningful.

That’s a great story Vegemite and a lesson for many. Be prepared to ask a few questions, do some research, then get out there and do it. Thanks for the follow up report which is especially pleasing for those that responded to your post.

I remember when TelecomAustralia used a mole plough to lay cables with a dozer running behind to smooth out the trench. In the golden triangle there always seemed to be a detectorist lurking a little bit further back with a then VLF machine. Don’t know whether they did any good but the only...

Yes, that’s another problem when you bring back muddy and wet coils to the car. Gina sewed up some elasticised protective coil covers to fit over over coils shower cap style whilst being used at any time to prevent mud and dirt being spread in the car. Probably could have made the openings a...

I now have a heap of coils with a range for my 5000 and now a number for my new 6000. Finding it a hassle storing and carrying these especially when on a prospecting trip. End up leaving behind some in the caravan under beds and those that are in the car usually with lower shafts attached seem...

Very sad news. Appreciated WalnLiz’s posts always seemed to give sound advice and knowledge. Gina and my condolences Liz.

Gem people call this Moonstone. Moonstone is a member of the feldspar family, a really broad family of minerals which are contained in Granites and of gem size in Pegmatites. Feldspars are aluminium silicates of Sodium, Potassium or Calcium. Other well known minerals in the Feldspar group are...

Was round at a friend's place for dinner the other night and he produced this magnificent flawless white egg sized example of a Catseye feldspar.

Many think panning is only for gold. Started my panning when a kid in suburban Melbourne in Gardiners Creek alongside the East Malvern golf links. Those days finding and reselling lost golf balls was the way to make a bit of pocket money. Bought myself a gold pan as was keen to see if the creek...