- Joined
- May 4, 2021
- Messages
- 25
- Reaction score
- 264
Hi all
Have only been gold detecting for a few months now. I few of my friends at the rifle/pistol range have been detecting for many years (mainly around the Kilkivan and Clermont areas). I grew up on a central Qld cattle property and as kids used to love going fossicking for thunder eggs, old bottles and artifacts around the local region. Always said I would go back there when retired and do some gold fossicking around old regional gold mining areas. Now I am retired I have gained access to a few properties that the owners either knew me or my family's property from the younger days (they don't let anyone else on their property because there was too much trouble).
I bought myself a SDC2300 on recommendation from friends and because I couldn't afford anything more expensive.
I just sleep in my car on their remote properties (no power, no through roads, or phone reception) and take enough canned/cold food and water for the week. The area is very mountainous with steep rocky gullies.
First trip after 2 1/2 days of digging up scrap metal, bullets etc. I found small a 0.8g nugget, then a bigger 14.3g one slightly deeper in the same hole. Certainly boosted my morale
The gold is very rough and looks like coral texture (there is no option to post a photo in this thread). I have been told that is because it is very close to the original reef source.
Next trip (up to that same patch on a steep hillside) I covered that area more thoroughly and found a further 45gms (a few 6g bits, a few 4g bits and the rest various sizes under that).
On the next trip back and found nothing on the neighbouring property. On my return to the 'good patch' I found a few more bits in different spots then a 23.8g specimen in quarts on a different slope. After doing the 'in water specific gravity' weighing and calculating method, it estimated that there was 14.9gms of gold in it.
Still learning as I go but so far have done a lot of homework, watching videos, reading forums and using my gut instincts. Would like to eventually go over that good patch with the like of a GPZ7000 or GPX5000, 6000, 4500 that could locate gold deeper that my SDC2300 can. I'm sure it's there deeper.
The owners have told me not to tell others I am on their property and not reveal where I find gold (if any). I can appreciate why, as they would have a truckload of people trespassing or bugging them to get access. They know I am off a cattle property myself and honour the ways of the land and the people that live there. I guess it does indeed mean in a lot of cases who you know goes a long way. I and my family were know in the local area for being honest and having integrity, so I guess that is paying off.
I'm looking forward to getting more tips, advice and ideas from the more experienced people in this community forum.
Cheers,
Crocket
Have only been gold detecting for a few months now. I few of my friends at the rifle/pistol range have been detecting for many years (mainly around the Kilkivan and Clermont areas). I grew up on a central Qld cattle property and as kids used to love going fossicking for thunder eggs, old bottles and artifacts around the local region. Always said I would go back there when retired and do some gold fossicking around old regional gold mining areas. Now I am retired I have gained access to a few properties that the owners either knew me or my family's property from the younger days (they don't let anyone else on their property because there was too much trouble).
I bought myself a SDC2300 on recommendation from friends and because I couldn't afford anything more expensive.
I just sleep in my car on their remote properties (no power, no through roads, or phone reception) and take enough canned/cold food and water for the week. The area is very mountainous with steep rocky gullies.
First trip after 2 1/2 days of digging up scrap metal, bullets etc. I found small a 0.8g nugget, then a bigger 14.3g one slightly deeper in the same hole. Certainly boosted my morale
The gold is very rough and looks like coral texture (there is no option to post a photo in this thread). I have been told that is because it is very close to the original reef source.Next trip (up to that same patch on a steep hillside) I covered that area more thoroughly and found a further 45gms (a few 6g bits, a few 4g bits and the rest various sizes under that).
On the next trip back and found nothing on the neighbouring property. On my return to the 'good patch' I found a few more bits in different spots then a 23.8g specimen in quarts on a different slope. After doing the 'in water specific gravity' weighing and calculating method, it estimated that there was 14.9gms of gold in it.
Still learning as I go but so far have done a lot of homework, watching videos, reading forums and using my gut instincts. Would like to eventually go over that good patch with the like of a GPZ7000 or GPX5000, 6000, 4500 that could locate gold deeper that my SDC2300 can. I'm sure it's there deeper.
The owners have told me not to tell others I am on their property and not reveal where I find gold (if any). I can appreciate why, as they would have a truckload of people trespassing or bugging them to get access. They know I am off a cattle property myself and honour the ways of the land and the people that live there. I guess it does indeed mean in a lot of cases who you know goes a long way. I and my family were know in the local area for being honest and having integrity, so I guess that is paying off.
I'm looking forward to getting more tips, advice and ideas from the more experienced people in this community forum.
Cheers,
Crocket
