My Trials and Tribulations with the SDC 2300

[bjarvie]

Well I finally got away with my brand new second hand bastard SDC 2300.

Destination: Whipstick Forrest

Location (Refer to the treasure map)

Research sources, GEO Vic crossed with Douglas Stones Gold/Relic Map

Basically either side of Scottsman Rd & Old Toms Rd.

As this was my first time out with the machine plus using ear phones i stay with the settings advised from the previous owner.

Sensitivity on 2 Threshold set to 3

(Very curious to see how i go on the same grounds on my next visit when i jack up the sensitivity to being wound out the 4 - 5 )

Here is a quick snap of Old Toms Mine.

Here is where I finally pulled out the swag at 4 am after detecting through the night and what i woke up to ....

Few snaps of the water channels that run for K's all over the bush

Here are the finds for 9 hrs detecting.... no colour to show off this round... will hit the same spots again with dialed up sensitivity and see how that pans out...

 

[Wally69]

Lead shot and nails, seems the SDC is working a treat.

Now you just need to find where that yellow stuff is hiding.

Thanks for sharing the adventure with a few photos :Y:

 

[Northeast]

Myself and a few forum members have hit that Old Tom area 4 or 5 times. Never got anything big but it is there. Along with heeeeaaaaps of crap.

Curious, why did you call it the "bastard" SDC? I didn't find the gold but it was running ok otherwise?

 

[RM Outback]

Gotta agree I've only picked up tiny gold along scotchmans track in saying that I wouldn't have found it without the 2300 :Y:. Mines not a bastard it's a Beauty, you've got the settings right for a beginner your only problem is you didn't put the coil over gold from what you've shown. Keep at it and you will be rewarded try Heathcote, Rushworth, Whroo if travelling from Melbourne there all worth the travel I've been rewarded in all of these places.

 

[bjarvie]

Went out to Blackwood last night to test out my 4x4 in a old pajero we have done up with mud tyres/lift etc on club reg as the dedicated gold hunting machine.....

Managed to find the usual tonne of buckshot, tin and slugs but also unearthed my first Penny....

Anyone know what year it would be ? should i clean it up or would this destroy its value if its of any value at all? If its worth next to nothing ill clean her up for a sentimental first penny piece to live with my first nug...

Found this penny 1.5 foot deep in a old tailings pile in Blackwood....

I think its a King Edwards VII UK Penny i have no real idea? :/ Which would date it between 1902 - 1910..

 

[bjarvie]

after hunting around it turns out its a George VI Penny between 1944 to 1951

https://www.allcoinvalues.com/united-kingdom/king-george-vi-era-uk-penny-values.html

seem to be selling on fleabay for 15 - 30 dollars which means its getting cleaned to go on my shelf how could i part with my first old coin find for 15 bucks its a bloody subway foot long these days...

 

[LC76]

Your on the right track with the SDC, keep doing what you're doing and eventually you will find gold.
I don't bother too much with the Whipsticks these days, too much rubbish and too little gold.
Although I have found the occasional gram+ piece.
For example https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=391060#p391060

Also don't go to crazy cleaning the coin.. Don't scrub it just soak it and a bit of a rub with a bit of cloth.

 

[bjarvie]

Just got back from Whroo after camping for the night and have finally popped my cherry with the SDC

First thing was first after a long drive has a couple beers and fed the dog "Dosa"

I first started working some old diggings marked up from GeoVic and found my first little prickly nug just on dark running sensitivity on max and threshhold on 2 the signal was quiet faint but gave sweet noise and retrieved from around 4 inchs deep in the firmly packed tailings.

After decided to drive around whilst i could still see to find a remote track to make camp for the night and managed to find a large clearing down track which showed no sign of mining but just a tonne of lumber trying around and safe spot so i could see anyone coming to my camp... All through the night i could hear mini charges going off about 1 click away heading towards some old shallow workings, i dismissed it from being gun shots as they didn't sound like it and were spaced 20 - 30 mins apart but always from the same location and went till when i woke up around 5am maybe someone breaking up some ground for tomorrows digging?

The next day i set out to see if i could find some Grass trees to put me onto a mineralised dike so dismissed all known diggins on geovic and bloody you beauty i find three grass trees on the top of a hill whilst on foot at this point i think i was more excited about the bloody trees than the nug the night before.

Shot of the grass trees in question -

So ripped out the SDC and sure enough came across a Dike outcropping down one ridge and bang got a clump of mineralised quartz giving me a nice clear signal but with no gold on the surface ... after finding this I spiraled around this hill to see if i could pick anything else up but just come across buckshot and tin.... Ive taken this home with me the break up after getting some advice from you lot as to what i should be clubbing it...

At this point i thought id leave on a good note and just do some more exploring for grass trees and explore place around the area... Here a a few pics of the open cut Balaclava Gold Mine very which was very prosperous in its day...

Was a bloody good trip and finally got myself some gold to boot! :Y: ..... should have been there RM Outback thanks for the tips mate

 

[Northeast]

That first bit is a beauty bjarvie - well done.

Anxious to see what's in the lump of quartz too.

That shooting sound - possibly a gas gun that someone has forgotten to turn off. You didn't notice any orchards, etc out the way the noise was coming from? We have gas guns going off around us a fair bit during the day. Occasionally one gets left on.