MJB
matt
A short while ago a read in a copy of GG&T of one fellas finds with gold in the Western reaches of Victoria. The area he mentioned was north of Casterton and up to Balmoral with a few places in between. Being a lot closer to home than the more famous goldfields I naturally set out to try and find some of the gold he mentioned. Several months ago myself and Kman went out to Mathers creek near Pigeon ponds and spent the day panning and sampling. We found a very wide, slow moving creek that was quite shallow. On the steep sides and banks sloping down to the creek we found one gully that to me looked like it had been Hydraulically sluiced and you could see the decomposed granite at the bottom. I took plenty of samples and panned them but had nothing to show for our efforts. There are old goldmines here but are on private property so as yet we have not been there.
Another spot mentioned is Steep bank Rivulet heading East from the little town of Dergholm. It was mentioned that gold can be panned here in small quantities. I went there today with the kids and with plenty of water still flowing, set up the mini sluice and shovelled for a while. The clean up at the end showed very little but some black sand and nothing else. The spot had exposed layers of ancient wash and I sampled from all these still with no return. With most of this land locked up with private property its difficult to get access along this stream with very steep sides.
So after a few fruitless attempts I have just about called it quits on finding any decent gold this (west) side of the Grampians and from now on I will focus my efforts on Ararat and Beaufort also.
Has any one else had any luck or even heard of any stories of gold in this western region of Vic?
Cheers
Another spot mentioned is Steep bank Rivulet heading East from the little town of Dergholm. It was mentioned that gold can be panned here in small quantities. I went there today with the kids and with plenty of water still flowing, set up the mini sluice and shovelled for a while. The clean up at the end showed very little but some black sand and nothing else. The spot had exposed layers of ancient wash and I sampled from all these still with no return. With most of this land locked up with private property its difficult to get access along this stream with very steep sides.
So after a few fruitless attempts I have just about called it quits on finding any decent gold this (west) side of the Grampians and from now on I will focus my efforts on Ararat and Beaufort also.
Has any one else had any luck or even heard of any stories of gold in this western region of Vic?
Cheers