New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

Help Please!,

Recently at a creek near Glenorchy that I had wanted to pan (or sluice, no motorised equipment use intended) I found a sign which said that the area was under an "active Mining Lease Permit Number..........". Is there some way I can track down the owner of the Mining Lease so I can try my luck in asking for permission to do some limited recreational panning. I had a quick look on the Web but this brought up a daunting array of sites and I thought that it might be easier to just ask an experienced prospector first.

thanks,

onegram

onegram:

you're at the right site.

from the main page look at the map section. this lets you see all the mining permits and to break them down into different types if needed, ie. those applied for and those approved, gold versus coal or stone permits etc.

i believe there are several new permits up glenorchy way. i remember seeing a dredge heading in that direction a while back.

a bit of a shame there is no rec are for the public up that way but i guess there is not enough visitors to justify it.

and with the high price of gold hardly a creek is left unpermitted these last couple of years. most aren't even worked. if you look at the permits there are a few husband and wife investors, family trusts, mystery companies etc.

it's a bit like prospectors. 2 groups. those that mine and those that dream of dollars. you can always tell a true prospector i reckon cos his gear is worn (actually used) and often hand built for his particular needs.

as an alternative you could try the large beach down at the shotover where the jetboats stop by the tunnel, down oxenbridge road. yet even here is apparently now under claim but i'm yet to see an signage stating so.

ironically i'd say this spot is one of the most used for amateur panners and sluicers around. often there are more people here than at arrowtown.

there's gold there but it's small and spread all over (flood gold).

how anyone would get permission from all those that would oppose (and put there hand up for money) i don't know.

also i can hardly see the shotover jet company allowing a large operation right next to it's own boating operation. not a good mix.

Thanks jafa, simon and crushit, your helpful advice has enabled me to find the leaseholder's name on the Crown Minerals site in short order. Now all I need to do is to figure out how to contact him but should be OK with that. Thanks also for hint about panning the Shotover. Tiny gold is no impediment, I'm used to that.

onegram