New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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Cleggie		Posted : Saturday, 24 March 2012 4:22:19 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 24/03/2012(UTC) Posts: 88 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 88 times Was thanked: 59 time(s) in 31 post(s)		Hi, My name is Ken Cleghorn and I live in Ch,Ch. I have become increasingly interested in fossicking for gold. My brother lives in Queenstown and showed me how easy it is to find some colour. I found this forum a while ago and have learnt lots from you guys here. I don't have any gold stories yet, but hope to in the future. I am just a hobbyist at the moment and am limited to the basics, gold pan and river sluice. I have a fulltime job here in Ch,Ch so my fossicking opportunities are somewhat limited unless I can find gold in the Avon...Hehehe.... Cheers, Ken.

mineforgold.co.nz		Posted : Saturday, 24 March 2012 7:52:02 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 299 Location: Nelson Thanks: 58 times Was thanked: 38 time(s) in 35 post(s)		Welcome to forum Ken. You might have to get a metal detector to find the gold along the Avon - I see the other boys doing ok down there with their metal detectors.
		Own: Lobo SuperTraq, Garrett ATPro, Minelab Excalibur
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chrischch		Posted : Saturday, 24 March 2012 10:22:50 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		Welcome! Another Cantabrian prospector.....we have so many and we are the only southern provence with no gold! How ironic!
		Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.

Cleggie		Posted : Saturday, 24 March 2012 11:36:45 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 24/03/2012(UTC) Posts: 88 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 88 times Was thanked: 59 time(s) in 31 post(s)		Originally Posted by: mineforgold.co.nz Welcome to forum Ken. You might have to get a metal detector to find the gold along the Avon - I see the other boys doing ok down there with their metal detectors. Thank you and yes, I have looked at maybe getting a detector. I have seen lots of interesting stuff turned up by peeps on this forum and it could also be a handy prospecting tool.

Cleggie		Posted : Saturday, 24 March 2012 11:42:19 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 24/03/2012(UTC) Posts: 88 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 88 times Was thanked: 59 time(s) in 31 post(s)		Originally Posted by: chrischch Welcome! Another Cantabrian prospector.....we have so many and we are the only southern provence with no gold! How ironic! Thanks, how true it's either a trip over to the Coast or head down to central Otago. If I can find enough gold to pay for the gas I'll be happy.

nzpoohbear40		Posted : Saturday, 24 March 2012 11:55:31 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/07/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,482 Location: Matura Thanks: 26 times Was thanked: 384 time(s) in 329 post(s)		Hi cleggie and wellcome to the forum..i to am in CHCH and find it hard to go hunt gold while working a 52 hour a week fulltime job...but i get out every night after work with the detector weather permitting. if you are maybe serious about geting a detector you are more than wellcome to come along with me on a few of my hunts..i help robert sell the fishers as he is a good friend and the fisher dealer here in new zealand... i keep a couple of the machines in stock here in CHCH incase there are ppl here that wants one....it saves on a bit of shipping.....if you are looking for a machine that is made for gold hunting but is a great all rounder with the 11DD coil then you wont go wrong with the goldbug...thats what i haveand to date have found 20 silver rings,2 silver braclets,2 silver necklaces and a 9ct gold ring...along with all the normal coins and that bottle i found the other day that i think is a perfume bottle..lol
		Chris - Fisher Dealer http://www.puiakisupply.co.nz/

keifus		Posted : Sunday, 25 March 2012 10:36:04 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 23/03/2012(UTC) Posts: 7 Location: south canterbury Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)		Hi you guys,just been looking at your discussion, i live in south canterbury and im eager to try looking with my goldbug 2 I have not had a look around our area yet,I will have to do some more research to have a fossick around some sites where some of our past generation had been meeting ect?? regards keifus

Cleggie		Posted : Sunday, 25 March 2012 11:20:51 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 24/03/2012(UTC) Posts: 88 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 88 times Was thanked: 59 time(s) in 31 post(s)		Originally Posted by: nzpoohbear40 Hi cleggie and wellcome to the forum..i to am in CHCH and find it hard to go hunt gold while working a 52 hour a week fulltime job...but i get out every night after work with the detector weather permitting. if you are maybe serious about geting a detector you are more than wellcome to come along with me on a few of my hunts..i help robert sell the fishers as he is a good friend and the fisher dealer here in new zealand... i keep a couple of the machines in stock here in CHCH incase there are ppl here that wants one....it saves on a bit of shipping.....if you are looking for a machine that is made for gold hunting but is a great all rounder with the 11DD coil then you wont go wrong with the goldbug...thats what i haveand to date have found 20 silver rings,2 silver braclets,2 silver necklaces and a 9ct gold ring...along with all the normal coins and that bottle i found the other day that i think is a perfume bottle..lol Hi PB, Yes, detectorising ChCh with someone with real experience would be a real bonus for me. The next question I have is, how much should I expect to pay for a goldbug? I have been to Skylab in Antigua st and they have Minelab detectors, quite pricey though, $2,347 for a Minelab Eureka Gold. They also had a Garrett Gold Stinger at around $1200-1400, (can't remember the exact cost). I know that you get what you pay for but would spending twice as much really be justifed? Anyway, thanks for your kind offer, I am thinking maybe after Easter would be good for me. Gives me some time to do some more research and think about where I want to go with this new hobby. Cheers, Ken

LepreSean		Posted : Monday, 26 March 2012 7:04:28 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 8/12/2011(UTC) Posts: 171 Location: Wherever I may roam Thanks: 187 times Was thanked: 130 time(s) in 78 post(s)		Originally Posted by: chrischch Welcome! Another Cantabrian prospector.....we have so many and we are the only southern provence with no gold! How ironic! The Canterbury Gold Field may be small but their is a spot......Known as the Wilberforce Reefs, tried to send link but seems not to want to do it, check on papers past ChCh press 3 april 1884 Edited by user Monday, 26 March 2012 7:11:27 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified
		auri sacra fames (accursed hunger for gold)

Metal Kiwi		Posted : Monday, 26 March 2012 7:27:38 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,210 Location: Auckland Thanks: 498 times Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)		Originally Posted by: LepreSean Originally Posted by: chrischch Welcome! Another Cantabrian prospector.....we have so many and we are the only southern provence with no gold! How ironic! The Canterbury Gold Field may be small but their is a spot......Known as the Wilberforce Reefs, tried to send link but seems not to want to do it, check on papers past ChCh press 3 april 1884 LOL It sure needs a lot of digging to get it - 25000ft!!! Any volunteers? Start Monday.
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crushit		Posted : Monday, 26 March 2012 9:04:06 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 24/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 31 Location: westport Thanks: 24 times Was thanked: 16 time(s) in 12 post(s)		I wouldnt write the wilberforce area off.Old geological survey maps show a number of reefs in this area spread over a lotof country.Reefs were found from moa creek to the browning passs. A lot of them were very close to glaciers and a lot might have happened there over the last 100 years. Some of the stone assayed from these reefs returned over ten ounces to the ton. Grave creek,specimen creek and a few others have reefs in them and may be worth a look if anyone ventured into the area.
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oroplata		Posted : Monday, 26 March 2012 11:58:16 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,040 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 211 time(s) in 152 post(s)		Someone's got an exploration permit over the entire area. #52328 They might allow some recreational panning?
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oroplata		Posted : Tuesday, 27 March 2012 12:15:45 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,040 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 211 time(s) in 152 post(s)		Some more... Papers Past: Star , Issue 5520, 19 January 1886, Page 3 http://www.oftc.org.nz/n..._view.aspx?articleid=129 http://www.doc.govt.nz/c...hurs-pass/urquharts-hut/ "The Ashburton County Council unemployment scheme sent local unemployed men to the Wilberforce to prospect for gold during the depression. Single men received 15 shillings ($1.50) per week and married men 30 shillings. All gold found by the men was to be pooled and shared equally. Income was supplemented by the kea bounty of 2 shillings and six pence (25 cents) per head. Urquharts Hut was built as a base for the prospecting operations and it was intended for use in future years. The best quartz sample assayed a mere 7 pennyweight 13 grains per ton and the whole scheme was abandoned." Also, some published material: GOING FOR GOLD-WILBERFORCE VALLEY RICHES Author:Howard Keene , pub.1995 , by The Dept. of Conservation 112 pages, well illustrated. 240mm x 185mm. B/w & col. photos, maps, bibliog., index. Should be available from the library.
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oroplata		Posted : Tuesday, 27 March 2012 12:22:47 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,040 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 211 time(s) in 152 post(s)		More interesting reading: http://www.nzpam.govt.nz...nces-1/351_poster_09.pdf
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Cleggie		Posted : Tuesday, 27 March 2012 8:51:23 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 24/03/2012(UTC) Posts: 88 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 88 times Was thanked: 59 time(s) in 31 post(s)		Thanks for the interesting info oroplata, it looks like wild country accessable only by 4x4, off the beaten path that's for sure. Not sure I will add this to my "must visit" fossicking spots, but still interesting and who knows, there maybe a hidden gold reef just waiting for a lucky prospector....

exkiwi123		Posted : Wednesday, 30 May 2012 9:12:33 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 27/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 50 Location: Urunga Was thanked: 9 time(s) in 7 post(s)		hi Cleeglie ex kiwi here i noticed you last name was Cleghorn do you have an uncle or a father that came from Dunedin that played soccer about 40 years ago in Dunedin cant remember if he played for Otago under 18 soccer team I came from Green Island just south of dunners Hope to hear from you soon Malcolm Mclean ex kiwi
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Cleggie		Posted : Thursday, 31 May 2012 6:40:06 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 24/03/2012(UTC) Posts: 88 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 88 times Was thanked: 59 time(s) in 31 post(s)		Hi Malcolm, nah... my Dad came from Orepuki and I grew up on a farm near Nightcaps. Not sure if we have any close ralies in Dunedin? Not a lot of us Cleggies around so he could be a long lost uncle or something....hehehehe.

kiwikeith		Posted : Thursday, 31 May 2012 6:48:09 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 28/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 648 Location: hector Thanks: 359 times Was thanked: 230 time(s) in 154 post(s)		hi ken welcome to the forum you may like to look us up if ever up my way cheers keith

Cleggie		Posted : Friday, 1 June 2012 7:00:55 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 24/03/2012(UTC) Posts: 88 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 88 times Was thanked: 59 time(s) in 31 post(s)		Originally Posted by: kiwikeith hi ken welcome to the forum you may like to look us up if ever up my way cheers keith Thanks Keith, I may take you up on that if you can point me at some good fossicking spots. I am building a high banker sluice so I can work some of the river terraces in central Otago this summer but I would be keen to give it a test run over on the Coast. I just brought a 3" 6.5hp petrol driven pump and am going to be busy fitting up all the plumbing to the sluice this weekend. How long this will take me I don't know as there is still a lot of work to do, fabricating brackets, fitting up some legs and setting the sluice angle. All good fun and just increases my desire to get out there and find some GOLD!!!

kiwikeith		Posted : Friday, 1 June 2012 10:15:49 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 28/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 648 Location: hector Thanks: 359 times Was thanked: 230 time(s) in 154 post(s)		hi ken i had a 2" high banker as my first dredge went really well i had adjustable legs so as you could alter the angle of the box depending 1 on terrain and 2 on the type of materials you were putting through (refer to a keen 2" high banker") i will see if i can dig up a photo for you cheers