Paydirt.co.nz

New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

 

The forum has moved to community.paydirt.co.nz, see you there!

This forum is now an archive to preserve the knowledge and finds posted here.

Winter Mining in the South
simon  
Posted : Saturday, 30 June 2012 5:33:26 PM(UTC)
simon

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/01/2011(UTC)
Posts: 789
Man
Location: Central Otago

Thanks: 33 times
Was thanked: 239 time(s) in 150 post(s)
I thought i'd start a new thread in regards to winter. and mining of course.

I went out to the Shotover River (where the jetboats run).

was a nice sunny day and not too cold if you kept moving.

got out there bout 12:30pm. the 4wd track up the riverbank to the tunnel was mostly negotiable. had to move a few rocks.

i re set up a wing dam just below the tunnel. the jetboats only just got operating bout 1pm. there was a lot of ice floating down as all the banks were ice. got hit by a few bits. hard to see they floating in.

got a wee bit but i would hardly give up my day job for that location. always gold to be found there thou. flood gold. fine stuff.

the river there is under claim these days. they will prob allow you there with hand tools if you ask first.

was the one day i didn't have my camera.
Back to top
WWW
gavin  
Posted : Saturday, 30 June 2012 5:44:21 PM(UTC)
gavin

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Administrators, Registered
Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,326
Location: Christchurch

Thanks: 736 times
Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)
Sounds bloody cold! Chomping at the bit to get out there again myself but think I'll wait till it's a little warmer before playing in the streams again!

I'm a light weight ok ;)
Back to top
WWW
simon  
Posted : Saturday, 30 June 2012 6:10:23 PM(UTC)
simon

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/01/2011(UTC)
Posts: 789
Man
Location: Central Otago

Thanks: 33 times
Was thanked: 239 time(s) in 150 post(s)
gavin:

there's always somewhere to go around here!

trouble was the frosts are getting serious so i had to stick to the river bed as the banks were solid. you need the running water to melt the frozen edges. was planning on digging a big hole but wasn't too keen on taking the pick to the ground. it's not so bad once you have a hole going in the bank as the sides aren't so affected by the frosts and you can more easily break thru to something loose.
Back to top
WWW
simon  
Posted : Saturday, 30 June 2012 6:58:53 PM(UTC)
simon

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/01/2011(UTC)
Posts: 789
Man
Location: Central Otago

Thanks: 33 times
Was thanked: 239 time(s) in 150 post(s)
just brought my gloves, bootees, boots and gold in from the back porch. already frozen solid. going to be a cold night.
Back to top
WWW
chrischch  
Posted : Saturday, 30 June 2012 7:49:31 PM(UTC)
chrischch

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)
I would soooo love to live in Central Otago. Best countryside around. I envy you Simon. :)
Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.
Back to top
gingerbreadman  
Posted : Saturday, 30 June 2012 7:50:48 PM(UTC)
gingerbreadman

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC)
Posts: 473
Location: south of the black stump

Thanks: 34 times
Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)
I called in to see me cobber today camped up in the wildnerness in his van i think i got there around 10,ish and yep he was still tucked up in bed dont blame him the sun wasnt even in the valley and his water and milk that was beside him was frozen....didnt worry the old mountian man though he wipped up some jam on toast and a cupa for the boys (that turned up empty handed...no deer:( and shortly after was on his way into it brrr...not for me to dam cold i went home!!
Back to top
LepreSean  
Posted : Saturday, 30 June 2012 7:55:06 PM(UTC)
LepreSean

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/12/2011(UTC)
Posts: 171
Man
New Zealand
Location: Wherever I may roam

Thanks: 187 times
Was thanked: 130 time(s) in 78 post(s)
Sure is cold Simon, a mate and I went for our annual mid winter mission last weekend. There was a beautiful lightening show to the west viewed from the old Bendigo school site on the friday night, and sat night at Kyeburn, rain cleared , snap froze the tent solid, my mate could not undo the tent fly and had to crawl out under it. The metal gold pan was very useful to get the fire started and to protect the sausages from the rain
auri sacra fames (accursed hunger for gold)
Back to top