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.

6 Pages«<3 456 >

Back up in Blenheim

rgmcbrid		Posted : Monday, 4 March 2013 10:55:05 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 3/06/2010(UTC) Posts: 583 Location: Southland Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 180 time(s) in 140 post(s)		Matt, I have a small hunk of Rhodonite from Southland. It is a very obvious pink and black when broken, but I think that it would be hard to spot as there is a brown crust on what was the outside.
		WWW

Lammerlaw		Posted : Monday, 4 March 2013 11:12:25 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		Originally Posted by: 1864hatter The road goes right to the smelter although I think ordinarily the public leave their vehicles at the roadend. From there on its private land. Takes an hour to the smelter and another hour to the mines proper, although there are 2 locations with several tunnels at both. Has David been out after the gold much? Do you know much abouth Rhodonite, i know you can find it up the Wakamarina but am unsure what it actually look like. Hi MAtt I dont think I can describe it well enough for you to be able to recognize it by description alone so i took a photo for you - behind the two pieces of Rhodonite are the two best pieces of Native Copper from the Champion mine area that I have but sadly never found them myself. As Robert said the Rhodontie can be black and pink when broken and also have a brown or black crust as Robert describes. Can tend to be a ittkle heavier than many of the rocks it could be found amongst - the piece I found in the Skippers was black on the outside and I am not even sure why I broke it in half as it didnt seem out of the ordinary and I was surprised to find it was Rhodonite. Lammerlaw attached the following image(s):

1864hatter		Posted : Tuesday, 5 March 2013 9:00:57 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Thanks for that guys, I hav e recently found a rock the size of my fist with a crusty orange brown coating on outside and when I broke i it was darkish pink with black bands and, as you note Graham, is noticably heavier than "ordinary" rocks. Will thake it ti rocka nd mineral club this week.
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

Metal Kiwi		Posted : Tuesday, 5 March 2013 9:07:55 AM(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: Lammerlaw Originally Posted by: 1864hatter The road goes right to the smelter although I think ordinarily the public leave their vehicles at the roadend. From there on its private land. Takes an hour to the smelter and another hour to the mines proper, although there are 2 locations with several tunnels at both. Has David been out after the gold much? Do you know much abouth Rhodonite, i know you can find it up the Wakamarina but am unsure what it actually look like. Hi MAtt I dont think I can describe it well enough for you to be able to recognize it by description alone so i took a photo for you - behind the two pieces of Rhodonite are the two best pieces of Native Copper from the Champion mine area that I have but sadly never found them myself. As Robert said the Rhodontie can be black and pink when broken and also have a brown or black crust as Robert describes. Can tend to be a ittkle heavier than many of the rocks it could be found amongst - the piece I found in the Skippers was black on the outside and I am not even sure why I broke it in half as it didnt seem out of the ordinary and I was surprised to find it was Rhodonite. Lammerlaw I enjoy the teasers you sometimes put in the background of your photo's. ie the stone adz's in this case. :-) Probably just as well I don't live in the south island as I think there would be just too many interesting bits of rock to pick up and take home. MK
		WWW BLOG

rgmcbrid		Posted : Tuesday, 5 March 2013 11:00:20 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 3/06/2010(UTC) Posts: 583 Location: Southland Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 180 time(s) in 140 post(s)		man matt you find some nice gold there man,keep up the posts...
		WWW

Lammerlaw		Posted : Tuesday, 5 March 2013 11:11:19 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		Matt - the Interesting irony is that I have just opened an email from the Otago Rock and Mineral Club and they are going tot he Akatore Rhodonite site this weekend - and I wont be there - always had a soft spot for Rhodonite. Metal Kiwi - the grass is always greener over the fence buddy - I am jealous of - finding cannonballs somewhere near North Head where the old sailing vessels discharged any loaded cannon before coming into port or firing a salute - North head fortifications and secretly pillaging, Coromandel down the track, Maori Pas (oops did I say that) Russel and Kerikeri and what must surely be the oldest European things to find in Kiwiland, potential mudlarking around Freemans bay for bottles and bygones, exploring Cape Reinga, looking for bits of the Osprey wreck and so on...if you are in Dunedin then look me up. I take most of my photos when I go to reply and do it at night so in my hobby room hence the background items. The last photo you refer to was taken two minutes before I posted it and hence in the hobby room - I collect Maori artifacts as well - My collectors registration is one of the first number 28 - I think they are up to about 7500 now! I think I would rather take a few years from my age and add a higher number to the card.

overdog		Posted : Tuesday, 5 March 2013 4:43:54 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 2/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 418 Location: nelson Thanks: 69 times Was thanked: 82 time(s) in 68 post(s)		Hi Matt-steep and difficult to work? Creek name wouldnt start with D H would it?Had a bit of luck near where it enters the main river but its bloody hard going and like you say not easy to work. Ron came into work last week-hes been doing well on the claim. I have a lump of native copper somewhere-found it with a detector up the Maitai river near Nelson.Always meant to deal to it with a hammer to see whats inside... Edited by user Tuesday, 5 March 2013 4:46:14 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

1864hatter		Posted : Tuesday, 5 March 2013 4:48:48 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Overdog nah the creek was cullen creek, may as well name it as I wont be returning to it. WOuldnt smash the copper its worth more as it is!!
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

1864hatter		Posted : Friday, 8 March 2013 1:17:57 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Well I managed to get out for yet another trip, it involved two half days and a full day. Although on the full day I spent 3 hours entertaining some German and Italian tourists that had shown up with my parents, showing them how to pan etc. Majority of this gold was found from sniping in particular one 1.5m long crevice. Rest was detected. Also detected another half gram in 4 bits which I gave to the tourists as a souvenir (they watched me dig them up). oh and its 10.2g in the photo Edited by user Friday, 8 March 2013 1:19:48 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified 1864hatter attached the following image(s):
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

Metal Kiwi		Posted : Friday, 8 March 2013 1:44:58 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)		Hmmm... now 10.2 x $............ per gram = $ .......... Fill in the gaps. Damm good result I reckon. :-) MK
		WWW BLOG

1864hatter		Posted : Friday, 15 March 2013 8:20:05 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		More gold, 11 grams this time. Took 20 hours over three days to get this lot. It came from a different area to my usual stuff. Can see the gold is all flat All of this lot was found with my sluice box. 1864hatter attached the following image(s):
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

1864hatter		Posted : Wednesday, 20 March 2013 6:03:00 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Well, I found some gold on hillside workings in a tunnel about 100m above the river. Thats the gold above the lighter in the photo.The gold in the tunnel was stuck in crevices in the bedrock. The other gold was found in the main river. Was quite an interesting couple of days, discovered lots of old workings and a couple of old miners tracks. this gold was detected. 1864hatter attached the following image(s):
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

Metal Kiwi		Posted : Wednesday, 20 March 2013 6:25:25 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)		Gee were you actually digging in the tunnel? That's pretty brave on your own. :-) I enjoy your posts and .... Well done. MK
		WWW BLOG

x-terra steve		Posted : Wednesday, 20 March 2013 6:50:05 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 7/04/2010(UTC) Posts: 224 Location: Nelson NZ Thanks: 103 times Was thanked: 69 time(s) in 42 post(s)		Hi Hatter, hell you are doin well!!!!! keep up the posts and please leave some for me!

1864hatter		Posted : Wednesday, 20 March 2013 7:36:18 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Haha righto steve I will leave all the ones that are too big to carry out for you!! And yeah Metal Kiwi I was digging in the tunnel, its in perfect conditions after 150 years and I expect it will still be so in another 150. Well apart from me having made a mess of it.
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

kiwikeith		Posted : Thursday, 21 March 2013 6:39:46 AM(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 there hatter you are doing really well love your posts ive dug in tunnels before and always got some colour around woods creek track behind greymouth i must go back sometime with the detector last time it was scraping the top of the parpa and putting it in a 20lt bucket walking bent over to the ctreek and panning it out that was in the days when a single colour in the pan was of great excitement will be heading back up that creek in the buller where we met last year will have permision to go in the area so if you want to go for a walk give me a pm wont be for about 6 weeks cheers

1864hatter		Posted : Thursday, 21 March 2013 9:21:19 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		keith- remind me closer to the time and I will let you know if i can come. I dont know wht I will be doing that far away. But I'd be keen.
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

1864hatter		Posted : Monday, 25 March 2013 1:25:09 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		hey guys, I went away into teh bush with a couple of mates for the weekend and I came back with 5 grams, not the best trip ever (gold wise) but had a good time sitting around in the evenings over a couple of cold ones. The gold was the same sort as in post #91. Cheers
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

1864hatter		Posted : Wednesday, 27 March 2013 2:16:49 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Firstly is a picture of a healthy sluice box before a clean up on the last trip. Secondly I crawled my way back up through the bush to the tunnels I discovered last week and had a go at creating a bit of an extension in it. Previously I got my gold mostly out of one crevice in this tunnel and i decided that i needed to follow it into the tunnel side. The tunnel is cut into a very old river terrace and the material is a bit like concrete that isnt quite fully hard yet. After about an hour of work and only a hole of maybe 40cm i got a faint signal with the detector that got better as I dug into the side more. Eventually 3 nuggets for 2 grams popped out one was 1.2 grams. Another 20 cm further in i got another signal that again was 3 pieces but for 3 grams this time. I have included 2 pictures of the gold below, one is before cleaning and as can be seen the gold is almost completely black. The second is after cleaning which i did by shaking the hell out of the gold in a plastic container with a bit of water and sand in it. Weight after cleaning was 4.8g. Biggest bit is 1.8g. 1864hatter attached the following image(s):
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

1864hatter		Posted : Tuesday, 2 April 2013 6:47:32 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Well I went back to the tunnel where i got the 11ish grams. I chased the crevice which had yielded the gold for another (had dug in about 50cm to get the last 5 grams) 3.5m and got a big fat ZERO!!! Me and the bro spent a whole day in there put a few props up etc. dug the tunnel and were absolutely buggered at the end of the day, did i mention covered in mud from head to foot. Aparrently thats the way with gold mining! Today we spent a bit of time exploring about the place and found some old terrace workings well above the river and I scored a 0.75g piece and a 0.07g flake with the detector. The newly discovered workings are worth a bit of a closer look, maybe a bit of hard work. So all in all I suppose it was just one of those trips.
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

6 Pages«<3 456 >