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North Otago River Levels!!

Goldie		Posted : Monday, 17 June 2013 11:02:24 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 14/04/2013(UTC) Posts: 3 Location: Oamaru Thanks: 24 times Was thanked: 6 time(s) in 3 post(s)		Wow some of the river levels around these parts are getting crazy. the wainakarua is ragging at 630 cumecs. kakanui is at 510 and best of all the shag is screaming along at 275. So anyone know what the shag is like for flood gold after a big flood?

Lammerlaw		Posted : Monday, 17 June 2013 12:29:49 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)		Even after a major flood gold will not be moved to any great degree whatsoever BUT there can be positives after floods - a 1 in a 100 years flood in 1981 in a river where there was quite a bit of fine gold never moved any large stuff but did move out of deep holes through turbulence all of the fine gold which settled just below the holes but never went any further - in a length of river about thirty foot below the hole I got several ounces of flour gold. A river might scour an unworked bank thus exposing new and unworked ground after a flood. A river might also scour the river bed so that an area which had for a hundred years and more been covered by a deep layer of gravel, rocks and boulders might be exposed to bed rock - after a major flood (the same one as mentioned in the first paragraph but a different river) we picked up nuggets of 1/4 ounce. 18dwt (27grams) and 3 ounce plus a bit or 98 grams The answer to your question is yes it is well worth looking! There are signs to look for however and if you can read those signs better still.

nafcd		Posted : Monday, 17 June 2013 1:54:24 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 276 Location: ashburton Thanks: 8 times Was thanked: 46 time(s) in 34 post(s)		just looked at the Maerewhenua . 1.5 cumecs on Saturday and close to 400 early today. dropping quickly though. I think that would be an impressive river in flood seeing as its so small bank to bank.

gingerbreadman		Posted : Monday, 17 June 2013 2:23:32 PM(UTC)
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 think it depends on the river iv got a couple of spots I was going to both completely different 1 was in a gorge and the other surrounded by flat paddocks which has big flows but because its not channelled the water just spreads out rocks do move but really just pea gravel you get new beaches here and there maybe some new bedrock exposed but its really only the very light stuff so very little gold gets moved as the gold sits amongst the big boulders which do not move. The gorge that has pretty big flows as well but because all the water is channelled in a small area it really gets things on the bottom going its not uncommon to find small nuggets washed up on beaches within the gorge after a flood.

Hunting Guide		Posted : Tuesday, 18 June 2013 8:53:59 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 29/05/2013(UTC) Posts: 13 Location: Timaru		This weekend could be a write off with the snow gonna be around too. Cant wait to get out there for a look.
		Member of NZ Professional Hunting Guides Assn , SCI NZ

Goldie		Posted : Wednesday, 19 June 2013 12:02:26 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 14/04/2013(UTC) Posts: 3 Location: Oamaru Thanks: 24 times Was thanked: 6 time(s) in 3 post(s)		Yep i'm guessing it could be a good week before we're able to get out for a play lol.

nafcd		Posted : Thursday, 20 June 2013 10:20:39 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 276 Location: ashburton Thanks: 8 times Was thanked: 46 time(s) in 34 post(s)		at least. probably a good dump of snow there now to.

richmanpoorman		Posted : Friday, 21 June 2013 9:26:53 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 4/06/2013(UTC) Posts: 4 Location: dunos Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 3 post(s)		Hi there all fellow prospectors I was planning to go up to the danseys pass camping ground early next week for a couple of days with my boy. whats the haps up that way? River flows look good on the ORC and Ecan websites. Does any body local have any info on back road conditions. I know that the bridge is out up past the camp. Many wanted to check out the old gold workings in the area and some of the fossil sites. Any feedback most welcome. Cheers Richmanpoorman.

nafcd		Posted : Friday, 21 June 2013 9:46:51 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 276 Location: ashburton Thanks: 8 times Was thanked: 46 time(s) in 34 post(s)		sorry cant really help but is the bridge that's out the one just a km or so above the motorcamp.

richmanpoorman		Posted : Friday, 21 June 2013 10:01:27 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 4/06/2013(UTC) Posts: 4 Location: dunos Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 3 post(s)		Hi nafcd yeah I think the bridge is not too far past the camp there may be ford there too which may be driveable. Oh well will just have to see how we go. Should be fun anyway! Cheers Richmanpoorman

nafcd		Posted : Friday, 21 June 2013 11:46:33 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 276 Location: ashburton Thanks: 8 times Was thanked: 46 time(s) in 34 post(s)		I see there are disused mining sites shown on the paydirt permit maps. last time I was there the roads were in good nick. sealed to a couple of k's past the camp then shingle. a workmate of mine went hunting there today but not sure exactly where in danseys. I guess roads cant be too bad if he considered going. I would imagine the shingle section would possibly be 4wd at the moment though. could give you an update monday night if that's not too late Edited by user Friday, 21 June 2013 11:54:42 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

richmanpoorman		Posted : Saturday, 22 June 2013 10:50:40 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 4/06/2013(UTC) Posts: 4 Location: dunos Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 3 post(s)		I b heading up danseys sunday morning, just going to wingit I guess. Thanks for your help. richmanpoorman

big miner		Posted : Monday, 24 June 2013 8:51:03 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 3/04/2013(UTC) Posts: 22 Location: Waimate NZ Thanks: 19 times Was thanked: 1 time(s) in 1 post(s)		Hi there am curious to know if anyone has checked out the old workings round livingstone and maerewhenua they have been on my hit list for a while
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nafcd		Posted : Friday, 28 June 2013 11:20:25 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 276 Location: ashburton Thanks: 8 times Was thanked: 46 time(s) in 34 post(s)		has anyone been to the area since the flood and snow. if so how did you go.

richmanpoorman		Posted : Tuesday, 2 July 2013 9:41:47 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 4/06/2013(UTC) Posts: 4 Location: dunos Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 3 post(s)		Hi all I was up that way last week stayed in the camping ground for three nights. Most of the roads were good but payed not to go to fast as there are some minor washouts which would be not good at speed. River levels were workable found ok flood gold at the camp and at the confluence of the north and south branch of the maerewhenua. Checked out the washed out bridge up further, what a mess! then found some of the bridge down below the camp ground! Grabbed a bucket of gravel from a sluiced face up near Livingstone and got some colour. The old gold fields are starting to get very over grown with sodding pine trees, down near awamoko stream the whole area will be a pine plantation, what a shame! happy hunting Richmanpoorman

big miner		Posted : Thursday, 4 July 2013 10:15:10 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 3/04/2013(UTC) Posts: 22 Location: Waimate NZ Thanks: 19 times Was thanked: 1 time(s) in 1 post(s)		Good to hear you had some luck up there. When you went to the old livingstone workings did you walk up stream and in to them or did you go in from the livingstone side and down one of the paper roads. yes the bloody pine trees are covering up the history.
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