New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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mahutaman		Posted : Saturday, 6 July 2013 1:55:47 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 23/09/2012(UTC) Posts: 23 Location: christchurch Thanks: 31 times Was thanked: 12 time(s) in 9 post(s)		Hi there everyone. I have been a member for sometime now and have thoroughly enjoyed everyone’s discussions, story’s and tips. I think it is well overdue that I introduce myself! My name is Tane. I live in Christchurch with my wife and kids. I have always wanted to do some fossicking, but have never really been serious about it until late last year, when I had the offer from a mate to go to slab hut creek for a bit of a play. I built myself a little wooden sluice and off we went, knowing bugger all about what we were doing! The weather was shyte and but ended up getting in the river for 2 hours and scored about 20 small flecks of the good stuff! This was officially the day when the fever hit! My granddad was involved in the coal mining industry in Blackball back in his day, which makes the west coast special and memorable for me. Dad grew up there as a young lad. I remember a few exciting camping trips over to Greymouth and Reefton in the early 80’s with my old man, exploring the surrounding areas and walking all the dodgy DOC tracks nearby! My most memorable experience was hunting for relics and old bottles in the Waiuta ghost town. (A place I would be keen to go for a look around again in the near future) So must history everywhere you look. Every time I drive over to the coast I cant help but to stop and think, about how hard I must have been for the old timers to traverse the alps and preserver through the dense bush of the coast to get to there destinations. I have only been out a couple of times this year, but have done ok. Did a day trip to Goldsborough in Febuary, classified and ran about 8 buckets of material, got a little. Stayed in Greymouth about 6 weeks ago with my cousins and we took the little kids back to Goldsbourough for a couple of hours in the arvo. I spent my time digging out around a big arse rock and running that material, the little kids when up and down collecting moss of rocks and washing it in a big bucket. Beautiful afternoon in the sun ended up getting a bit more for the collection. I will try and post my pic of the winnings with this post. This does show that there is some gold in the public fossicking areas for those who want to catch the fever! My fever has taken control of me over the past 6 months or so. Not a day goes past when I don’t think about fossicking, escaping to the coast or refining my sluice box design. My work place is situated on the outskirts of Christchurch, where everyday I am teased by a full view of the snowy capped southern alps. I tell myself everyday, “I could be in Goldsborough by late morning, couple of hours sluicing and home by half 4, know one will ever know that I haven’t been to work!!!!!” Thank you all for the knowledge you have shared and hope to meet up with some of you when the weather gets a bit warmer. Maybe if I post more regularly I would not need to type a novel like this!! Happy hunting, fossicking and keep on dreaming!!! MahutaMan File Attachment(s): SAM_3294.JPG

nafcd		Posted : Saturday, 6 July 2013 2:15:26 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)		if your photo is from Goldsborough that's not a bad effort. my first trip there I got about that much over 2 days but nothing other than a couple of small flecks on the last two trips. well done.

mahutaman		Posted : Saturday, 6 July 2013 3:17:07 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 23/09/2012(UTC) Posts: 23 Location: christchurch Thanks: 31 times Was thanked: 12 time(s) in 9 post(s)		The bit on the right of the pic was from 2hrs of playing in Goldsborough. The rest was from a couple of hours at slab hut creek and about 6hrs at Goldsborough my other time. I would like to have a look a bit further up from where I was. From the car park I walked the track along the side of the creek until I got to the bridge. I went under it to my right and followed up a couple of hundred metres. That is as far as I have ventured. while I was there, I saw a french tourist walking up and coming back a couple of hours later. He just had a gold pan and a coal shovel and had found enough to cover the bottom of a little shantytown type vial. Anyone know how much further you can go up here before being out of the public area, as it is hard to tell on the map.? is there signs to let you know not to go past a certain point?

Foiled again		Posted : Saturday, 6 July 2013 4:12:55 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 10/04/2012(UTC) Posts: 861 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 459 times Was thanked: 251 time(s) in 192 post(s)		Hey mahutaman, Im from chch too and always think about when I can get to the coast for some fossicking! I had the occasional time over summer where I get a sun/mon off so blast over sun morn and come back mon night. I never get as much as I think I should from a full day shovelling. I get about as much as you do from 2 hrs from a whole days digging and bustin my guts haha. Oh well Ive only done about 3 trips so Ill get better at finding the stinkin stuff!!
		There's another to find and I'm gunna find it!

Goldie		Posted : Saturday, 6 July 2013 10:29:22 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)		Haha yup you'll got it pretty bad alrite!! aint it great lol

nafcd		Posted : Saturday, 6 July 2013 11:09:20 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)		Originally Posted by: mahutaman The bit on the right of the pic was from 2hrs of playing in Goldsborough. The rest was from a couple of hours at slab hut creek and about 6hrs at Goldsborough my other time. I would like to have a look a bit further up from where I was. From the car park I walked the track along the side of the creek until I got to the bridge. I went under it to my right and followed up a couple of hundred metres. That is as far as I have ventured. while I was there, I saw a french tourist walking up and coming back a couple of hours later. He just had a gold pan and a coal shovel and had found enough to cover the bottom of a little shantytown type vial. Anyone know how much further you can go up here before being out of the public area, as it is hard to tell on the map.? is there signs to let you know not to go past a certain point? I didn't get much from where you went on any trips but instead of going under bridge and right. go over bridge. there are various access points to the shamrock. I think the site goes up about 500m from the bridge. don't quote me on that though. Edited by user Saturday, 6 July 2013 11:16:43 PM(UTC) \| Reason: brainfade

garrymac		Posted : Sunday, 7 July 2013 1:01:18 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 3/03/2011(UTC) Posts: 84 Location: dunedin Thanks: 26 times Was thanked: 26 time(s) in 19 post(s)		Hi I have just got back afther a week up Maruia way, still a lot of snow on the hills and this morning the rivers were all up a lot of rain overnight yet it was sunny in nelson. All the rivers were mudy

mahutaman		Posted : Sunday, 7 July 2013 1:01:43 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 23/09/2012(UTC) Posts: 23 Location: christchurch Thanks: 31 times Was thanked: 12 time(s) in 9 post(s)		Originally Posted by: nafcd I didn't get much from where you went on any trips but instead of going under bridge and right. go over bridge. there are various access points to the shamrock. I think the site goes up about 500m from the bridge. don't quote me on that though. Thanks man, will give it a go next time I am out there.

JohnA		Posted : Sunday, 7 July 2013 9:46:04 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 14/11/2012(UTC) Posts: 21 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 1 times Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)		Hi Mahutaman My name is John. I am also from CHCH. Also getting very keen. I have a reasonable detector and pan and other bits for fossicking. Now I just need to get out and try it. Keen to just have a go somewhere where it does not take too long to get to.. a day trip from chch to just "wet the appetite" Does the forum ever organise trips for newbys to help show them the ropes so to speak? Anyway - seems you are into it! Well done and hope to meet sometime! John

nafcd		Posted : Sunday, 7 July 2013 2:09:58 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)		not hard to learn the basics. I spent a bit of time on youtube then headed to Goldsborough. first time I was lucky enough to meet a local there who showed me a few tips but youtube certainly shows the basics. definitely still learning myself but a great way to spend a day. just a pity the sites are so far away.