New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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The Lyell Fossicking Area

Cleggie		Posted : Monday, 10 February 2014 7:25:28 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 Guys, I made a journey up to the Lyell on Friday was planning to stay the weekend there but got totally bambozzeled trying to find gold. Big piles of gravel reminded me of the Waimakariri river. Spent 3 hours feeding my sluice and found just 2 colors in my clean up. So for me this was a total bust. I was shoveling gravel out of the stream bed in an area in sight of the tunnel under the main road. So my question is, where is the gold? Any info would be most welcome. I ended up going down to Goldsborough, a place that is a happy hunting ground for me... just finished weighing up the results... 0.73 grams, not my best return, but I'll take it. Anyway, if there are some folk that are kind enough to give us a clue as to how to tackle the Lyell I'm sure it would help not just me but and others that may be thinking of giving it a go. Cheers, Ken.

gavin		Posted : Monday, 10 February 2014 7:37:09 PM(UTC)
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)		I visited Lyell a good few years back now and didn't find much either. I think you really need to find spots anywhere you go that has bedrock showing or not too deep down so the gold can't sink any further.
		WWW

nafcd		Posted : Monday, 10 February 2014 8:41:31 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)		was that you set up by the bridge cleggie

1864hatter		Posted : Tuesday, 11 February 2014 6:13:22 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)		Despite its rich gold history I have also had a hard time finding gold up there. Its been very well thrashed I suspect as its always had good access to it.
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

jimmy bedrock		Posted : Tuesday, 11 February 2014 12:56:00 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/01/2013(UTC) Posts: 339 Thanks: 242 times Was thanked: 179 time(s) in 104 post(s)		I had the same..ran about 5 buckets threw my sluice and got maybe 2 specs then did some rubbish collecting with my MD. the cemetery was cool tho. jimmy bedrock attached the following image(s):

Cleggie		Posted : Tuesday, 11 February 2014 4:47:17 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: gavin I visited Lyell a good few years back now and didn't find much either. I think you really need to find spots anywhere you go that has bedrock showing or not too deep down so the gold can't sink any further. Ah, yes... get to the bed rock. I did try poking around a piece of bed rock but come up empty. And yes nafcd, that was me trying to sluice and fight of sandflies at the same time...hehehe. I saw the graveyard and thought it might be worth a look to get a sense of the history of the place... thanks for posting the pics Jimmy. Thank for the replies guys, I guess I will save myself any further grief and a 4 hour trip for nothing and stick to where I know I can find gold. Edited by user Tuesday, 11 February 2014 4:50:58 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

bittenbythebug		Posted : Tuesday, 11 February 2014 10:00:16 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 27/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 56 Location: Wellington Thanks: 22 times Was thanked: 20 time(s) in 12 post(s)		What are the water levels like in the rivers down that way?

gjj109		Posted : Tuesday, 11 February 2014 10:39:30 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 14/03/2011(UTC) Posts: 464 Location: Thames Thanks: 217 times Was thanked: 194 time(s) in 115 post(s)		A few years ago I met 3 Czechs who had come to NZ to have a fossicking holiday. On their first day up the Lyell, they dug up a nugget, just over an ounce, just downstream from the stamper battery. They spent another 5 days there and got bugger all else. You could find patches of good colour further upstream (when you could get down to the creek and it wasn't in flood) but I understand it is all claimed now, and those little black buggers can certainly be thick on some days.

nafcd		Posted : Wednesday, 12 February 2014 10:20:35 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: bittenbythebug What are the water levels like in the rivers down that way? shamrock was pretty low last weekend. not really enough to run my sluicebox well. might be better now with a bit of rain.

nafcd		Posted : Wednesday, 12 February 2014 10:23:38 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 have met my first paydirt member then cleggie. I had a brief talk to you when I was crossing the bridge going to pan the shamrock..

Cleggie		Posted : Thursday, 13 February 2014 4:39:08 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: nafcd I have met my first paydirt member then cleggie. I had a brief talk to you when I was crossing the bridge going to pan the shamrock.. Ah... by the bridge at Goldsborough, yep I had dug a sizable hole over the two days I spent there. The one thing I do like is the sandflies don't seem to be a problem and you can just work the gravel and run the sluice. Working by the bridge you get to talk with a lot of different people passing by, I always like to have a bit of a natter and offer friendly advise.