New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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overdog		Posted : Monday, 27 June 2011 5:09:11 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)		OK.I cant work it out.Went for a recce today and found loads of old workings-you know the type-narrow corridors of same sized stacked rocks.All real old and mossy. My question is this-what the hell were they FOR?Cant be for water races, they used timber or cut into the rock for that. Any answers people? Lammerlaw? JW?

Lammerlaw		Posted : Monday, 27 June 2011 5:33:37 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)		overdog wrote: OK.I cant work it out.Went for a recce today and found loads of old workings-you know the type-narrow corridors of same sized stacked rocks.All real old and mossy. My question is this-what the hell were they FOR?Cant be for water races, they used timber or cut into the rock for that. Any answers people? Lammerlaw? JW? Tail races - in some instances they did do this just to channel water or they did it to make a tail race to wash the sludge down and trap the gold. Sometimes you will see some of these channels running parallel to each other and where they have done this they could have worked a paddock, so that they would firstly work along one of these channelled races then create another one just a bit over and parallel to work it and so on until the area was worked out. The dirt, dust and sludge would get carried along these races and at the head of the race they had sluice boxes to trap the gold. In some areas where there was much gold to be had and where it was worth their while doing it they made herringbone patterns to work all the ground more or less. It also effectively got the rocks stacked neatly out of the way so that instead of carting them off site altogether they stacked them. Although this was time consuming it was most practical as well as best effective use of their time. It served a double purpose more or less - a means of carrying the dirt away from the work face and sluice boxes and also a manner to effectively stack the stones while using the stones to create the tail races. I hope that sort of long winded explanation, which I might add I am not totally satisfied with gives you some idea of the purpose of the channels you speak of. The ones you saw do sound interesting and always worth exploring. The other day on my property I picked up, on top of one of these channels made by stacks of stones an intact tin matchbox marked 'Bell and Black - Trademark London' - It had survived scorching sun and blizzards sitting there for well over a hundred and more years I would think. Edited by user Monday, 27 June 2011 5:36:07 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

overdog		Posted : Monday, 27 June 2011 5:39:41 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)		So they were to direct the paydrt away from the sluice face into sluice boxes? Hmmm... could be worth swinging a coil over then? From my research into this area the workings date from 1860 or so... lots of history behind them!

kiwijw		Posted : Monday, 27 June 2011 5:45:17 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 92 times Was thanked: 658 time(s) in 324 post(s)		. Edited by user Saturday, 9 July 2011 2:49:39 AM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

overdog		Posted : Monday, 27 June 2011 6:03:07 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 JW- these werent herringbone.3 or 4 parallel with a steep bank(sluice face?) at one end and the other end dropping into the creek. Looked like this but really overgrown and about 6 inches of moss on the stones.

Lammerlaw		Posted : Monday, 27 June 2011 6:15:24 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)		overdog wrote: Hi JW- these werent herringbone.3 or 4 parallel with a steep bank(sluice face?) at one end and the other end dropping into the creek. Looked like this but really overgrown and about 6 inches of moss on the stones. The ones that John has illustrated are typical herringbone and these constitute a paddock which has been thoroughly worked - it also signifies that this area was probably well worthy of mining and if it wasnt for the politically correct climate of today and the 'historical' value of these workings I haver a funny idea that a bulldozer to strip the area clean down to bedrock might bring all sorts of surprises to light. Just because the tailraces and channels end at the head of the workings does not mean that the gold ran out, not by a long shot. I know a spot where a friend of mine took some gravel from a cliff face and panning it out got a couple of ounces of gold for his days panning and my son at the head of the workings has taken small nuggets out of the bank with my detector and we are certain that a great deal more must exist there. My son has just this moment walked in the door and asked me if we can go into the mountains goldmining tomorrow as he wants to take his gf's father up to my place - bugger it, I am inspired to go off for the day with the detector - I hate having to make corporate decisions! The spot you have found does sound very interesting - do some research into the history of the area and by all means have a good prospect around it... guaranteed that there will still be gold there - you just have to find it!

overdog		Posted : Monday, 27 June 2011 6:20:11 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)		pic... overdog attached the following image(s):

kiwijw		Posted : Monday, 27 June 2011 6:26:04 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 92 times Was thanked: 658 time(s) in 324 post(s)		. Edited by user Saturday, 9 July 2011 2:49:59 AM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

overdog		Posted : Monday, 27 June 2011 6:32:43 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)		As ever the elder statesmen (no offence intended!) of this forum have come through again.. Many thanks gentlemen. All fired up for the hour long bush bash to get back there now!

Lammerlaw		Posted : Monday, 27 June 2011 6:40:14 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)		I think that if the place you are referring to is the one the photos are of then I would be keeping it quiet and having a good go with a good detector - remember that just because the workings run out does not mean necessarily that the gold ran out - as I said my son is getting gold in the unworked bank at the end of workings and they are not as elaborate as the ones you show in the photos...is the weather going to be fine tomorrow - you are getting me inspired!

overdog		Posted : Monday, 27 June 2011 6:50:36 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)		Sadly not! That 1 is in Alaska I think-just using it to illustrate the general look of what I found but as I say with 6 inches of moss on the rocks and a LOT more ferns! Inspired myself! I might just jump in the truck drive up and wait for first light... :)

kiwijw		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2011 7:55:53 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 92 times Was thanked: 658 time(s) in 324 post(s)		. Edited by user Saturday, 9 July 2011 2:50:19 AM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

overdog		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2011 8:21:54 AM(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 JW.The ones I found were like the 4th pic down in your last post but a few more trees and ferns... looks like nobody has been there for a LONG time.I have conflicting evidence- I dont think this particular area was reworked during the Depression but I thought large scale sluicing wasnt used here til the 1900s?

termporary.lost		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2011 10:33:45 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 22/09/2010(UTC) Posts: 7 Location: termporary.lost Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 3 post(s)		Hay JW,,nice photo of around the pupu springs. Have you ever taken your Missis up the PUPU?? LOL

Lammerlaw		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2011 10:38:51 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)		OK so how the hell do you get photos onto the site like these ones? I have given up trying because I wouldnt know how and theres several dead computers testify to my patience with them!

oroplata		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2011 11:13:34 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,040 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 211 time(s) in 152 post(s)		That's a great photo. Do you have a higher res version? More old mining photos please!
		WWW

kiwijw		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2011 11:28:48 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 92 times Was thanked: 658 time(s) in 324 post(s)		. Edited by user Saturday, 9 July 2011 2:50:43 AM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

overdog		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2011 11:35:48 AM(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)		Bloody hell!I may have been misinformed! Thats fairly large scale! Any date for those?

kiwijw		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2011 2:11:24 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 92 times Was thanked: 658 time(s) in 324 post(s)		[. Edited by user Saturday, 9 July 2011 2:51:00 AM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

madsonicboating		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2011 4:19:37 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 21/03/2011(UTC) Posts: 674 Thanks: 187 times Was thanked: 157 time(s) in 127 post(s)		LOL taking the missus up the pupu!! JW those pics are bloody fantastic!! Man they show the scale of some of that operation its massive!!!!! Lammerlaw...i'm making a short vid for youtube to physically show you how to do these uploads...cos I wanna see what pics you are gonna share too!
		WWW

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