New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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kiwikeith		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2011 4:22:58 PM(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 to everyone just joined to see what goes on..... about me ..... I have my own claim where I operate a 5" suction dredge. been gold mining as a hobbie for over 30 years so have gained alittle knowledge (little been the operative word)my wife and I try to get to the claim every 2nd weekend over summer bit cold in the water in winter. so thats me, lets see what happens

gavin		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2011 5:34:59 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)		Hi Keith, Welcome aboard! Are you the same Keith who shouted me and a mate out of the bush with the words "Oi, claim jumper! I've got your rego!" - if so, great to see you on the site. Was good chatting to you after the worrying initial introduction :P I notice someone's now claimed the gorge up-river from your claim too now. Hope Caz is well also (I hope I remembered your wife's name correctly!). Gav ;)
		WWW

kiwikeith		Posted : Wednesday, 29 June 2011 3:04:58 PM(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 gavin great to hear from you yes you have the right keith. Ive still got the claim caz is doing great still standing behind the dredge draging rocks and keeping it all clear still working the same hole at the bottom of the claim every time we go back it has fill back in so we just suck back out still gold in the overburden so its not a complete waste of time. still averaging the same but havent been up there for 6 weeks due to river access washed out. never mind its winter. just completed my new dredge will take a photo and post it. we must have a weekend up there again sometime so stay in touch cheers keith

harrop		Posted : Friday, 15 July 2011 10:25:14 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 23 Location: greymouth Was thanked: 4 time(s) in 4 post(s)		Hi keith I think I met you at Hose and Hydrolics in Greymouth a while back you had just got your claim and we got talking about dredges as we both have the same. Cheers

kiwikeith		Posted : Friday, 15 July 2011 7:00:19 PM(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 harrop yea that was me alright and yes still have the claim its going well although with the snow on the ground its a bit cold for getting in the water hows that spot of yours going now the weather looks good for the weekend must get out was going for vthe mackley but the tracks abit rough after all the rain theres a little spot up the bullar so let you know how i get on cheers

kiwikeith		Posted : Saturday, 16 July 2011 6:31:01 PM(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 just got back from the buller havent finished washing up but didnt see anything river was up and dirty how sad to bad cheers kiwikeith

kiwikeith		Posted : Saturday, 30 July 2011 6:22:15 PM(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 all anyone for a trip to my claim sunday its lewis pass transport supplied from marble hill if interested reply and i will give you details kiwikeith

cavey		Posted : Wednesday, 3 August 2011 10:26:58 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 145 Location: Ashburton Thanks: 42 times Was thanked: 22 time(s) in 18 post(s)		Hi Kiwikeith Hope you had a good trip to your claim on sunday.

kiwikeith		Posted : Thursday, 4 August 2011 6:18:36 PM(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 cavey yes thanks had a good day john joined me for the day spent about 2 hours at the most in the water washup showed 2grms although the sun was out all day we didnt see any where we were dredging very cold !!!!! frost on the ground but all in all great day out and good to meet john even though he needs to get a snokel on his truck ------ ah john cheers kiwikeith

harrop		Posted : Wednesday, 10 August 2011 10:38:34 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 23 Location: greymouth Was thanked: 4 time(s) in 4 post(s)		Originally Posted by: kiwikeith hi harrop yea that was me alright and yes still have the claim its going well although with the snow on the ground its a bit cold for getting in the water hows that spot of yours going now the weather looks good for the weekend must get out was going for vthe mackley but the tracks abit rough after all the rain theres a little spot up the bullar so let you know how i get on cheers Hi Keith. Claims going average at best. golds patchy. The waters a bit nipple at the mo. Thought I was getting soft a while back so I checked the water temp it was 3degrees. am heading down into an old glacial channel at the moment which is really slow going as the gravel is hard as, I'm not diving just at the moment need a dry suit. There appears to be bugger all gold in the upper layers. I struggle with lack of water it's only a small creek. Need a bit of a flood to get rid of my tailings. On the plus side I extended the sluice changed the mesh sceen to 10mm and put a punch plate under that. I had to run through some of my tailing to get down to where I am at the moment and bugga me if I didn't get more gold out of them. Makes me wonder how much I've lost over the last year. Tried to load some photos as Gingerbread man was keen to have a look but I haven't been able to as yet. Will have another go one day. Can't wait til summer!!!

kiwikeith		Posted : Thursday, 18 August 2011 9:28:22 PM(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 harrop went up in the weekend quite nice till it started to snow got out alright just as river started to look like rising tried a new spot on the claim more in the sun and able to drive onto the beach took 500 to 600 off the top but still havent got to bottom temp predicted to be -5 to -6 this weekend so may go for a hunt instead will take the pan up into the top of the st george stream if no gold may get to leave some lead behind. im still using my wetsuit i find that the dry suits are a bit expensive $3000 for my size. i seem to be a bit bigger than standard summer will be here soon enough dont know which is best to chase at the moment with the price of gold and possum fur at $135 / kg stay in touch keep warm kiwikeith