New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

Hi All

Well for those in the know down south, nothing new, but for the new chums, well AU = gold. Hope I don't start a gold rush off down that way.
As to The " Wettest Coast" well buggar me, thats my playground, so you get nothing there. But it appears Gavin has found my secret creek, bugga bugga bugga, now I gotta go the other four I have up my sleeve. If the pics are too small, use a screen saver and then blow them up.

Anybody tried the beach gold on Moeraki Beach, dats where those big round things are. Oh damm concretions I meant. Was worked in the old days. And there is gold on the beach where the river that drains the Wilberforce Reefs hits the ocean. But I think it is claimed. It looks like a nightmare anyway to try and work. And for those that want to do the Wilberforce, sorry lads, not much up there. A bit of history thats all.

Right lets get this data loaded.



Marlborough. Where the hell did that come from.



Oops again, the Wilberforce Reefs for those that want to know. Where in the hell is South Otago and queenstown and down that way. Hang on I know.



Damm found one. Now lets see if I can find the rest. Lol.




Where on a roll now.
























Well that lot should get a few whistles wet and the odd trouser bulge. It was a long mission, upload each pic to photobuket and then add them on here one by one. The things I do for you fellows. Any unwanted gold can be sent to me by courier.

Cheers Trev aka " The Hatter" sometimes I think I am " The Mad Hatter"

Sorry Caboose

I don't do requests. But a please or thank you might have just done the trick. Alas you blew that one. Happy Hunting.

Cheers Trev aka " The Hatter"

hi trev
so true with the last comment . to much take, take, take these days

anyway I see the books from our local so will have to have a look sometime when returned
got an interesting creek up waiuta im looking at so will get in contact sometime to talk about it. (it hasn't got a claim over it)

thanks for the maps pity there's not more on the coast

kiwikeith

Hi Again Keith

Crushit aka Flag was around the other night to pay me a visit. He went home with a pile of old Buller Mining /geology maps and lots of other treasures about the Buller and West coast. If he doesn't get all secretive and possesive he may let you have a read after he has done with them. I have no problems with you borrowing them.

Waiuta Creek sounds interesting. I did quite well many years ago up the Black Water Creek Detecting. Didnt get rich, but it was fun.

Cheers Trev

Hi Keith

Crushit will no doubt read this and give a you a ring. He is in in the phone book. Derby St. The last I heard of him he was up the waimang looking for a typical waimang pothole. Which when cleaned out will fill a kerosene tin and hold around 47 ounces eh Flag.

Yep that Flat name rings a bell. Somewhere years ago I read of it or heard of it. But the brain cell holding that info is long deceased sadly. lol.

Cheers Trev

The 'Longwoods' - or if you are keen - Orepuki ;)

Thanks Overdog and sycotoad

Canoe creek gets the odd mention but nothing great was ever found up there. Despite some intensive prospecting. Yep there is gold up there, but nothing of major importance. Probably just a bit of overflow from the Paparoa's and Croesus lode. Which is perched on the top up behind the headwaters of moonlight creek, or thereabouts any way. I will have a look through the bible and see what I can find up your way Overdog.
And post it here. There is quite a bit in the bible about the aorore and other places in your neck of the woods.

Cheers Trev aka " The Hatter"

Alls forgiven, perhaps I over reacted a bit. It takes quite an amount of time to get the data up. But as you will see I have posted quite a bit of stuff for you on another post. Who knows you may find some plattinum nuggets in that area. Now that would be a great find. Frig wish I lived down that way, instead of the land of forests, oops rain forests, gota keep the greenies happy.

Cheers Trev aka " The Hatter" perhaps I was " The Mad Hatter Last Night" lol

Yep its me again.

I will discuss reef structures and the amount of gold that enters a waterway in a later post Mr Hatter 1864. What I am going to discuss now is the shovel method of panning. Works for both alluvial gold, but most required for that very fine beach gold. Most sea beaches are blacksand, so thats a heap of concentrates you have to deal with. Were anyone with me I could show you in five minutes, but alas we are miles apart.

Okay go buy beg borrow or steal an ordinary D shovel, the bigger the shovel blade the better. Right get a can of aerosol matt black paint and paint it. The can will last you months if not years. Okay head to your chosen place. I will will refer to sea beaches from hereon in. Dig a hole or find a tidal pool. When you have some water, take a sample of the sand you want to test. Start of with a little and as you get better, well you can fill the shovel blade right up. Dip it in the pool of water, some water will remain on the blade. Right hold the shovel up and move it in a circular motion. Keeping it level out from your body. Do about 10 circulars. That puts the gold at the bottom. Now put it in the hole full of water and go back and forwards. The shovel blade is angled slightly downwards but not to much. The sand will sloth off. Every ten strokes forward, do some more circular stuff with the shovel blade level. Pretty soon you are down to a matchbox sized bit of sand on your shovel. Do a bit of circling again, there will be a little bit of sand on each side of the ferrule that holds the handle. Take a hand full of the water and gently wash down from behind the sand. You will see gold if you have any. Most tends to show up on the right side. Well it does with me.

After a bit of practice you can do this in a minute or two with a full shovel. Works with flakey gold too. (Creeks)

If you want to use a pan on a beach that has concentrated minerals, it will take you up to an hour and you will loose most of the gold.

This is the old timers way of testing beaches. Passed down and handed to me.

So head to Oropuki or Moeraki and give it a go. Might take you a wee while to master. But once you have it, you will never forget it.


Just another tip from the " Hatter"

Cheers Trev

Hi There Trev, I hadnt realised this post had gained so much momentum & that you had answered a few of my questions on here. So thanks for that. Yes that book "Economic Geology Of NZ" is a "bible" with a LOT of info on NZ gold locations, geology & mines.

Cheers :)

Best of luck out there

JW :)