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Quartz - experienced prospectors advice
Jacko  
Posted : Friday, 30 January 2015 9:47:50 PM(UTC)
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Hey guys, just new here, and new to prospecting in general.

I write today to ask thoughts from more exerienced folks than I, about the MASSIVE outcrop of quartz i found earlier on my travels.
(its amazing how much more attention you pay to your surroundings when you read so much about it!)

My questions and thoughts are,

Obviously Central Otagos gold deposits are from eroded and deteriorating quartz veins as a general rule. Does this mean that most sizeable quartz veins WILL contain gold, or i would guess more accurately, are "likely" to contain gold.
And if so,

The surrounding gravels and run offs in water channels and guts should be test panned etc?

Or would it be advisable to take quartz samples and crush chunks up.

I have to admit, i got quite excited when I found it!! and im really really looking forward to further investigation!!

Your thoughts/advice/recommendations would be greatfully received and appreciated.

Cheers,

Vin
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Jacko  
Posted : Sunday, 1 February 2015 9:50:34 AM(UTC)
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Anyone? :)
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kiwikeith  
Posted : Sunday, 1 February 2015 1:52:52 PM(UTC)
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hi jacko

I walk the hills for a job and get into some pretty remote places, I have chunks of rock and quartz at home here that I pick up, been picking up rocks for over 45 years and never yet found any with gold in, but what the heck I still pick them up and turn them over.

keep looking one day like me you will find something that will spin your wheels

kiwikeith
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Jacko  
Posted : Sunday, 1 February 2015 11:01:34 PM(UTC)
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Cheers man, although the quartz i found definately isnt a pick up size.... its about 3x6m sticking out of the ground haha

Always looking though :) good luck on your walks mate and thanks

Vin
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Golddigger7  
Posted : Monday, 2 February 2015 8:29:03 AM(UTC)
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Hi Jacko

Is it an outcrop or boulder?. From memeory a mineral bearing lode wont be white but will be very dirty depending on the minerals it contains, so could be dirty brown to bluey greenish in colour. The lodes in central otago the bore mineral also ran at an angle to the schist and were generally an infill, ie the metamorphic schist split and the magma from underneath would inject a mineralised 'liquid' quartz into the void. This of course happened at depth and under pressure.

it would be unusual to find an outcrop that had not been found before. So if it hasnt been mined by the old timers, it probably doesnt hold gold.


Regards
GD7
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Jacko  
Posted : Monday, 2 February 2015 3:13:15 PM(UTC)
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Hey cheers for the answer goldy :)

Well its almost half and half, one side is the purest white quartz ive seen, and the other side is all riddled with red/greyish/yellow streaks
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1864hatter  
Posted : Monday, 2 February 2015 4:18:08 PM(UTC)
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Crush some of the dirty quartz to a powder and pan it. Might be some colour in it. Gold can be found in quartz no matter the colour although it commonly is found within and around pyrites within quartz veins. These pyrites contain iron and arsenic among other things which oxidised giving you the dirty look
And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!
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Jacko  
Posted : Monday, 2 February 2015 4:21:09 PM(UTC)
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A big thanks for all the advice fellas. Much appreciated!

Cheers,

Vin
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kiwijw  
Posted : Monday, 2 February 2015 10:27:57 PM(UTC)
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Hi there Jacko, Wasnt this quartz out crop was it??

UserPostedImage

I have stumbled on a few bits of quartz containing gold. Mostly from up in the Coromandel but also a few not far from you Jacko in Cromwell. Research is the key to finding areas & then the hard slog & lots of time out in the field.

UserPostedImage

Good luck out there

JW :)
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Jacko  
Posted : Monday, 2 February 2015 10:41:31 PM(UTC)
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Nope, not that one, looks more like the size of that massive rock in the background haha, way out in the back country :) thats a really nice close up of quartz you have got there! beautifull colour around the middle of it :P

Yeah research is the key, im currently trying to get my head around geological maps/surveys etc, and reading any info I can when im at home, and not out in the field/work haha

Unfortunately funds do not permit me to buy the few books I'm eyeing up on trade me at the moment!

Such is life :\

Cheers matey,

Vin

Edited by user Monday, 2 February 2015 10:46:03 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified
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Golddigger7  
Posted : Tuesday, 3 February 2015 8:22:11 AM(UTC)
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well look at JW again, now JW's reference map of Otago is going to be the best reference map, how much you selling it for JW? Thought you might be off to check out Waynes Google map locations :-)
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centralgold  
Posted : Tuesday, 3 February 2015 9:53:31 AM(UTC)
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Golddigger7  
Posted : Tuesday, 3 February 2015 10:03:33 AM(UTC)
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LOL, and John drives past it every time hes off to his secret location...mmmm.... :-D
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