New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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Newbie Aucklander - Just another newbie aucklander

Spoilt		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2016 12:49:36 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 28/06/2016(UTC) Posts: 0 Location: Auckland Thanks: 1 times		Hey guys, I've been lurking around for a while, I entertained the idea of prospecting a few years ago when I used to live and study in the south but never had the chance - and have recently moved up to Auckland and decided to just buy a pan and snuffer bottle and get stuck right in before I form some excuse for myself, and lo behold, I find out there is no public fossicking areas. I have read around the forums and looked at some threads (dating back 5 years!) and had a good laugh with some guy using explosives in the coro (oddly enough he was named jafa and he caused quite a stir), and read into some others considering getting a permit and all...I've also read and found out a lot of members just kept their head low and went in with hand tools. Now I'm generally planning on doing this just for recreation, something to do while out in the bush and have fun with hand tools and my pan that I haven't even had the chance to use yet hahaha. My main intention is just to have a little 'scratch around' as some members have said and just keep my head low, I'm not that keen to blow holes or dig big holes at this stage. That being said I don't think I'm prepared to fork out $500-3k for a hobby I may not fully commit to at this stage. The main areas I thought of targeting was places around Coro and Karangahange Gorge where other members have been going to. Now heres the kicker, most of the threads I read from date anywhere from a year to five years ago and I'm wondering what the general consensus is now? I also noted that some members were trying to raise concerns with DOC and try get some public fossicking areas for the North, and some also mentioned that because it hasn't really been a big issue up in the North, there hasn't been the need for DOC to allocate public fossicking areas. That's what I've gathered from my research however I'd love to hear what more experienced members have to say or think about this. If anyone has a private claim I'm willing to pay to test the waters and see if this is something I'd enjoy doing. The idea I've built up in my mind seems quite fun... Outside of just the fossicking, a little about myself, I'm 24, recent graduate and not really enjoying the routine of work life at this stage haha... Hopefully this forum is a lot more active than it seems!

GoldPandemic		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2016 12:55:50 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 27/10/2014(UTC) Posts: 350 Location: Auckland Thanks: 266 times Was thanked: 141 time(s) in 102 post(s)		So long as you're in the rivers/creeks DOC don't care too much. If you're going bush take some rope, there are many 200m+ near vertical cliffs you may want to get down to the creek sources. Some of the maintained doc tracks are little more than grass growing on tree roots acting as a tarp over the creek 10m below. I'd highly recommend investing in a Personal Locator Beacon. Loads of mine shafts in the area (unmarked). Take care around the 309 Road (metal), it's a known drugs hot spot. There are a few gang concentrations over on the eastern side of Coro peninsular also.
		Treasure/coins: $1 Other artifacts: 1888 button Lead: 914g Copper: 46

Spoilt		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2016 4:06:47 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 28/06/2016(UTC) Posts: 0 Location: Auckland Thanks: 1 times		Thanks for the advice Goldpandemic totally appreciate it, 200m+ is a long way down haha. Yeah I was planning on going with someone else just to have a hike around the Broken Hills area etc...and if location presents to have a little fossick. Any recommended areas? So rivers and creeks seem to be okay. The drugs hot spots doesn't sound too friendly, wouldn't want to go around fossicking there, might find a little more than just gold huh hahaha. Personal locator beacon sounds appropriate for all the situations - especially if I get taken by a Coro drug cartel hahahaha...

GoldPandemic		Posted : Tuesday, 28 June 2016 6:38:05 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 27/10/2014(UTC) Posts: 350 Location: Auckland Thanks: 266 times Was thanked: 141 time(s) in 102 post(s)		Oh and stay out of any mine shafts you see, you as likely to fall down a hidden air vent, as you are to asphyxiate due to gases. You'll see some guys on youtube doing it, but you've got to be well prepared - ropes, partner, breathing gear. Not to mention cave ins. It might be illegal too. coro drugs Also check out these sites to make sure you're not on anyones land: https://data.linz.govt.nz/ click + for Property Titles & + for Topo60 Maps. http://data.nzpam.govt.n...bmaps?commodity=minerals This shows mining claims, they might be on doc land, so check them out also. click on basemaps to select nztopo, if you want to match it with your other maps. I'd recommend getting a topo map if you're venturing deep into the bush. Cut them down to 12x8 squares and laminate - that way you don't have to worry about the rain. And get yourself one of these mattocks - they're the best digging tool & help with climbing/preventing falls. http://www.paydirt.co.nz...tock-Pick.aspx#post37157
		Treasure/coins: $1 Other artifacts: 1888 button Lead: 914g Copper: 46

Spoilt		Posted : Wednesday, 29 June 2016 12:13:42 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 28/06/2016(UTC) Posts: 0 Location: Auckland Thanks: 1 times		Originally Posted by: GoldPandemic Oh and stay out of any mine shafts you see, you as likely to fall down a hidden air vent, as you are to asphyxiate due to gases. You'll see some guys on youtube doing it, but you've got to be well prepared - ropes, partner, breathing gear. Not to mention cave ins. It might be illegal too. coro drugs Also check out these sites to make sure you're not on anyones land: https://data.linz.govt.nz/ click + for Property Titles & + for Topo60 Maps. http://data.nzpam.govt.n...bmaps?commodity=minerals This shows mining claims, they might be on doc land, so check them out also. click on basemaps to select nztopo, if you want to match it with your other maps. I'd recommend getting a topo map if you're venturing deep into the bush. Cut them down to 12x8 squares and laminate - that way you don't have to worry about the rain. And get yourself one of these mattocks - they're the best digging tool & help with climbing/preventing falls. http://www.paydirt.co.nz...tock-Pick.aspx#post37157 Thanks again! You've been really helpful. Will have a closer look at the maps. Seems like your quite well versed with this, I'll be sure to update you with any finds we get haha, hopefully can prove that Jafas can do okay outside the City lol. Going to have a look at some of those youtube videos now.