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Lammerlaws treasures - relics of the Goldfields...plus Gold finds.

Lammerlaw		Posted : Thursday, 7 June 2012 6:47:58 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)		Originally Posted by: 5AMP Great photos-I do like the combintaion of revolver and gold. Can revolvers of this vintage be fired or does it diminish their value not to mention the shooter! This one is as good as the day it would be made and would be as safe now as it was then BUT they were made for black powder so you can never use modern high pressure powder otherwise you end up with an big bang, half a gun and a couple of missing fingers! If a gun of that vintage is well rusted and pitted then it would not be wise to fire it. Colt Peacemakers or Frontiers are only safe to fire with Blackpowder if they were made before around 1901 but from then on high pressure steel was used to make them and they can be fired safely with any modern powder designed for that type of arm. Today it would not be good to fire one such as the last one I showed as it is well and truly above average condition and the nmore wear to the gun and its finish the less value it has - A friend purchased one of these 1849 Colts at Auction a short time ago and got it for $1200 and yet I paid nearly $3000 for the one above - it all depends on its condition as to value and the more used and abused it is the lower the value becomes. Edited by user Sunday, 17 June 2012 7:54:59 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

5AMP		Posted : Friday, 8 June 2012 9:33:25 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 3/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 57 Location: wellington Thanks: 105 times Was thanked: 16 time(s) in 11 post(s)		Thank you very much for that and for all your very interesting photos and information.

Lammerlaw		Posted : Sunday, 17 June 2012 8:07:21 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)		There is still a great amount of gold to find out there - this photo shows one third of what was actually the result of panning three handfuls of dirt from a particularly rich patch under about three foot of water. The nuggets here average about a penny weight each or 1.5 grammes. Found during a thunderstorm on a Sunday night just as it was getting too dark to see - if I had stumbled on it an hour earlier I would have taken home a pound weight or more of gold as I recovered the rest the following Saturday. I never did know exactly how much I found as I remember giving a bottle with an ounce or so to a friend and a cousin before I took the remainder home to weigh! Edited by user Sunday, 17 June 2012 8:13:27 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified Lammerlaw attached the following image(s):

mineforgold.co.nz		Posted : Monday, 18 June 2012 3:11:59 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 299 Location: Nelson Thanks: 58 times Was thanked: 38 time(s) in 35 post(s)		That is the kind of dirt I would like to pan!
		Own: Lobo SuperTraq, Garrett ATPro, Minelab Excalibur
		WWW BLOG

Lammerlaw		Posted : Sunday, 24 June 2012 9:39:46 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)		This photo is partly for mineforgold! I decided I wanted some mercury so decided to find a stamper site and work out where the gold saving table - was then pan around where it should have been to see if I could find the mercury I wanted. This is some of the result. The old time miners used a great deal of mercury and on the odd occasions it turns up in crevices in the river beds and other places but the best finds of it in any concentration are near the old stampers where it was used in quantity and lost in quantity. This mercury is well over 120 years old so had been lying in the ground for many years. If anyone wants to get some mercury then there is a strong likelihood of finding some around the old battery sites. Now and again you never know what you will find in the hills as the second photo shows two Chinese jars plus a full bottle of mercury picked up by the river when we were a fair few years ago. The bottle on the left hand side is the one full of mercury, as found. Edited by user Wednesday, 27 June 2012 11:14:13 AM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified Lammerlaw attached the following image(s):

Lammerlaw		Posted : Tuesday, 10 July 2012 1:31:10 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)		The miners of old came from all walks of life but their language, their attire, their accoutrements and other hinters gave away their back ground and their past. This is a study in its own right and a fascinating one at that as the miners came from well to do families, poor families, UK, America and mainland Europe, they came from the Upper classes of society and the lower classes of society and they came from Military back grounds and from non military back grounds and they had seen experience on foreign gold fields or they were 'New chums'. After having studied life on the gold fields for most of my life I am quite convinced that should I have been able to go back in time I would have been able to quite accurately determine a miners back ground - some things of course made it quite obvious - such as their language and dialect, other things took some knowledge of the subject - te type of firearm they carried for example. This item was brought out to the New Zealand goldfields by an early miner - it was quite obvious that he came from a good family as this watch was top of the line, made by Amyott and Bennett of Norwich in England, gold filigree body with a large diamond inset and a silver case. The watch was recased in the year 1840 I believe as the silver hallmarks are for that year but the mechanism was made around 1796. The watch was carried extensively on the Otago Goldfields and came into my hands as a high school pupil with an interest even then in Gold fields history. The name of the original owner who brought it to New Zealand was Ferguson. Edited by user Tuesday, 10 July 2012 3:41:00 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified Lammerlaw attached the following image(s):

DrunkBrother		Posted : Tuesday, 10 July 2012 1:44:31 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 27/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 911 Location: Auckland Thanks: 21 times Was thanked: 206 time(s) in 161 post(s)		Really like all your stories and Photoes Lammerlaw !
		2014Rings PlT/PD=0 GOLD=30 STG=53 Junk=46
		WWW BLOG

Lammerlaw		Posted : Wednesday, 11 July 2012 11:24:41 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)		Originally Posted by: DrunkBrother Really like all your stories and Photoes Lammerlaw ! Thanks DrunkBrother - Hmmm I like that hat - when you are down South next feel free to get in touch and come visit and you can have a potter on my place - shoot tins cans, look for some gold and have a great time out - PS Bring hat! PSS You can go chat up my neighbour - her mum likes visitors as she cant speak English too well - she only speaks Russian - I assume you will as well?

Lammerlaw		Posted : Monday, 23 July 2012 10:03:38 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)		Earlier on it the piece I showed some pistol of the Goldfields but many rifles and shotguns found their way onto the Goldfields as well. This particular gun was made between 1859 and 1865 by Robert Adams -the address on the lockplate is 76 King William Street, London so that indicates the age as Robert Adams manufactured and operated from that address during the years stated. It is called a Volunteer .577 because it was made for the civilian market, Military Pattern and exactly the same as the Military issue rifle of the day but not Military marked and with chequering which indicates that it had more attention given to the finish than a Military issue one would. A rifle like this would more likely have seen Police service or usage in the hands of an ex Military man who wanted the best rifle of the day. This one is supposed to be unfired and turned up in the South Island in 1821 when it was given to a police officer by the owner who no longer wanted it. It is all original and comes with its original barrel plug, leather sling and ramrod. It would not have beenout of place in the hands of the first Gold escorts and Goldfields police. Lammerlaw attached the following image(s):

1864hatter		Posted : Monday, 23 July 2012 10:16:29 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		That looks a lot tydier than you would expect from something of that age. You must have been stoked to get your hands on it.
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

Lammerlaw		Posted : Tuesday, 24 July 2012 9:46:28 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)		Originally Posted by: 1864hatter That looks a lot tydier than you would expect from something of that age. You must have been stoked to get your hands on it. Hi Matt - Yes I was - I got it from the guy who got it in 1921 and kept it until he was nearly 80 - I had done him a few kindnesses and both his son and daughter wanted it and both couldnt have it so he had it valued - the gunshop offered him $700 at the time - he then sold it to me for $500, giving me the discount due to kindnesses over the years - yep - I was over the moon. It has 99% original blue and most of the colour case hardening on the lock plate and butt and the bore is perfect so an exceptionally good heater. Edited by user Tuesday, 24 July 2012 9:47:31 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

chrischch		Posted : Wednesday, 25 July 2012 2:13:17 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		What does the mercury appear like when you find it on the ground around stampers etc? is it runny like in a thermometer or a solid? If runny, wouldnt it run down through the cracks and be lost forever? Does it stick together and therefore become easier to find/see? I dont want to find any, I'm just curious as obviously we dont see much mercury nowadays.....reminds me of a story i heard when i was young about a really mean and dangerous trick. Apparantly, people used to put a bit of mercury in someones beer if they didnt like them much and it would go straight through the victim in a matter of seconds/minutes and they would crap themselves. Obviously its not recommended practice (practise?) and I have no idea how true it is. Have you ever heard of this Graham? P.S. Sorry if I spelled your name wrong.
		Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.

Metal Kiwi		Posted : Wednesday, 25 July 2012 2:48:13 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,210 Location: Auckland Thanks: 498 times Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)		Originally Posted by: chrischch What does the mercury appear like when you find it on the ground around stampers etc? is it runny like in a thermometer or a solid? If runny, wouldnt it run down through the cracks and be lost forever? Does it stick together and therefore become easier to find/see? I dont want to find any, I'm just curious as obviously we dont see much mercury nowadays.....reminds me of a story i heard when i was young about a really mean and dangerous trick. Apparantly, people used to put a bit of mercury in someones beer if they didnt like them much and it would go straight through the victim in a matter of seconds/minutes and they would crap themselves. Obviously its not recommended practice (practise?) and I have no idea how true it is. Have you ever heard of this Graham? P.S. Sorry if I spelled your name wrong. I can remember seeing Mercury in a stream at Ngawha Springs. It was just in it's natural state of small balls of silver liquid. MK .
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oroplata		Posted : Wednesday, 25 July 2012 2:55:45 PM(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)		http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(element) Makes for an interestign read. Quote: With a freezing point of −38.83 °C and boiling point of 356.73 °C, mercury has one of the narrowest ranges of its liquid state of any metal. If you're out fossicking and find some solid Mercury, it's time to get indoors and warm up beside a nice roaring fire. If you find some in it's liquid state while out in the bush, take photographic evidence, collect it and keep it. Could be useful evidence for you in the future if you ever get accused of "damaging the environment" by a govt org. Edited by user Wednesday, 25 July 2012 2:57:58 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified
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chrischch		Posted : Wednesday, 25 July 2012 4:46:14 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		Thanks guys....-38.83 degrees cent is a bit out of my comfort range even though I did grow up in Dunedin :)
		Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.

Lammerlaw		Posted : Wednesday, 25 July 2012 7:31:50 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)		Originally Posted by: chrischch What does the mercury appear like when you find it on the ground around stampers etc? is it runny like in a thermometer or a solid? If runny, wouldnt it run down through the cracks and be lost forever? Does it stick together and therefore become easier to find/see? I dont want to find any, I'm just curious as obviously we dont see much mercury nowadays.....reminds me of a story i heard when i was young about a really mean and dangerous trick. Apparantly, people used to put a bit of mercury in someones beer if they didnt like them much and it would go straight through the victim in a matter of seconds/minutes and they would crap themselves. Obviously its not recommended practice (practise?) and I have no idea how true it is. Have you ever heard of this Graham? P.S. Sorry if I spelled your name wrong. When you find it near a Stamper Battery site then it is in beads and globules of liquid mercury - in other words exactly the same as the mercury taken out of a thermometer. You cant miss it when you find it as it is clean and silver and liquid but tiny pieces of it can be almost round like a ball as it is denser than water. Some years ago I took all the soil from around the site of the actual battery and could see globes, globules and blobs of Mercury in diffused all through the soil - it was easy to pan as all you need do is take it to the creek and as you pan it and each glob of mercury touches the next piece they join together and so on so that you dont pan out a hundred little globules of Mercury but one large liquid mass. I guess that one bonus might be that some of it has small pieces of gold in it as an Amalgam - I have never found that when I panned the soil to recover the Mercury at the Battery site but I did once get quite a lot in the Arrow opposite Tobins track once. A nice Amalgam of Gold and Mercury. There was quite a bit and I never got it all by any means so I guess someone else got more at a later date. When my Great grandfather first ran away to the South Seas in the mid 1800s he and his mate put some in a native cooking pot with potatoes or Kumara and the potatoes or Kumara leapt about and jumped out of the pot apparently!

treeman		Posted : Thursday, 26 July 2012 2:17:20 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 1/02/2012(UTC) Posts: 32 Location: Arrowtown, Thanks: 10 times Was thanked: 16 time(s) in 11 post(s)		these old books are good and interesting reading lammerlaw. I have one myself. and you are right there are a few of them printed by the good old government. File Attachment(s): IMGA0002.JPG IMGA0001.JPG

Lammerlaw		Posted : Thursday, 26 July 2012 2:34:19 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)		Originally Posted by: treeman these old books are good and interesting reading lammerlaw. I have one myself. and you are right there are a few of them printed by the good old government. Yes they are excellent - I have a few of them somewhere including the Central Otago one I think it is. I first read about the Reedy Creek Copper mine in one of these reports - that was what led me to go visiting it looking for samples and then claiming it with big intentions. About the only thing I ended up doing was throwing chemical persuasion down the water filled shaft to watch the geyser erupt. have you got the book 'The New Zealand Mining Handbook 1906' - its a must have. There was also an earlier one - a mutual friend will be able to give you its date.

Lammerlaw		Posted : Sunday, 5 August 2012 11:57:17 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)		About twenty hours take last year - As can be seen this gold has not travelled too far and indeed a kilometre upstream all the gold is extremely rough and has not travelled anywhere - it was found close to another spot where on the last day of 2011 and the first day of 2012 I got 34 grammes - a grand end to the old year and beginning to the new year. About fifty grammes. Edited by user Monday, 6 August 2012 12:03:20 AM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified Lammerlaw attached the following image(s):

1864hatter		Posted : Monday, 6 August 2012 8:29:12 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Impressive! you've still got the magic touch obivously.
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

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