Gold replenished at Oallen Ford...

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The last flood certainly moved a lot of fine gold around and your best bet is concentrate on newly exposed bedrock sections. The flood dropped the gold in distinct "Gold Lines". My advice is to dig a narrow channel perpendicular to the water flow and test pan every couple of feet....you will soon find the spot where the gold numbers are the highest. Once you have determined this then dig from that spot parallel to the flow to follow the line. In most cases these lines are only a couple of feet wide.
Hey Wal, I am shortlisting locations for some missions to cut my teeth on, get some panning practice and Christen the GMonster. One of my big handicaps (apart from my lack of experience) is an ungainly 2wd campervan. I'm not afraid to hike in a few kms to places but wondering if places like Oallen ford, Stuart's crossing and Mongarlowe have spots that a two wheeler could park. If so, that should take care of panning practice.
If I can tick that off then I will start a conversation with Crown Lands about some lots that I think have potential for swinging the monster in the same general area.
 
No problem with 2wd vehicles at Oallen and Stuarts but Mongarlowe is mostly private property and unless you know someone it's hard to get access. Oallen is by far the best location in my books.

Send me a PM and I'll give you a location that will be away from the crowds. ;) ....Cheers Wal.
 
The last major weather event has seen a huge amount of flooding throughout the whole of the Southern Tablelands of NSW with Oallen Forde being right amongst it. The new bridge which has a guard rail height of over 6 metres above river level was completely flooded to the point where the whole bridge went under causing significant damage. The torrent scoured the downstream gravels and rocks depositing much of them downstream a distance of more than a kilometer and replacing them with rocks and gravels from the same distance upstream. On a recent visit I was amazed at how many new channels were created and how much new bedrock has been exposed. On testing some of these areas it was not uncommon to have between 50 and 80 specks of gold in every pan :oops:...and those amounts soon add up to lift ones spirits.

The bedrock bars further downstream were found to be even richer and these bars produce some nice gold species though most are in the sub gram range. For the newcomers wanting a location to hone some basic skills when it comes to panning for gold this location is well worth putting on your to do list. For the more experienced prospectors wishing to better identify gold fallout principles and determining exact "Gold Line" drop out zones, then these last floods have opened up some very easy to follow lines of gold, saving a huge amount of pot luck guessing.

The Forde is what I regard as an area where volume panning is the way to go and a gram a day is very achievable for those who put in a few good hours with a large pan or river sluice. The area is also a friendly haven for meeting fellow prospectors and advice flows freely to all who ask. Its a great family oriented location where mum dad and the kids can go frolic in the outdoors getting their dose of vitamin D from the sunshine and not a tablet from the local chemist. Good luck to those that venture and may the gold shine brightly in your jar....Cheers Wal.

Here is a link that may be of help for those new to panning....the vid was shot at the Forde.

Do you need a crown land permit to prospect here?
 
No problem with 2wd vehicles at Oallen and Stuarts but Mongarlowe is mostly private property and unless you know someone it's hard to get access. Oallen is by far the best location in my books.

Send me a PM and I'll give you a location that will be away from the crowds. ;) ....Cheers Wal.
How far from act is it Wal, i live in wagga and usually do reedy creek at elderado for flour gold, do you need a crown land permit on oallen forde as i only have a 2wd and can you camp where you are panning
 
Crown Land Greg....no permission required just rock up to the bridge...go up or downstream and have a great day out with the fellow prospectors...you will definitely go home with gold and I'd be surprised if the area doesn't spike enough interest for you to return on many occasions. Good luck out there mate...Cheers Wal.
Been crown land are you sure we dont need a crown land permit as at sofala on crown land we need a permit for every lot you are on
 

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