⭐ Alluvial Show n Tell
- Thread starter Diggerdude
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Philip & Sandra Box
The patch I'm on at the moment is loaded with lead.
This is just the small lead and all the gold after putting it through the 1/8" sieve. There's probably a half ounce of bigger lead caught in the sieve.
Lead is usually added to purify the gold in a cupel but this has so much lead it just has to be placed straight into the cupel after melting. Then it's a bit tiresome waiting for the lead to oxidize and be absorbed by the cupel.
The result is worth it. The change from what looks like a chunk of lead to a shiny gold button is dramatic.
This is just the small lead and all the gold after putting it through the 1/8" sieve. There's probably a half ounce of bigger lead caught in the sieve.
Lead is usually added to purify the gold in a cupel but this has so much lead it just has to be placed straight into the cupel after melting. Then it's a bit tiresome waiting for the lead to oxidize and be absorbed by the cupel.
The result is worth it. The change from what looks like a chunk of lead to a shiny gold button is dramatic.
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Nice work mate
Interesting timing to, I'm saving Monday for a gold monster day on a patch of lead..
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Nice gold 20xwater
I'm waiting for some good rain over winter to get back to a couple of spots that dry up over summer
I'm waiting for some good rain over winter to get back to a couple of spots that dry up over summer
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Had a quick play in Mogo this morning. Was a good effort for me. Something in every pan, so can’t be too unhappy with that!
Not a massive amount, but way more than you get further south back home down the coast, which is a win in my book.
Tried the GM1000 closer to Batemans Bay, but didn’t find anything (still yet to find anything with it yet, haha!). Did find a few bits of lead which sounded different to the normal tones, so that’s probably a good thing, hearing the difference.
Fun day out overall.
Not a massive amount, but way more than you get further south back home down the coast, which is a win in my book.
Tried the GM1000 closer to Batemans Bay, but didn’t find anything (still yet to find anything with it yet, haha!). Did find a few bits of lead which sounded different to the normal tones, so that’s probably a good thing, hearing the difference.
Fun day out overall.
Windar
Craig
Finally managed my first actual run of colour in the creek the other week. Still got some clean up to do (keeping for rainy weather) but approaching 0.1g and finally going from dust to a few flakes (hey it is Adelaide and a pretty worked section).
This was one pan's worth so that was exciting for me. Second pic with the 5c for reference was about an hours work but now in hip deep flowing water which makes getting a single pan take ~10 mins not to mention not being able to see where I am digging.
Also learnt something that might be useful for others to consider. When I went to this river the other day it was dry and only the deepest pools had any water, no flow. Arrived and walked down and found some bedrock so was starting work (1 pan of overburden done looking for a crevice not touched) when I heard a trickle of water. Now where I was there are no dams or weirs upstream and no rainfall (and I always check the weather before leaving). Brain kicked in noting this was not good and packed up and headed back towards my entry point about 200m upstream. Only covered about 80m to a sharp corner but in no less than 2 minutes the river was at 2 feet and rising. Not knowing the source of the water I bugged out there not wanting to tackle crossing a bend with fast flowing water (in case there was debris coming down) and also being by myself heading towards dusk. Walked the ~1k back to my car the long way. What I learnt since, the water authority pump water from another river to this one when they feel like it so watch out for artificial flows as well. I have since found a gov website listing water level monitoring stations so have added that to my checks before I go out now.
All the best everyone and keep up showing the gold!
This was one pan's worth so that was exciting for me. Second pic with the 5c for reference was about an hours work but now in hip deep flowing water which makes getting a single pan take ~10 mins not to mention not being able to see where I am digging.
Also learnt something that might be useful for others to consider. When I went to this river the other day it was dry and only the deepest pools had any water, no flow. Arrived and walked down and found some bedrock so was starting work (1 pan of overburden done looking for a crevice not touched) when I heard a trickle of water. Now where I was there are no dams or weirs upstream and no rainfall (and I always check the weather before leaving). Brain kicked in noting this was not good and packed up and headed back towards my entry point about 200m upstream. Only covered about 80m to a sharp corner but in no less than 2 minutes the river was at 2 feet and rising. Not knowing the source of the water I bugged out there not wanting to tackle crossing a bend with fast flowing water (in case there was debris coming down) and also being by myself heading towards dusk. Walked the ~1k back to my car the long way. What I learnt since, the water authority pump water from another river to this one when they feel like it so watch out for artificial flows as well. I have since found a gov website listing water level monitoring stations so have added that to my checks before I go out now.
All the best everyone and keep up showing the gold!
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My big haul from Mogo over the past two days. Was flying in to the pan on day one and was struggling to find anything the second day. Weird how that always seems to be the way that it goes. Tiring but always fun to get out and have a go. It's been a good year since I had a chance to get out there.
Always looks cool after the clean up though under a macro lens.
Always looks cool after the clean up though under a macro lens.
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I went and got half a bucket of gravel from one of my spots to pan at home. I can't wait until there is some water there as it drys up over summer
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I went for a walk up another dry creek bed today. I've never prospected in this one before and was curious.
I did a couple of pans in some stinking puddles for 3 little fly
peices.
I will add it to my list to visit some other day
I did a couple of pans in some stinking puddles for 3 little fly
peices. I will add it to my list to visit some other day
That looks like a very promising site mate with plenty of possibilities
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True mackka.
This creek goes for kms. The only problem is its lack of water and I don't like the idea of carting it in.
Victoria is supposed to have a wet winter this year so I will go back at a later date.
I have a few creeks im waiting for some water flow now
This creek goes for kms. The only problem is its lack of water and I don't like the idea of carting it in.
Victoria is supposed to have a wet winter this year so I will go back at a later date.
I have a few creeks im waiting for some water flow now
Patience is a Virtue and it appears you have plenty of it HP and nice to have some choices of playgrounds. Qld is about to get another set of storms with “possible” floods, again! Stay Safe mate.
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Another fun day out yesterday. Did a solo mission for about four hours and was completely knackered by the end.
This panning gig certainly requires a patient person, which luckily I am. Most of the time the pan was empty, but when it showed up, it certainly felt rewarding. A new record day for me at 0.14 grams. Not humongous by some standards, but awesome by mine.
This panning gig certainly requires a patient person, which luckily I am. Most of the time the pan was empty, but when it showed up, it certainly felt rewarding. A new record day for me at 0.14 grams. Not humongous by some standards, but awesome by mine.
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Well done, mate.Another fun day out yesterday. Did a solo mission for about four hours and was completely knackered by the end.
This panning gig certainly requires a patient person, which luckily I am. Most of the time the pan was empty, but when it showed up, it certainly felt rewarding. A new record day for me at 0.14 grams. Not humongous by some standards, but awesome by mine.
View attachment 1542View attachment 1543
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Thanks Phil! First hour or so was frustrating, but then when the first piece finally showed up, my day was already made!Well done, mate.
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Don't forget to get your May finds into the FOM competition for May
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forums/competitions-giveaways.68/
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forums/competitions-giveaways.68/
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A bad days panning beats a good day at my usual job.Thanks Phil! First hour or so was frustrating, but then when the first piece finally showed up, my day was already made!
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