Back Yard Mining

[Wintersnake]

So what does a prospector with and excavator do if they know they are on top of a deep lead in gold country?

I had to dig a pit to dispose of some livestock carcases, I figured that if I'm going to dig a big hole I may as well chase the bedrock.

Photos can be deceptive this hole is approx. 12 foot deep and 2.5m square, I jumped in to look at the dirt at the bottom and could stand with my arms raised and my fingertips were still below the surface. This is the limit of depth my excavator can go.
Getting out of the hole was interesting!

So when you dig hole and fill it with another object you have dirt left over, right. I made sure the dirt at the bottom was not put back in the hole

There was a lot more than this pic shows, but I wanted a close up to show the type of material.
I decided to run the trusty GP over it however was getting soo much electrical interference it was useless.........then figured I'd do a test pan.
Let me just say clay is a b1tch! It took over 30 mins to break the clay down.

What was left is very typical of the type of gold bearing gravels for this area. Now I have to make a tool to break the clay down to process the other 2 cubic meters.

 

[G0lddigg@]

awesome.... wheres the gold? had me reeling...

 

[Wintersnake]

Stoyve has seen me pan so he be able to confirm the gold is probably on the ground in the gravel :lol:

 

[Tathradj]

Old bath tub or similar.
Put about a foot of material in it.
2 or 3 cups of a suitable liquid soap in.
Blast the crap out of it with a hose.
let it settle then pan away.
Having a plug hole in one end is very handy.
Basically puddling with a bit of modern help.
.
If I found a good amount of Gold, I would talk to your neighbors and offer them a free service disposing of dead animals. :lol:

 

[Wintersnake]

Got plenty of old bath tubs that I used in a aquaponics concept green house but was thinking of using a clay breaker-wetting agent will give the dish liquid a go first. Fair amount of pipe clay in there.

 

[Wintersnake]

I believe there is another meter of pay gravel below the depth I was at but couldn't get any deeper with my excavator. If I do get some colour out of it I'll be digging another hole for sure.

 

[jamie]

need to get this done mate, as i was reading and looking at the pics i was getting excited to see a handful of gold....

 

[Tathradj]

In a known gold bearing area with wash like that I would be going mad.
Also looks like a false bottom as well.
Pipe clay with a bit of brute force and soap does break down easily.
You have all the gear there better than the old fellers had so good luck with it all.

 

[Big Nugget]

nice one.

what type of excavator are you using?

Have some great deals on JCB atm.

 

[Wintersnake]

Used a little Kobelco 5 ton excavator, Great little machine.
If a chook dies and I have to bury it I'll be borrowing one of the relo's 20 ton excavator. Foxes are cunning and will dig deep to get a dead chook.

Off into town for 50m of poly so I can move water.

 

[Ramjet]

Used a little Kobelco 5 ton excavator, Great little machine.
If a chook dies and I have to bury it I'll be borrowing one of the relo's 20 ton excavator. Foxes are cunning and will dig deep to get a dead chook.

Off into town for 50m of poly so I can move water.

Funny bugger. A 12 foot deep hole to bury a chooken sounds legit.

 

[kawman]

and the fact that the hole moves around a bit will not be noticed... :| I hope you find the goods in that lot..

 

[stoyve]

Gday wintersnake, it looks like a few more livestock funerals coming up, when come over I will bring some road kill with me and we can have a special servic for it.
"NUDGE,NUDGE, WINK, WINK, SAY NO MORE"

 

[Tathradj]

I can bring a trailer full of dead Roo's and wombats found on the side of the road. There would be just a couple from Tathra to there. LOL
How many acres did you say you had. ??
I can also borrow and drive my mate's d9 if you wish. :lol:

 

[kawman]

I think that he could be studying root growth and the effects of ph in lower soil levels to improve his pasture....

 

[Nanjim]

Bit like digging a dam ...
Only to keep having to move it as it was in the wrong place ...lol

Cheers Nanjim
Jim

 

[Wintersnake]

The dam does need an extra Mega litre and I have had to fight through tree roots today, just saying.
Not to worried about claim jumpers, let me put it this way. The sheep didn't die of natural causes.

Got my 50m of class 12 poly and fittings, ended up with a couple of meters spare so am happy with that.

Also borrowed a trencher and got the poly in the ground and hooked up.

Tomorrow I'll set up the bath tubs and assorted hoses etc.

 

[Tathradj]

The road kill idea sounds good.
.
Got a suggestion.
.
How about a members meetup and we all bring a trailer/boot full of road kill.
.
Only take a week or two to dispose of the carcases.
.

 

[Tathradj]

The road kill idea sounds good.
.
Got a suggestion.
.
How about a members meetup and we all bring a trailer/boot full of road kill.
.
Only take a week or two to dispose of the carcases.
.
Road Kill Cemetery. :lol:
.

 

[Tathradj]

Mods, Can you fix that pretty please.