Basic advice needed

[BoydWilliam]

Hi guys,
Im new to this forum (just posted in the introductions), and am very keen to get into some gold hunting in some of the streams around my area.
The area where i live has numerous little streams and rivers which run around withing 30 kms from where i live.
Most of the country towns around here were formed in the 1800's due to gold being found in the streams and creeks i am talking about.
Is it worth my while searching around for any gold that may have not been discovered?
After 150 years of erosion and natural regrowth, is it fair to assume that small amounts of gold could still be there?
Im really keen to get into prospecting, and would be thrilled to find just the smallest specks of gold!!
Cheers!

 

[dave14110]

Hi Boyd, read your post reads "30 km's from where I live"? It's a little easy for us to help if we know which area you are from.

 

[shivan]

In my mind if there was gold found by the old timers there will probably still be gold around. But this is where a bit of research can come in, what type of mining was going on, what type of gold were they finding and how deep were they going.
If you are trying to find undiscovered deposits a lot more work would be required, looking for indicators and sampling but the next big one may be just round the corner

 

[Aussie Detecting]

What's the worst that can happen by exploring the area for gold? I'd be into it. Look for the likely spots & indicators. Get into it mate. Do some sampling & see what's there.

 

[BoydWilliam]

Sorry guys, i should elaborate.
Im located in Broadford, approximately 70 kms north of Melbourne.
Ive looked at a few other posts, and it seems there are a few other members from up my way!
Reedy Creek seems to be quite popular, and my wife has a friend who's property has the Reedy Creek run right thru it. This could be a good place to start!
Other streams include Sunday Creek, Sugarloaf Creek, King Parrot Creek, Murrindindi River, Yea River and numerous tributaries etc.
I am however aware that some of these streams are prohibited from panning and sluicing...does anyone know why that may be?
I have just purchased my 'Miners Right', and am looking forward to getting into this!

 

[WalnLiz]

Hi Boyd....Reedy creek is a great starting point if the water is running....great learning spot because the gold is some of the finest flour gold in the country.You get up to 50 fine specks per pan so you won't easily lose interest.....you'll soon learn to become efficient in your panning style....no coarse gold there so don't wase time with a detector.....concentrate on panning and sluicing....Cheers Wal.

 

[daneisch]

definetly give it a go. Get some good maps of your streams too. you could sample your target spots and mark out a plan.

 

[Ag Man]

Hey Boyd,
Can I suggest keeping a gold pan in your car & a small trowel. They're cheap & take up little room.

Sometimes it's hard to find time to set out a day or morning for panning, but if you got the gear in your car & happen to be near a creek/stream or dry river bed and have a spare half hour - go panning for a bit. You'll never know your luck.

Any plans to go out this weekend?

I look forward to you finding your first speck

 

[BoydWilliam]

No plans to get out this weekend as im working again.
Still waiting on a few things to arrive which ive purchased from the states.
As soon as im kitted up, ill be out there trying my luck!

 

[Keen Ken]

Boyd, you a very fortunate guy,
I have to travel at least 2 1/4 hours from where I live.there would be a lot of envious gold seekers on here.

Have fun.

 

[BoydWilliam]

Thanks Keen,
Ive heard my area isnt a bad place to prospect.
Not really too sure where to start, but ill just have to spend some time out having a crack!

 

[Keen Ken]

Thats the only way to do it, gain some knowledge in findng gold and panning,(you tube is helpful) eventually you will find your own little spot of "panners paradise".
Don't be surprised if you don't find any at first, I found very little for years, teamed up with some nice guys on the net and now I'm doing a little better and have a patch I can usually find something at. Funny thing is I had been there several times over the years and found only a very few specks.
The first trip this year I found at least a speck in each pan, trouble is word gets about now it's harder to find an unworked patch.
Happy hunting.

 

[Hunting the yellow]

Hi Boyd....Reedy creek is a great starting point if the water is running....great learning spot because the gold is some of the finest flour gold in the country.You get up to 50 fine specks per pan so you won't easily lose interest.....you'll soon learn to become efficient in your panning style....no coarse gold there so don't wase time with a detector.....concentrate on panning and sluicing....Cheers Wal.

wal do you mean reedy creek at beachworth vic or down killmore vic way cos reedy creek killmore way it has specks but is verry pachey in some places

 

[WalnLiz]

Hi Hty....I was talking of Reedy creek at Beechworth...only mentioned it because we tried it for a couple of days on our way through to the triangle...Lots of flour gold but extremely fine.....without a hi-banker you'd struggle to get petrol money out of it ....but still a fun spot with easy access..Cheers Wal

 

[dave14110]

You got it made you just about live next door to the triangle. I got a 21/2 hour drive to get there.

 

[Hunting the yellow]

Hi Hty....I was talking of Reedy creek at Beechworth...only mentioned it because we tried it for a couple of days on our way through to the triangle...Lots of flour gold but extremely fine.....without a hi-banker you'd struggle to get petrol money out of it ....but still a fun spot with easy access..Cheers Wal

yeah reedy creek at beachworth is really good for gold but reedy creek near broadford has only a few specks cos i have been up and down the creek at reedy creek near broadford and i have only got 00.3 of a gram for about close to 4 hours work ! so i don't bother to go there any more cos theres not much gold but you can try if you really want too

 

[Marty04]

Hi boyd
I've panned reedy creek at the bridge near Broadford and had quit a bit of luck.
I found if you separate some of the rocks and give them a scrub with a brush you'll wash off the gold that sticks in between.
Best of luck

 

[Hunting the yellow]

hummm maybie i am doing something wrong but i havent tryed near the brige yet maybie i shood

 

[elbowgrease]

Hi boyd
I've panned reedy creek at the bridge near Broadford and had quit a bit of luck.
I found if you separate some of the rocks and give them a scrub with a brush you'll wash off the gold that sticks in between.
Best of luck

I'm hoping someone can clarify here, but my understanding was the the creek that runs into Broadford is actually Sunday Creek and to the north of Broadford there is another creek called Dry Creek, so east of Broadford there is a small town called Reedy Creek however the creek that runs through Reedy Creek township is actually called Dabyminga Creek.

Is there actually a Reedy Creek (as in creek with water in it \ or dry) down that way I'm not aware of? I have a Vic TopoMap for that area I guess I'll need to go and study a bit more LOL.

Thanks
Adam

 

[elbowgrease]

Any confusion about location names aside, I have done a bit of prospecting and have caught up with HTY a few times down that way, gold is patchy but if you find a patch you can do OK. Different creeks need different techniques, some areas you can shovel river gravels directly from the creek beds, other areas you need to lift out or the cracked chunks of rock to get the mud, dirt, clay and hopefully gold stuck in between, crevicing can also be rewarding around a few of the creeks I've poked around down that way. One of the better spots I hit up with HTY was near bone dry except for the odd stagnant pool of stinky water every few hundred meters. In this particular location the bedrock had formed and cracked over thousands of years and despite the cracks being quite narrow with a cold chisel and mallet you could tap them apart and scrape out the mud and clay, run it through a sieve and pan it and the gold was quite nice.

Seek and you shall find! You are definitely in the right area for it.

Best of luck

Adam