Can someone help a Gippsland newbie !

[Bluestreaker545]

Hi all, just asking if anyone from the west gippy area can steer me in the right direction. I ve been out around the tarago forest area having a look at some of the creeks feeding the tarago but with zero success. Im pretty sure im panning ok as have tested my technique using finely shaved/grated lead from sinkers.
I was hoping I may get some advice on some good creeks to try anywhere in gippsland as Im starting to think that this may all be a hoax.
Id love to tag along with an experienced campaigner if they would like someone to swing a shovel for them.

Cheers BS545

 

[casper]

Hi BS545
You're in the right place it's a gold bearing area - are you going deep enough though? You need to remove all the loose overburden (large rounded river rocks) and get down to the hard packed wash dirt and clay base that sits on top of the bed rock. You'll know when you've found the bottom. Put every shovelful thru a 1/4 inch garden sieve on an appropriate sized bucket and when you've got half a bucket of sieved (aka classified) stuff in yer bucket pan it off. In the area you're working you might have to dig a hole 1/2 deep as your shovel handle is long. You'll get yella in yer pan I'm sure. Fill your hole before you leave the stream.
good luck ... casper

 

[Bluestreaker545]

Thanks for the advice casper , the more I delve into previous posts the more I understand what is required. Ive just made a bucket sieve to agmans specs from a previous post and am keen to try it out now. Ive also been gathering supplies to make a river sluice which can also be ran at home to process dirt .Can you tell me if I need to be looking for creeks /rivers with exposed bedrock as the ones ive been to only seem to have granite boulders showing about the size of a bar fridge with significant areas of washed out quartz.
Ive lived and worked in the area for years and cant seem to think of many creeks with exposed bedrock and its doin my head in now so Im trying to cheat a bit

Again thanks BS545

 

[casper]

Hi BS545, AG Mans bucket sieve is a goodun.... make one!

Exposed bedrock is good if "crevicing" is your aim. However note that all the streams run on bedrock it's just that some have a lot of overburden! - and some have a little! Focus on the stream where mother nature concentrated the gold for you. There is the so called "gold streak" that when you get more experienced you'll be able to suss out (useful on wide watercourses) GOOGLE it.

casper

 

[ProspectorPete]

Thanks Casper, just learnt something new myself with the gold streak, now I've got renewed enthusiasm to get out and try the streams again on Friday.

 

[Bluestreaker545]

Much appreciated casper, googling away now !

 

[Tricky Dick]

Hi BlueStreak,
I've not had much of a go on the Tarago, but tried up QuartzCreek without success.
Met with a few guys out looking for smokey crystals there, who advised that gold is more likely to be found further East.
That's were I've since been spending my time - near Willow Grove cos it's fairly close to home, rather than heading to Walhalla.
At least I get some specks most times I try the pan now although I'm looking for places to crevasse.
Like you I've expanded my search to find creeks with exposed bedrock.
I'm based near Warragul if you'd like to chat?
Cheers
TD

 

[casper]

Hi BS545, Ticky Dick

And as I said earlier you're in the right place it's a gold bearing area ....... all the area in a wide arc looking to the north, east and west from Nerrim South is auriferous country. Stay out of the Yarra Ranges NP and the Tarago River (it is an "exempted" stream) and there's more than enough area to keep you busy.

casper

 

[Bluestreaker545]

Hi Casper, thanks mate, I have read about the tarago and I knew it was on the list of exempt places so I haven't gone near it which is frustrating as it looked like an exiting prospect.

Hi TD, Quartz creek was the first place I looked at but someone had been there before me there were big piles of washed rock everywhere and holes in the creek. I did manage to find some clear type quartz in there and what looks like black spinel, but definitely no gold.
I would be keen on a joint venture trip somewhere if you are.

Cheers BS545

 

[ProspectorPete]

Hi BlueStreak,
I've not had much of a go on the Tarago, but tried up QuartzCreek without success.
Met with a few guys out looking for smokey crystals there, who advised that gold is more likely to be found further East.
That's were I've since been spending my time - near Willow Grove cos it's fairly close to home, rather than heading to Walhalla.
At least I get some specks most times I try the pan now although I'm looking for places to crevasse.
Like you I've expanded my search to find creeks with exposed bedrock.
I'm based near Warragul if you'd like to chat?
Cheers
TD

Be prepared to take a hand held GPS and associated gear like a first aid kit, water etc. and go bush bashing by foot to find more remote parts of the creeks and you will be well rewarded, most "easy to get to" spots have been worked and unless there's been good rain/flood recently then the creek won't be replenished with fresh gold.
Just my 2c worth but I need to get out more too and do the same

 

[Tricky Dick]

G'day Blue streak,
I had a chance to get out today with the kids and went back to my old spot (please see original post: https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=9484 )
Spent 3 hours for 3-4 buckets with each pan coming up with 2-3 spots of flour gold. Dug the hole down a couple of feet but still no sign of the bottom, with hope there'll be some bugger stuff on the bottom? I also carried one bucket of unprocessed gravel to run through the bunnings sluice at home.
I sent you an email with my contact details if you'd like to come out one day.

Cheers
Tricky
Ps: whereabouts do you come from, I'm from Buln Buln?

 

[Bluestreaker545]

Hey there TD, I cant find your email anywhere, Im in Bunyip mate. Ilike the sound of what your pulling out there. Ithink I may have found some waterworn smoky crystals at quartz crk, Ill post them to see if they can be identified .

Cheers BS545

 

[golddiggerart]

G'day Blue streak,
I had a chance to get out today with the kids and went back to my old spot (please see original post: https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=9484 )
Spent 3 hours for 3-4 buckets with each pan coming up with 2-3 spots of flour gold. Dug the hole down a couple of feet but still no sign of the bottom, with hope there'll be some bugger stuff on the bottom? I also carried one bucket of unprocessed gravel to run through the bunnings sluice at home.
I sent you an email with my contact details if you'd like to come out one day.

Cheers
Tricky
Ps: whereabouts do you come from, I'm from Buln Buln?

Bunnings sell Sluices?

 

[Tricky Dick]

Hi goldiggerart,
Here's a link to the Bunnings sluices:
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=5109
I haven't yet had a chance to run through the bucket of unprocessed gravels yet to check how it works. I also have a container of black sand and fine flour gold to process after my last trip out. I tried it out on the river yesterday and liked the way it sorted out the gravels as they flowed through - no gold though.

Hi BlueStreak,
Yesterday I took the kids out to where Mundic Track crosses Mundic Creek ( above Noojee). It seemed to be a great spot with much exposed bedrock and holes, but the creek was tumbling too fast to work in the stream, although a great spot for the kids to swim! I ended up clearing out a hole off the river that was about 4 feet deep. A lot of work for no gold!!! I've noticed that many of the creeks are starting to drop their water levels as summer progresses, but this creek was higher than last time I was here after the recent rains. I see if I can post a photo later.
Any way I continue to learn by mistakes.
On Saturday I took the family for a drive up to Walhalla. Even though Stringers Creek is on the expected list, I could see signs of panning all through the town. It was so tempting to find a spot out of town, but didn't have the gear with me. I'll try and plan a trip up there before the summers out to give it a try.
I'll send you another message to see if it gets through?
I'd be happy to take you up to the spot I've been working and find some small specs. There's so many holes here to be worked I can't do them all by myself, and I'm surprised no-ones been here recently as only simple Internet research 'found' it. It's up near Willow Grove, if that's not too far?
Cheers
TD

 

[Bluestreaker545]

Hi Tricky, im keen as mate, ill check the email again and arrange something with you, I went back out quartz again this morning with the old boy and foolowed all the way back to labertouche. Lawsons falls looked exiting have you ever checked it out.

Cheers BS5457

 

[Tricky Dick]

Mundic creek 100 yards down from bridge on Mundic Track, which continues on from Ridge Rd coming out of Noojee, West Gippsland

Cheers
TD

 

[Tricky Dick]

Hi BS,
On the very top of this webpage, above the "o" in "Prospectign Australia" is a tab with a thought bubble in it:
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/icons/msg-icon.png
Click on that to find messages, if you're email has not arrived.
Cheers
Tricky

 

[mickance]

hawthorn creek is always worth a go just head out from south neerim when you get to the main river and bridge your pretty much at hawthorn creek ...now the gold is not large it is more flood gold in the banks but its there nad it is patchy but if you find a good patch you will have fun

dont bother trying near the join of the main river at least move half a klm up

if you google hawthorn creek you will eventually come up with a heap of historical gold bearing creeks nearby

cheers

 

[hyperdaryl18]

gday ive done a fair bit of panning at hawhorn creek and found some good gold it is small but lots of it if u wannna catch up let me know

EDIT: Phone number removed as per forum rules. Members can contact you via the EMAIL icon to the left under the avatar.After 10 posts the PM unction is enabled. Cheers, Moderator team.

 

[Jaros]

Nice lookin crick.