Drake Area Scouting Trip

[fjute1955]

So guys as i mentioned in my intro im going to head off to the Drake area next week for my first look.
only problem is where do i start?
ive been spending alot of time researching as i see this is a common recommendation but think ive just confused myself more
Got my licence and pans
Downloaded all fossicking maps
Read old news papers
And have come up with the following
Drake -
Mt Carrington Area/White Rock
Malara -
Timbarra River
Rocky River
Poverty Point
Boorook -
Cataract River
So my question is can anyone help with info/Guidance for a newbie on his first trip to find a spec?
Am i on the right track with my research?
I totally understand gold is earned not just given and i need to get out there and have a go just looking for a steer in the right direction

 

[Shingles]

If no one gives you any pointers, the best way is to pick one of those areas and look for previous workings. You will easily see where the ground has been disturbed by prospectors.
Or just test pan the top layers for flood gold, even one speck is a good indication that your in the right area.
Hope this helps

 

[Chewy]

Yeah I'm sure you will get some feedback FJ, probably like myself the members who have seen this post are probably not from your neck of the woods and are unable to offer any advice.

 

[madworld]

Mate I have recently got into prospecting myself and drake is my nearest area, having done the same as yourself and researched the area I came up with the same names you have, can tell you I have checked off half that list and have found colour at all but one ... no big stuff generally but enough fines to keep you interested .. best bet is get out there and pan.

Long gully rd rocky river is a good starting point as its easy to practice panning and will almost definiteley have some fines to show by the end of the day.

drive down about 15km from the bruxner until you come to a cattle grid followed by a low bridge, park after the bridge and go wandering .. not the causeways its a timber bridge

Be happy to meet up out there one day but busy for the next few weeks

 

[fjute1955]

Thanks heaps Madworld
Ill give it a go

 

[fjute1955]

Hey Madworld
Are you panning or highbanking?
Or do you own a detector?
Im strongly trying to talk myself out of a 705 from anaconda but the price is so cheap and the more i think about it the more i want to give it a go.
Does anyone know were you can hire a detector on the Far North NSW/SE QLD?

 

[madworld]

Hi fj .. im just panning at the moment but as soon as i get a chance I will build a highbanker as I think it would be ideal out there .. far as finding gold with a detector goes I believe the gold in this area is too fine to pickup

 

[fjute1955]

So was headed out for my trip today and forgot my camping chair i remembered it when i was a hour from home and didn't fancy 2 days camping without a chair so turned around and headed home
so to turn a negative into a positive i made a bucket sieve this afternoon that ill take with me tomorrow when i head off again with my chair this time.
sieve should help get rid if some of the bigger rocks
Going to make another one with smaller squares next time so i have a few sizes

 

[fjute1955]

Well just got back from Drake
2 days and didnt see a speck of gold but did see some real pretty country
and camped at Leaderville Station on the Timbarra River big thanks to the owner for letting me camp on his property
but spewing i didnt see any gold long way to go for zero return but im not giving up

 

[fjute1955]

 

[bazza2210]

Hi there,

I have it on reliable authority from good source that knows that area ...

au at drake, hit McLeods crk at the cattle grate. Its everywhere, in the gullies, the gravels, the crevices. . Walk 3, 30 or 300m up the creek, grey clay in the crevices best.

Cheers happy hunting

Barry

So guys as i mentioned in my intro im going to head off to the Drake area next week for my first look.
only problem is where do i start?
ive been spending alot of time researching as i see this is a common recommendation but think ive just confused myself more
Got my licence and pans
Downloaded all fossicking maps
Read old news papers
And have come up with the following
Drake -
Mt Carrington Area/White Rock
Malara -
Timbarra River
Rocky River
Poverty Point
Boorook -
Cataract River
So my question is can anyone help with info/Guidance for a newbie on his first trip to find a spec?
Am i on the right track with my research?
I totally understand gold is earned not just given and i need to get out there and have a go just looking for a steer in the right direction

 

[fjute1955]

Awesome thanks bazza

 

[Tathradj]

There is a lot of info on that area.
.
Go Here,
.
http://digsopen.minerals.nsw.gov.au/
.
In the opening window look down the list and enter Drake into the Location field.
.
Happy Hunting.
Another one to use is six maps.
Google it and have fun.

 

[fjute1955]

Well my first seive is very course and does a great job on dirt covered roots etc but i needed another seive far finer to get rid of all the small rocks that are +3mm
So i built this bad boy
Its council recycling time so everyone has there rubbish out the front of there houses
So i scored the Bucket for free it was brand new 11lt the exact same bucket is $13 from bunnings no idea why someone would throw away a bucket let alone a brand new one
Mesh is aluminum window screen from Bunnings $8 a meter

Hopefully this works well and should greatly reduce my panning time
Just need another one thats about 4-5mm mesh and that should be a good set of sizes for now

 

[Myazma]

Heading out to Drake tomorrow for a bit of digging in McLeods creek, anyone else around or keen, leaving from Goonellabah. Cheers

 

[OzzyDigga]

Might be going out on Sunday. Keen to hit Pretty Gully. Unfortunately working tomorrow. Great time to head out with all this rain weve been having.

Good luck!

 

[Myazma]

Eye you might have some flow in the creeks on the run up to PG, hoping the gravel bed I want to get stuck into isn't too far under. Happy digging

 

[OzzyDigga]

thanks for the advise Myasma, Im sure u will find something to get stuck into. we dont have a 4x4 atm so will keep that in mind. Ive found gold in Ewingar though most of it is about the size of the black sand itself, its source im pretty sure is from the monzogranite which is everywhere. cons are a nightmare to seperate. I still have heaps sitting in my bucket from my last outing. Keen this time however to find a new spot that is kid friendly. .

 

[OzzyDigga]

let us know what it looks like out that side. Had my eye on Duncans and Williams creeks for a while now, never checked that side of the rocky. though will trek to those another time. Mcleods may be the go. might read up on a book ive been loaned called forgotten country, it tells old timers stories of the whole area. must say it is worth its weight in gold. Im going to take pics of every page and turn to pdf before i return it, there may not be many copies left.

 

[Myazma]

Ewingar isn't all that adult friendly either haha, yep plenty of Au still up there with heaps of scope from Washpool to the Rocky. Isobel's book is a good read, she also did one on the pubs of the area. I used to date on of the Kelly girls back in the day, still in contact for access to land west of the Rocky. McLeods is very kid/family friendly with good camping and waterholes. Friends work the upper creek accessed from the Red Hills rd while I usually hit the lower section from Long Gully Rd, nice chunky stuff - much bigger than the Ewingar fines.
Access to the creeks east of the Rocky is a bit more challenging in both permission from the cocky and getting there. Do know of one creek on the PG rd worth checking out (friend used to do all right there) but yet to look myself.
Have a good weekend