Fossicking at Wee Jasper

[enigmaticgnome]

Hi all,
I've been trying to look into fossicking for sapphires at Wee Jasper. I'm new to this so want to make sure im doing everything by the books and respecting the activity and other fossickers.
I was reading in an old post about Wee Jasper that Mcphersons Swamp Creek is a good place to try? I'm a little confused about different types of land and the legality of fossicking in certain areas. From what I read State Forest is fine? And from a map I was looking at, Mcphersons Swamp Creek is in State Forest. Though somebody in another thread said you weren't allowed to fossick there anymore.
As a newbie, I want to make sure I'm doing everything legitimately, so if anyone has any information that could help, I would greatly appreciate it

Cheers,
Gnome

 

[shivan]

Have not made it out there myself yet, but the forestry corporation have maps on where you can and cant fossick in state forests.
http://www.forestrycorporation.com.au/visit/activities/fossicking#maps

The wee jasper map is here:
http://www.forestrycorporation.com....ssicking-area-map-wee-jasper-state-forest.pdf

The top part in the map is within a nature reserve, followed by a stretch that is not in state forest. It then enters state forest, but the first stretch seems to be leased so permission would be needed around there. After that the rest of the creek seems to be in state forest.

 

[enigmaticgnome]

Ah Thanks! Those were the maps I was checking out and it looks like anything south of Wee Jasper Rd is ok as long as I have a permit from forestry right?

Is there anything else I should take note of while I'm there? Like I know to backfill any holes and I've read the forestry pdf on fossicking, but things like where I can dig in regards to a river and its riverbanks and something in the forestry document said about washing sieves and silt in the waterways?

Sorry for all questions. Dont want to be the person that ruins it for everyone

Cheers

 

[enigmaticgnome]

I know it was said in an older post (2 years ago), I was hoping things had changed though... but went to Mcphersons swamp creek over the weekend and it was absolutely covered in blackberry. Not sure if we were at the same spot that Wal mentions in that older post, but we followed the road to tumut all the way until it went over Mcphersons swamp creek, found a spot to stop and walked along the creek a little. Totally inaccessible though
I guess I'll try oberon, sounds easier to access for our first time. Maybe Grabben too?

 

[Pegleg]

Is it worth fighting the blackberry to go south or was that area thats now a no fossicking crown lease the only decent spot?

 

[enigmaticgnome]

Im not sure, this was the first time we went. We drove along Wee Jasper Rd until we got to Mcphersons Swamp Creek and pulled up to check it out. We tried following the creek south from there, but it was way too overgrown with blackberry for us. I can see on google maps that there is another rd that crosses the creek a little further south, but we didnt try there... im not sure if thats the spot we should have gone to, but our car doesnt like bumpy dirt roads too much and it was already starting to get late.

 

[Myazma]

If you can get your hands on an old book called Gemstones of Australia, it talks about other creeks in the area as also saph producing.

 

[Myazma]

If you can get your hands on an old book called Gemstones of Australia, it talks about other creeks in the area as also saph producing.

 

[AtomRat]

Hi all,
I've been trying to look into fossicking for sapphires at Wee Jasper. I'm new to this so want to make sure im doing everything by the books and respecting the activity and other fossickers.
I was reading in an old post about Wee Jasper that Mcphersons Swamp Creek is a good place to try? I'm a little confused about different types of land and the legality of fossicking in certain areas. From what I read State Forest is fine? And from a map I was looking at, Mcphersons Swamp Creek is in State Forest. Though somebody in another thread said you weren't allowed to fossick there anymore.
As a newbie, I want to make sure I'm doing everything legitimately, so if anyone has any information that could help, I would greatly appreciate it

Cheers,
Gnome

This post is a great example for anyone new to the area and also such a great example of thinking about what to do right, rather than just guessing. Can this be stickied or something? I dunno, but I think its awesome

 

[Billy]

If you can get your hands on an old book called Gemstones of Australia, it talks about other creeks in the area as also saph producing.

Hey e gnome, I bought a copy of this book a while ago and may be worth sending a PM to y4k to see if his is still for sale??

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=14782

Cheers,

Billy.

 

[damosamo]

Im not sure, this was the first time we went. We drove along Wee Jasper Rd until we got to Mcphersons Swamp Creek and pulled up to check it out. We tried following the creek south from there, but it was way too overgrown with blackberry for us. I can see on google maps that there is another rd that crosses the creek a little further south, but we didnt try there... im not sure if thats the spot we should have gone to, but our car doesnt like bumpy dirt roads too much and it was already starting to get late.

Hi,
the latest State Forrest Fossicking maps shows the old diggings area is now designated a crown lease and no fossicking is allowed

 

[enigmaticgnome]

This post is a great example for anyone new to the area and also such a great example of thinking about what to do right, rather than just guessing. Can this be stickied or something? I dunno, but I think its awesome

Thanks AtomRat! I'm still a little confused about where is good or not, so I went to Oberon and the tourist centre there pointed out some spots. I know they werent going to be the best, but just to jump into it for our first go was sufficient. I'll have to have another look at the state forest maps to see if they have changed. Where we went im reasonably confident was state forest and as far as im aware (which isnt very far!), I think it was legal at the time, but too many blackberries anyway so we didnt get a chance to fossick. I'd like to go somewhere around sydney again soon, I might have to hit up the forums to see if any veterans would be willing to take a newbie like me out somewhere.