Gold in Bendigo and no one will share

[scottmacrae]

I have come to learn that people don't give out many tips on where to go. How have you all picked up your knowledge

 

[Colmaca]

Google Knows all :lol:

 

[Teemore]

Try using the search facility on the forum and remember that Google is your friend, I'm sure once you start seeking out information and members see that you've made an effort them answers to more specific wnquiries will follow
That obviously excludes people passing on their "secret" hotspots.
Enjoy what's available,
Cheers Tom

 

[WalnLiz]

G'day scott, ....If you spend a bit of time reading through the posts on this forum you will find a lot of info on places to go, and techniques for prospecting places all over this great country of ours.

Most of the knowledge about this hobby comes from diligent research, and in many cases a lot of it. Others knowledge comes from years of experience in the field combined with practical know how, sometimes passed on from elders.

The knowledge curve is never ending, and, when we think we know everything, we in fact have only scraped the tip of the iceberg.

When new comers to the forum involve themselves positively, with the older, or more experienced members, their learning curve can be dramatically reduced, and their enjoyment from the hobby enlightened.

Cheers Wal

 

[Guest]

Hey Scott, you will find as you go along you will be more researcher, historian and cartographer than you will be Gold miner. Some just go out and wing it and dont find much but if you put the hard yards doing the ground work you will dramatically increase your take. You are well on the way just by joining up here. Goodluck Balx.

 

[casper]

I have come to learn that people don't give out many tips on where to go. How have you all picked up your knowledge

Google is your friend http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?q=waanyarra+

BTW are you detecting or panning / sluicing?

casper

 

[casper]

Balx is your friend too - but i only ever did really good when he was around

casper

 

[casper]

Balx is your friend too - but i only ever did really good when he was around

casper

......and when he allowed me to dig in his hole.

casper

 

[Guest]

Balx is your friend too - but i only ever did really good when he was around

casper

......and when he allowed me to dig in his hole.

casper

HAHAHA Thanks mate, this heat isnt anyones friend been keen to get out but its too hot.

 

[casper]

.... on a serious note though you will through patient participation in this online community likely 'hook up' with some one either by invitation or via a group field trip and the "knowledge" will be imparted. We all have different motivators for partaking in this hobby and for me it was historical interest but also the halting recognition that... Yup! i had arrived 160 years too late to the Gold Rush and so the days of 1oz of gold to each pan are long gone but hey, the oldtimers left just a sprinkling of it for us to experience the "fever" and to feed our dreams....... As for my experience I now know what good wash dirt looks like and what it delivers - I just gotta find my patch.

casper

 

[Diggerdude]

Google bendigo prospecting club and join there Facebook group. They have monthly meetings, field trips etc.

DD

 

[Guest]

I used to belong to the Bendigo Prospecting club and 2 others.

The Bendigo Prospecting Club is the best. If you want experience and knowledge spend some time with these guys.

The other thing you need to do is research and look for shallow nugget proven areas. So what your looking for is

the shallow alluvial leads near reefs. There are various maps about.

If I lived in Bendigo I would concentrate on the Tarnagulla or Inglewood areas.

Good Luck.

 

[HeadsUp]

G'day scott, ...

The knowledge curve is never ending, and, when we think we know everything, we in fact have only scraped the tip of the iceberg.

Cheers Wal

tip of the iceberg is right ....

there is sometimes a tendency for people to rush here and rush there chasing whims but barely touch the surface ( as i have in the past ).

but I find i can keep putting work in to a location and understand more each time i go there with a better understanding of the whole picture occurring

when our understanding improves we might read the geology or geography better , we read it in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours , then just shift location 10 feet and we go from 2 specs for a days work to 2 grams for a days work.

There is knowledge in these pages , but learning to teach ourselves while in the field and adapt to whats there has value too

gold is where ya find it

( except on days when it hears you coming and hides . . . . so you have to be vewy vewy quiet ) :lol:

 

[wombat]

Scottmacrae I have to agree with most of the comments so far. Research is your best hope. We have some of the best research history around about our goldfields of the 1850's. There has been many books written about the Victorian Goldfields and Bendigo is no exception. Books by James Flett are good ones to get but there are many other good authors around as well. Then you have your local liberty, they are the best place to go to all the local history you want including photos and News paper clippings. Also try the local Historical Society, is another great place to look. And speek to the old people there as they just love to talk about their town. I call them "The walking, talking history books". Try and find old maps of the area you are looking at. You should be able to get them from your local liberty and historical society. Also try google and type in the area you are looking for, like The history of the Bendigo gold fields and maps. Also John Tully maps are good. You can get them from Bendigo Gold. Join your local gold prospecting clubs. I think also that the PMAV has now a new branch up that way. Also jump on to a days prospecting course, this will take away at least 2 years learning by your self out of the equation. I have been now prospecting since the mid 1970's and still learning. When I came on board there was no research to be had and we had to find our own. But now there is a stacks of it, you only have to look. The old times gave us a path to follow, all we have to do is read the signs. And I promise you there out there. Try and put your self in the shoes of the old pioneers and learn how they would have lived and how they would have had to work the ground trying to find payable gold. Remember there was no such thing as Social Wealthfair in those days, so they had to find gold fast or starve.
wombat

 

[TenOunce Tone]

Diligence, percistance and sense of humour are the top three bits of advice a newbie needs. They will pay dividends when you combine them with information, motivatin and persperation.

Google or the library are good places to start. Youtube and your local prospecting shop are great resources also.

Just remeber that people put in years gaining knowledge and skills. They dont give thisvup without thinking you are putting in efforts

Cheers, Tone

 

[casper]

Google bendigo prospecting club and join there Facebook group. They have monthly meetings, field trips etc.

DD

aye, i have a mate who is a member, i would be too except i'd miss most meetings living 2 hours away

 

[Reeks]

So who was the lucky member who got a PM from this guy?

 

[Goldtarget]

I couldn't agree more with the above posts, and the reality is most prospectors "good" prospectors will help, but i would add to the above list and say a good attitude and dealing with at least one experienced person will dramatically open up the overall experience for you. I'm new to the area, just using what i know in a different location, which is something i find challenging too. But i think expectations need to be managed, read the replies in the post of how long before people got their first nugget...you will be surprised, and i would bet these same people who took so long did so backed by knowledge and feild time. It surprises me how many people Ive meet who thought the quickest way to gold in the pocket was to buy a detector. Most will lose interest if they don't manage their expectations, expecting great rewards over night is the place of fools and dreamers. So in summary, take the steps to know your machine/equipment, make solid long lasting connections with experienced and helpful people and do the research you need to increase your success. And ask a million questions, until you understand the answer. Good luck.

 

[HeadsUp]

I would like to offer up a different side to the coin

If I hear of someone finding a great patch , I DON'T ASK where it is

It's just rude

If they want to tell me . Great ! , but I won't be offended if they don't

It's a choice of the individual , and we should respect their choices.

 

[casper]

Hi scottmacrae I'd say again not to have great expectations 'cos mate! you have arrived 160 years too late! to the Gold Rush

Seriously though every target you dig will contribute to your knowledge and sometimes in an unexpected way. The first significant for me target that i detected was a racing pigeon leg ring at Muckleford between Castlemaine and Maldon. The ring told me the age of the bird, and the birds registration number and with that i was able to discover the club the birds owner belonged to. This bird fell prey to a falcon or simply exhaustion and i had hoped to be able tell the owner what happened to his prize bird and where it fell but the clubs records from the 1960's are 'lost' 8.( I have thrown away all my horse shoe nails, boot tacks, bullets, musket balls and hot rocks and sold the gold (in my dreams ) but still have that pigeon leg ring 'cos it has a story............ and also because my great grandfather raced pigeons i sorta understand the feeling when a bird doesn't return.

casper