Hello everyone

[kapundakid]

Hello everyone,
Today I took the plunge and registered to the forum, so here is my introduction.

My name is Ashley.
I am 33 years young and live just outside the Barossa area in South Australia.
I work full time for SA Ambulance Service as a Paramedic and currently studying part time at Flinders University.
So far, my main hobbies in life have been aviation/aircraft, camping and the occasional 4x4 off road tracks with my trusty old 92 Hilux.

The other week, I was on holiday in Victoria, where during my travels, I went to Sovereign Hill in Ballarat.

It was this visit to Sovereign Hill that has sparked off an interest in my new hobby idea, Prospecting! I have always been fascinated about the hobby but have never taken the time to research whats involved and how to go about getting started.
Since visiting Sovereign Hill, I have been doing some casual looking into the hobby with a keen intention of giving it a go. I love the idea of heading out into the field and finding random old relics, coins and anything else that may tell a story from many years ago. I also, dont want to rule out the off chance of finding that nice little piece of yellow metal that everyone dreams about finding!

I have come up with what I think is going to be my first instrument of choice that will get me started with the hobby, the Garrett AT GOLD (But willing to take advice too.
As a beginner and what I have researched so far, The AT Gold looks to me to be the great all rounder and sits perfectly within my budget at this time. I hope to purchase an AT Gold within a few weeks (Just need to get permission from the Boss but I think I have almost won with much pestering and nagging..hahaha!!).

I hope I am off to a good start and soon be out in the field digging up all sorts of strange things to collect and show.
Cheers,
Ash.

 

[Nugget]

Welcome to the forum Ashley.

Your venturing into an addictive but rewarding hobby, it's a great way to stay fit and if your lucky you might find some of that elusive yellow stuff along the way.

I agree with you about the AT Gold being a great all rounder, I own one personally and consider it to be a fantastic machine for it's price.

If you have questions about the AT Gold or anything else, please don't hesitate to ask, the guys here are extremely helpful.

Cheers,
Nugget

 

[kapundakid]

Ok, Thanx heaps for that advice Nugget.

 

[kapundakid]

Id be keen to know if there are any experienced peeps in my local area that would be prepared to take a newbee under their wing too.

 

[Nugget]

I'd imagine so. We quite often see new relationships being formed around the forum. Go into your profile and update your location as this should help with finding people in your area.

Cheers,
Nugget

 

[kapundakid]

Fantastic, all done. Cheers for that.

 

[kemjak57]

Welcome Ashley, all the best with your new hobby. There is plenty of good advice on here and Nugget is a great man to get advice from about your machine. Good luck, cheers Rick

 

[kapundakid]

Thanx for the welcom Rick.

Cheers.

 

[WalnLiz]

Welcome to the forum Ash, If it's prospecting your interested in, then that first plunge to join the forum will be one you will never regret. Research is a huge advantage to fast track you knowledge but nothing compares to experience.

The forum is full of vast knowledge that has been derived from experience, and the great part of this forum, is that members are willing to share that knowledge base. Hopefully this hobby will become a lifelong adventure. Best of luck out there,

Cheers Wal.

 

[Dughug]

G;day Ash welcome to the forum and also the hobby.

There are a few ambo's that I see regularly who get out and have a scratch. As you are in the Barossa your close to some really good locations. Google the AFLACA site & check out the Barossa Gem Club -they are a small but enthusiastic mob who will soon make you welcome.

Contact details below
Barossa Gem and Mineral Club Inc.
PO Box 430, Nuriootpa, SA 5355
Ph: Jeff Filsell Mob. 0407 691 340
Email: [email protected]

I'm located just above the Flinders Uni and belong to a few of the local groups -

Hope to catch you out in the dirt some time.

 

[Mystyk59]

Gday and welcome Ash to the forum, I live in the N.T but we have a place in Angaston, so i know the Barossa well, but when we were living there i wasn't into the addiction that i am now ! So cant help you with any info but look forward to hearing of your finds in the future
Regards Bill

 

[kapundakid]

Thanx for the welcome there Wal, Dug and Bill and cheers for the contact info too Dug.

Ash.

 

[Rickd]

G,day Ash , the biggest problem you will have now is time !! It goes so fast when prospecting , very addictive . I have an AT Pro (waterproof) and think it,s great , I also intend on getting something just for gold , Garrett have a new detector coming out that's on par with the gpx 5000 but hopefully alot cheaper!!

 

[kapundakid]

Hi all,

Sorry ive been a bit quiet on here. Good old work and Uni have been taking up my time.

But I bring some good news.
On Thursday 10th, I finally placed my order for a new AT Gold!!!!
I am sooo excited and cannot wait for it to arrive hopefully next week when I am on days off.
I wish I had of ordered it a few months ago though as the price has jumped on them. Grrrrrr, that will teach me to procrastinate!!

I have lost count on how many times I have viewed the training videos on how to use the AT Gold on the Garrett website. I recon I will be able to fly it just about blind folded right out of the box when it arrives. LOL

I'll keep you posted on how things go.



Ash.

 

[kapundakid]

Gday everyone,

Well, my new AT Gold arrived yesterday and all I can say is "WOW, What a masterpiece of machinery!".

The other day before my ATG arrived, a work collegue got word that I was interested in having a dabble with a detector and kindly allowed me to borrow his old Garrett Scorpion Gold Stinger(he doesnt use it anymore).
Much to my surprise, I was able to get the hang of the basics pretty quickly and found a few trash items in the back yard of my work house that I am staying at.
I was able to find an old school drawing compass and a small bell housing from what looks to be a pet bird cage and of course lots of foil, pull tabs and caps

So far, ive been exploring with the ATG in my back and front yard and have managed to find a $2 & 20cent coin. These are probably the most of the many hists worth bragging about at this stage.

I did some bench testing with Auzzie coins and a standard bottle cap and pull tab in an effort to learn the signal strenghts and sounds. Amazingly, I was surprised that a bottle cap gave me a sturdy signal of 80 and didnt Iron discriminate on Irion audio like I had expected??? It was a Coopers Brewery cap if that helps.

the coins gave as follows:-

5cent= 47

10cent = 53

20cent = 62

50cent = 66

$1 = 77

$2 = 76

Can anyone add what other signals to look out for that are worth loggin in the memory. EG pennys etc.

Ill keep you all posted on my progress.

regards,

Ash

 

[Nugget]

Very exciting mate, it's a great machine. You'll find the more you use it, the more you'll love it.

Take a look at https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=237 for a list of common target ID's fro the AT Gold.

 

[Jacko]

That's really exciting to have received your machine and are already into learning what the different sounds are for. That particular sound was important to learn and we found our first gold in 3 years of detecting, other than panning years ago. Hope you find the yellow soon.

 

[kapundakid]

Cheers for that link Nugget,

What a great resource you have provided. I will print off a copy and laminate it to be added to my field kit.



Hi Jacko,

Yeah Id love to find some yellow but I think that will be a little down the track for me.
Purely as I dont know where l can go locally that might have some potential hot spots but dont worry, I am keeping the research happening and I might see if I can join a local club aswell.