Hello from FNQ

[SneakyCuttlefish]

Hi everyone! I have been stalking the corridors of this forum for quiet some time now so thought it would be a good idea to join and contribute. I'm from the Atherton Tablelands and have spent the past few years gem hunting in the surrounding areas.

My main interest is gemstones, though I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at an opportunity to dig some metals.

I work in the agricultural sector and have access to many properties all over the region so I spend a lot of my spare time prospecting for new ground. There a several spots up here that could hold some potential. One area has turned up good size schorl tourmaline in pegmatite and I am hoping further investigation might yield some nicer varieties. Another area has turned up large weighty metallic nuggets that I am eagerly awaiting a lab test for. Certainly exciting times, though I am a realist and do not expect to make a fortune. I do it for the thrill of the find and to get out of the house as I suspect is the same for many people here.

This weekend I have decided to take a break from exploring so I am heading up to the Mt. Gibson fossicking area in search of topaz. I haven't been there before as I tend to steer away from well used fossicking areas. I once dug a whole nearly 2 meters deep at O'briens creek only to find a beer bottle at the bottom. Having said that though, O'briens is one of my favorite yearly camping trips and I have pulled some very nice smoky's and blue topaz from that area.

Anyway I was wondering if anyone has been to the Mt. Gibson fossicking area near Innot Springs and does anyone have any tips or tricks on striking a find on this field?

 

[The Green Wanderer]

Gday SC,
Ive been out to mt gibson, not since before all the recent rain started though. Cant give you any pointers unfortunately since my own expedition was pretty fruitless. Did find a few specimens of cassiterite out there and a couple of pea sized fluorites.
I wouldnt mind having another dig out there sometime, nice bit of country but bloody hot in summer. :-D

 

[SneakyCuttlefish]

Wanderer, thanks for the reply. Sounds pretty good to me. I would love to add a nice cassiterite specimen to the collection. Bit surprised that the old timers would have missed some of it. Every where I have been so far they seem to have scrub the land clean of everything.

 

[The Green Wanderer]

Nettle creek adjacent was dredged at one time for alluvial tin, the remains of the old coal fired dredger still lies abandoned in the creek bed and is now a heritage listed site.
lots of history to the area, and yep still some tin to be had in the fossicking reserve.
What day were you thinking of heading out?

 

[Jaros]

Hi Sneaky Cuttlefish. You will have a great time reading and participating in the forums activities i'm sure. Have fun. :|

 

[SneakyCuttlefish]

Not sure which day yet. Should be a good trip though. It will give me a better understanding of the regional geology. I'd love to do a bit more exploring around the Herberton, Watsonville, Irvinebank area around but its a bit risky to be walking off into the bush.

Loads of abandoned mine shafts and plenty of rednecks with deep dark secrets.

 

[The Green Wanderer]

No worries, im free sunday if you want a second vehicle and shovel along for the day. Might even be able to do saturday but not sure yet.
Yeah plenty of old mines out there, dont know if youve ever walked the hills round atheron at all? Few of old shafts still there and lots more overgrown partially collapsed to get the unwary bushwalker.
Havnt met any rednecks out there but plenty of graziers that dont like people trespassing or scaring their cows!

 

[SneakyCuttlefish]

Yeah sure. Many hands make light work. I'm aiming for a Sunday dig. Probably leave pretty early to beat the heat. I'm hoping some of the lads will join me as well as i am looking at splitting rocks rather then chasing the alluvial. From what i have read so far there are still nice sized vug/pegmatites to be uncovered where the granite intrusive's come up against the hornfels. Probably going to dig down beside/under some granite and try to split any fractures I come across.

 

[The Green Wanderer]

Sounds good, see you at the gate at 9am. If I miss u ill be on uhf channel 17.

 

[SneakyCuttlefish]

No worries. Sounds about the right ETA. See you there.

 

[the duck]

good luck sounds like you have a friend already hope you both get in to something