Hey- new member

[samantha_44]

Hi Everyone,

I am a new member wanting to get into prospecting for gemstones.
I would appreciate any advise you could give a newbie. My grandpa when he was alive was a prospector and was apart of a gem club (unfortunately I can't remember to much more).
I am located in the Knox area, which is the south east suburbs of Melbourne. If anyone can recommend a great place to start (which is not to far away) it would be a great help.

Thank you

 

[AtomRat]

Hi samantha, gemstones closest to You would either be out my way which is the yarra valley ( past lilydale.. warburton, etc ), phillip island or southern ends of the golden triangle

 

[AtomRat]

There may have been finds towards upwey but certainly in Cardinia and Gemrook too.

 

[samantha_44]

AtomRat thank you so much. Gembrook would be great or even the Yarra Valley, do you have a specific area to go to there.

 

[Karen]

Hi Samantha,

Welcome!

You'll find lots of great advice on the forum and heaps of posts to read.

Everyone's friendly and they freely help us newbies out a lot. I've found them to be a great bunch so far.

Happy fossicking!

 

[AtomRat]

I've been digging with a couple of guys from around the area here and I also dig with a group of women from the local gem club and are more than welcome to join in some time. Finds can be rare or scarce, but we do have them here and there. Gembrook has been tough and I havnt had luck soo far but still have to dig there more. It is dense forest with leeches and snakes, you need to be bush ready for out here as safety is number 1 priority due to many dangers. Most cases we cannot be reached by emergency vehicles or airlift. We keep as safe as possible though in saying that.

Most creeks that head off the yarra hold a mineral, gemstone or gold but like I mentioned, can be hard to find and research is needed

 

[samantha_44]

What is the local gem club that your are associated with. I have been looking at a few and think I would enjoy signing up to one. Hmmm snakes and leeches, may not be he best place to start. I agree safety is a main priority.

 

[AtomRat]

There's a danger everywhere with prospecting basically, you just need to be careful. Much to learn as well. You should have a gemclub in nudawaddin or lilydale, I don't know any closer. You may be able to find some info at miners den in mitcham off whitehorse rd.

My club is very small and located in yarra junction. We are working on expanding the club room to somewhere bigger.

A good bug spray keeps leeches at bay and well snakes are evertwhere gemstones are apart from in shops..

 

[samantha_44]

Karen thank you I have been looking through other posts and everyone does seem so nice and willing to help others out. I am lucky I stumbled across this site.

Great thanks AtomRat I'm going to look those clubs up now. I have a feeling that my grandpa was a member of the nunawading gem club, I will have to contact them to find out.

 

[AtomRat]

Out here usually cosists of a walk most the time half a kilometer for easy access and up to 3 kilometer walks for hard access areas. This can sometimes mean off track, having to slide under or over fallen trees or treck through some bush to reach the creeks as they are all in steep gullies.

If you are after something more relaxed, phillip island is a great spot to find them and get a tan

Most gemstonea are a travel from knox though. I just went out to Dayelsford with a couple of forum members to gather some sapphire, garnet, zircon and spinel which is a 2 hour drive there

 

[AtomRat]

A couple of members from my club are at nanawading club also. From what I know, they are well equipped.

Hello Karen too, don't think I had the chance to say to yet though I have read your topics and posts

 

[samantha_44]

That's great, defiantly going to have a look at that club. Thank you for all your help!! I have been looking at the older posts, one in particular spoke about Warburton. Thinking of going up there soon. Have to start somewhere can't wait!

 

[AtomRat]

Let me know if you head out here, I can certainly help

 

[Gareth100]

Hello fellow Gold Prospectors, I am new to this site, and look forward to joining in on your forums, I live in Mudgee NSW which is about 280km north West of Sydney. This area is famous for the Gold found here, Hill End with the Holterman Nugget, Hargraves, Gulgong, so we don't have to travel to far to be in Gold bearing county.
I wish you all good prospecting.

 

[AtomRat]

Hello fellow Gold Prospectors, I am new to this site, and look forward to joining in on your forums, I live in Mudgee NSW which is about 280km north West of Sydney. This area is famous for the Gold found here, Hill End with the Holterman Nugget, Hargraves, Gulgong, so we don't have to travel to far to be in Gold bearing county.
I wish you all good prospecting.

Gday Gareth n welcome to the forums!

 

[Chewy]

Hi welcome aboard Gareth, and Samantha. Hey you don't have to worry about the leeches and snakes since the crocs ate them all. :lol:

 

[phil]

gday samantha reedy creek is about 3 hours away and no shortage of gems clear quartz smokey as well and diamonds if your lucky zircon and pretty much the lot as well as gold bye

 

[samantha_44]

Thanks phil, so many options where to go now because of everyones helpful posts.

 

[AtomRat]

You had mentioned local to knox, but if travelling 2-3 hours isn't a problem for you, then you have many deep lead goldfieldsbyou can search for gemstones for starters too