How do you guys divvy up?

[xxplosiv]

I've found a guy through a mate that is happy to take me out gold prospecting for the first time and give me some good advice on the hobby.

My question is - in this situation, if I actually found some gold out there using one of his detectors, what's the politics around divvying up the spoils?

I can understand both sides equally so I can't take a clear moral standpoint. Not that it would be up to me, but for what it's worth -

- I would say I found the gold on a patch of ground that he wasn't detecting on, and wouldn't go over twice with me there, so he would never have found it.

- He would say I found the gold using his equipment, on his patch, and if it weren't for him I never would've found anything (but potentially, neither would he!)

Do you guys have unspoken rules regarding this stuff? Or is it the kinda thing that's usually case by case, bloke by bloke and it's best to have the discussion before you get out of the car?

One would imagine things could get pretty messy if the new guy found the next Hand of Faith

 

[Colmaca]

Mums the word 8)

 

[Metamorphic]

For me and my long time prospecting partner its 50/50 down the line on anything 10grams or over!

If its under 10g, you keep it.

This works really well.....gives us two detectors on the ground at once, lets us both contribute in our individual areas of strength.

ie One is good at researching producible areas, whilst the other may be good at reading the ground around these areas.

We are able to both work of each others strengths for the gain of the team.

50/50.....the only fair deal that ensures a healthy prospecting relationship in partnership!

Just how we roll.

 

[Roscoe]

Mate, If a bloke is taking you to his patch using his equipment then any thing you find give it back to him. He will more then likely say you can keep it and from that he has a trust for you. You yourself will get a lot out of the experience from this, the type of country its in and what rocks in the areas the gold is associated with and also just the sound of gold in the ground when your coil is waved over it and more then likely a good friend. That's my opinion xxplosiv.

 

[xxplosiv]

Colmaca - LOL the thought did cross my mind, but wouldn't be able to live with myself!

Metamorphic - That sounds like a good arrangement. Would be good to have that some day with a prospecting partner, when I'm more use than being the proverbial pimple on his posterior of course

Roscoe - Yeah of course I'd be really appreciative for the experience, I'm not going to be splitting hairs over little nuggets. Even if I did find something massive I'd offer it to him. I'm just too nice a guy!

 

[k man]

I would hand any gold you find to the guy taking you out and make it clear before you even get in the car and leave.he will be proberbly more inclined to give you that little bit more education and expertise than if he thinks your only out there for yourself.the little bit of gold you might pull out of the ground in is no way near as valuable as the wealth of information you could expect to get out of the session. your a lucky man just having this personal opitunity like this, a lot of prospectors have to fork out there hard earned cash and buy there own equipment and learn the hard way by studying and teaching themselves.and as Roscoe said he may just let you keep any find at the end of the day.good luck and have a great day mate you'll have a ball

 

[Twapster]

I think Meta has the best approach in this situation, I guess all situations are different. However if I was finding multiple pieces under 10grams and someone had guided me to a spot, the second find would be offered to him even if it was under 10grams, the rest 50/50 if significant.

 

[ProspectorPete]

I found myself in a similar situation on the weekend, someone taking me to his turf showing me the ropes and to be honest I never gave it a thought, I would have assumed if I found a small nugget I would keep it being my first but if I found more than one I would split it 50/50 as a thank you, if I found a big nugget it would be 50/50 no doubt but I never thought about it until reading this post.
Luckily I didn't find any nuggets to save the embarrassment of either having to ask or assuming otherwise but I might just mention it quietly next time to save any confusion.
Good topic of discussion by the way.

 

[Metamorphic]

You must all tread this area very carefully gentlemen.

It is all well to say here on the forum that you should hand over any finds to the person who helped you out, showed you the ropes and even lent you his detector, applaud your good will.....however let me put this scenario to you!

You find a lovely 5 grammer, only a couple hundred bucks worth, you dig it, do the gold dance and stick in your finds bottle. At the end of the day you offer it to your new found mate out of goodwill.......a couple hundred for his time, teaching and generosity sounds fair yes?

Alternatively, you are blessed with beginners luck and you ping an 87 ouncer totally out of the blue....a once in a lifetime find.

Now what do you do?? We are talking $150,000 here!

If you decide to keep it for yourself, there will undoubtedly be bad blood from your new detector mate agreed?

If you decide to hand it over (out of either generosity or stupidity) for him helping you out, and his eyes bulge as he pockets the whole lot without giving you a smack....there will know doubt be bad blood from your side on this.

Either-way, anyone of these scenario's occuring will surely see that this would be the LAST time that you both ever went prospecting together again.....In fact, you both would most likely never even speak again.

It is so critical that you set the ground rules with any prospecting partner BEFORE you head out over the ground, and a share situation is the best way to go....trust me, I know from experience.
This is regardless of whether he owns the patch, you own the patch, he owns the gear, you own the gear or whatever.

There could well be big money at stake here, and big gold is big money....greed will do strange things to people who would normally not be like that.

Always agree to the rules first, its the only fair solution and may save a devastating situation and a ruined relationship.....or worse, a knife in your back.

Cheers

Meta

 

[dwt]

I find I only go out with like minded prospectors, wether it be from meeting them here on the forum, or locally,
To invite someone out and show them some producing spots, or invite/take them to private property where the owners trust my judgement is a big thing.
I guess I'm saying that after myself and whoever I sent the gernzie to managed to find a nice piece/pieces, im more inclined to think we would end half heartedly arguing over who should take it,
You have it mate,
Na mate, you found it, you take it,
Na mate it's your spot,
ARRGH so what, you dug it,
Yeah buts it's your detector,
Alright then let's split it,
Ok, so you take it and sell it,
Na mate, you take it and sell it,
We'll both take it and sell it,
So who wants to hang onto it............ :lol:
$150,000 cash dosnt go real far now days, wouldn't pay the house off, certainly wouldn't buy some new mates,
A deal In place before you kick off, yep, I'm cool with that, but with me, im going to be offering you 50/50 even on the sub grammers,
I call you mate, and I wouldn't be caught dead with anyone less

 

[Redfin]

I love all the above scenarios,
and that is why, we, Mrs Redfin and I, detect on our own.

 

[silver]

My Dad, when he was alive and a lot younger, used to head out with an old fella on the weekends(50-60 years ago), he told me they would work about 1 square yard of dirt and pan off around 1 ounce of fine gold,... my Dad never received anything except the experience and was always happy to say that he was on the good end of the deal,.... experience wise.

 

[Next1m8]

I was out fossiking by myself today came across some people from Geelong, more to the point the husband near on have me a heart attack prick snuck up on me and said "hey there" I'm like **** mate dnt sneak up on people with a pick beside them and a steel shovel in there hand mate, anyway he said he'd been doing it for 15 years and was teaching his wife, he was more useless at fi song gold than me and had no good advice for his wife, I don't the noble thing I thought emptied my sniffer tweezers and got the biggest bit I'd gotten for the day shoved it in her pan along with some lights/heavies I.e black sand and showed her my technique, she appreciated it heaps the look on her face was golden as she was just getting the whole idea. As they where leaving she said here is your gold, I said nah it's yours now.. I had to pack up not long after and I filled in my hole and as I was leaving said the spot was all yours now.. Hope they don't dig holes everywhere already filled in 7 other people holes while walking along the creek chatting with an old local I knew.. So it wasn't dividing as such but more of a gift to her as a begginer I was once too only had to pretty much learn everything by research and exp, I'm still looking for people who are seriouse to come out and help me

 

[k man]

I agree exactly with what you are saying meto with putting your cards on the table first before going out and having some sort of rules/ gentlemans agreement between each other before heading out would be a must.secondly I think the 50/50 split is always the best and fairest way to do it.but in regards to my earlyer post maybe sitting in those shoes I'm just to generous. for a first ever time out i would be more stoked about the adventure than anything else, like I said that's just me.as to hitting the big one and pulling out the retirement nugget didn't lucky streak already dig all them out on us? .anyway xxplosiv I think meta has the best scenario for you and I'm sure your gunna have gold fever buy the end of it and who knows you might end up with a new prospecting buddy out of it. best of luck

 

[Westaus]

FWIW our scenario is we keep the first 1/2oz for ourselves, then everything after is split 50/50

Our theory is that we all have some costs, if we can recover some costs with the smaller pieces. Then if we do really well, one person is not going home with nothing and the other taking it all. Which would cause bad blood and probably the loss of a good mate.

We both agree to this and that is the way we roll. Never been an issue, but then again never found a lot of gold either so it will be fun the day we do.

In the above situation I would just hand it over, but I also would have discussed it beforehand so we both were clear, then shake on it and enjoy your time.

 

[PabloP]

A mate said to me before I went out last week that he wanted 50/50, to which I said fine if you do the digging. He balked at this, with excuses of visitors, etc. So when I went out, all I found for the day was rusty old nails and other junk, so I gave him half of it.

But seriously in practice I would be happy to go with either 50/50 or the Westaus approach, as I am in it as a hobby and to get out and get some exercise in my old age, and not in it to make a profit. Any finds are a bonus.

Rob.

 

[Tathradj]

The way that DWT said would be me me all over.
I make it clear that I would keep the first nugget I found. It is bad luck to pass it up.
If it was a big one,
The following scenario would happen,,
,
Me, Hey Mate, Look at this one,
Old Mate, Struth, Where did you get that one from and well done,
Me, Just in that hole over there, Aint she a buety mate,
Old Mate Yep. Well done,
.
Around the fire that night.
.
Me, Well Mate, How did you go,
Old Mate, Good, Found a heap of little fella's (Offering a handfull)
Me, Top stuff mate, Now about that big one, I got these little ones that brings my tally close to you so here, Take them to balance up.
Old Mate, Nuhh I am happy with what I got.
Me, What, No, We are both in it so here and go enjoy your self.
Old Mate, Come On Mate, That's your Gold, I don't want it, You worked hard for it and I am happy for you.
Me, I don't like it mate. You gotta have a brag pile to make the missus happy when you get home,
Old Mate, Want a beer,
Me, Now you are talking.
(That night when Old mate is pissed, Hide some small nuggets so he will find them when he gets home.)
.
I myself would personally and politely refuse to take any ones gold off them. Maybe take a small bit but I would not be happy. It is the camaraderie and trust that I work on.
Life is too short to get upset about crap like that.
.
If some one is sharing my banker for some reason, 50/50 right down the line.
If I am working by myself. It's mine but if old mate is going home with nothing, I will offer.
.
If some one took me to their favorite patch then got nothing and I cleaned up, THAT's when the fight will start. PMSL

 

[Bacchus]

I like both Meta's and Westaus's arrangements for a couple of mates who go out on a regular basis , but for a bloke to be taken out and given equipment to use , reckon the goodies should be offered up to the bloke doing all the giving , then a scenario like DWT suggests is likely to follow , I am not Religious , a Green , bedazzled by Peace or Love and can't stand brown rice but have seen the Karma Bus at work a few times.

Ps. Good to see you back Meta

Great topic guys

Cheers

 

[Guest]

Very interesting topic... I myself find that I'm meeting up with a lot of forum members and some very interesting people'
Sunday was a regular day with a regular down to heart bloke "if" had he found a nugget in the spot I took him it was his! and I'd be happy to know that there was still more gold there...maybe worth more time for both of us to meet back there.

Monday was a adventure all the same but man what a weirdo...

I guess what it all comes down to is' who's truck & fuel, equipment, food, beers & after thats all organised fighting over the gold isnt a way to finish the weekend, Good mates don't need rules & little nuggets can be forgotten about its the big ones that upset people.

 

[Goldtarget]

Situations change as the people change. Examples

One old guy believes you find your own gold. You'd be lucky to get a holey sock from him. But his wealth of knowledge is the real gold.

Another bloke vets blokes by detector and knowledge. If he doesn't like you forget it. Never get a call back. Tell you about the patch after he's cleaned it but never ever touch another's hard earned. First shout every time. Will tell you where and what he got even roll out the photos if he has had a few. Has had and shared equally patches found with others.

Me personally depends on the guy but I'm no detectorist. I gave an old but good pan to the kids that came down a creek not so long ago, and gave their mother the best spot. I always give the nephew the spoils for the day. If a bloke seems genuine I'll pass on mine or others give away spots.

I understand greed but hand of faith or not, mine or others coil makes no difference. All the gold in the world should not buy off your character and integrity. The only time I'd be selfish is if for some reason I stumbled on my own patch and pulled the lot solo. The fever can make people do some silly things. Being able to look a bloke square in the eye and know you hold him in equal regard can't be measured in grams or ounces.

It's a smaller world than people think, especially prospecting. If you're in it to get whatever you can out of it I reckon you're in it for the wrong reasons.