Ion Idress prospecting for gold.

[Greglz86]

On my holidays I come across a second hand book shop that had a range of ion idress books. ( forgive me if I spell it wrong)
One book that caught my eye was prospecting for gold.
I didnt get it because I didn't know if it was worth the $65 they were asking for it.
Apart from the original owners name on the first page it was in good condition.
What do you guys think? Worth the read for that price or dont bother?
Regards Greg

 

[axeman]

First of all, these books a collector items and some are worth big money. the entire collection minus (Ithink) 3 was on e-bay for $30,000.00. Prospecting for gold is what I call the prospectors bible. Worth every cent.
Mick

 

[Ben78]

I would have paid that if I saw it in a shop. They have been cheaper than that on ebay though but not much

 

[Greglz86]

Thanks guys. Im still on hollidays and the shop is only 15 minuts from where im staying. If my budget will allow it I still may get it before I go.
Axeman, what is it about this book that makes you call it the prospectors bible?
Greg

 

[Ben78]

Axeman, what is it about this book that makes you call it the prospectors bible?
Greg

The book is pretty much known colloquially as that. Covers anything any prospector needs to know about finding gold.

 

[axeman]

I've read the book cover to cover a few times and always find something new in it. It give's one an insight into were and how to find gold, opal ect. it covers the methods for extracting gold the equipment used. Remember this was written ages ago so this equipment may not of interest many people but it fascinates me.
Mick

 

[TenOunce Tone]

Hi Greg, I came across a copy of this book and flip through it all the time. He covers every aspect of finding,recovering and processing gold and other metals.

Worth every cent. Buy it if you can. You will never let it go

Cheers, Tone

 

[Black-Pete]

I searched for a couple of years for a copy in second hand book shops and finally found one which I paid $45 for. To my surprise when my father passed away I found a second edition hardcover copy amongst his belongings.
Pete

 

[Greglz86]

Thanks for the input guys. I did get the book. I felt that it was going to be one of those things I would regret if I didn't.

 

[trashmagnet]

you can still buy this book brand new from book shops for about $40 as it was reprinted not long ago.
I think it was abc books I got it from.
regards trashy

 

[Greglz86]

Thanks trashy. Unfortunatly a bit late to tell me that :8
Oh well, im sure I will still enjoy it.
Greg

 

[loamer]

There are some (including on this forum) who do not rate Idriess (As my grand-daughters say - 'whatever'). It will not surprise you that every decent prospector I know rates this book as a very good start point and is referred to by most instructors. Admittedly it is pre-electronic detecting but his information on what to look for still holds true. There is another small book you may try and get hold of- Sam Cash's 'Loaming for Gold'. It has been reprinted and available.

The Idriess family (or trust) keeps a pretty close hold on his titles, for example, 'Cyaniding for Gold' is next to impossible to find cheaply and even the reprint is quite expensive. He also wrote 'Fortunes in Minerals' - I have the 1941 edition. If you dig into the internet hard enough you may be able to get it as a short-term loan as an 'ebook' that cannot be printed or copied. It is an excellent book that deals with scientific issues but in laymen's terms. The issue with Idiress is the copyright law - death plus 50 years I believe hence the reason there are no uploaded legitimate copies through Trove, State Libraries etc.

I don't know what state you are from - if you are from Victoria, there is Robert Brough-Smyths books (Victorian information from the 1800s) - very good and probably the base-line for a lot of later books including Idriess and Cash. They can be downloaded - but no maps or diagrams.

happy reading.