New from Tasmania

[user 1769]

Hi everyone,

Been prospecting in Tasmania for over 15 years, mostly in the northeast and mostly for sapphires and topaz. I usually go 3-5 weekends a year, and stay from 2-4 days up there.
Recently started to get more interested in the yellow stuff that also comes up with the black sand in some creeks... and I guess I have the bug now.

 

[richo966]

hard to get rid of that bug it bites hard

 

[user 1769]

Tell me about it!

I'd got curious a while ago, having heard that some of the tin mines in the area I fossick were finding enough gold to pay part or all the labour costs. When I'd hit a good hole and see coarse spinel and plenty of tin in the shovel I started to pan the sievings... I'm afraid that was the end of me. First pan 15+ colours! Now I'm thinking of making my fossicking buddies sieve into tubs... I shudder to think of all that lost gold

I'm yet to go on a dedicated gold trip, thinking of heading out, in a couple of weekends to the Mathinna area, time and rain permitting. We've had some good flooding recently which is always good from a prospecting point of view. I know people say Tasmania is no good for detecting other than around Bell Mount area... but there were plenty of nuggets found in the northeast and some of the old goldfields are on dry hillsides with little scrub. Might even invest on a detector for the winter months when the creeks are too cold and the water too high!

M.

 

[richo966]

my trip around Tassie we got snow in the highlands scary driving in the snow and so cold made snow man and hit wife with snow ball she nearly punched me she said that hurt I said yes you are meant to try and duck lol she had never seen snow before she is from coffs harbour she said she is never going back to that cold place but I like the land great place like to visit again one day but will fly down not going on that boat again what a ride one wave stood me up out of bed I did not know what happened as I had a few beers to get to sleep

 

[rc62burke]

Hi
Welcome, In my travels around your state dec 12 jan13 I panned gold in the creek that runs along the park at Derby, like you say plenty of spinel & tin, good colours it would be interesting to follow it upstream, I was only playing whilst having a beer so who knows what you will find if you set out looking.
good luck.
Lee

 

[WalnLiz]

Welcome to the forum mfdes. Great to see the Tassie connection starting to grow, and you certainly have some great sapphire locations up around the Weld.

Hope the forum adds to your enjoyment when it comes to research, and look forward to hearing about your gem and gold finds. Best of luck out there on the streams...

Cheers Wal.

 

[user 1769]

Thanks Wal, I've seen your videos, good stuff there.

There are some good sapphires indeed, and plenty still left for those prepared to go beyond the beaten track. A friend found a 70-carat blue bomb just a few months ago, in the place where I said: "you should try digging there...". The funny thing was, this was less than 5 meters from a bridge! Now if I can get some gold to set my good sapphire and topaz in... :lol:

M