New to Prospecting

[adampurcell]

Hi Everyone,

Well I am a relative new comer, and looking for some advice! I have purchased myself some gear over the past 18 months, but haven't had the chance to use it more than a couple of times, and without any luck! I have a bazooka gold trap sluice, some pans, an angus mckirk adventurer and a yabby pump type hand dredge.

I've used the hand dredge to pump straight into the bazooka sluice. I've visited a couple of sites around Barrington and Nundle and worked in some of the creeks but haven't found anything. I'm located in Newcastle.

I'm looking for any advice, and suggested areas I could go exploring. It's something that I just do for fun and normally like to take my kids (7yrs and 5 yrs), so just hoping to find somewhere we can mess around with and at least have a little bit of luck.

 

[MJB]

Hi Adam,

Welcome to the forum, there are many smart people on here who are more than willing to steer you in the right direction.

If your happy sticking to panning and sluicing my advice would be to go to known gold producing creeks, get away from the easy to get to spots and find a good crevice and dig,dig,dig. You should at least find some colour.

I'm not sure of locations but I'm sure someone else on here who is closer can tell you where to start looking, generally any old alluvial workings will tell you its a good place to start.

Best of luck

 

[AtomRat]

G'day mate and welcome to the forum!

As MJB has suggested, and where we all start, is where the gold has been found before. Either from old timers diggings or known nugget finds. If you live near a Miner's Den, it is worth popping in to the shop and take a look at what goldfields maps you are able to find, and books of interest, and other fossicking related info.

Getting to talk to someone else out in the creek, usually will share some information and guide you, if you have not seen many in the creek, then possibly seek out the local prospecting club in your area and see what the group is like. ( You may like it, you may not like it, but you can learn a lot at these clubs, if you think they are a great mob, pay for membership and go out with them group camping and sluicing! ) Even asking here, you will get the answers you need from us!

Also just found this thread may help you too on this forum: https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1758

I think you are in a great area for finding some gemstones as well.. I wish I could go to Coffs Harbour pier again one day to get some proper food!