Recon Before The Actual Prospecting Trip?

[mattr]

Hi, everyone.

I'm itching to go prospecting for the first time but it seems that something keeps $$popping up$$ to delay the plan.

I've partnered up with my best friend as in, I'm a research guy and he's not but he'll spring for a machine that I'll run.

Although we both trust each other to no end, we agree that a signed agreement will be in order.

Neither of us think that a signed contract is needed but from what I've read, I suggested it as a good idea,

even though it's only purpose in the future will be to remind us both of the date that I first went prospecting.

Almost at my question,

but even after fully researching an area,

I'd like to loam it really well before I even pick up a machine, so as to know that we can get some gold.

I'm aware that loaming will be tedious and take days, from what I've read.

Does a reconn mission sound like a waste of a trip, and if I am loaming, do I even NEED a detector?

If I don't need a detector, besides the nav/survival/camping/vehicle supplies, what would be a useful list of supplies?

A couple of pans, buckets, tub of water, shovel, pick and some 'yes/no' markers?

I plan on staying in the WA bush for a couple of weeks (my second home) and the detector in question will

be an sdc2300 unless I convince myself otherwise.

Also, with this machine, could I simply just loam with that, or do I miss the point, completely?

I'll be looking for somewhat shallow ground, as I have a dodgy back, and although I'm no invalid,

digging deep holes will get old very quickly, for me.

 

[PabloP]

Where to start, as you have a series of questions with some mixed responses possible and I am NOT an expert.

Signed contract - I think this is over the top for a 2 week detecting trip. Commercial enterprise yes, hobby deal, if you can't trust each other then it's too late as a contract won't stop the mate hiding a 3oz nugget in a pocket.

Reccie trip - If you already have a SDC then most definitely take it with you, as it can be used to suss out an area, where you are hoping to find nuggets more quickly than by using panning as a "loaming" tool.
- If you don't have the SDC and will be travelling a short distance, then spending some time looking over an area is worthwhile, as you should be making this type of assessment even when you do have the detector.

If the area has reasonable access to water then definitely take a pan and a good pick is essential, shovel on the vehicle yes, but not to lug around. Even if dry area and you have a good supply in camp, a pan can be handy to see if there is fine gold in some samples of the ground that you carry back to camp.

Nav/Survival gear is a must (for each person) - GPS, PLB/EPIRB, UHF Radio, water, first aid kit (especially with compression bandages), etc

If shallow ground then the SDC should kill it, but if it is a known area where others have been with GPX or SDxxx machines then you will most likely only find small sub grammers.

Another challenge that you will have is to keep the mate happy if not finding stuff, as he will likely not understand your analytical approach to the reccie needs. Try and explain it to him before hand.

Also do some search through the forum for topics as it may help.

That should be enough for a start and I am sure that others will have lots to add.

Rob,

 

[mattr]

Thanks for the info, Rob.

Another challenge that you will have is to keep the mate happy if not finding stuff, as he will likely not understand your analytical approach to the reccie needs.

Yeah, that's the thing that I'm a little self-concious about. We both know the score about it 'being where it is' but I guess I just want to come back with something to show that I'm doing my part, I guess.

Thanks again, for the reply.

 

[Metamorphic]

Although we both trust each other to no end, we agree that a signed agreement will be in order.

Neither of us think that a signed contract is needed but from what I've read, I suggested it as a good idea

Trust each other to no end? Thats a good enough deal for a mates handshake!

If he finds a 3 ouncer, he is not going to be able to hide the fact from you....his shear excitement will bottle up to exploding level, and the overwhelming urge to show you his skills/luck back at camp late at night will eventually come to the foreground. Trust me!

A verbal understanding of the agreed rules and a mates handshake should be enough.

I'd like to loam it really well before I even pick up a machine, so as to know that we can get some gold.

I'm aware that loaming will be tedious and take days, from what I've read.

The art of loaming in order to find the source is a very tedious, time consuming, laborious, but sure task!

If your aim is just to find some good ground for detecting (rather than an actual source deposit), i would be picking out an area through reading ground/vegetation indicators, elevation levels etc in known gold producing areas and then doing the odd test pan at 10m intervals around this said area.

Once all the ground indicators are right, your computer research tells you the area is right, and you get some color in your pan.....break out the detector then!

Does a reconn mission sound like a waste of a trip

Not at all......the more you can learn about a particular area, the better.... in my book!

besides the nav/survival/camping/vehicle supplies, what would be a useful list of supplies?

A couple of pans, buckets, tub of water, shovel, pick and some 'yes/no' markers?

Excellent starting quip!

I use 10/20 litre water containers to carry with me (take the water to the loaming site, rather than bringing samples to the water), a plastic tub to pan out of (larger enough to submerse your whole pan) and a bucket to add some clean water that is used once your sample is down to a few tablespoons in size.

Dont contaminate the clean water with dirt (add it with a clean scoop to the pan).....Once your at the business end of your sample, dirty water can hide dirty gold in the pan, especially flour gold, and it could be leaving the pan without you knowing.

I plan on staying in the WA bush for a couple of weeks (my second home) and the detector in question will

be an sdc2300 unless I convince myself otherwise.

Awesome, this detector will serve you well.....learn it thoroughly and go low and slow!

Also, with this machine, could I simply just loam with that, or do I miss the point, completely?

If you want to loam in the true sense, a pan is best...it will reveal secrets that you can then attack with the modern technology!

I'll be looking for somewhat shallow ground, as I have a dodgy back, and although I'm no invalid,

digging deep holes will get old very quickly, for me.

Remember, the heavies will most likely be deeper so man up!

Good luck and I send my gold gods along with you

Meta

 

[Westaus]

I think everyone has covered the prospecting part, if you follow what the above have said you are off to a better start than most. Just make sure you are going where you are allowed too.

Have either of you had much time in the bush?

Think of the what if's as much as you can from a safety perspective. Water is not too bad this time of year, but in summer it will be scarce. You can probably pan a lot using available water where possible. However don't rely on it.

Best of luck.

Westaus

 

[mattr]

... a mates handshake should be enough.

A handshake is definitely enough, between us. I must have been reading another forum once before,

as I haven't seen here anywhere that mentions contracts between mates, but I do remember having it DRUMMED into me on some other

site about some people ending long friendships over an ugly bit of metal they found in the ground and I figured they weren't really that

good of friends, then. Was a lot of "Take it from me, I know..." going on.

Glad to hear that this is not the normal convention and I feel stupid offering to sign a contract. :8

The art of loaming in order to find the source is a very tedious, time consuming, laborious, but sure task!

I like methodical, it makes more sense than wandering around with crossed fingers because it seems more like detective work, than just

waiting around the call centre at crimestoppers, hoping for someone to call and solve the mystery for me.

...the heavies will most likely be deeper so man up!

8.(

Have either of you had much time in the bush?

My friend hasn't, but for the most part, he won't be there.

Myself, I spend most of my free time in the bush and have hobbies like 4wding, FirstAid, Survival, BushTucker, Safety, etc.

I like to think that when the world gets taken over by computers and the power goes out,

I'll be one of the minority that is warm, dry and well fed, while everyone else is locked out of their iHouses

without any means of downloading some iFood or an iBlanket.



Thanks for the replies.

 

[Metamorphic]

Lol, I like your thinking Matt......and your keyboard coding skills!

 

[bluejeansronald]

Hi Mattr, I find It a bit effy you worring about the gold before you find it, If you have any worries about your mate dont take him. I just came home from a trip, I took a mate i never bene away with before he never had detetor in his hand before we found 150.30grams between us we split down the middle, split costs fuel the lot, cost about $950.00 round trip, So be sure before you go, Ron.

 

[mattr]

...If you have any worries about your mate dont take him.

He won't be there, he's just buying the equipment for me to use while he is FIFO, but will probably

make an appearance when he gets back.

I just want to be able to show that it is not just lucky people that find gold,

but people who do the research and deliberately set up on top of the gold.

Everybody seems to hear the words, going "gold prospecting" and associates it with get-rich-quick dreams, etc.

I'd love to just cure all the rolled-eyes that I get and make my first outing pay for itself.

The rest, who cares, but the first one, yes.

 

[Metamorphic]

Myself, I spend most of my free time in the bush and have hobbies like 4wding, FirstAid, Survival, BushTucker, Safety, etc.

I like to think that when the world gets taken over by computers and the power goes out,

I'll be one of the minority that is warm, dry and well fed, while everyone else is locked out of their iHouses

without any means of downloading some iFood or an iBlanket.



Thanks for the replies.

A prepper hey, welcome to the club!

If you can stay warm and drink enough water, you will live a very long time.

Got my bug out bag ready to go

 

[Westaus]

I just want to be able to show that it is not just lucky people that find gold,

but people who do the research and deliberately set up on top of the gold.

Everybody seems to hear the words, going "gold prospecting" and associates it with get-rich-quick dreams, etc.

I'd love to just cure all the rolled-eyes that I get and make my first outing pay for itself.

The rest, who cares, but the first one, yes.

Research will certainly help, but it is in the field that it pays

Having had several trips to most of WA's gold areas and not a great deal to show for it, I know that research does not always equal results. What I believe it does is prepares you for when you do find what you area looking for, you are able to capitalize on it fully and not just walk away with a couple of oz's when you could have maybe walked away with a couple of 100 oz's

I watched a very interesting show on the brain and sub conscious, if I took one thing away from it was to listen to your gut insincts, it is your subconscious telling you HEY SOMETHING LOOKS GOOD HERE, or in danger or a bad deal it will give you the other feeling you know the one. That uneasy something isn't right here.

Myself, I spend most of my free time in the bush and have hobbies like 4wding, FirstAid, Survival, BushTucker, Safety, etc.

I like to think that when the world gets taken over by computers and the power goes out,

I'll be one of the minority that is warm, dry and well fed, while everyone else is locked out of their iHouses

without any means of downloading some iFood or an iBlanket.



Thanks for the replies.

A prepper hey, welcome to the club!

If you can stay warm and drink enough water, you will live a very long time.

Got my bug out bag ready to go

 

[GoldenDreams]

Hi Mattr, Not sure if you are a member of a club or not but its a good way to meet prospectors and learn from their experience. APLA is a good place to start. I went to their open day and it was a good experience. These guys have a lot of experience with finding gold. Membership gives you public liability also. If you do loam up a nice spot to start digging they can also help with the paperwork to get your lease going quicker.

Some good info on reading the structures in the ground. I cant put links in yet but if you google Youtube the art of gold mining 9 you will get it.

cheers

 

[Metamorphic]

Lol Westy......this poor guy was a bit late!