Hi folks. Met up with a 'new' to metal detecting couple wandering the Golden Triangle fields. They were armed with a 5000 and a 3500. The settings had been given to them by a local dealer and with some training they pretty well were well set-up. They did ask a question that I pretty well take for granted - when first setting out how do you interpret the goldfields? There are a lot of books and articles but I gave them this advice that may be of interest to other first timers or newer prospectors. The scenario was that we were standing on a run of diggings in a gully and to the higher ground there were several reefs NOT deep leads.
1. Don't get out the detector and start swinging - go for a walk.
2. Note which way the diggings run - in this case up a gully then stopped. The gully generally ran north south.
3. In this case, the reefs were to the east of the diggings and they ran in a pretty well north south direction as well. This is usual for the Vic goldfields.
4. I knew that the reefs were not deep leads but rather had been dug on top of exposed quartz bearing reefs by the old timers. (Research research research).
5. Assumption. The gold had probably shed from the reef line. As they hit higher ground, the diggings ran out or where not economical for the old timers.
6. Make a mental map or a quick sketch - even take a few compass bearings.
7. KEEP walking to the other side of the diggings and the reefs. They may recommence or you may find test holes etc. There may be a costean trench up with the reefs. These are generally dug at right angles to the reef line and it was the old timers looking for a continuation of the gold.
8. Sit on top of the reefs and think 'where would I go if I was gold?' Gold is lazy and like water takes the path of least resistance. Look for modern water runs down the slopes. Picture gold in three sizes - big, medium and small. How far would they go if rolled with the forces of water, wind etc behind them. The smaller will go further the bigger less.
9. Head back and get the detector and start your sweeps ACROSS the slope as you will have a better chance of finding a run.
10. Look for depressions, flatter spots on the slope - these are natural catchment areas.
11. Look for runs of vegetation - these indicate water catches here and therefore gold. The ground will be deeper as well.
12. Follow the modern water runs.
13. Look for salt and pepper - that is a mix of quartz and ironstone. Look for the gravels and check for depth.
14. If you find a piece start gridding, raking etc and use this as a start point. The gold could run a many ways - a small fan - a large fan - scatterd etc. there is no one solution.
These are very general observations but it gives people a starting point and can take the confusion out of where to look. This was an area of 200m x 100m so low and slow took some time. I didn't catch up with these folk again but i hope it helped.
1. Don't get out the detector and start swinging - go for a walk.
2. Note which way the diggings run - in this case up a gully then stopped. The gully generally ran north south.
3. In this case, the reefs were to the east of the diggings and they ran in a pretty well north south direction as well. This is usual for the Vic goldfields.
4. I knew that the reefs were not deep leads but rather had been dug on top of exposed quartz bearing reefs by the old timers. (Research research research).
5. Assumption. The gold had probably shed from the reef line. As they hit higher ground, the diggings ran out or where not economical for the old timers.
6. Make a mental map or a quick sketch - even take a few compass bearings.
7. KEEP walking to the other side of the diggings and the reefs. They may recommence or you may find test holes etc. There may be a costean trench up with the reefs. These are generally dug at right angles to the reef line and it was the old timers looking for a continuation of the gold.
8. Sit on top of the reefs and think 'where would I go if I was gold?' Gold is lazy and like water takes the path of least resistance. Look for modern water runs down the slopes. Picture gold in three sizes - big, medium and small. How far would they go if rolled with the forces of water, wind etc behind them. The smaller will go further the bigger less.
9. Head back and get the detector and start your sweeps ACROSS the slope as you will have a better chance of finding a run.
10. Look for depressions, flatter spots on the slope - these are natural catchment areas.
11. Look for runs of vegetation - these indicate water catches here and therefore gold. The ground will be deeper as well.
12. Follow the modern water runs.
13. Look for salt and pepper - that is a mix of quartz and ironstone. Look for the gravels and check for depth.
14. If you find a piece start gridding, raking etc and use this as a start point. The gold could run a many ways - a small fan - a large fan - scatterd etc. there is no one solution.
These are very general observations but it gives people a starting point and can take the confusion out of where to look. This was an area of 200m x 100m so low and slow took some time. I didn't catch up with these folk again but i hope it helped.
