research

[Pirate pete]

Hi all i have been swinging for about a year now and thus far havent found any colour . I use a tdi pro oz with a 14x9 nugget finder coil now when newbys ask about where to go to find gold you often get told do your research. Which i totally agree with. but no one tells you how to research and how to interpret the information .I have all the maps including the geovic ones but really dont know what or how interpret them maybe i am just a bit thick lol.but it was just a thought that i had that maybe some of the experienced swingers on the forum could explain this a bit for the newer people who really want to know how to do their own research. Look forward to the response.

 

[AtomRat]

I know you asked for experienced swingers which I'm mot but any info helps..

I havnt used geovic in a while as it doesn't work on my phone, but I was using it mostly for topo maps, locations of mines and exploration lisences from the past or current. Also in some of the details it lists some info on the areas depending on how much is available. I had to find the Layers page and then out of the list, check the layers I wanted visible to show.

For google, ill research as many keywords as I can with the town or areas name. Follow the bread crumbs to the jackpot details, even if it means having to go to the local library and flick open a smelly old book which you turn manually :lol: The research never stops, you can never know it all or enough on an area, but you can make a picture with what we have. For another example, I could also search for any known uploaded documents online like this say "ballarat geology .pdf" and see what .pdf files come up.

Generally, just knowing where a deposit is ( like a goldfield ) is a great start. I tend to use google earth satellite and street view a lot to see if I can spot any working or ovious changes in geology. Even after all the reasearch you have done and gone through, you arrive at the location and sometimes it still doesn't add up throwing your hands in the air. Where is that gold?? Are you on soft soil.. hard ground.. satellite view shows hard and soft ground with colors, vegetation etc.

Is the area right for your tool? Make sure whatever your using wether it be detector or a form of processing dirt, you want the ground to suit it. Wet, dry, highly mineralised, ironstone..etc. how much gold has been found there before? Always a good piece of info to have under the belt. If lots of gold was found there before, chances are there's still more from many forces.

I know exactly where your coming from, I need to get out there more and swing my Eureka Gold which I'd only expect to pickup above 1 grammers and bigger nugs. When you can't chase the small stuff which tells the tale its complicated and why I choose my trusty pan instead until one day I may be able to afford an sdc. I still have hope for the eureka, but I know my chances with it too. It could find 5 ounces.

Hope this helps and its not jibber jabba

 

[grubstake]

I need to get out there more and swing my Eureka Gold which I'd only expect to pickup above 1 grammers and bigger nugs. When you can't chase the small stuff which tells the tale its complicated and why I choose my trusty pan instead until one day I may be able to afford an sdc. I still have hope for the eureka, but I know my chances with it too. It could find 5 ounces.

I don't know where you got that idea, but it's not right at all. EG's will pick up much smaller than a gram, particularly on the 60kHz frequency setting. High frequency VLFs like the EG, owned that territory until the SDC came along to rival them.

 

[AtomRat]

Cheers grubstake, not a lot of useful info on them so thanks heaps! I should have said 'most likely' than 'only'. The way I'm speaking is more to the mineralized ground area I've only swung it so far. I was getting good lead shot targets out there and I know any one could have been a nug.

At what depth would you expect the sub gram limited to be with EG?

 

[SCROUNGER]

The John Tully gold maps are a great starting point Pirate. They show the old gold areas on public and private land. So for instance, perhaps have a look at the Maryborough, Amherst, Talbot maps and you will find there is enough public state forest areas where gold has been found to keep you busy for years. If you do a google maps search of say Amherst and the state forests in that area you can zoom in on the topographic map and actually see the pale or pinkish areas in amongst the green trees that have been surfaced by old time and some modern gold hunters. These areas are lighter because the trees are struggling to grow back because most of the top soil has been removed. As long as these areas aren't on leases or private land and within state forests you're generally ok to go and detect these areas. Working to the sides of these shallow surfaced areas and any nearby diggings is as good a place as any to start out and get some gold under your belt. Heading out bush to pristine areas is pretty hit and miss until you're more experienced and knowledgable, and have the right detectors for the location.
I don't know the ins and outs of your detector, so what i'm saying is general and given as a starting point to locate actual gold bearing areas for you to try.
Good luck.

 

[rc62burke]

The first step is to familiarise yourself with the Geological occurrences is your chosen area, how was the Gold deposited etc it seems simple enough, it's all about getting to understand the theory behind Gold deposits, then I look for Company Exploration reports in the area, these can give you a huge amount of information.

One of the best tools which is somewhat forgotten about in the rush to find Detectable Gold is the humble gold pan, I carry 1 to sample small gullies in my travels, it can let you know if there is gold draining from an area or not quite quickly then you can make the decision to walk off or spend more time detecting there.
I am NQ based I have no knowledge of your area my advise above is just general stuff.
cheers
Lee

 

[Pirate pete]

Well guys thanks for the feed back i have all the jt maps and the doug stone ones too. so will have to learn a lot more about reading the terrain i think as i look at an area on a map and think that would be ok read the finds for the place and it history but when i get there i cant seem to fathom what i am looking at i have read all the post i can find by loamer as he seams to be the orical on this subject .but i think i am over thinking what i am seeing when in the bush , i tend to do that lol

 

[SCROUNGER]

Well guys thanks for the feed back i have all the jt maps and the doug stone ones too. so will have to learn a lot more about reading the terrain i think as i look at an area on a map and think that would be ok read the finds for the place and it history but when i get there i cant seem to fathom what i am looking at i have read all the post i can find by loamer as he seams to be the orical on this subject .but i think i am over thinking what i am seeing when in the bush , i tend to do that lol

The oldtimers didn't dig all those holes and surface all those areas for the fun of it mate, they were trying to earn a quid and survive. They wouldn't have done all that hard yakka for no return. Some of the members on here say the best place to find gold is where others have found it and there's probably no better a spot where a lot of gold has been found than those old workings.
I reckon if you spend more time on the ground in those old workings you're more than half way there getting your head around it. The types of areas that Loamer mentioned in his fantastic posts are often on display as you search around the old diggings as well, and then that knowledge you've been reading will start to click into place.
Getting those first bits under your belt is the hardest, after that you start to prospect/detect with more confidence and that's often half the battle, being positive that the next swing could uncover the next spec.
Again, good luck.

 

[BigWave]

Advice well given Scrounger!
PP. Loamer's thread is a must read for beginners - possibly many times over and at vaious stages of learning: https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2042
Then ask to join with some of the local PAers on their open invite Au detecting trips. After Loamer's thread, they're (as opposed to there or their ) your best primary source for research and development. Maps are schmaps until you're semi-proficient. You'd possibly be wandering as a "blind" dude (or dudette) even though in a good spot. You need to see, not just look, and we're all learning to see.

 

[Pirate pete]

Again thanks for the feedback and i do understand its a time game the more you can put in the more you learn .i teach martial arts and the same applies to that .

 

[Redfin]

Just a word on maps by JT or uncle Doug.
They only show old timers diggings, not gold locations.

 

[Pirate pete]

Thanks redfin ya i realize that they are a good indication of the gold finds in the past not that its still there and as everyone says if it was easy everyone would be doing it lol