Stevo from the Mt Isa area :)

[apac77]

Hello Forum Members,

My name is Stevo, currently working out in the mines around the Mount Isa Queensland region (home is Cairns QLD). Total 100% newbie to gold prospecting but I've decided I need a hobby and something that will allow me to get off the mine site each day for an hour (at least), and a hobby that also allows me to enjoy the outside fresh air and beautiful country that we live in. If I find gold, eureka, if not I've at least exercised and breathed some fresh air.

I guess like everyone just starting out, I'm starting fresh, researching all the types and brands and features on metal detectors, trying to figure out which is the best model for me within my budget and to suit the type of country that I would be hunting in. Basically I've determined that I'm going to working in mid to high mineralised soils so I'm going to need a fairly decent unit, and yes I'd love to get the Minelab GPX 5000 but the old money tree is saying I might be going with the Minelab Eureka Gold instead.

From reading the forums, there doesn't seem to be a lot of Eureka Gold users, however can anyone provide me some places that sell these units in Australia? I've find a company in USA called Kelly Co Detectors that have a nice pack for $1049 including an accessories kit and the Pro Find 25 Pinpointer. But I'm totally open to any advice from prospectors who may have had some luck out in the Isa region, would be great to know what sort of rig/setup you're using.

Thanks for your time, and looking forward to getting out there soon

Stevo

 

[AU Fever]

Hi Stevo, welcome aboard!

There's a few Eureka Gold users on the forum, me being one of them. You might want to check out this thread, which has some great information:

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1053

You can also check out the dealers directory ( https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=24 ) to see if they stock what you are looking for. My opinion is to buy from Australian dealers, but others have had good service from some overseas ones as well. If buying from overseas remember that you will pay an extra 10% customs duty on items >$1000 and possibly a import tariff as well.

If you have any questions, feel free to holler. We were all newbies once upon a time and are more than happy to help out.

Au

 

[apac77]

Thanks Au, that's great information. I will be sure to read up more about this detector. I'm assuming you've had nothing but great success with your setup?

I was wondering where I could find information about the old timers that may have roamed out in this area. Is there a good way to start searching. I'm based out near a place called Camooweal QLD, a few hours north west of Mt Isa close to the NT border.

Thanks again
Stevo

 

[Beagleboy]

Hi Stevo, welcome to this forum. You will learn a lot and there is heaps of info here.
If you looking for Minelab detector Miners Den is a good dealer as they are agents for The brand and know a lot about the product. The closest to you would be Brisbane but they will ship it to you.
Good luck with finding some yellow.
http://www.minersden.com.au/

 

[Mystyk59]

hey Stevo, Bill here from Tennant Creek , just down the road from you The best place near you for gold is Cloncurry , i have taken out a couple of tourists here in Tennant who have been through the Curry and had some success. One bloke showed me 40 grams he had picked up there , some nice sized nuggets among them 4,5, 6 grammers !

A great dealer i have recently used is Kim at http://www.nuggetsfromdownunder.com.au/. They are also a Certified Minelab dealer and she is great to deal with. If you come to Tennant give me a shout and we will arrange something , the Tourist Information Centre has our cards and the caravan parks or you can go to our F/B page.

Best of luck mate and you have joined the top forum here , great people on here who will give you all the help you need to get started
Regards Bill

 

[Jacko]

Hi Stevo, we're also newbies and find this forum so helpful and friendly. We recently did 12000ks to WA, NT and Qld goldfields and found our first pieces of gold after 3 years trying. We could hardly believe it. Cloncurry visitors information centre were helpful. Wish we had met Bill at Tennant Creek but loved camping on the Warrego gold fields and will probably go back. We'll have more time next year so counted this trip as a great reccy run. Maybe you could subscribe to Gold Gem & Treasure magazine which comes out monthly (google it). The info and good luck stories helps to boost a bit of confidence. They also have a publication Gold Fossicking in Queensland including maps.

 

[rc62burke]

Hi Stevo
Welcome to gold prospecting, There are 2 Minelab dealers in NQ, 1 in Cairns NQMinersden,1 in Charters Towers, Gold City Detectors both easy to get on with.
Personally I think the Eureaka will struggle in the ground out there I have spoken to a couple who started with this detector at the Curry & it was noisey as hell. For $500 - $600 more I would go for an SD2200 at the least (this is what I use) this will give you a real good chance & not drive you nuts.
cheers
Lee

 

[AU Fever]

Hi Stevo,

Sorry for not replying earlier. I have had good success with the Eureka Gold and have not found it to be too noisy in the grounds I've used it in, especially once I learnt (and still learning) how to use it properly. Generally if the detector is noisy I slow down my swing to give the auto ground balance enough time to process the information. If this doesn't quieten it down, reducing the sensitivity just a little or raising the coil just a little will help make it quieter. You just have to get used to doing what the machine is telling you to do and try not to cover too much ground too quickly.

Having said that, spending some money on coils that match the frequency you want to work in will make this detector better than what it is.

Even with the stock coil I've found from pin head sized lead just under the surface to horseshoe nails at 25cm. If all the lead I've pulled out of the ground was gold, I'd be a rich man.

Just goes to show that no matter which detector you choose, you still need to wave the coil over the gold and be able to recognise the right signals.

Au

 

[Up with the Sun]

Hey Stevo!
If you are still in Camooweal and still looking for a detector then you should check out a store in the Isa called Leading Edge. It's like a **** Smith. They have a few models of Minelab.

 

[Still Looking]

Hi Stevo..mate check out George Mayer at NQ.Miners Den at 65 Anderson St. Manunda Cairns...great to deal with and very helpful..I have brought a few things off him and he does fossikers permits as well..