Handing Calcrete, Caprock and Laterites

G'Day,

This is my first post on this forum. I'm fairly new to the game, but have had some limited success with about 50 or so tiny nuggets. I've also jagged one good nugget at Hall's Creek (1.8oz) last year. My wife and I are retired and we both have 4000s. We're off to WA, via Ophir and the Golden Triangle this winter. Our experience in WA is limited to a 10-day GPA Tour near Hall's Creek last year.

My question, which I've put on another forum, but got little response, regards what tools does one need to handle the hard stuff which one might encounter in WA. Jim Foster recommends a Estwing gad and hammer, and others agree. These devices don't seem to be available any more, but can someone recommend what minimum rock-breaking tools should be carried. I'm also wondering about the extent of this hard material in WA. I've been told that it is mainly concentrated south of Cue. Any useful comments would be appreciated.

Regards,

Col Douglas

G'Day Col,

I have Been wondering the same thing,Is it legal in WA to use a generater with a small Kanga jack hammer or the like?

Cheers Bruce

=====Is it legal in WA to use a generater with a small Kanga jack hammer or the like? =====

Yes legal if you don't get caught

Not realy what i wanted to hear but thanks for your reply.

Cheers Bruce

Page 5 of the Book Prospecting in Western Australia states

The holder of a miners right is authorised to carry out the following activities on crown land not covered by a granted mining tenement

Prospect for minerals, which includes the use of a metal detector;

Conduct tests for minerals;

Undertake limited sampling using hand-held equipment and remove samples weighing up to 20 kilograms;

Mark out mining tenements;

Fossick for rocks and gemstones;

Camp for the purpose of prospecting.

One could read things into this possibly needs clarification??? A phone call

A jack hammer is hand held,but i see what you mean,i would sooner be on the legal side.Heading west approx end of march ( depending on the heat) so have a bit to do on the do's and dont's ,was over there about ten years ago but suspect things have changed somewhat .

Cheers bruce

Anyway back to Col,seems i got away from his first question,Can anyone help him out on the hand tools he may need to handle the tougher jobs.

Cheers Bruce

Estwing hammers are available on Ebay and ive seen them at Reids prospecting in Perth. Other than that, a good strong crowbar with a pointy end is handy too. I know of people who do use jackhammers in conjunction with a genset but its not exactly legal

Well eastwing is a brand and not a type of hammer for starters, have a look here and in the catagory of geological tools maybe, then there is numerous types from there.

http://www.estwing.com/products.php

Cheers

I own one and its blue n yellow and made in the US of A

I reckon a Crowbar is the go and a lump hammer and a 14inch thereabouts chisel for an initial trip.

If you get a patch that is in duricrust (calcrete/ferrite etc) you will need a kanga. Maybe better to take a crowbar on the trip and if you by chance find a patch in hard duricrust then go to Kal/ Newman and buy one and come back to the patch.
Save carrying the extra weight of a kanga that you probably won't need and carry extra drinking water to keep you in the back blocks longer.

Here is a link to a long established estwing supplier. (The supplier is worth a look for all kinds of different prospecting supplies) http://www.prospectors.com.au/m-31-estwing.aspx

Tributer

Ever heard of Fertilizer and diesolene.

What about using battery operated tools like a cordless hammer drill fitted with a chisel bit to get through quartz and caprock?

Are these legal for prospecting being they are hand held.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/serendipity63/5340126791/in/set-72157625661010255/