New member's first strike!!

Hi all,
I just joined the forum a couple of days ago after watching it for a couple of months.
Firstly thanks for all the valuable info, stories and inspiration.
I'v only been into prospecting for a couple of months but have an interesting story to share and hopefully get some people's thoughts on.
I live and work right next to an old gold field in central vic.
Lots of gold was taken out of here from both alluvial workings and reef mining but the field is rarely frequented by prospectors these days.
I started out with a gold pan. Just sampling the nearest creek which is downstream from reef mining and an old quartz crusher battery.
I found very small specs occasionally. Enough to keep me interested.
After happening on this forum i followed links to the geovic website and checked out maps of historical mines, leads etc...
I also have extensive knowlege of the local mining history as i do tours as part of my job.
Last Xmas eve i set out to have a look at the local geology and without any equiptment (no detector, no digging tools, just a pan...) i followed the contours of the hillside above the creek at about the elevation that the maps showed a deep lead, but to my knowlege had had no serious mining as there were richer leeds close by. I located reefs of rock crossing the lead and a large fallen tree just below the rock formation.
I stopped and broke off some material from the tree roots to take to the creek and pan.
I also picked up a couple of largeish rocks (about fist sized)
I turned one over and the whole underside was covered with gold!!
The rock was mostly sandstone on one side, but ironstone on the other (with a thin gold covering).
Since then i have been back with shovel and dug holes there, checked (visually) as many rocks in the tree roots and the hole as i could and panned quite a bit of the soil from the hole.... but no further joy.
I have done extensive research on the strike site and the historical records are full of rumours about a rich reef there which was never properly worked.
As yet i do not have a detector but as you can understand i think i will have to buy one.
I do not have $5000 to spend and my budget is about $1000 max. at this point.
After researching detectors as best i can without trying one i am leaning towards a whites GMT in this price range.
Although other options are a fisher GB2, a Minelab Eureaka or a Minelab X-tera 705.
Any thoughts on what approach i should take re this site? or on how best i should choose a detector?
Thanks,
Matty

This answer is giong to right out of left field ... and you probably be inclined to dismiss it ... HOWEVER ...

I strongly suggest that you team up with one of the 'old hands', 'gurus' ... and offer a share for their company and tutorage. If they have a GPX4000 to GPX5000 to 'share' with you for this operation, I think you will come out "on top" in more ways than one!

Look to some of those whose posts are most 'watched' by other members. Those who have been members for a long time. Some of the "Old Hands".

Good luck with your quest ... I'm sure you will have a great deal of fun ... and hopefully make a great new buddy!!!

MRodgers wrote:Hi all,

Lots of gold was taken out of here from both alluvial workings and reef mining but the field is rarely frequented by prospectors these days.

G'day Matty, welcome to the forum, sorry I can't give you any advice on detectors apart from what I use gpx4500. But my advice on an area like the one your talking about...... is KEEP it to your self!! Gold is becoming scarce and hard to find, if you find a good spot that no detectorist go, then keep it for your self ......Only give away the crappy spots....

Save your dollars and buy a good detector and work that spot hard and you will be rewarded

And remember...

Ren...

MRogers, in all honesty, you have done your homework good enough to get a taste of the hobby. The location you speak of should be kept to yourself till you further your interest.
The old saying that gold does strange things to people is not a myth. You own no one a thing at this stage. The longer you can keep it that way the better your off.
No need to test the waters with that old saying. Tell one person and you have effectively told ten and so on.

Something to think about anyway.

If you need to walk with another to further your education re latter model detector, there would be many who would ask for nothing in return than just a friendship....anyone asking for more is not worthy of that walk.

As for the detector, any of the VLFs you mentioned other than the 705, will get you up and running pretty swiftly with little learning curve. Not the best for deep gold but certainly enough to keep you busy till you can move up.

$1000 should go close to the older PI models like the early SDs, which will give you much better depth...but come with a slightly more advanced learning curve.

Another option is to take out a bank loan for a 4500/5000 thus spreading the cost over a couple of years or more. The worst case scenarion is that you find nothing (unlikely) and if you get total disallusioned you could always sell it and not lose too much. Best case you do very well pay off the detector in short order and continue to follow this great hobbies for many years

Good luck
John

Sounds like you have found a potentially very good site - keep the gob closed!!!

hi matty I would say go and hire a detector for a day or two and see how you go if that is a optoin if you are not far from bendigo or maryborough that is what I would do you will have the best detector and they will show you how to use it to its best abillity........
HASSA...
p.s welcome to our world ??????????????

MRodgers wrote:....................I turned one over and the whole underside was covered with gold!!
Thanks,
Matty

No offence, but have you had someone else check out this "gold". Make sure it is what you think it is first.


Waz

Talk no one and get digging. Once you have 4Oz together go buy a 5000...

Hi Matty

If I was you, I would work out when you are best available to spend the most time on your hot spot, devide the time, hour wise in to what it would cost to hire a GPX5000, I live in WA, to hire a GPX5000 for a day is $45.00 or $300.00 for a week, if you do your maths right Matty, dollars V time, that will buy you as much time as you need, you will have enough gold once your $1,000.00 dollards runs out.

From hiring the GPX5000, firstly, you will learn about the detector, secondly, this will make your mind up if you like the unit or not, with the gold that you find, you will be able to got and buy what ever detector you want and the best thing is, you wont be out of pocket.

Hope this helps you Matty, good luck in which ever option you choose.

Steve (AKA) HowardThe Duck

PS: Keep your secret to your self.

G'day MRodgers,

Do a day tour with Mark and Ronda from GPA who are based in Bendigo - You will get to use a GPX5000 - They will help you make an informed choice.

Money well spent for decades of experience.. Give them a call

http://www.goldprospectingaustralia.com.au/index.htm

Regards
A

Hi Matty,

first post for me; congrats on your find!

I'm considering a Garrett Infinium LS as a first detector and they are in your price range. Would make a great second detector for the kids once I upgrade later. They are PI at least, and seem to do a good job for the larger stuff. i imagine if the area you have found hasn't been flogged by detectors of better calibre then the larger stuff may well be waiting for you, then you can fund an ungrade as you see fit. i rented a 5000 for a week and was well impressed, but not with the price tag...!

(found a 2 gram bit in my first hour (with the 5000) in a the scrappings of a hole someone had given up on!) didn't pay the rent, but loved that moment of seeing that orange/yellow gleem in my hand!)

http://www.reedsprospecting.com.au/shop/detail/garrett-infinium-ls-detector/

they are fully waterproof giving you options if you are near the beach or any other water worth detecting along (maybe in winter there are creeks in your area?).

regards

Andy

Thanks all for the good advice and encoragement,
I will hire a detector when i have a few free days to spend and have a better look.
Also keen on going out with Mark and Ronda for some expert tutorage on detector use etc... when i get the chance.
At the moment i'm taking everyones good advice and keeping it to myself.
I had the first bit i found checked out by a pro and its definately gold. Not enough there to pay the bills but its beautiful nonetheless
Weather my strike location turns out or not i'm still keen on prospecting as a long term hobby (time in the bush, peace and quiet, camping etc.. all sound like good times gold or not :-) )
so i'm still considering a VLF detector for future expeditions.
I'm not so keen on the bank loan cause i'm not yet too condident in my ability to find more gold and at times i may not have time for much prospecting. I feel as though what i'v found from my limited prospecting there is not a big enough sample to rule out fluke but its definately encouraging enough to make me want to be out there much more :-)
cheers,
Matty

mate i would think keep the place to yourself and hang off getting a detector till you can afford an extreme or better
cheers

hi mrodgers,good onya bud!as you can see nearly all members that have replied to your thread have said keep quite! thats because most have learn,t over the years if not themselves certainly others that they know of being ripped off even by mates!which cuts deep!have you got any picks of your find?