Loaming for the source

G'day people's , has anyone got some advice for me on loaming ?and have they successfully located the source ? I was able to detect some rough sharp gold on a slope which has me thinking it hasn't travelled far .would be nice to hear from anyone who as some knowledge in this area or just others thoughts . I might add on a slope near by I was lucky enough to detect a leader that produced multiple oz's and feel there could possibly be another one about but out of reach of the detector . Any advice or tips would be much appreciated

Hi musket, great question as im in the same situation myself up in qld. I've been loaming this creek for about a year trying to find the source but work and other commitments have held me back. Im loaming a creekbed with large quartz wash ,ironstone,shale and large waterworn boulders. My suggestion is do test pans every metre or so and see how many colors you get per pan and dig where you get the best colour. Hope this helps.

LuckyNug wrote:Hi musket, great question as im in the same situation myself up in qld. I've been loaming this creek for about a year trying to find the source but work and other commitments have held me back. Im loaming a creekbed with large quartz wash ,ironstone,shale and large waterworn boulders. My suggestion is do test pans every metre or so and see how many colors you get per pan and dig where you get the best colour. Hope this helps.

Hi Luckynug
To save on confusion when talking about "Loaming", the process you mention above is really "Stream sediment Sampling" & once you determine via this process where your gold is entering the creek the you step outside the creek on the slope or surrounding ground to continue now using the "Loaming process" I hope this helps clear things up a little.

Hi Musket
I am currently utilising the "Loaming" process to locate the source of some rough gold I got in a creek.
The process I use is that which I learnt from a guy who has found many "Reef's" goldbearing.
You need to sample across the slope of the ground a good starting point would be where you found the rough nugget, you take samples 3 - 5 m apart on the line across the slope you need to determine an outside line of any gold coming down your slope so you can concentrate your efforts within this area, the next row up the slope is stagged so that it is in the middle of the 2 holes below it but 3 m up the slope.
To take the sample clear an area 600 mm x 600 mm & scrape of the first 50mm of the surface (to prevent surface contamination) then dig a small hole to take your sample, I use a 200mm hand post hole borer to keep the size consistent.
Ensure you record where your samples are from, pan it out very carefully & count the number of specks you get & record this you are looking for the area with the highest number of specks, as you move up & across at some point you will get a clear direction that is pointing to where the reef may be once you are over the top of it the speck count will dramatically increase & as you go up the slope past it the count will drop off just as quick.
Then you do more samples but closer together to get the exact point.
I have not found the reef yet but I am getting closer.

Just to throw a spanner in the works!

Keep in mind that what's up may have been down and vise versa   

How many times I've heard of detectorists finding big nuggety gold nearing the bottom of a slope, so naturally you head uphill?
So why does the gold get smaller and smaller as they work their way uphill   

"Your goen the wrong way"  

Hi Musket
"And there's gold out there" by Ed Waller.
Just read this plenty of detail with illustrations about loaming.

deutran wrote:Hi Musket
"And there's gold out there" by Ed Waller.
Just read this plenty of detail with illustrations about loaming.

Hey Deutran
I have been looking for that book for a while, do you ever see it around for sale down your way?
If so can you please let me know.

Sorry only one I have is my neighbours and he's holding onto it.

Yes and no Lee, I have been doing stream sediment sampling but as I've come to find with the surrounding ground is that there is less colour up the slopes and im only able to access this location because previous floods have washed six foot of overburden out of the creek. Im actually heading up this weekend so I will upload some photos. Cheers

LuckyNug wrote:Yes and no Lee, I have been doing stream sediment sampling but as I've come to find with the surrounding ground is that there is less colour up the slopes and im only able to access this location because previous floods have washed six foot of overburden out of the creek. Im actually heading up this weekend so I will upload some photos. Cheers

Hi Lucky
This is true as you go up the slope you most likely wont get to much colour per pan that is why it so important to pan carefully, not sure I follow what you mean about the flood washing away the overburden? if you are loaming in an area where the flood level reaches? I think this will give you a false positive as flood gold would be deposited, you are only interested in the gold coming down the hill when loaming.

Have you explored the Geochemistry ppm Database from the state that you live, good way to start your search before you hit the field.

You can see how the sample changes along the creek and slopes from there plots

sample of what we have here in Vic

deutran wrote:Hi Musket
"And there's gold out there" by Ed Waller.
Just read this plenty of detail with illustrations about loaming.

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=10414700367&searchurl=an%3Ded%2Bwaller%26amp%3Bkn%3Dand%2Bthere%2527s%2Bgold%2Bout%2Bthere

Hey Sparrowfart
Thanks for that I have just purchased a copy.

Hey Detrackozi
How are ya going mate? Do you know if QLD has such a data base?

Good Mate

Yes it does, looks like this its 514mb's so abit big to download but if you like I can send you a free copy PM me details

PM sent Dave

Here is a sample Spreadsheet

4share download

SG Filter for Geochemistry by Structural Unit.zip

rc62burke wrote:Hey Sparrowfart
Thanks for that I have just purchased a copy.

Cool, Glad to help.

Thanks rc62burke sounds like a plan of attack that makes sense to me mate , and thanks to everyone's replys and useful links to some handy books . I have picked up the clues but will now have to swap the detector for the pan , fingers crossed its a happy ending

Have you explored the Geochemistry ppm Database from the state that you live, good way to start your search before you hit the field.

You can see how the sample changes along the creek and slopes from there plots

sample of what we have here in Vic
See the image. G'day detrack , I appreciate your time and help, I'm fairly new to this gold game and that sort of information seems to go over my head and abit confusing , is there something I can read or do to get a better understanding of it ? Hope that doesn't sound like a stupid question

Musket

As good as any place to start http://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/geoscience/exploration-geochemistry-data.htm

Does anyone know where to find this for Western Australia. Also anyone use GeoVIEWER.WA software??
Fairly new to this any help would be appreciate.
This forum has be a great source of information.

Thanks. Goldiewa.