Long-time lurker from Hobart

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking and reading posts for a couple of years, so it's about time I introduced myself.
I've been going after sapphires and other gemstones for about 20 years, and a while ago I got the gold bug. I've done a little bit of detecting, mostly with VLF, but no success until I bought an SDC2300. Since then, three successful outings, though the size of some of the flakes I was picking up had me wondering how it was even possible! I also do a bit of panning, and one trip I found a small hidden crack in a creek that the old-timers had missed, by detecting a couple of tiny nuggets under a shallow gravel bank, and panned a bit over a gram of gold out of it.
Tassie has a reputation for little or no detectable gold, but I think the SDC, with its portability and sensitivity to smaller stuff will change this.
Cheers, and thanks everyone for the contributions!

M

Hi Mfdes and welcome to the forum.

Great to have another member from Tassie.

Well 2300 has proven to be great on small and smaller nugget.
Its always good to find a nugget regardless of the size.
Hopefully we see some photos of your adventures.


GoldEN

Welcome to the forum mfdes

Can't wait to hear of your adventures with the SDC2300
Great little machines.

Hi to all and especially Long time lurker from Hobart.
I to am from Hobart and also do a lot of lurking like yourself, mainly because I don't type very well. I am a fit 67yo retiree and have been prospecting since I was 16yo. I am into gemstones but have always had gold fever as I found my first gold (alluvial) when I first started prospecting at Cygnet. When I retired I bought a second hand GPX4500 and last October finally went to Queensland and got my first 'nugget'. 7 gram. I have mainly been doing research on Tas gold and have a huge detailed file that I am ready to start to investigate. I did have a go at one place up NW Tas and thought I was on to something, and by the time i had dug down to 70cm the old ticker was pretty excited and at 95cm it was out. Ground seemed like virgin rock but it was a 303 head. Bugger. Then I thought well I can't be missing any gold if it is about.
As prospecting in some of the paces I am looking at going is very isolated, it would be a lot safer to have someone with me. So if you would like to try a tip, let me know and well tee it up when it suits you. I don't mind sharing my research if I am going into the field with you.

Hi Bob,

Welcome! I usually get out a few times a year, mostly to the northeast, occasionally to the west coast. I did alright last January near Corinna, and a couple of weeks ago in a mining lease in the northeast that I have permission to detect in. There are nuggets to be found, but like you say, research is key. I find Trove is an absolute treasure, as well as the MRT library.
The main things that keep getting me excited are detonator bits and old buttons! A couple of weeks ago I found a few targets in a vertical wall inside an old-timers costean, and was sure it had to be gold. Nope, bits of detonator embedded deep into the dirt.