Good place to start in Kal and Leonora districts

Hi all,where is a good place to start detecting around Leonora,And what to look out for, I think staying close to town at fist would be best,I am only really going to have a play,I have no expectations of finding any gold,more than likely I will find old nails ,tacks,but I would be happy to find even a old piece of jewellery or coin.
I know of a few stations in the area,isn’t there also some free land not taken up by pastoral leases,but I not sure which would be good to start with,I read a magazine article a few days ago where about going camping at Nambi and old Agnew road I think it is around or on Tarmoola station.Do I contact these people first or drop into there houses,how do you find out there details and names,does anybody know them?.
Are the pastoralists ok to talk to.
I still haven’t got a detector yet,but I might hire one in Kalgoorlie.
Happy days,happy prospecting to all.
Cheers Goldern

My advice is to see Brett and Kat at the Leonora Caravan Park and they will take you out for the day for 100bucks. You will need your miners right and to hire a detector (get an SDC 2300)...they are good detector operators and will help you out. Nothing in it for me but they are mates. Good luck!!

Or even better do a session with Tony at GoldTalkLeonora and find out about your rights under the WA mining act with regards to legally accessing ground to detect etc. I highly recommend people do this so they can learn how to use the WA system for 40e's, land access, GPS, tengraph etc. At the same time I also strongly urge people to become signed up members of APLA so that we can all continue to go detecting in WA, when everyone goes home at the end of the season APLA continue to fight for your rights to access land, don't let WA go down the path that QLD has where even state land is off limits due to access rights.

DO NOT take going detecting in WA for granted, it is under threat as we speak, if you love the lifestyle and the bush then get behind the organisation who is fighting hard to keep it that way.

GoldTalkLeonora

APLA web site

JP

Excellent advice JP, and NSW is also very difficult to get permissions from landholders and companys, WA is great and lets keep it that way, support APLA

cheers dave

Hi Davw&JP,Thanks for the info,I will look into doing a course.
I have been reading the forum for a while now and I have noticed a lot of talk about the Chinese company being difficult and also the Minara pastoralists,I am not sure who he is but wow people are very annoyed with him,I am not fully understanding what it going on,and what to do in the future if you are bailed up by him or any pastoralists.
Things obviously have changed a lot,my grandfather had leases in the Laverton area back in the 20’s and 30’s I was told by my mum who lives in Kal,I have seen some photos she has of that time, mum is now in her late 80’s,she said she was sure grandad was a member of APLA.
I will prob join one day at the moment I am only going for a drive out there ( on the roads ) to get out into the country.I am a chef so it is nice to get out and about.
Cheers Goldern

G'day Goldern

It works like this, the "company" sometimes Chinese but not always are the mining company that have the mining tenements are also the Pastoralists as they have bought up the Pastoral leases, vertical integration if you like, that way they can give themselves permission

Some Australian companys (BHP) for instance also have bought up pastoral leases and have the mining tenements as well, we have had no problems with BHP pastoral leases.

Quite often its just a phone call to the mining company asking permission to go on there tenements, (some paper work involved) all good, a phone call to the pastoralist, in some cases it's the same ones as the tenement holder.

On one occasion last year we were refused permission to go on a 40e by an overseas mining company, the 40e was granted by the DMP, both the DMP and APLA were notified and the matter was taken up by them so I am happy to be an APLA member and supporter.

cheers dave

Hi Dave ,I understand this better now,but are these companies mostly trying to make it hard for tenement holders or are they against prospecting for everyone ,and why is it that I have read so much about the actual pastoralists that work for Minara pastoral / Minara resources,what have they been doing or what are they acting like themselves, ie is it the pastoralists causing the problems or is it the companies they work for.
I know from years ago most pastoralists were very approachable.
I just hope that it all settles down for everyone.
Cheers Goldern.

P's advice is very good and I endorse what he and others say, but if you live in Kal, or nearby, drop in and see Matt and Tracy at Finders Keepers. They'll also give you some good advice and he sells a great selection of books on Detecting in WA as well as the relevant maps.

Cheers, Jim

Hi Jim,Thanks I will do that.
Cheers Goldern

Hi Goldenlice....I would really like to emphasize the point that prospecting IS fun...it's all about the bush and the characters and the chance of finding a little something special. It's tricky for you when you read forums like this because it has grumpy prospectors like me bitching about things from time to time. The issues that are being discussed are current at the moment and it is good to be aware of things but please don't let it take the shine off your new hobby. If you concentrate on learning the ropes and enjoying yourself and for now leave idiots like Minara Resources to APLA. In short...enjoy the hobby....it's a ripper. If you need a hand to get going then there are lots of experienced operators on here that I reckon will be happy to help out. If your still stuck then your welcome to give my wife Lisa and I a buzz and if we can point you in the right direction we will.

cheers

Tony Pilkington
0418 277 861

Hi Tony,Thanks for the message,I understand that there are problems out there,such a pity that it isn’t like 30 years ago isn’t it.
I am flat out in the next few weeks ,going to Perth ,so I will not have time to go out prospecting,but I will drop in on the forum when I have time.
Cheers Goldern.