Surfacing or erosion?

Hi Guys,

I have seen in a few of the diggings around Ballarat/Creswick, areas that would appear to be surfaced. These particular areas are usually on a side-hill and is approximately 1\2 metre deep. There are shafts in these areas but there are also large patches, say 20 X 20 mtrs that are like huge craters and it appears that the dirt has been removed. Others extend down hill onto a small ledges, therefore they appear to be erosion, but still uniform in the depth all the way around.

If I get the chance I'll see if I can photograph them the next time I am out there. But what I seek is opinions as to wether they could be surfacing or simply erosion from test holes and the like?

Nature Pete.

G'day Pete

Old timers used to hydrolic sluice, that is use a high pressure hose to wash away the hillside, which = super fast errosion.

What you are describing could be this or just natrual errosion or surfacing where they take the dirt away to somewhere to process.

cheers dave

If it is surfacing Pete, it will be usually down to bedrock and you may see some trace of reef material in the bedrock...it might be sampling areas...the surfacing areas near me are many acres in size indicating that there was a lot of gold in the soil and on the bedrock.
The soil cover has been replenished to a depth of up to 10" in the hollows and around shrubs but the raised areas and those on the steeper parts of the slopes are totally bare due to continual washing by rain...any patches of soil in the hollows of a surfaced area is worth a swing over cause that's where the gold that was missed before (plus every bullet,nail etc) will end up.

Generally where the surfacing is of a uniform depth or looks very flat it is probably an old council gravel area. It's a cheap way of getting road base.
From memory, the bendigo council removed Adelaide hill in the Whipstick for that purpose.

Robert

Chuckles wrote:
...any patches of soil in the hollows of a surfaced area is worth a swing over cause that's where the gold that was missed before (plus every bullet,nail etc) will end up.

Thank you for the responses guys, I was thinking that one area was a sluicing area because it was on the edge of the creek. No need to carry the dirt and good supply of water.

Chuckles, I was thinking the same thing and thats exactly what I found! Huge square nails, Chain links and general trash, which to me says that the areas haven't been hit overly hard. I didn't have long at the areas as I was just doing a fly-by on my way home and if an area looked good I would have a 'brief' swing and mark it with the GPS. If the weather would fine up a little, I'd slip out with the camera and get a few shots before having a proper swing.

Bring on Spring!

Nature Pete.