So @Sallyally , Aussie Gold Hunters is being repeated on UK TV quite a bit lately. Is that something you've done or considered? Just wondered because they seem to unearth a few gold nuggets. One was about $2.5mn !! Is it a bit more complicated then running off into the bush with a detector, is there a lot of legal side to it? Just wondered because I've been watching the odd episode lately.
I haven’t seen it. I have panned in creeks for gold, unsuccessfully. The following refers to my state of Victoria. It may be different in other states. “Do you need a permit to prospect? Yes, it is called a Miner’s Right. A Miner’s Right is a permit for prospecting in Victoria and must be carried at all times while you are prospecting. The only exception is if you are part of an organised group prospecting under the authority of a valid Tourist Fossicking Authority. The Mineral Resources Development Act 1990 sets out the rights and obligations of the holder of a Miner’s Right. Important points of the Act include that you must not: Enter onto private property without the permission of the landowner. Prospect on a current Mining Licence without the permission of the licence holder. Use any equipment for excavation on the land, other than hand tools. Use explosives. Remove or damage any shrubs or trees. Disturb, destroy, interfere with or endanger an archaeological site or Aboriginal place or object. In addition: You must repair any damage to the land arising out of the search. Children under 18 years of age do not need a Miner’s Right if accompanied by an adult Miner’s Right holder if prospecting. Do not disturb or remove any heritage features or objects (such as stone tools, middens, earthen mounds, bricks, building stone and old mining machinery). Treasure troves (hidden valuables) that may be discovered while fossicking belong to the Crown and must be reported to the Police. Failure to comply with the above can result in prosecution. https://parkweb.vic.gov.au/visit/popular-activities/fossicking
Looks like they get most success following old stream/river beds. Just saw on the link about mines. Apparently the miners missed quite a bit in the olden times and nuggets can be found in the spoil by using metal detectors.
I think there is still a lot of alluvial gold to be found. There are gemstones in creeks too. I’ve never had any luck, but then I’m not sure what I’m seeing. A rough gem looks very different from a cut and polished one. My cousin had a metal detector and used to fossick on beaches. He found jewellery, money, watches and lots of metal cans.
Yeah, I think they look for Opels Also, years ago in Menorca with the ex-wife. She snapped a gold necklace with a t-bar. We never found it. Someone will have found it years later with a metal detector. I think it was only 9ct.
You have to get a “fossicking licence which is about $50 per year. Then it depends on where you want to go - it isn’t just gold. Near where I live there are a couple of gazettes fossicking sites for garnet and amethyst
I love Winton boulder opal Often the boulder stone it comes in has its own beauty and markings. I have a couple of pieces that look like barren trees in a sunset with the opal swirling through
The traditional procsss for making gold leaf was fascinating. (it may be automated by now) They would start with conventional hammnering processes making it about as thick as a 32 of an inch. They then make up a book of about 500 of these each between sheets of velvet. Then they would start hammering, fully utilizing the "bounce" all these velvet sheets gave, for it was a long process. After every few tens of strikes the gold would be coming out the edges and the smith would stop, cut the excess off, place it in the recycle bin and continue hammering. After some time the hammering no longer produced excess and the leaf was done. It could not be touched for it would bond instantly to anything but special tongs used to handle it and be absorbed into the skin just the same. It had to be put on metal things with the greatest care and flattened with either very delicate brushes or sometimes even just wisps of air blown on through hollow tubes, After that the coating was the same as if it was plated on.
