Post by Admin on Sept 6, 2008 19:03:14 GMT 10
From: ureug1 (Original Message) Sent: 31/05/2008 4:52 PM
A week or so ago I visited Geoff staying at his son's place near Dereel. (This is south of Ballarat and the Enfield State Forest and popular for its history and old diggings.) It was der-real thing, an experience I can assure you.
We visited a few creeks and diggings in the area where Geoff had found some colour. We tested his new Gravel Extractor, which I have dubbed “the bazooka” and believe members should test it - maybe at Eldorado. Geoff demonstrated its utility at a local creek showing how water from it can be expelled through a hose behind the operator back to the creek or diverted into a settling drum before going back to the creek. Accumulated gravel is poured into a pan or sieve for further processing. The 3” model seems the best to use, primes easily and works with minimal of effort. Geoff is making some further refinements. It compared very favourably with my own single stroke 3” extractor, which I have used for years.
I have posted a few pics in an album for members showing the gravel extractor in use and some local gold found with our detectors, an Exterra 70 and an older SD2200. The Exterra more than matched Geoff expectation as the 0.11g nugget he found was under 1-2” of clay. I heard his yell….. “Got One!” from 100m away. In addition we both each panned about ½ gram of coarse gold from local creeks as well as the 2 nuggets. I was happy. And we have vowed to return for more. Thanks Geoff, we had a great time, eh?
A highlight was visiting the nearby ‘Break o’ Day’ Inn, built in the gold rush about 1860s and still standing, serving beer and entertaining the passing patrons with wonderful historic displays and photographs. The Hotel was part of the then thriving gold town of Corindhap.
James, we are taking you there mate, you have got to see it!
Eugene
From: ·Budgie· Sent: 31/05/2008 6:06 PM
Hi, Eugene,
Good to hear someone else had a good time and rewarding to boot. Whenever I tell family or friends that we have joined a Prospectors group, the stunned question is; "Is there still gold to be found in Australia?" They all think the old-timers had got it all a long time ago.
Good thing is that most of them love their mod cons too much to wenture out into the bush and roughing it. They think that at our age we should be sitting in our rocking chairs. Me with my knitting and Peter with the daily paper.
Thanks for sharing the pictures,
Budgie
From: ureug1 Sent: 31/05/2008 6:13 PM
Thanks Budgie:
This is a great hobby for those who love the outdoors, those of all ages. Lots of excercise, and the hope of some good color ocassionally. Very few of us will make much from it but that's not the point or reason for prospecting or fossicking. I just love it. We live in a great country for panning or detecting.
Cheers Eugene
From: White_Eagle653 Sent: 31/05/2008 6:56 PM
Geoff, Eugene
You guys done well, great stuff, great pics
Cheers W/E
From: Fly_Dirt Sent: 31/05/2008 10:44 PM
Well done you guys.
Great pics Eugene.
Geoff - put me on the interested list for your "bazooka".
Cheers
Mrs Fly
From: Bbbungy2 Sent: 1/06/2008 1:21 AM
Hi Eugene.
Good post mate - good fun ,good company and lot's more gold to be had next time.You're right about all that gravel getting in between us and the gold - shame we can't speculate on ironstone and quartz futures.My final weigh in for the trip was approx .68 g including my detected piece of .11g. Have done much better on previous trips ,but who's complaining.
Spent today building another new 3' "Bazooka" and repairing/modifying the existing one(got a perfect bullseye with my pick right through the barrel while at Dereel and had to make a temporary field repair which was a bit untidy)
Have fitted aluminium nozzles in place of the previous PVC ones which with different dimensions should improve performance and also allow for much easier removal of the nozzle if necesary to clear a rock jam(doesn't happen all that often - but you know "Murphy").
Heading for a spot in the Adelaide hills Thursday with an old timer who has a spot carrying some interesting "Flake" gold and he tells me that the only easy way to get at it is to don the waders and get into a pond below a rock bar, up to our waists in water with the hand pumps.Fortunately the weather is still relatively dry and warm here but this will be our last chance before this winter and probably longer should it prove to be a wet one.
Mrs Fly - your interest is noted so will do some preparations for Eldorado in October.
Regards everybody.
Geoff/bbungy2.
From: Banjo520 Sent: 1/06/2008 7:47 PM
Geoff/bbungy2, Eugene what can I say! Execpt well done, yep I hope to hold you guy’s to that offer. James
From: wil13859 Sent: 1/06/2008 8:22 PM
top post & pics glad to hear that the extractor & detector worked well great pics yeah your right Eugene its great just getting out there the colour is a bonus.
enviously
Wil
From: Bbbungy2 Sent: 1/06/2008 8:43 PM
Hi James.
You will enjoy a visit to the area - probably be able to tell Eugene and me where the gold is hiding too! We know it's there somewhere.
Regards.
Geoff/bbungy2.
From: Banjo520 Sent: 1/06/2008 9:04 PM
Geoff/bbungy2. Mate I have not forgotten but the time factor is just not right yet, mate I would love to do a trip with you guy’s. cheers James
From: Bbbungy2 Sent: 2/06/2008 8:57 AM
Hi James.
We were thinking that planning ahead for a couple of weeks visiting some spots around Mexico next year during the months when there's generally some water about the place would be the go mate. Don't want to rush you.What do you reckon??
Regards.
Geoff/bbungy2.
From: Banjo520 Sent: 2/06/2008 7:27 PM
Geoff sounds good to me, are you going to EL this year? James
From: Bbbungy2 Sent: 2/06/2008 9:00 PM
Hi James.
Yep,
If I'm still standing I'll be at Eldorado come October.
Spoke to Doug at Gemstone caravan park recently to confirm the booking I made when checking out last year.I'm hoping my mate Bob will be able to make it again too but that is presently in doubt as Raelene is currently undergoing chemo treatment for lymphoma.They still have a cabin booked but July will be decision time.Hope it all works out for the better.
Look forward to catching up with you there.
Regards.
Geoff/bbungy2.
From: ureug1 Sent: 2/06/2008 10:34 PM
James mate:
I will putting the hard word on you for your committment to come to Vic in 2009. Geoff and I will have an itinerary for you, places to visit, stay (staying with mates when possible), adventures golding, old gold towns and history, learning, teaching etc). Mate, this will round off your experience and make you an even better person, if that is possible.
I will be sending you some ideas in next few weeks for the "JB tour of the southern goldfields". You will be looked after I can assure you. It will be at minimal cost to you but we will require your committment to come south of the border for about 2 weeks. I guarantee, you will enjoy it and we will learn more. It will involve your other AGP mates in Vic at times. How does Aug next year sound?
Eugene
From: Banjo520 Sent: 3/06/2008 6:55 AM
Eugene mate that has been my plan for 09 now for some time. Head to Vic and have a bit of a look around. Love to link up with you guy's, James
A week or so ago I visited Geoff staying at his son's place near Dereel. (This is south of Ballarat and the Enfield State Forest and popular for its history and old diggings.) It was der-real thing, an experience I can assure you.
We visited a few creeks and diggings in the area where Geoff had found some colour. We tested his new Gravel Extractor, which I have dubbed “the bazooka” and believe members should test it - maybe at Eldorado. Geoff demonstrated its utility at a local creek showing how water from it can be expelled through a hose behind the operator back to the creek or diverted into a settling drum before going back to the creek. Accumulated gravel is poured into a pan or sieve for further processing. The 3” model seems the best to use, primes easily and works with minimal of effort. Geoff is making some further refinements. It compared very favourably with my own single stroke 3” extractor, which I have used for years.
I have posted a few pics in an album for members showing the gravel extractor in use and some local gold found with our detectors, an Exterra 70 and an older SD2200. The Exterra more than matched Geoff expectation as the 0.11g nugget he found was under 1-2” of clay. I heard his yell….. “Got One!” from 100m away. In addition we both each panned about ½ gram of coarse gold from local creeks as well as the 2 nuggets. I was happy. And we have vowed to return for more. Thanks Geoff, we had a great time, eh?
A highlight was visiting the nearby ‘Break o’ Day’ Inn, built in the gold rush about 1860s and still standing, serving beer and entertaining the passing patrons with wonderful historic displays and photographs. The Hotel was part of the then thriving gold town of Corindhap.
James, we are taking you there mate, you have got to see it!
Eugene
From: ·Budgie· Sent: 31/05/2008 6:06 PM
Hi, Eugene,
Good to hear someone else had a good time and rewarding to boot. Whenever I tell family or friends that we have joined a Prospectors group, the stunned question is; "Is there still gold to be found in Australia?" They all think the old-timers had got it all a long time ago.
Good thing is that most of them love their mod cons too much to wenture out into the bush and roughing it. They think that at our age we should be sitting in our rocking chairs. Me with my knitting and Peter with the daily paper.
Thanks for sharing the pictures,
Budgie
From: ureug1 Sent: 31/05/2008 6:13 PM
Thanks Budgie:
This is a great hobby for those who love the outdoors, those of all ages. Lots of excercise, and the hope of some good color ocassionally. Very few of us will make much from it but that's not the point or reason for prospecting or fossicking. I just love it. We live in a great country for panning or detecting.
Cheers Eugene
From: White_Eagle653 Sent: 31/05/2008 6:56 PM
Geoff, Eugene
You guys done well, great stuff, great pics
Cheers W/E
From: Fly_Dirt Sent: 31/05/2008 10:44 PM
Well done you guys.
Great pics Eugene.
Geoff - put me on the interested list for your "bazooka".
Cheers
Mrs Fly
From: Bbbungy2 Sent: 1/06/2008 1:21 AM
Hi Eugene.
Good post mate - good fun ,good company and lot's more gold to be had next time.You're right about all that gravel getting in between us and the gold - shame we can't speculate on ironstone and quartz futures.My final weigh in for the trip was approx .68 g including my detected piece of .11g. Have done much better on previous trips ,but who's complaining.
Spent today building another new 3' "Bazooka" and repairing/modifying the existing one(got a perfect bullseye with my pick right through the barrel while at Dereel and had to make a temporary field repair which was a bit untidy)
Have fitted aluminium nozzles in place of the previous PVC ones which with different dimensions should improve performance and also allow for much easier removal of the nozzle if necesary to clear a rock jam(doesn't happen all that often - but you know "Murphy").
Heading for a spot in the Adelaide hills Thursday with an old timer who has a spot carrying some interesting "Flake" gold and he tells me that the only easy way to get at it is to don the waders and get into a pond below a rock bar, up to our waists in water with the hand pumps.Fortunately the weather is still relatively dry and warm here but this will be our last chance before this winter and probably longer should it prove to be a wet one.
Mrs Fly - your interest is noted so will do some preparations for Eldorado in October.
Regards everybody.
Geoff/bbungy2.
From: Banjo520 Sent: 1/06/2008 7:47 PM
Geoff/bbungy2, Eugene what can I say! Execpt well done, yep I hope to hold you guy’s to that offer. James
From: wil13859 Sent: 1/06/2008 8:22 PM
top post & pics glad to hear that the extractor & detector worked well great pics yeah your right Eugene its great just getting out there the colour is a bonus.
enviously
Wil
From: Bbbungy2 Sent: 1/06/2008 8:43 PM
Hi James.
You will enjoy a visit to the area - probably be able to tell Eugene and me where the gold is hiding too! We know it's there somewhere.
Regards.
Geoff/bbungy2.
From: Banjo520 Sent: 1/06/2008 9:04 PM
Geoff/bbungy2. Mate I have not forgotten but the time factor is just not right yet, mate I would love to do a trip with you guy’s. cheers James
From: Bbbungy2 Sent: 2/06/2008 8:57 AM
Hi James.
We were thinking that planning ahead for a couple of weeks visiting some spots around Mexico next year during the months when there's generally some water about the place would be the go mate. Don't want to rush you.What do you reckon??
Regards.
Geoff/bbungy2.
From: Banjo520 Sent: 2/06/2008 7:27 PM
Geoff sounds good to me, are you going to EL this year? James
From: Bbbungy2 Sent: 2/06/2008 9:00 PM
Hi James.
Yep,
If I'm still standing I'll be at Eldorado come October.
Spoke to Doug at Gemstone caravan park recently to confirm the booking I made when checking out last year.I'm hoping my mate Bob will be able to make it again too but that is presently in doubt as Raelene is currently undergoing chemo treatment for lymphoma.They still have a cabin booked but July will be decision time.Hope it all works out for the better.
Look forward to catching up with you there.
Regards.
Geoff/bbungy2.
From: ureug1 Sent: 2/06/2008 10:34 PM
James mate:
I will putting the hard word on you for your committment to come to Vic in 2009. Geoff and I will have an itinerary for you, places to visit, stay (staying with mates when possible), adventures golding, old gold towns and history, learning, teaching etc). Mate, this will round off your experience and make you an even better person, if that is possible.
I will be sending you some ideas in next few weeks for the "JB tour of the southern goldfields". You will be looked after I can assure you. It will be at minimal cost to you but we will require your committment to come south of the border for about 2 weeks. I guarantee, you will enjoy it and we will learn more. It will involve your other AGP mates in Vic at times. How does Aug next year sound?
Eugene
From: Banjo520 Sent: 3/06/2008 6:55 AM
Eugene mate that has been my plan for 09 now for some time. Head to Vic and have a bit of a look around. Love to link up with you guy's, James