Placer replenishment

[ben78]

Hi,

One of my first questions here is...

In areas that have been heavily mined of the feeder veins, such as Coffs Harbour, and the creeks have been heavily worked, is there still gold (eluvial placer?) that will replace the gold removed from creeks?

I went for a pan in a 'well known' creek west of Coffs this weekend and nothing was found - this was most likely due to poor technique though.

Is there likely to be any residual placer left up in the hills too? Would be nice to trip over a mound of gold up higher - lol

Ben

[aushunter]

Hey Ben,
The area I dig is similar by the sounds of it.
The gold in the Tooloom area is all thru the soil and the old timers mined the gullies and creeks where it accumalated over time. They got the easy Gold, so we are left with the dregs.
In some case we might hit a pocket of Au that has been caught up in a natural riffle, that has been washed into the creek since the old timers have gone, just remember that there is a lot of gold still left but a hell of a lot dirt mixed in with it.
I remember when I first started out I was flat out getting a speck or two in a day, and that was pretty exciting.
Dig out any crevices, under large boulders, imagine how the creek would be in a flood and source out places that the will fall out, being heavy.
Hope this will help
Now go and get some Au.
Brad....

[MrsFly]

Hi Ben,

It takes time and some good water flow to shift gold around and replenish creeks.

There is an old saying....."Gold is where you find it."

And to find it, one of the first steps is to do some research.

I have never been panning at Coffs, but before I go to a new spot I always do research, which invovles a lot of reading. It gives me an idea of what to expect when I get to my destination:

Look for newpapers reports both modern and historical:

www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/story/2005/01/06/apn-all-that/

Check the local library for local history books:

trove.nla.gov.au/work/9798568?q=coffs+harbour+gold&c=book

Visit the Tourist Info Centre - many Info Centre's have mud maps of local gold deposits.

Maybe a guided tour would be useful:

www.coffscoast4wdtours.com.au/index.htm

Join the local Lapidary Club - members usually have some useful info:

Coffs Harbour - COFFS HARBOUR LAPIDARY & ASSOCIATED CRAFTS CLUB.
PO Box J87 Coffs Harbour Jetty (2450).
Website: www.lapidaryworld.com/coffs_harbour_lapidary_club

In this modern era, research can be done without leaving the comfort of your PC - check out the government sites like DIGS and Geosciece - check the AGP on-line info folders.

And then there is Youtube:





Both uploaded in 2010.....so it seems there is still some chunky gold around up there, you just have to find the spots.

Cheers
Mrs Fly

[ben78]

Cheers all,

I have actually been to see the guy in the youtube videos linked and had a lengthy discussion. I guess my concern is whether the gold in the creeks is replaced after it is dug out, or if I have to find a new crevice that no one else has looked at in the last 120 years!

Ben

[AG MAN]

Jun 30, 2011 6:23:28 GMT 10 ben78 said:

Cheers all,

I guess my concern is whether the gold in the creeks is replaced after it is dug out, or if I have to find a new crevice that no one else has looked at in the last 120 years!

Ben

I'm still a new chum too and did some research into my local area & found creeks close by that in it's day, were heavily worked over by prospectors.
I've cleaned out a bedrock crevice in one creek which is the most easiest to access from the roadside & found colour with minimal effort.
So I guess an answer to your concern (from my findings) is yes, gold will find it's way back into places previously worked. Best bet is to go to a creek that hasn't been worked for a looooong time tho I recon.

Best of luck dude

[hennes]

Todays gold comes from three sources, new gold washed in to the stream, gold lost from the early miners sluice boxes, cradles etc & the little patches of unworked ground missed!
you are right Riverminer.

Cheers Hennes

[pickenshovel]

where was the well known creek ?