What do you look for out in the field (Add what you can)

[Ric]

I have started this topic to help those new to prospecting for Alluvial or Elluvial Gold.

I'm am asking our more experienced members if they can provide some tips on what you need to look for in the bush or along the rivers and creeks that might help point you towards some colour.

The obvious number one tip is to look in a known gold area.
Old mines reports and newspaper reports can be very helpful in pointing you towards the right creeks and rivers as can information on the many forums, BUT what do you look for when you get there

In some ways it is a bit like beach fishing. Standing back on a high vantage point watching how the water flows and trying to imagine where and how it would flow in a big flood as they are the ones that move the gold around.

Where would that gold run and more importantly where would it drop out of the flow for you to find

Are there certain types or size stones that might give a clue.

We have lots of members here who have been chasing Alluvial old for most of their lives so I am hoping we can put together a detailed and informative database to help both New Chums and some of us oldies as well.

The topic will be a sticky so it is always at the top.

Cheers Ric

[chris t]

What a great idea that would be helpful .

[jeffu]

Probably the one of best indicators is ironstone. At places like Oallen, ironstone usually marks the boundaries of a channel. Being heavy, it drops out of the waterflow very quickly. Most of my better days at the Ford have been when I have found a good run of the ironstone. Although, over the past year or so it has been hard to find. I was out at the Ford yesterday and did find a good ironstone run, proof of the gold content will only be known when I do a final cleanup. Indications point to a reasonable day out. There are plenty of other indicators of possible good gold which I will post when time allows. In the meantime, good hunting.

Jeff

[golddiggerart]

One of the creeks I visit is full of Ironstone and is not a good indicator, what I have found is the more glass I find the chunkier the gold, small 0.5 gram clunkers. Currently working a section full of Bedrock with lots of channels in it. The possibilities of more clunkers is good.

[Andy]

A few places to look for gold come to mind.

A stretch of bare gravel running close to & parallel to a creek that runs when the creek floods can be a good source of flood gold.

If the creek is dry, look for a grouping of stones in the middle of it that are larger than the surrounding strata. When the larger stones were dropped when the flow slowed down, gold would drop in the same spot.

Any holes that are obviously not man-made in the top of a solid rock slab are typically called "Boil holes". They are created by smaller particals swirling around a much larger rock that was sitting on top of the slab in past times, & the smaller particals eventually drill out the hole in the slab. If the boil hole has a good amount of water flowing over it in a gold bearing creek, even if only during a flood, there will be gravel & gold in it.

[Allan]

Over the last 40 years; I have taken note; maybe just luck (gold is where you find it?), but has anyone ever noticed what lays at the base of trees. Ironically, during their life existence; they have grown and pulled the underneath to the surface. So when panning; and I begin to sample successfully, I would guess, maybe 20 - 30% of the time there has been a group of trees ( 4 Plus, occasionally, but not often even 1) that have dragged quartz to the surface around their immediate base; a few metres, or even (to guess as far away as the very top of the ridge) and all other trees are barren. Even though I still enjoy my panning, I have had a little more than limited success on the downhill side of these trees with a detector, but more in the washes. It took me years to realise that these indicators existed, and maybe there are heaps more. Just remember when you find you gold, no matter how limited or minor it may be, if you take the time to look around, eventually you will realise, even subconsciously that there are indicators all around; and at the base of your feet.

[Allan]

By the way, I am still working on my unconventual sluice, at this point of time I am testing: 30mm wide and 250mm deep with one outlet and 3 to 4 inlets, appears promising.

[aussiedigga]

Horizontal crevices I get good color from , also I look for sloping bedrock and at the lowest point of the slope , a spot where nice heavy rock has been droping off , I tend to move all the heavys then sluice all the way to bedrock , also pays even better if it's on inside bend or even a big floater

[nuggethill]

Detecting and sluicing
If your detecting or sluicing look for Ironbark trees, these have been an indication in Victoria that gold is near,
detecting walk away from the diggings (up hill sides down gully's) to find those missed nuggets,
I found a lot of my gold on the edge of leads or between leads,
Dig in front of and behind large boulders and dig before rises and after drop offs to put through the sluice.


Detecting (to sluice here you must drag your own water into these gold areas)
In WA look for what they call salt and pepper (small pebbles of quartz and ironstone) on the ground this is an indicator that gold is near,
detect where the ground has been pushed (they don't get everything) I've found a few oz's this way,
fix a rope to your belt with a chain at the end when detecting pushed ground so you can see where you have been,
and always carry a GPS unit so you don't get lost.

regards Harry

[daddyd]

When I am at a creek or river I look for a inside bend I also look in back of and under rocks and in crevices on top of bedrock

[pebbles]

Hi....what does ironstone look like and what colour is it? i wish to learn more if anyone else can add to this discussion....Thanks

[Rowdy]

Only just saw this question. Ironstone usually looks like a dark brown lump which is a bit heavier than the normal stones, sand etc. it can be quite smooth from being tumbled in the stream or rough and jaggered if broken up. The size can vary from almost sand size up to or bigger than a football.
It can look like a large lump of rusty metal at times.
It is usually only an indicator that gold may present in the area only because of as it is heavier it drops out in the stream the same as gold does.
There are many other heavier materials that may be indicators as well which also drop out in the slower moving water.

Years ago I was shown by a prospector who really knew his stuff that when you go to an area first you have to find out what the indicator in the area is then you have a chance of locating gold.
Rowdy

[daddyd]

I am originally from the US when I am out prospecting I look for quartz or black sand or a plant called the trumpet vine at river and creek I look for a inside bend or bedrockor I read the waterline and work the crevices I now live in the Philippines where prospecting is illegal but I do take advantage on trips to the river or beach in remote parts on private property