****PROSPECTING PHOTO ALBUM****
****FLORA & FAUNA PHOTO ALBUM****
(Sing along) Words to Waltzing Matilda at bottom of page.
Gold Prospecting began in Western Australia over 150 years ago. In the late 1970's, metal detectors were the beginning of a new Gold Rush.The trials and tribulations of the four pictured here will unfold in the following pages.
From the left of picture Chris, Neil (VKS737-Whisky 110), Robbie and myself Peter (VKS737-Whisky 409.)
Gold Prospecting has become the most rewarding, interesting, frustrating hobby/business that we have ever attempted. Costs associated can also add up with the need to keep up with technology.
Started my prospecting days back in 1980 travelling from Waikiki, WA, a trip to Nannine (old site) approximately 60kms South of Meekatharra, Western Australia. Was using the then state of the art "Garret Deepseeker". Found nothing on my first trip but a return to the area the following year resulted in two nuggets 1 1/4 oz & 1/4 oz. I was hooked, gold fever had grabbed me! Years later went back to this area and using a small dryblower managed to scrape together 6 oz's in three weeks. Very hard work digging by hand, however a rewarding exercise.
Upgraded to a Garrett Groundhog, after numerous trips was unable to turn up any nuggets (hence the frustration!)Spent 2 weeks at Nullagine, saw a lot of gold being found but with no luck myself.
The following years concentrated on dryblowing areas around Kalgoorlie and Kambalda with varying success. Developed many ideas on how to retrieve gold from the dryblower fines using a sluice instead of the usual panning method.
In the early 90's a trip to the Leonora area resulted in the purchase of a 200 hectare (500acre) lease."CHEPERON GOLD" ABN: 80 485 138 102
It really began happening then! We purchased 4x Whites V/Sat detectors and had a lot of success with small gold and returns with the dryblower. Took my three partners onboard and we now have three caravans, a shack (thanks to the Esperence shed fitter) and most of the comforts of home on our Prospecting Lease.(P36/8521) We bought a Minelab SD 2000 between us in '96 and got immediate results with many fine nuggets. Had my long service leave in early '99 so bought the latest Minelab SD 2100. In the time I was there I picked up 44 nuggets and we totalled 74 nuggets for the trip.The SD2000 has now been modified and Neil has added another modified 2000 to the inventory. Both SD's have had the 7.3volt system added
NOW YOU WANT TO GET STARTED?
For information, contact and support our Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia Tel: (08) 9417 6390 For 4WD information, join a club: The Australian National 4WD Radio Network Inc:Visit their website:http://www.vks737.on.net Four Wheel Drive Club of WA (Inc) e-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.mpr.wa.gov.au/ For subscription e-mail:[email protected] Subscribing to this very informative magazine is money well spent. If the area is covered by El's (Exploration Licences) or is a current Mining Lease you need permission to enter. Of all the mining companies and pastoralists that I have contacted I have always received permission to detect, after explaining we weren't bringing mobile equipment ie: bobcats, front-end loaders etc. If you detect on another's lease without permission they can legally confiscate all your equipment. This is highly unlikely, but it can happen by law, you are generally asked to move on. Also, it is an offence to clear areas of natural bush without permission and there are huge fines imposed if you are caught and found guilty! If you are not familiar with finding your way around the bush, I strongly advise you read as much as you can about the West Australian outback. Buy yourself a compass SILVA is a good brand as it is flat/light and you can hang it around your neck at all times. Practice compass walks eg: Walk for 15 minutes in any direction (noting what heading you are on) then swing 90deg left, walk for 15 minutes swing 90deg left, walk again for 15 minutes, swing 90deg left and in 15 minutes you should be in sight of your starting point. Given time and practice you don't need the compass and you can be guaranteed to be back near starting point. You can also practice walking in a triangle 120deg swings (this is my preferred method). Walk for a selected time each leg and you will almost always come back to the vehicle. If this fails pull the GPS out of your back pack, retrieve the co-ordinates you entered before leaving your vehicle?? Locate the vehicle within a few hundred metres, (probably obscured by a clump of trees or hill.) For purchasing information and all your other prospecting needs contact, Bernd and Petra Wasse: Reeds Prospecting Supplies Phone/Fax 08/ 9291 0142 or e-mail: [email protected] Visit their website:http://www.reedsprospecting.com.au A GPS is not essential, however we have found it invaluable for storing coordinates of likely prospecting areas and also any windmills we come across. You never know when you may be stranded and need to find water for survival. A quick search will reveal the nearest water location. A very important point: If you get in the habit of going for long hikes from your vehicle in search of new ground, always enter position of your vehicle in GPS so you can have an accurate record of where you need to head back too. You can become disorientated very easily in the bush because everything looks familiar. On overcast days you are unable to navigate using the sun and can become confused, especially, if there is a wind direction change. If you want to increase accaracy of your navigation, purchace Ozi Explorer GPS mapping soft ware, this coupled with the Raster 250K Natmaps, waypoints down loaded to a Garmin 176 or equivalent and you can almost navigate blindfolded. (i)The 12 Volt Shop on (08) 94581212. e-mail:[email protected] Visit their website:http://www.12volt.com.au (i) Barrett Communications Pty Ltd on (08) 9434 1700. e-mail:[email protected] Visit their website: http://www.barrettcommunications.com.au (ii) Terlin Outbacker on (08) 9455 4288. e-mail: [email protected] Visit their website: http://www.outbacker.com.au contact: Minelab Electronics Pty. Ltd. on (08) 8238 0890 or freecall 1800 637 786. For further information and to get a copy of the new Minelab Adventure Book. Visit their website:http://www.minelab.com Coiltek Pty Ltd produce accessories compatable with the Minelab series of detectors. The latest developments are sending a buzz around the prospectors group. Their new UFO 24" X 12" Monoloop Coil and their 7.3 volt regulated power system is breathing new life into the SD series. (**Note** The regulated power system is not compatable with the GP Extreme.) For more information contact: John Gladdis: on (08) 8283 0222. e-mail:[email protected] Visit their website:http://www.coiltek.com.au Garrett have a large range of detectors to meet most needs, whether you are treasure hunter,beach comber or prospector. e-mail:[email protected] Visit their website:http://www.goldminingcentre.com.au Barry & Rohan Johnson (Detector sales & service)have everything to meet the prospectors needs. e-mail:[email protected] Visit their web site:http://www.nuggetfinder.com You the prospector can support the industry by joining Amalgamated Prospectors and Leaseholders Association of Western Australia Inc. e-mail:[email protected] Visit their website: http://www.emerge.net.au/~hakey/ Visit Jack & Margarets website for all your prospecting need and advice. e-mail:[email protected] Visit their websitehttp://www.jacksgold.com Visit Saul & Carols International Gold Market and discuss sale of our disappearing natural nuggets. e-mail:[email protected] Visit their web sitehttp://www.goldmartinc.com/ Department of Industry and Resources MSN Gold Detecting Message Board Northern Territory gold prospecting with Geoff Tom Ashworth's Prospectors Cache Australia's Online Gold Magazine The Swiss Internet Platform for recreational gold prospecting! Northwest Treasure Supply (Washington) Oak Island Treasure. (Nova Scotia) Bill's nugget shooting page & forum. Thankyou for looking around, I'd be interested in your constructive criticism on how to improve this GOLD PROSPECTING information site! Vote for this site! Top 50 Sites WALTZING MATILDA (Australia's preferred National Anthem) Please e-mail me with any queries or place a message in the guest book. Enter your e-mail and join the MSN forum, post your information ask questions or just see what is happening in the Gold Prospecting world today. (This is a "User Friendly, No Nonsense" family site!)
First and paramount is your personal safety. Our "OUTBACK" can be very unforgiving for the foolhardy and unprepared? First-Aid knowledge is essential! "How to treat snake bite" http://www.usyd.edu.au/anaes/venom/snakebite.html, can be the difference between life and death!! A $5.00 wide bandage applied correctly can give the patient the needed time for professional help to arrive.
To go prospecting, you should have a 4WD (advisable but not essential???) A sound knowledge of bush mechanics. Critical spares! eg: fan belts, radiator hoses, fuses etc.
Get yourself a Prospecting Licence: (Miners Right) ($20.00) OBTAIN MAPS OF THE AREA:Department of Industry and Resources. (Western Australia)
Get your hands on the first addition of "Gold and Ghosts" ($50.00) This will give you all the prospecting areas in Western Australia. Second hand copies are occasionly advertised in the "Australian Gold Gem & Treasure" which is a monthly magazine containing articles on prospecting and a classified section from which you can buy all your prospecting needs.
It is advisable that when you decide which area you intend to prospect, you write to the Station Owner whose land the prospect is in. Introduce yourself and let them know, when you will be in the area, your miners right number, your vehicle make and rego number and how long you intend to stay. Word of advice: They don't like you bringing dogs because of the possibility that they may attack their sheep. Also, most stations aerial drop poison baits for dingoes and wild dogs. Introducing yourself is a courtesy which can have its benefits, as well as retaining a relationship between pastoralists and prospectors. We prospectors do not have a very good reputation because of the minority group who leave gates open, cut fences, shoot holes in anything that moves and doesn't move ie: water tanks and windmills etc.
Purchase a Global Positioning System (GPS) A GPS is an excellent navigation aid, but does not replace the need for careful orienteering and good judgement.
For all your low voltage requirements, solar panels, 12 volt pumps etc. For online purchasing and enquiry information contact:
For safety and social reasons purchase a High Frequency Radio There are a range of radios to suit most personal needs and financial budgets. The Barrett 550 with auto tuning aerial suits most needs, with the added ability to be able to make radio telephone calls to home and anywhere in the world for that matter. For purchasing information contact:
Minelab have now released their latest GP 3000 model a follow on from the GP Extreme. This detector has added features built in which enables the prospector to uncover nuggets in previously searched ground and discover new "patches." For information on your local dealer:
Visit the prospecting forums and associated links:
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
And he sang as he sat and waited by the billabong
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me
Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me
And he sang as he sat and waited by the billabong
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.
Down came a jumbuck to drink beside the billabong
Up jumped the swagman and seized him with glee
And he sang as he tucked jumbuck in his tuckerbag
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me
Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me
And he sang as he sat and waited by the billabong
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.
Down came the stockman, riding on his thoroughbred,
Down came the troopers, one, two, three.
"where's the jolly jumbuck you've got in your tuckerbag?
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me
Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me
And he sang as he sat and waited by the billabong
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.
Up jumped the swagman and plunged into the billabong,
"You'll never catch me alive," cried he
And his ghost may be heard as you ride beside the billabong,
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me
And he sang as he sat and waited by the billabong
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.
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