I would like to start a thread for my own learning on Fossicking. I do not know if this post should be here or in craft, but here goes if this is the wrong place someone will tell me.
I am not near a Lapidary club so am not able to attend classes to learn what to do or not to do. With the wealth of knowledge avalable on the forum maybe someone will share some tips. I am under no illusion of making a fortune I am just looking for a hobby to compliment our days on the road. Perhaps some pictures on occasion of finds made like the one on abc news a couple of days ago near Emerald.
I look forward to hearing from anyone who Fossicks or has done it and until then
Keep the shiny side up and travel safe
dING said
06:47 PM Feb 21, 2014
Well it can be a cheap hobby
If you are on the gem fields in
Qld all ya need is a sieve and
A drum of water not to forget the
Pick n shovel just pick a spot dig
A small hole sieve the dirt out
Dip the sieve with remains in the water
Tip it out on the ground Heap) anything
That looks like its dry is a gem stone simple
Or wait till it rains and walk the tracks
Looking for dry stones most of the gem
Stones are like a greased stone water
Dont stick to em
-- Edited by dING on Friday 21st of February 2014 06:47:49 PM
Crackles said
06:54 PM Feb 21, 2014
Thank You,
We are in Northern NSW right now but are heading that way at the end of march.
It really sounds to simple but we will try it.
I have the sieve, shovel and pick so heads down by the looks.
Kooroorinya Kelpie said
07:18 PM Feb 21, 2014
Hi Crackles and all. There are a couple of sites you can Google up but haven't got there names at present. Just Google fossicking and thy will show. I used them last year and found them good value. Sorry I can't be more specific. Cheers.
rosa said
07:22 PM Feb 21, 2014
good idea crackles i'd like to learn about fossicking as well, shall watch for more posts like ding's that was interesting especialy about the stones looking dry
valnrob said
07:53 PM Feb 21, 2014
Sounds good, might give it a try this year, very interesting Thanks.
valnrob said
07:53 PM Feb 21, 2014
Sounds good, might give it a try this year, very interesting Thanks.
Mobi Condo said
08:36 PM Feb 21, 2014
Hey Crackles,
Like the idea of a thread to cover this topic which as far as I know (in my miniscule knowledge of the topic) could cover from gold through gems, coins, artefacts etc.
I know I could learn a lot that way too!
Cheers
whitey2 said
10:15 PM Feb 21, 2014
Hi crackles, we have only started in the past twelve months and love it, so a thread on here would be good. We are going to the gem festival (minerama) in march (7,8, 9) at Glen Innes and will have a go there, totally different gem fossicking around there to central QLD. Cheers Whitey2
Vic41 said
12:37 AM Feb 22, 2014
Briche is into fossicking and supplied this link before for info on fossicking etc;
Yes, I think we do need a section on Hobbies, perhaps as a sub forum on the Crafts section (shared section?).
spida said
08:48 AM Feb 22, 2014
What about detecting - have one but not used it yet. Anyone else in to that?
jules47 said
08:55 AM Feb 22, 2014
There is a magazine available from newsagents - monthly - called "Gem, Stone and Treasure" - lots of good info in there, as to where to go what to do, how to do. I know you say you are not near a lapidary club, but if you joined one, you can visit others all over the country, go on their field trips etc.
If you are heading to north QLD, at Mt Surprise on the Savannah Way, the gem shop there will take you out to a fossicking field, supply equipment and advice - we went with them several years ago, expecting a bit of nice clear topaz which we got - but our biggest and best surprise find was a huge aquamarine!!!! They charge you of course, but well worth it for the experience. I think on the QLD sapphire fields one of the best and first things is to do a bucket or two at, say Pat's Gems in Sapphire, you will learn then what you are looking for.
Good luck with it - a lot of fun, and hard work!!!!
whitey2 said
09:21 AM Feb 22, 2014
spida wrote:
What about detecting - have one but not used it yet. Anyone else in to that?
Hi Spida, we to have a detector and like you have not really used it either, though once we head off next week we will, ours is for relics and for gold. Have you joined any of the prospector forums? Lots of info on them to.
Maybe we will see you out and about, cheers whitey2
dING said
10:44 AM Feb 22, 2014
Me I am a bit tight and old fashioned
Cant see the point of paying someone
To do something that I could do for myself
Just head out into the Gem fields cause there
Are thousands of acres of em and start digging
Tis more satisfying if ya do it ya self and you
Have a lot o fun doing it and become a
Millionaire well not really but we all can
Imagine
kiwijims said
02:32 PM Feb 22, 2014
Hi Crackles,
Gem Prospecting !! We love it, a few years back we went to Rubyvale in QLD , Stopped there for a week in the caravan park, I purchased a Fossickers Permit, which also included a map of the local area where we were permitted to go, Although it was the winter, around July, it was still very warm, ( 25c - 28c )I can see how the Summer temp can easily get beyond 50deg . I used a Detector for some of the time, but after a number of false signals gave that Idea away, I them concentrated on old diggings of which there are hundreds all over the fields. After a week of dragging sample dirt back to the caravan and then sieving and washing it, Here is the result.....
Nothing big enough to have cut and set, but still a nice small collection to prove there are still finds, if you are lucky.
Thank You all, but I have to agree with dING I also just like to have a go.
Kiwijims, mate if I could find just a couple like those in the picture I would be happy.
Actually that is the area we were looking at heading toward for a start as well
To Whitey and Spida I don't know if I would like walking around with a detector I am ugly enough as it is but put on headphones and carring extra gear probably embarrass me to much. More a head down in a hole hiding type of bloke
Anyway keep the tips coming I am getting more enthusiastic every day and am having touble containing myself until the end of March
Cloak said
05:55 PM Feb 22, 2014
I too am interested in gold prospecting but what do you do if you find it?
Good Afternoon all,
I would like to start a thread for my own learning on Fossicking. I do not know if this post should be here or in craft, but here goes if this is the wrong place someone will tell me.
I am not near a Lapidary club so am not able to attend classes to learn what to do or not to do. With the wealth of knowledge avalable on the forum maybe someone will share some tips. I am under no illusion of making a fortune I am just looking for a hobby to compliment our days on the road. Perhaps some pictures on occasion of finds made like the one on abc news a couple of days ago near Emerald.
I look forward to hearing from anyone who Fossicks or has done it and until then
Keep the shiny side up and travel safe
Well it can be a cheap hobby
If you are on the gem fields in
Qld all ya need is a sieve and
A drum of water not to forget the
Pick n shovel just pick a spot dig
A small hole sieve the dirt out
Dip the sieve with remains in the water
Tip it out on the ground Heap) anything
That looks like its dry is a gem stone simple
Or wait till it rains and walk the tracks
Looking for dry stones most of the gem
Stones are like a greased stone water
Dont stick to em
-- Edited by dING on Friday 21st of February 2014 06:47:49 PM
Thank You,
We are in Northern NSW right now but are heading that way at the end of march.
It really sounds to simple but we will try it.
I have the sieve, shovel and pick so heads down by the looks.
Like the idea of a thread to cover this topic which as far as I know (in my miniscule knowledge of the topic) could cover from gold through gems, coins, artefacts etc.
I know I could learn a lot that way too!
Cheers
Briche is into fossicking and supplied this link before for info on fossicking etc;
http://dirtfishing.com.au/index.php
Yes, I think we do need a section on Hobbies, perhaps as a sub forum on the Crafts section (shared section?).
If you are heading to north QLD, at Mt Surprise on the Savannah Way, the gem shop there will take you out to a fossicking field, supply equipment and advice - we went with them several years ago, expecting a bit of nice clear topaz which we got - but our biggest and best surprise find was a huge aquamarine!!!! They charge you of course, but well worth it for the experience. I think on the QLD sapphire fields one of the best and first things is to do a bucket or two at, say Pat's Gems in Sapphire, you will learn then what you are looking for.
Good luck with it - a lot of fun, and hard work!!!!
Hi Spida, we to have a detector and like you have not really used it either, though once we head off next week we will, ours is for relics and for gold. Have you joined any of the prospector forums? Lots of info on them to.
Maybe we will see you out and about, cheers whitey2
Cant see the point of paying someone
To do something that I could do for myself
Just head out into the Gem fields cause there
Are thousands of acres of em and start digging
Tis more satisfying if ya do it ya self and you
Have a lot o fun doing it and become a
Millionaire well not really but we all can
Imagine
Hi Crackles,
Gem Prospecting !! We love it, a few years back we went to Rubyvale in QLD ,
Stopped there for a week in the caravan park,
I purchased a Fossickers Permit, which also included a map of the local area where we were permitted to go,
Although it was the winter, around July, it was still very warm, ( 25c - 28c )I can see how the Summer temp can easily get beyond 50deg .
I used a Detector for some of the time, but after a number of false signals gave that Idea away,
I them concentrated on old diggings of which there are hundreds all over the fields.
After a week of dragging sample dirt back to the caravan and then sieving and washing it,
Here is the result.....
Nothing big enough to have cut and set, but still a nice small collection to prove there are still finds, if you are lucky.
kiwijims
Thank You all, but I have to agree with dING I also just like to have a go.
Kiwijims, mate if I could find just a couple like those in the picture I would be happy.
Actually that is the area we were looking at heading toward for a start as well
To Whitey and Spida I don't know if I would like walking around with a detector I am ugly enough as it is but put on headphones and carring extra gear probably embarrass me to much. More a head down in a hole hiding type of bloke
Anyway keep the tips coming I am getting more enthusiastic every day and am having touble containing myself until the end of March
I mean where do you take it... a bank?
Completely ignorant or this I am.
Chortle a bit -- Then hoard it
And then
Look in the papers lotsa
Gold buyers out there
But seller beware cause
They dont pay much if they
Can help it