Fossicking ?? Here on the forum or in crafts

Crackles · Veteran Member

Fossicking ?? Here on the forum or in crafts

dING · Senior Member

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 · Veteran Member

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 · Senior Member

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 · Senior Member

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 · Guru

Sounds good, might give it a try this year, very interesting Thanks.

valnrob · Guru

Sounds good, might give it a try this year, very interesting Thanks.

Mobi Condo · Guru

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 · Veteran Member

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 · Guru

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?).

spida · Guru

What about detecting - have one but not used it yet. Anyone else in to that?

jules47 · The Happy Helper

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 · Veteran Member

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 · Senior Member

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 · Guru

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.....
Gem stones from Rubyvale Q.L.D..jpg

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 biggrin

Crackles · Veteran Member

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 · Guru

I too am interested in gold prospecting but what do you do if you find it?

I mean where do you take it... a bank?

Completely ignorant or this I am.

dING · Senior Member

Rub ya hands together

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

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.