goldrat

Hi Chris ,

              I live in the Golden Triangle in Victoria  Australia . I know how you can have a topsy turvey year with your personal health and your family's . Hope 2019 leaves all that behind you . I also had a poor year prospecting missing the majority with leg and back problems plus a bilateral double hernia operation . Nearly all good now , but age catches up with you eventually . Not all is doom and gloom though , two good things happened for me . I purchased a Equinox to help with the weight problem which definitely will keep me detecting longer . I have only done 5 / 6 hours and found a few pre decimal coins a great cricket buckle ( believe it or not !! a cricket buckle depicting USA miners verses English miners ) This I will cherish for ever , also some miners buttons . Last year i posted I'll try and beat Steve to a Gold coin in 2018 , never happened but this is the year . Have you ever driven past a spot and mentally noted I will stop and detect there some time . With all my time off I did a lot of research reading , books and driving . My first attempt at using the faithful SDC came several weeks ago at one of these spots . I have been driving past it since 1979 . I have found 41 nugglets weighing in at 4.25 grams , this is the best weight ratio to nugglets found in 4 years with the SDC . I have spent about 15 / 20 hours at this spot with more detecting to do , I'll put up a pic with 20 odd pieces . You would understand this better than me , it's all been found within 80 metres of 2 old indicators (1860's ) in an area 120 metres by 30 metres . The gold is prickly . spongy and iron stained . The photo shows it as found or only cleaned in water in a ultrasonic machine . Have subscribed ti ICMJ for approx 8 years , love the magazine and especially your articles . All the best with health and happiness this year Chris .

Cheers

goldrat

Thanks Steve for your great insight 20 years ago .

It's great living and Detecting in Australia and being able to glean so much help and info from you and your fellow forum members .

I'm thousands of miles away , yet I feel like I'm next door .

Cheers and here's to the next 20 years .

goldrat

On 7/8/2018 at 8:18 AM, kiwijw said:

Good for you Goldrat.? You are an inspiration. I hope I am still capable at 70 or so years of age. Some days I feel a wreck at 58.. That was some raw natural gold when you found it out from the bowels of mother earth. Is that acid mix you used similar to aqua-riga? Nasty stuff.  Thanks for sharing.

Best of luck to you.

JW  

JW , not sure what your aqua - riga represents in acids . Besides hydrochloric acid ( used in swimming pools and as a brickies acid ) we can buy off the shelf ali - brite sold in car accessory shops . Main use is for polishing stainless on vehicles . It has 5% hydro fluoric acid in the 1 litre bottle . That is the dangerous acid we can't purchase without a licence and after doing  rigorous training .

Just put up my first NOX report pre my few hour hunt prior to operation . 4 weeks since operation and surgeon says report back in 8 weeks , gunna change surgeons I think (LOL) Thanks for your kind thought mate .

Cheers

goldrat

Last post  I mentioned I would put up a short report on a few hours with the Equinox . I haven't detected for several months due to my legs starting to break down . It was frustrating having a SDC out of use and now a brand new NOX . The surgeons report was handed down to me and I was about to have a bilateral double hernia operation . Message came through loud and clear that there would be no vigorous activities for 8 to 12 weeks after operation . Bugger I thought with 4 days before hospital , can't do much more harm to body , better give the NOX a swing . I went to an old miners camp (1850's) where I started detecting in the early 80's with a Garrett Deepseeker . Biggest rubbish dump ever for me , but occasionally I would find a coin or relic . Time to try the new kid on the block in standard field 1 . Well I got the shock of my life and my success revolved around a few very slow hours of detecting . Can't wait till I get the green light and can detect daily . In the pics there is a Australian half penny dated 1943 , I found that on the way home at a trotting track / cricket ground which closed 60 years ago . I have a further 8 weeks of rehab before the NOX comes out for round 2  !!!!!!!!! Can't wait . Enjoy the pics .

Cheers

goldrat

Just now, goldrat said:

Long time coming  "LUNK"

Well Lunk and fellow members , on January 10th I said I would post after bath pics of my first 2018 gold . I think I took my time in replying ??? Hard to believe that since that post I have not detected with the SDC , purchased the Equinox and have 2 half days under the belt with it . One of the first to receive it in Aus and just a lousy couple of hunts only . Pretty excited with my finds which I will post later . In brief my legs were giving me issues so I stopped detecting . Feel a lot better today 2 weeks after a bilateral double hernia operation . Counting down the next 6 to 8 weeks and look out old miners camps . Now for that January gold result .  ( 2.8 grams )

Cheers

goldrat

On 1/10/2018 at 2:23 PM, goldrat said:

 I have never posted a picture of any of my gold finds and today I will . Had been corresponding with Nenad and mentioned I was going to detect a reef near Tarnagulla in Victoria . I have found reefy nuggets at one level and higher up the slope any nuggets I have found have been totally wrapped in their host (ironstone) but some are having just a peep at the Aussie sun when removed from the ground . Any how I told Nenad I'd try and send a pic . Wow , after an hour of trial and error I got them through to him on email . My first success at extra technology for a 70 + year old . Now I'm taking the distance further to the USA and attempting to post to our forum . I just hope my second attempt  in time isn't relative to the distance of travel  ( lol )  !!!!! These nuggets are now in the Ali Brite sauna . Not sure if you can purchase this in USA . Details are . 1 litre container . Principal ingredients are 9.8 grams per litre of hydrofluoric acid and 46 grams per litre of sulphuric acid .

Cheers

goldrat

 

Great info Chase ,

will use your info in Central Goldfields Victoria .

Possibly nursing a hernia so may be quiet for awhile .

Thanks and Cheers

gold rat 

Well done Judy , just great how little finds make you feel good when there is some association on that day .

Jenny and I have been married 50 years in August , will have to go out that morning and maybe we can do something similar .

Cheers

gold rat

PS : going to PM you next week re a question on your sluice

Buying my Equinox specifically for coins in our Golden Triangle Goldfields .

This gives me a little hope if the Miners Camps are just off the goldfields we may be able to overcome some of the

mineralization . Sounds great for beach hunters .

Cheers 

goldrat

Deliveries commence Thursday 15th in Australia .

I believe all Australian dealers are on rations like your USA Dealers .

Cheers

goldrat

My favourite headphones for years has been SunRay Gold Pros . Without mentioning brand names I've tried several high profile

sets , but to my hearing the SunRays always pick up whisper sound and slight variations in the threshold better than the others I've 

bought and tried . My question is , I would like to hear feedback on the "Bushmasters" built for the Relic Hunters site . To me they 

could be just about be describing the SunRays (imo)

Thanks and Cheers

goldrat

geof_junk had a quick look at a couple videos , you have given me some pleasure for tonight , thanks .

Cheers

goldrat

Hey Guys , I'm sure I pay AUS$20 locally , No problem for me to purchase 1 to ? nuckles and post over . Get together and pick a number required and a shipping address and I'll get you a quote ( knuckles and Shipping )

Iv'e had mine 2 years and just clips on , no ties required .

Cheers

goldrat

Thanks guys for your replies and suggestions , will read all threads given today .

Cheers

goldrat

Have been given a TDI  SL and I'm not that keen on the 11' spider mono coil attached . ( mainly the sticks and debris that get caught up ) 

Detecting in heavily mineralised ground in the Golden Triangle Australia and it was suggested that I purchase a used 12"/14" Coiltek Goldstalker mono round .

Any thought on that please.!!!!!

I run a SDC2300 and soooon a Equinox ????? . The TDI will just give me a little extra depth to go wandering away from the diggings . 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions .

Cheers

goldrat

Thanks Steve for all your careful statements with restrictions on you , you just have a way to describe to the savvy technical members and people like me . I might get your hat problem ( a previous thread ) soon and change sizes up to control the swelling from my extra knowledge . I still can't say I have seen the exact multi frequencies in gold mode , I'm assuming the full spectrum 5kHz to 40 kHz . Well I'm going outside to practise some more with my make believe Equinox in this heat wave .

Cheers

goldrat

So much to read and take in !! I seem to be grasping the majority of the technical talk , but I can't be sure about the new gold mode Is it multi frequency in the 5 frequencies or just 20 kHz & 40 kHz . 

Thanks and Cheers

goldrat

1 hour ago, Lunk said:

Pics look great Goldrat, let us know how your gold looks after the sauna.

Thanks Lunk , will do that when gold is out . Thanks also for motivating me to join in forum with pics from you starting this thread 

Cheer mate

goldrat

 I have never posted a picture of any of my gold finds and today I will . Had been corresponding with Nenad and mentioned I was going to detect a reef near Tarnagulla in Victoria . I have found reefy nuggets at one level and higher up the slope any nuggets I have found have been totally wrapped in their host (ironstone) but some are having just a peep at the Aussie sun when removed from the ground . Any how I told Nenad I'd try and send a pic . Wow , after an hour of trial and error I got them through to him on email . My first success at extra technology for a 70 + year old . Now I'm taking the distance further to the USA and attempting to post to our forum . I just hope my second attempt  in time isn't relative to the distance of travel  ( lol )  !!!!! These nuggets are now in the Ali Brite sauna . Not sure if you can purchase this in USA . Details are . 1 litre container . Principal ingredients are 9.8 grams per litre of hydrofluoric acid and 46 grams per litre of sulphuric acid .

Cheers

goldrat

I don't think this is a Minelab marketing ploy , they are smarter enough to know they are going to get the majority of the VLF market just from the response on prospecting forums and pre orders. Steve is spot on with his assessment Minelab must get it right from the first release , so take your time Minelab and get it right . I have never witnessed so many adults with the impatient waiting for Father Xmas attitude . I'll just keep finding gold with my SDC until my Equinox arrives  . And then look out for the box tick for a gold sovereign . " wonder if I can beat Steve to that box " !!!!!!!!!!

Cheers

goldrat

Welcome to the forum Chase Goldman , your spot on a great forum to participate on . I detect in Australia in the Golden Triangle for gold with a SDC2300 . I am purchasing a Equinox specifically to hunt down a gold sovereign . I hadn't given much thought to using the 40kz in the trashy camps , but I will have to experiment  with it . I was going to use the 40kz chasing small gold where the SDC has been successful . Interested in Steve's response to your thoughts . All the best for 2018 .

Cheers

goldrat

Thanks for a great report Steve , Iv'e taken all the info in that your forum has released  preparing for the opportunity to have a crack in the Golden Triangle in AUS . This may sound silly but I haven't been impatient for the release and I'm not fussed when it happens . In the mean time I take note of all the old miners camps I come across when detecting with my SDC . I'm always dreaming of a gold coin find in our historic goldfields . Maybe in 2018 I will tick that most wanted box . I love finding gold with the SDC but with a coin your mind drifts into thoughts of who had it , how and what circumstances was it lost . That's enough for me , wishing all members a safe, healthy New Year and lot's of great finds in 2018 . 

Cheers

goldrat

Good read and satisfying to see the imprisonment terms were a start for determent , although the fines were pitiful . I thought theses manufacturers must have been protected . Looks like this is the start of more arrests and investigations .

Cheers

goldrat

3 hours ago, TheHunterGT said:

Hello,  I am new here.  I think this is a great forum filled with some very intelligent people.  The latest change to only allow 6 thread views has me a registered member now instead of an anonymous guest.  

I dabble in gold prospecting from time to time with my wife.  We both are dedicated First Texas users (they sponsor my YouTube channel) but have used many other detectors for many hours (XP - Garrett - Nokta/Makro - Minelab).   

Anyways...don't want to bore anybody with a huge introduction...so hello and thanks for having me.

Welcome TheHunterGT ,  Good to have you on board the forum , looking forward to your posts . This is a great forum and I hope you enjoy your time here . First Texas Mmm , waiting patiently for their next model , hopefully it is new technology !!!!!    Are you more a relic and coin hunter , your choice or less gold in your area .

Cheers

goldrat

9 minutes ago, Rivers rat said:

Hello Goldrat i am River rat 

 

 

RR

Hi Rivers rat ,

                      Great name , when I spent most of my recreation time fishing my mates called me river rat . Have read some of your post's , must be physically a tough sport fossicking in the Thames mud .

Cheers

goldrat