New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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1864hatter		Posted : Friday, 30 May 2014 6:29:41 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		How's it going folks, as I have not started work yet I went for a wee wander along the beach with the other half today. Still don't have a suitable beach detector or I would be out doing that. I did find something at the beach that tickled my fancy though. Now before anyone laughs, I know they are small but they are my first ones. I found these bits of what I recon are Kauri gum (beer bottle cap for scale). Anybody into collecting/polishing them? Id be keen to go get some more and clean them up a bit. Edited by user Friday, 30 May 2014 6:30:38 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified 1864hatter attached the following image(s):
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

Shilo		Posted : Saturday, 31 May 2014 9:07:23 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 29/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 573 Location: Kawhia Thanks: 17 times Was thanked: 285 time(s) in 185 post(s)		I take it your not in Blenheim anymore :) I polished up some many years ago. Remember it was fairly easy but use hand tools / sand paper etc as heat build up can quickly make things tacky and hard to get a good polish. Can also be very brittle so if carving do small "chips" at a time. If you really want a challenge try this: http://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/account/3009/object/280/Gum_Hair
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gjj109		Posted : Saturday, 31 May 2014 9:26:07 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 14/03/2011(UTC) Posts: 464 Location: Thames Thanks: 217 times Was thanked: 194 time(s) in 115 post(s)		See what wonderful things you can find in these sunny climes. It would take a power of searching to find some kauri gum down south.

Metal Kiwi		Posted : Saturday, 31 May 2014 11:26:42 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,210 Location: Auckland Thanks: 498 times Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)		Originally Posted by: Shilo I take it your not in Blenheim anymore :) I polished up some many years ago. Remember it was fairly easy but use hand tools / sand paper etc as heat build up can quickly make things tacky and hard to get a good polish. Can also be very brittle so if carving do small "chips" at a time. If you really want a challenge try this: http://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/account/3009/object/280/Gum_Hair During the late 60's as an apprentice I boarded with a family in Kaikohe. The husband was a retired Kauri bushman and he had an amazing collection of large pieces of polished Kauri gum. I don't remember how the polishing process was started but all the final finishing to get the mirror finish on the gum was done by spending many,many winter evenings in front of the fire rubbing the gum with the palm of his hand. It took forever but the end result was astonishing. MK
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1864hatter		Posted : Saturday, 31 May 2014 1:31:00 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Cheers guys, I will have a bit of a go and post some pictures of what I've done.
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

gingerbreadman		Posted : Saturday, 31 May 2014 2:10:33 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		I pulled some gum out of a coal seem a few years ago i was wondering if it was kauri ? a mate of my,n gave it a bit of a polish up gingerbreadman attached the following image(s):

1864hatter		Posted : Saturday, 31 May 2014 5:45:45 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Very nice! I have found gum in coal seams too but its always been quite crumbly.
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

gingerbreadman		Posted : Saturday, 31 May 2014 6:21:56 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		Originally Posted by: 1864hatter Very nice! I have found gum in coal seams too but its always been quite crumbly. Hi Hatter....yes i have found a couple of other bits in the lignite and they were really crumbly ....so do you think the bit i have is kauri ? it must be really old as the lignite is ancient forest floor you can still see old stumps ,root systems etc in it.

1864hatter		Posted : Saturday, 31 May 2014 6:33:29 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		To be honest I wouldn't have a clue mate, the coal around southland is millions of years old, not sure if there were even kauri then! A lot of the gum up here is apparently from swamps that are just 30-40,000 years old.
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

Shilo		Posted : Saturday, 31 May 2014 6:44:55 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 29/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 573 Location: Kawhia Thanks: 17 times Was thanked: 285 time(s) in 185 post(s)		I think Kauri as a species is only 20 million years old but most coal seams were laid 35 million years ago. If that's the case it is probably not modern Kauri but temps were much warmer then so a conifer type precursor of the kauri would have covered the whole of NZ inc the Sth Isl where I assume you found it?. What ever it is it's a very nice piece! Love the swirls on it. Edited by user Saturday, 31 May 2014 6:45:36 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified
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gingerbreadman		Posted : Saturday, 31 May 2014 10:42:09 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		Gezz I had no idea it could be that old thanks for that shilo il make sure it's kept in a safe place I have to many little hands that can reach on top of tables now....nothing is safe !

1864hatter		Posted : Sunday, 1 June 2014 6:35:33 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Here we go, bit of messing about produced these four bits. I had a look at a much closer beach today and found a bunch more but the quality seeded to be a lot lower. The pictures don't really do the pieces justice, might take some more in sunlight tomorrow. Cheers 1864hatter attached the following image(s):
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

Ecurb		Posted : Tuesday, 3 June 2014 12:07:47 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 26/01/2014(UTC) Posts: 7 Location: Whangarei Was thanked: 4 time(s) in 3 post(s)		To make Kauri gum hair get a piece of steel heat it up but not too hot then put the gum on it and when the gum starts to melt pull it away from the steel. After you have done it a couple of times you will get the hang of it. It is quite surprising how strong the hair is.

1864hatter		Posted : Tuesday, 3 June 2014 8:48:57 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Now that's what you want! http://www.trademe.co.nz...ri/auction-737039690.htm
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

gingerbreadman		Posted : Tuesday, 3 June 2014 10:52:20 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		Wonder how many wigs ud make out of that ! :)