New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

Wow! Just got back from a weekend away snowboarding - looks like I've poked a stick in to a bit of a hornets nest before I left :P

Thanks to everyone for their input - it's much appreciated. There definitely seems to be a bit of a polarised viewpoint!

Ok, my current thinking now is to tone back the original suggestion in order to keep the site true to it's original gold intent, but still give a place to share these other non-gold finds (as I find them interesting too, and as they say "variety is the spice of life")...

I should add one more section under Discussion titled Other Treasures.

This wouldn't clutter the topics, but still provide an outlet for all those that would like to share their non-gold treasures-in-all-it's-forms finds. What's your thoughts on this?

@kiwijw - I've come across http://forum.treasurenet.com/ before - sometimes pop back to kill a few idle moments as there's lots of interesting stuff on there. Some very out there "treasure" sections too e.g. Marbles. But I guess everything is a treasure to someone. I think the "Other Treasures" section for Paydirt would be enough in this case ;)

Agreed.Would seem to be the cleanest way to do it...

Better that way than mixed in with the actuall gold forum....as at the end of the day coins etc have nothing in common at all with alluvial gold other than the fact you can find them boath with a detector.
gbm.

There are some thoroughly unpleasant people on this forum. I thought it particularly amusing that after one member rubbished another he then invited him out to the goldfields some time. A couple of these guys just bash away with the first thoughts that come into their heads. Then they react strongly to anyone who takes askance at their attitudes. I would like those of you walking away from this forum at this point just to wait for for Gavin to arrange some new headings and ignor the grumpy old men out there. Make a note, like I have, of who they are and just be a little bit wary of any interaction with them.

the gentle art of peruasion, classic quotes:

“rings etc are not gold in the true sence”

over the last few months its been invaded more and more by non gold stuff most of which you could probably find in the back yard....but thats just my opinion

eagle: have been starting to think the forum has turned into a coin & junk talk fest.

gingerbreadman: i mean are you honestly trying to compare those man handled rings all scratched and man made to the above bag of gold that in all probability has never seen the sun let alone been touched by a hand untill i got it....compareing the 2 is like mother nature verses going to the pawn shop....

Were you guys drunk when you wrote these?

It is clear that some of us are interested in three related and yet different facets - Goldmining - treasure hunting - geology

They all go hand in hand and all have an important place in this forum.

I note that some 'amateur' 'goldminers; here seem to have no tolerance for anything other than gold - the old timers were more often than not remarkably knowledgeable in a lot more than gold - many were well versed in Geomorphology and geology, minerology and other related studies. They were enquiring people. They used their knowledge to 'read' the land and many discoveries were made not because they accidently stumbled upon them but because they could read the land, see the signs and made their discoveries accordingly. One of our major discoveries was made by a miner who knew that the land and soil was just like that of California and he made his discovery accordingly.

A great deal can be told about individuals by the narrow thought patterns they have as betrayed in the things they say and the lack of tolerance they have for the wider forum. I can only assume as I have witnessed for myself by showing a nugget or two and beginning a couple of topics that there is an element here who cannot think for themselves, have a limited interest and knowledge and cannot find gold through their own knowledge and have to ride to success on the backs of others. To them I would say broaden your interests, broaden your knowledge, and get out there and find things for yourselves rather than whine at what others find, put them down for it and dont think that gold is the beginning and end of everything. The coins and rings are treasures every bit as much as the gold and its great seeing what others have found.

Another interesting thing about the old timers was that their interests were such that if they were to come back onto this forum they would be looking at everything, to see, to learn - they would love the coin finds and rings - how do I know that? I have seen the items that the old timers carted from one goldfield to another - so much junk and yet they still carted them - I have found many items totally alien to goldmining which the old timers had obviously carted from one spot to another - I have even found Maori artifacts in Chinese hut sites at nearly 3000 feet altitude....carted all that way by a curious Chinese miner.

As for rings and things - if they aint silver or gold then they aint worthwhile - at least not from the dollar perspective BUT they are still treasure...and in most cases they ARE gold or silver. If the forum caters for everyone then it becomes stronger and more popular.

Edited by user Sunday, 28 August 2011 9:46:34 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Ginger,
I have been thinking about what you said about raw unrefined gold being superior to things made of gold and I have to say I completely disagree. That is like saying iron ore is better than a steel hammer. Objects made of gold are worth more than their gold content. The geologic history of gold is irrelevant to most people, the history of manufactured gold artefacts is of great interest and that is why Spanish doubloons are prized more than alluvial gold.

Golly are you a gold barron Mr Gingerbreadman? Personally I got sick and tired of looking at gold and wanna see other things. Dinosaurs were late comers and early goers. In truth a 100 year old gold ring has far more history than the gold still in the river as it has been there, done that and then circulated in the hands of man for a long time. It all depends on how you look at things...Hmm a Gold Barron...now you dont want to call me a coin/pawn shop/...junk fest person do you...after all my back yard is full of gate valves, a sluicing gun. riffle plates from dredges and all the crap under the sun and I guess that makes it junk!

Hi guys, Wow this has gained some momentum. Firstly, just to clear the air, I arent against coin/relic detecting but just think it needs it own space. As I said I do go out every now & then & I had as well put up some posts & pics on here on my finds of a few months ago from a few hours detecting on Whangamata beach. But like that link I put up of the Treasure Net forum, they have all the differert catogries for what ever subjct you are in to seperate from each other. Works bloody well & should satisfy every one.
I am also heavily in to geology(that seems to come with the territory of chasing gold) & learning how the lands were laid down & made up & the different rocks etc. Volcanics, faulting & folding, how the minersls came about, glaciation etc. I am also in to rock collecting. Living in the Coromandel you cant help but find them very interesting & attractive & I always come home with a few when I go out for a gold fossick. You dig a hole in a creek (Sush.....dont tell Enviroment Waikato I said that) & you never know what you are going to uncover. Today being no different. I went up a creek & found some colour & A nice little specimen piece & brought home some quartz pieces for further investigation. I am like a bloody magpie. I cant help myself. Last weekend I went for a sluice box up the Tairua River & brought home some beautiful opalised (red & blue) jasper. We have a jasper rock garden & bucket loads of jasper mostly from the Tairua river, amythest, quartz crystals (some with gold in them), obsidean, apache tears (obsidian) carnelian, chalcedony, petrified wood, agates, chert & heaps of buckets of gold/silver ore, calcite & quartz. specimens of lead zinc & copper, Kauri gum.....the list goes on.
Quite a few years ago I was in to rock tumbling. So there is scope for a whole heap of pages on all sorts of different subjects.

Creamer (Shane) Dont stop doing what you are doing with your posts. I know the buzz that you are going through with your finds & adventures & I enjoy your contibutions. I am sure Gavin will sort this out & get a page going for that side of detecting. It is all good fun & I for one are in to all of it.

Happy hunting.

JW :)

JW :)

Ok I'm going to put down my gun, lie down in my trench and wait for this war to be over. I suggest others do the same, there is no need for this.

Hatter, I agree. Gavin will do something I am sure.

Happy hunting

JW :)