After reading thru Tony Nolan's book on the Coromandel Gold fields again, I'm out in the Coro trying out some new spots and locations. The original idea was to see if I can find an access point to the DOC land on the left upper tributary of the Tapu River. As I was driving up, I found a couple of easily accessible spots with a spot to park and some great looking bedrock. So I jumped down the bank and had a scratch...nothing...
O'well, onwards...
Then I reached the area where I thought I'd have walking access (checked http://wams.org.nz), alas "NO ENTRY" sign in big, bold and RED letters. So, there goes that idea. I'm not willing to take a chance and getting pump'd full of bird shot...
Ok, what now... Then I thought, why not go check out the 309. You've identified the great looking target in that area, maybe the geological report from 1870 has missed something and there is gold higher up towards Castle Rock end. So I headed up that way and found this great little area on the Castle Rock road by the ford. Looked fantastic, beautiful big bedrock with nice crevises and small blow holes with tightly packed material.
So I set to work, while the missus where relaxing on the bank reading a book. I cleaned out the blow holes first, nudda... Then the crevises...nudda.
After about two hours of scraping and scratching, I was standing there perplexed. Maybe James Hector M.D. who compiled the Geological Explorations in 1870 actually had it completely correct when he stated that the gold found in the lower Waiau River's origin was from the northern tributary flowing from the Tiki gold fields and that no gold was found in the Waiau above the tributary. He explained that the rock formations is completely different and that the tributary stream's path is created by the fault running thru the area.
So, then I decided I wanted to go check out Eagan's Park, after which I'll head home. I didn't expect to find anything at Eagan's park, which I didn't.
Anyways, had a great day out in the Coromandel. Better than any day in this awful city :(
I might not have a new spot to go to next time, that's ok. Just have to do more research young man and hopefully next time you'll get that golden smile again... :)
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That's the plan... Already doing research on some new target streams to visit. The target area on the 309 road I've identified has a stream there that I've had a quick look at once and found some nice color for the area. Only problem is, it's private land owned by a logging company and I've not been able to track down the owner yet.
I'd love to get permission to prospect the stream. In the 1870 Geological report the author talks about prospectors finding 2-3oz nuggets in the stream bed and there is 9 old mines in the hills surrounding the stream. It's a very hot location, but I'm not taking a chance trespassing...
all in all sounds like a great day minus the gold ...I am sure you will get the gold next time thanks for the story