Gold research will throw up a lot of names of diggings. For example, in James Flett's 'The History of Gold Discovery in Victoria' the names place index has 23 pages alone cross-referencing locations. Some of the sites can give an explanation of what was there. Some are historical names given for events that occurred during the gold rushes - famous battles, people. Balaclava, Imperial etc.
Some are named after who found the sites. Some are named after the wild-life that was sighted in the area. Some are a play on words - 'Lucknow' as we are in luck now. But some give a clue to the type of gold that was found there. Examples worth noting are: These can be gullies, reefs, flats etc.
Nuggetty (numerous) - self explanatory.
Tucker. Research may show it was found by a 'Tucker' but it can also mean that the gold was small or patchy and just enough was found to buy 'tucker'.
Poverty - this can mean what it says but in the case of Tarnagulla's (Vic) Poverty Reef, it was named after Poverty Bay in NZ, and was very rich.
Specimen - speci gold in matrix was common - quartz, ironstone etc.
Hard Hills - hard digging as the old timers were usually breaking through conglomerate.
Ironstone - gold in ironstone.
Chinamans - Chinese were in the area.
Schicer - translates as German for shxt.
Fly Speck - small gold.
Wet (usually lead) - self explanatory.
Deep (usually lead) - self explanatory.
There are some examples of single leads with meaning - Slip Up Lead is an example - in this case the lead was lost as it had done a sharpish turn.
There are numerous other examples but the point is, when researching look carefully at the name - it may hold a meaning that could decide if its worth a crack. Nuggetty anything is always a good start for learning. Why? Yes, they have generally been well detected but it will give a good intro on what the ground was like. If your research says it was shallow and nuggetty chances are there is still small pockets left behind. An example is Nuggetty Gully near Tarnagulla Vic - it amazes me what is still coming off and around this gully - there is also a lot of rubbish - but that's the breaks. Good luck.
Some are named after who found the sites. Some are named after the wild-life that was sighted in the area. Some are a play on words - 'Lucknow' as we are in luck now. But some give a clue to the type of gold that was found there. Examples worth noting are: These can be gullies, reefs, flats etc.
Nuggetty (numerous) - self explanatory.
Tucker. Research may show it was found by a 'Tucker' but it can also mean that the gold was small or patchy and just enough was found to buy 'tucker'.
Poverty - this can mean what it says but in the case of Tarnagulla's (Vic) Poverty Reef, it was named after Poverty Bay in NZ, and was very rich.
Specimen - speci gold in matrix was common - quartz, ironstone etc.
Hard Hills - hard digging as the old timers were usually breaking through conglomerate.
Ironstone - gold in ironstone.
Chinamans - Chinese were in the area.
Schicer - translates as German for shxt.
Fly Speck - small gold.
Wet (usually lead) - self explanatory.
Deep (usually lead) - self explanatory.
There are some examples of single leads with meaning - Slip Up Lead is an example - in this case the lead was lost as it had done a sharpish turn.
There are numerous other examples but the point is, when researching look carefully at the name - it may hold a meaning that could decide if its worth a crack. Nuggetty anything is always a good start for learning. Why? Yes, they have generally been well detected but it will give a good intro on what the ground was like. If your research says it was shallow and nuggetty chances are there is still small pockets left behind. An example is Nuggetty Gully near Tarnagulla Vic - it amazes me what is still coming off and around this gully - there is also a lot of rubbish - but that's the breaks. Good luck.
