Firstly, thanks to everyone for their comments and input - much appreciated. The more responses the more questions I have floating around in my head.
I probably should have been a bit more clear in my intentions, apologies if this has caused any hairpulling
- Main focus is gold - primary target.[/*]
- Second - but not overly important: Coins, Relics around old sites/ghost towns etc. I am not talking of tramping along the beach early morning in soft ankle torturing sand. I like visiting actual deserted ghost towns and dwellings.[/*]
- I want to detect (for gold) in a variety of locations: Vic, QLD (Cairns region), WA in the future and possibly NT, like many Lasseters Reef is a dream/lure [/*]
Since I am currently poor lol, all of my detecting will be done on Crown Land and reserves where your permitted to prospect, thus the reason for asking where to find crown maps for each state in a previous post.
I know it is a TV show and heavily edited for entertainment purposes and not under any illusion that you can find gold as easily as it would appear on the show, in a recent 'Aussie Gold Hunters' show, it showed Kellie and Henry, staked out a surrendered lease they located on TENGRAPH I believe. Anyway, according to the show it was as simple as printing out some paperwork, whacking in a few stacks and taping said paperwork to a stake. That's how the show cast it. Common sense tells me they would be forking over some cash to someone for this tenement lease, the Government I would be guessing. My question is, how much (I think it was 500m sq) would a lease like that cost? I don't have mega-cash like ones of this show, just interested in the general cost of tenements of around this size.
And finally, well sort of!
What is the PMAV all about, I came across their site during a search on Googler. Their site is a bit devoid of any real info, except that (how I read it) of attempting to have you become a member. Is there any real value in joining such an organisation? Basically I guess what I am asking is, over and above this forum, does the PMAV have more to offer a newbie? As there is a large amount of excellent information to be found here for free, and additional info (I'm guessing) for 20 bucks a year. The nearest PMAV local ranch/meeting place is quite some distance from me, attending any regular meetings would be very unlikely, I'd rather be putting that tank of fuel towards finding good sites.
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On a completely different note...
I did read with interest a post here regarding 'Lasseter's Reef'.
Like most others I have my thoughts on where it may be, if it indeed exists. It is interesting, maybe even relevant, to note that the CAGE (I think) expedition boss thought of Lasseter as someone who was not familiar with the environment he was in. And the last guy with him made a comment similar to "He appears to be a person who has read about the area, no having experience in it". Having said that, if he was able to trek from Christoper Lake to the cave, which by all accounts he knew it was there, he must have had some idea and experience with the local area.
The part that troubles me in this legend is the claim of a 7 mile by 12 foot reef. I don't know a lot about detecting, but that is one hell of a chunk! To me, if there was even the remotest possibility of such a stash laying in the dirt somewhere, I would have thought the commercial mining operators would have been all over it. Has there ever been any commercial (small or large) attempts to locate it?
If it is indeed located to the West of Alice Springs, that is one huge and very inhospitable area to canvas. Looking at the likes of Google Earth you can identify possible locations. It would be one serious expedition though, and one you would
(should) do in company. A lot can go wrong out there and your a long way between watering holes.
If I was going to be looking out there, and this is assuming it may actually be there, here is my thoughts: When they set off from Haasts Bluff Lasseter said it was SW, or a 225 radial roughly. That line would take you down to NNW point of Lake Amadeus. Story has it he went to Christopher Lake to get his bearings, then headed off in the direction he believed the reef lay only to become horribly disorientated and meet his demise. There is some pretty serious mountain ranges between these to points, the lake and the cave. Only a madman would tackle the ranges, the obvious method would be to go around them, as Lasseter appeared to be doing on the Southern aspect. Maybe he was heading back to Lake Amadeus after-all?
Or maybe it was not located to the West of Alice, but the East as some suggest, in the Arltunga region?
Okay my fingers are done... Over to you!
