7.30am
18 degrees and overcast and still. Rain early this morning. After breakfast got
onto the Tengraph and Google Earth to look for a better road to get to the
scrapes the boys went to yesterday. I found the fence line track from the
station heading down past Baster Well and 40 Mile Well then the quartz outcrop
they had seen and the scrapes. The Google photos were from 2006 and there was
even a van parked there. Saved the photo of the Lake Mason homestead area.
There were a lot more buildings here then.
Headed
off past the homestead and down the airstrip till we found the track that ran
along the fence line. No fence left anymore. Passed Baster well, tank and water
trough.
The
track runs along the edge of part of Lake Mason – no water in it at the moment.
The
quartz hill shone in the sunlight. Dark clouds heading towards us
unfortunately.
There
are still cattle wandering around. Not too worried about us driving past.
Stopped
at 40 Mile well – another sign spelt incorrectly!!
The
well was dry.
Continued
along the track over some creek crossings (no water). Then we turned off onto
an old two wheel track hoping it will lead to the scrapes. Got to about 800m
away but the creek areas were too thick with trees. Rain started so we headed back
to try another track on the other side of the creek area. Got to 100m away but
another creek area to cross and it was a lot rougher this way. Headed over to
the quartz hill for lunch.
The
sun came out and I climbed up the rocks for a look around. Steve climbed higher
of course. There was quartz spread all around but there is no gold in it. We
need ironstone and the quartz apparently!!
Good
view over another part of Lake Mason – it goes a long way.
Looking
south to Jasper Hills.
Looking
back towards the Homestead which we can spot because of the Telstra tower.
The
rain squalls have passed so we headed back for another try to get to the
scrapes. Steve went for a walk to try and find the track across while Jeff and
I wandered with the detectors. I found nothing – not even rubbish. Jeff found
some wire!!
Steve
found a sort of path across so we bush-bashed our way and arrived at the
scrapes. Jeff has a spare detector so we all headed off. Steve gave me a crash
course. I found one sound straight off but Steve said it was hot rock and the
fact that it had rained will make it harder. Not far from that I found another
signal. Dug down and got hard shale rock. I wasn’t sure if it was hot rock
again so left it for Steve to check out. Found another hole – same thing - left it open to be checked too. Steve came
back and confirmed the first hole did have a target and I scraped away (he did
help with cracking the rock for me!!) and then the sound was out of the hole. I
had found my first piece of gold ever!! I put it in my bottle with some water
to clean it – I wasn’t sticking it in my mouth like he does!!
Steve
got the camera out for some evidence photos!!
Steve
and Jeff didn’t find anything – talk about beginner’s luck!! Headed back as the
sun was setting behind dark clouds on the horizon.
Instead
of going down the airstrip we followed another track back to the homestead but
had to cross to creek areas which Steve did slowly and we sunk in the wet mud!!
He had to get out and put the hubs in so we could drive out.
Stopped
for some firewood then back to camp to get the fires going and have a nice hot
shower. As I was drying myself I noticed one of my studs had disappeared. Had a
look on the floor with the torch but couldn’t see it and I couldn't remember when
I last felt it being there!! Swapped gold for gold hey!! Checked the van,
bed, truck and along the ground.
The
wind picked up a lot bringing a shower of rain so that put the end to sitting
around the fire. David and Majella sent a text saying they were at Mount Flora
near Leonora and found 11 grams for the afternoon – one nugget was 7 grams. We
could do with some that size. They have a 4wheeler and can zip about more.
My
nugget weighed 0.4grams so I was very happy with that.
Put
it with Steve’s 0.3gram first WA nugget to keep.
Quiet
night watching a movie as the rain pitter pattered on the roof of the van.
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