Voted No 1 Prospecting Shop in Victoria by prospectors. 

Categories
Gold Metal Detectors

Tips On Striking Gold

Want to know whether you can strike it big with your metal detecting? You definitely can! Recently an amateur prospector came into Lucky Strike Gold with a nugget that he had found. He wasn’t sure on the value and asked the team to help him value it. It was a beautiful piece of gold and we were able to excitedly value it for over $240,000. We were honoured to have him come into store with it and our team couldn’t get enough of seeing the prized possession. Now for all the amateur prospectors out there, you are probably wondering when, how and where is it possible to get a nugget like this? Check out below out tips on striking gold.

TIPS ON STRIKING GOLD

Good quality equipment

One of the most important things that you need to be a successful prospector is to have good quality equipment. If you are lacking with equipment, you may be missing a lot of metals underneath the ground. With a huge range of metal detectors on the market, it can be difficult to decide on the best one for your needs. That is why the team at Lucky Strike Gold are here to help.

One of our best sellers is the GPX6000. The GPX6000 makes finding gold simpler and easier. With automatic features that help to continuously adapt to the different ground cover, it means you are not spending your valuable time changing settings. You are free to spend longer searching for gold and precious metals, rather than playing around with buttons.

When using your metal detector, it is recommended that you have a harness set as well, to help not only protect your detector but to make the activity more comfortable and better on your physical self. The harness can help to relieve the stress on the arms and keep you from needing to stop as often. At Lucky Strike Gold, we have a range of harnesses and bags to help make your gold detecting activities more enjoyable.

Along with your metal detector, it is a good idea to have quality accessories to help you along the way. This can include a sluice, bowl and sieve.

Patience

Heading out for a day searching for gold isn’t always going to wield results. You may go days, weeks or even months without finding anything of value. But this doesn’t mean you should stop. It means that you need to have patience and trust the process.

Patience is important when prospecting as without it, you may quickly become frustrated or lose interest in your new found hobby.

Taking your time, being patient and trusting that process will help you to not only enjoy the task but keep you motivated and wanting to come back for more.

Location

Location is a key factor when it comes to prospecting. There are always going to be areas where there are higher chances of striking gold and areas where there is a lesser chance.

When looking for locations to head out to, the first thing to check is whether you are allowed to search for gold and metals in the area. There are areas within Victoria and across Australia that where metal detecting is not permitted.

In Victoria you are required to have a Miners Right before you can search for gold and other metals. This can be purchased through Service Victoria and is valid for 10 years. You must have your licence on you whenever you are prospecting and show it if asked.

It is not everyday that someone will walk into our shop with a gold nugget valued at over $240,000. We can’t say it will happen again soon, but you never know. Gold prospecting is something we are excited about and enjoy being able to share the activities with both new and old prospectors.

For all your metal and gold detecting needs, why not get in touch with the team today. We are here to help.

Categories
Metal Detectors

Do You Need A License To Go Gold Mining

Metal detecting and mining for gold is a hobby that is increasing in popularity. There are more people getting equipment and wanting to get outside and enjoy the excitement that comes with finding a hidden treasure. Do you need a licence to mine for gold? Something that many do not realise is that in most states and territories across Australia, you require a licence to metal detect and for fossicking. This licence is to ensure that people are not only looking out for themselves but also for their surroundings. 

 

Getting your fossicking or mining licence

The rules for mining and metal detecting are different across the various Australian states and territories. It is best to check the requirements for your state before you get started. The different licence requirements for each state and territory are:

  • Victoria: A Miner’s Right is required.  
  • New South Wales: A Fossicking Permit is required for fossicking in state forests, otherwise not required.  
  • Queensland: A Fossicking Permit is required.  
  • Tasmania: A prospecting license is required.  
  • Western Australia: A license is required. 

States that do NOT require a license:

  • Northern Territory: No license required.  
  • South Australia: No license required.  
  • ACT: Most of the ACT is a national park where fossicking isn’t permitted

How much does a licence cost?

The cost of the licence varies depending on the state you are in, and the licence required. You can check out the details for the cost and length of time it is valid for on your local government websites. 

 

Code of conduct

Not all of the states require licences, however all states and territories require you to comply with a code of conduct when undertaking mining or detecting. The code consists of:

  • Ask permission – if you are looking to fossick on private property, you must ask permission of the owner before undertaking any activities. If you are not permitted to enter than you can get in a lot of trouble
  • Cover up any holes – if you find something that is worth digging up, you should fill the hole back in once you are done. Where possible it is best to cut into the ground and pull it out as a plug, so that it can easily be lodged back in once you are done. 
  • Leave gates as you found them – if you enter through a gate that was closed, make sure you close it behind you. This includes on private property and fire trails.
  • Avoid national parks and heritage sites – You should always check for permission before detecting. Most national parks are off limits for metal detecting. 
  • Check with your local council – it is always best to check with your local council before getting started to find out which areas are off limits and where you are allowed to conduct your searching. 
  • Hold your relevant licence – if your state requires you to have a licence, ensure you have this up to date and can provide it if you are asked to show it. 

Gold mining and metal detecting is a hobby that can be enjoyed by all and it is important that when you are undertaking the activity that you do so in the right way. We live in a beautiful country that is surrounded by national parks, heritage listed properties and beautiful areas. The last thing we want to see is any of it getting ruined and not taken care of. You can undertake the hobby, without damaging the environment. 

For all your gold panning, mining and metal detecting needs, Lucky Strike Gold are here to help. With a huge range of products from beginner to expert you will have everything you need for your new hobby. 

For more information, advice on what equipment to use or to update your current equipment, get in touch with the team today.