"morning all. Looking for some advice and helpful hints for a trip to the gemfields. Have the required gear and have read a bit but looking for first hand hints. Not looking to make a fortune or to discover a monster gem but rather the experience.
chopit said
03:29 PM Oct 20, 2013
Sorry, nothing gem related because the last time I was out there it never stopped raining.
On the up side we went wild goat hunting and got a couple of trophy goats.
They wreck fences and eat anything. The farmer got the meat for his dogs,
we got the trophy grade horns.
NeilandRaine said
09:48 PM Oct 20, 2013
After doing all the hard yards like digging in riverbeds etc. we had more luck buying a bag of stones at Armfest and sorting them. Actually got a nice 2 carat blue sapphire worth about $200, had it cut there.
All the small stones you find in the bags you can send to Thailand to be cut. You will get all the info there.
Bent Axle Bob said
11:26 PM Oct 20, 2013
Yep, that is plan B, depending on the weather. Sounds like the Glenalva field is the best prospect by the research and reading I've done. The wash is fairly deep at the other and I don't want to dig all day just to get to the wash. Also intend to do a little fossicking in NSW on my way home
neilnruth said
12:55 AM Oct 21, 2013
Have just been talking with a friend who has been to Rubyvale recently. You can either buy 3 buckets for $30 and get small stuff (and send to Thailand for cutting) or do what she is doing next time - there is a company that takes you on a bus further out in the bush and you do your own little bit of digging with their equipment. She's hoping to get some bigger stuff that way and experience the thrill of digging like you are after too.
Bent Axle Bob said
02:22 AM Oct 21, 2013
Hmmmmm..that sounds like plan A, my original plan could become plan C.Logically, that would work, dependent on cost. I take it that orginization works from Rubyvale. Thanks so much for that info,
Cheers
Bob
landy said
04:33 AM Oct 21, 2013
You might want to send a personel mesage to Diesel. He is a saphire local and also a member on here. In a recent thread he seemed like a very helpful peron. Landy
Bent Axle Bob said
02:58 PM Oct 21, 2013
Thanks for the info Landy. Once I figure a time slot I will do as you suggest. Heading north to Townsville for a three week visit, back to Yeppoon and then over to the Keppels for a week. So it will be some time after that, probably into the New Year
landy said
05:24 AM Oct 22, 2013
Sounds good Bob you may also like to search. Sapphire reserve QLD To get back into the last thread . Landy
Willow said
02:51 PM Oct 22, 2013
Half ya luck Bob. I'd love to get back out there. Glenalva still turns up a few but Tomahawk Creek is my favourite. Just avoid Tomahawk if it is wet.
Bent Axle Bob said
03:32 PM Oct 23, 2013
Thanks for the back link, Landy. Willow , somebody has to do it mate, lol. Looked at Tomahawk(online) and noted it was basically 4x4, which my FG.ute is not. That is the restricting factor. Anyway, will figure it out when the time comes
On the up side we went wild goat hunting and got a couple of trophy goats.
They wreck fences and eat anything. The farmer got the meat for his dogs,
we got the trophy grade horns.
All the small stones you find in the bags you can send to Thailand to be cut. You will get all the info there.
Cheers
Bob
Landy
Landy
Half ya luck Bob. I'd love to get back out there. Glenalva still turns up a few but Tomahawk Creek is my favourite. Just avoid Tomahawk if it is wet.