It took about half an hour to calm down

Mid way last year a mate and I were supposed to go fishing but the wind blew up, so the plan changed.

My mate decided to teach me how to prospect for gold with a metal detector. I had an Minelab Equinox 800, and my mate had Minelab GPZ7000.

We got to his spot, and I only dug junk while me mate picked up a couple specks of gold. We returned the day after, and I found a small specie with the equinox. My mate gave me a turn of the Minelab GPZ7000 and I swung over the same area I had found my small specie. I proceeded to find a few other small specks 1-2 grams which then had me hooked.

Before the next trip out prospecting, I purchased the 7000 and went to Margaret Diggins for a couple days where we found nothing but junk.

Prior to the third trip, I done some research and arranged consent to access an EL around the Grove hill area. My mate called the day before and wanted to go fishing. But I had the gold fever and was going prospecting for a couple days, rain, hail or shine.

The first day I spent exploring and digging junk. I found a spot that I was going to swing the detector over the next day.

The second day I went to the spot that I eyed the evening before. I proceeded to park up and thought I’ll turn the detector on and balance it whilst I head to the creek bed. On the walk there the detector made an unusual sound that I hadn’t heard before which got me excited. I proceeded to dig, eventually to about two foot deep and the target was finally out.

On the third scoop the detector was screaming and thought I’ll get rid of this dirty rock, but it was super heavy and when I turned it over, I could see some small specks of gold. My hands instantly started trembling with excitement. I brushed the dirt off a little more and got a mouthful of water from the Camelback to put on it. After seeing more gold, the harness come off and the excitement really set in, wow - what a find. I could not believe it. I dropped everything and bolted to the car to get a bit more water on it. WoW, what I a find.

It took about half an hour to calm down to process what had just happened. After I calmed down, I grabbed a couple photos and went back detecting. I didn’t find another speck, just a few bits of junk.

Whilst digging the junk I was pondering how to tell or show my mate that got me hooked on prospecting. I sent him a photo not expecting him to be back from fishing, but he was. He caught no fish and was excited about my find but a little annoyed he hadn’t followed me prospecting.

If you would like to contribute to Territory Tales, please submit your short story and photos to ntprospectorsassociation@gmail.com