During the Great Depression, the government paid men to prospect for gold in the hope something might eventuate from a find. There were workable deposits at Livingston and of course there is the big mine now operating across the ridge operated by Oceana Gold at Macraes.
I knew the creeks running from catchments within the forest were prospected - all along to lower Kakanui Range really. Not much was found though some guys were suspected of making money from some creeks. Of course I had a little fossic in some of the creeks and found some shiny dust, but not any gold.
Sometimes when the scrub or fern is burnt well in preparation for planting, the land is revealed as it has not been for years. This also happens when a forest matures and the trees cause other vegetation to die off through a lack of sunlight.
On the Trotters Gorge Block, the controlled burn of Compartment 73 was particularly clean and it revealed a small small gold mine. Water races, holding reservoir, sluiced areas and some mining equipment.
I asked around but found nobody who knew of this enterprise and so cannot report on the success - but the pictures tell as much as I know.
Viewed from above the reservoir looks small - in the center of the photo. Else, the very clean burn.
The reservoir with Colin standing in shows that it must have held a lot of water.
The bluffs are limestone, the same as the gorge.
Inside the reservoir showing the edge of it and the work involver in its construction.
The water race seems to end in this gulley, and a track continues on the same contour, so maybe the race was never completed.
Colin standing in one of the water races, showing that they must have carried a good volume of water.
In several laces the race is formed with considerable rock works.
A Kowhai tree growing in the race shows the age of the workings.
The race and areas where sluicing took place.
Another of the sluiced areas.
A mineshaft on the ridge.
Colin standing in one of the mineshafts
Miner's cradle left in the small rock shelter.
The gold pan we found in the rock shelter. All was left the as it was for someone else to enjoy finding.
I knew the creeks running from catchments within the forest were prospected - all along to lower Kakanui Range really. Not much was found though some guys were suspected of making money from some creeks. Of course I had a little fossic in some of the creeks and found some shiny dust, but not any gold.
Sometimes when the scrub or fern is burnt well in preparation for planting, the land is revealed as it has not been for years. This also happens when a forest matures and the trees cause other vegetation to die off through a lack of sunlight.
On the Trotters Gorge Block, the controlled burn of Compartment 73 was particularly clean and it revealed a small small gold mine. Water races, holding reservoir, sluiced areas and some mining equipment.
I asked around but found nobody who knew of this enterprise and so cannot report on the success - but the pictures tell as much as I know.
Viewed from above the reservoir looks small - in the center of the photo. Else, the very clean burn.
The reservoir with Colin standing in shows that it must have held a lot of water.The bluffs are limestone, the same as the gorge.
Inside the reservoir showing the edge of it and the work involver in its construction.
The water race seems to end in this gulley, and a track continues on the same contour, so maybe the race was never completed.
Colin standing in one of the water races, showing that they must have carried a good volume of water.
In several laces the race is formed with considerable rock works.
A Kowhai tree growing in the race shows the age of the workings.
The race and areas where sluicing took place.
Another of the sluiced areas.
A mineshaft on the ridge.
Colin standing in one of the mineshafts
Miner's cradle left in the small rock shelter.
The gold pan we found in the rock shelter. All was left the as it was for someone else to enjoy finding.
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