The Many Lost Treasures of Mariposa, CA (Photos Added)

[EagleDown]

I must say, I'm overwhelmed and at a loss for words. Thank you from the heart for your kind words!!

I should mention though, you're lost. You've been bitten by the gold bug and there's absolutely no cure for the disease.
Sometimes it may go into remission, only to come back full blown in a year, or a decade. Then it's all about getting another metal detector, or a dredge, etc. But, take heart, even though there are those who would tell you that all of the gold has been found already, believe me, there's still plenty out there just waiting for us to stumble upon it.

Welcome to Tnet and our thread. After that introduction, we'll be expecting some pictures of some of the sweet Aussie gold. We won't demand another "Hand of Faith" or a "Welcome" nugget, (either of those would take some doing to top), but a few one ouncers would be nice. (lol)

Seriously though Brother, I wish you God Speed, and all the luck needed to make your dreams come true.

Love and Respect,

Eagle

 

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[Drawman]

Fred,
I would like to try that later this year when we get into the fall, perhaps in November, if the club still meets at that time of year.
Thanks! And hope it was a good meeting for all.



Drawman,

Yes, the canyon above the bridge, going back to Shepperd's Point. My thoughts exactly. And yes, the lake is LOW. VERY LOW! It's all river right now, with a huge bathtub ring.

Thanks!

Jerry

Headed over to Bagby in the early morning.........just to check the conditions and maybe sample a bit

 

[TreasureHunterChuck]

Eagle, sounds good i look forward to meeting you sometime after the 1st of the month, I definitely understand being on a limited budget. and once again thanks for all the great stories!!

 

[Nugget_Dreaming_OZ]

I must say, I'm overwhelmed and at a loss for words. Thank you from the heart for your kind words!!

I should mention though, you're lost. You've been bitten by the gold bug and there's absolutely no cure for the disease.
Sometimes it may go into remission, only to come back full blown in a year, or a decade. Then it's all about getting another metal detector, or a dredge, etc. But, take heart, even though there are those who would tell you that all of the gold has been found already, believe me, there's still plenty out there just waiting for us to stumble upon it.

Welcome to T-Net and our thread. After that introduction, we'll be expecting some pictures of some of the sweet Aussie gold. We won't demand another "Hand of Faith" or a "Welcome" nugget, (either of those would take some doing to top), but a few one ouncers would be nice. (lol)

Seriously though Brother, I wish you God Speed, and all the luck needed to make your dreams come true.

Love and Respect,

Eagle

Hi again

lol you may have a point and thanks for confirming my suspicions re goldfever. I suppose I am half lost and half found just like the nuggets I will find, and just like me waiting to pik or be picked by the deserving godess.

To add to this even if I found nothing, I know of nothing else in the way of hobbies that captures the imagination and offers a thrill like gold and treasure, thats why I am here right ! Whats even better the nature, the comrades, and the pay off's that may come from your valuable time investment. That's why I will be a digger before becoming a bird watcher.

Speaking for investment of valuable time the day turned overcast so that was all I needed to convince myself I should get online early, and my net speed is back to normal today so I can watch vids and there's loads on YT, here's one with a replica of H of F which seems to be permenently off shore at Las Vegas.



NOTE: The large nugget shown is a copy of the 876oz 'Hand of Faith' found by Kevin Hillier at Kingower in Central Victoria in 1980. The original is now on display at the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas..

For more information about the Hand of Faith go to:
Hand of Faith - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Golden Nugget

I remember being a young boy and hearing my Grandfather talk of this nugget and the news reports. I am not sure if its the same nugget but a story at the time was that a man had bought himself a new detector and headed for the Victorian gold fields and apperently got out of his car on a roadside pullout and decided to test his detector in a grader drop pile, he shortly uncovered a record Aussie nugget.


Before I read this post Eagle I realized I would be headed right past these gold fields in a month or so when I go south to visit family, my thoughts then turned to what a fool I would be not to visit those fields in Victoria (Golden Triangle) and spend maybe 4-5 days there with a good detector, maybe I could get my brother interested in joining me and we could do it together. I agreed with myself it was a good plan. And maybe who knows H of F II one can only dream, and yes it would take some toppin.

Yes the bite of the gold bug that bit me all those years ago has flared back up, and I laugh as earlier in the week I had told a friend of my wish to get a detector and find some treasure and maybe gold, on cross examination I said I would not be crazy about it and travel all over the country as I had other plans that were more important, plans conveniently forgotten now LOL

Thanks for your welcome and these great stories, I just read the one about Washington CA and I could relate basically to the area as I went to Sacremento twice on a trip in 2006 to stay with a friend. However I am a little better aquainted with Silverado County where I stayed in 2008 as I apprenticed with an Tarnazcan Indian artisan, wondered if there's gold in em hills and canyons, is it concentrated in the areas you focus on or spread all over the place?

I hope your funds improve and all your needs may be met on all levels, I am very broke too right now but that's set to improve very soon and a detector is high on the list.

Have you cut Aussie Opal ?

Love and respect to you mate !

Nugget_Dreaming_OZ

 

[Nugget_Dreaming_OZ]

Australian Mother Load Ledgend - Lasseter's Reef

Please forgive me if this is off topic as I know your stories are focused on Mariposa County CA but as you mentioned those famous Aussie Nuggets Eagle how could I not remember this tale and share it for what it's worth, this is of certain interest to any prospector if it is true, and the mother load of unprecented quantity ever on the planet. I have no doubts like I think most Australians it IS true and Lasseter died trying to relocate it as the story goes. It's known as Lasseter's Reef and is highly esteemed in Aussie folklore and ledgend.

Lasseter's Reef - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"In 1929 and again in 1930 Harold Bell Lasseter (1880–1931) made conflicting claims that either in 1911 or in 1897, he had discovered a rich gold deposit.[1][2] On 14 October 1929 he wrote a letter to Kalgoorlie federal member, Albert Green, claiming to have discovered "a vast gold bearing reef in Central Australia" 18 years earlier and that it was located at the western edge of the MacDonnell Ranges.[1] He made a similar claim to other officials and was interviewed by a commissioner and a geologist, the government took no action to investigate the claim.[1] It was revealed that from 1908 to 1913 Lasseter lived on a lease-hold farm near Tabulam.[1]

In March 1930 he provided a different story to John Bailey of the Australian Workers' Union.[1] In this claim Lasseter details that as a young man of the age of 17, he rode on horse from Queensland to the West Australian gold fields, during which he stumbled across a huge gold reef somewhere near the border between the Northern Territory and Western Australia.[1][2] However Lasseter had been sentenced to reform school at that time.[2] According to the story told to Bailey, Lasseter was about 700 miles (1,100 km) west of Alice Springs in a line towards Kalgoorlie.[3] He claimed that subsequent to this discovery he got into difficulties and was fortuitously rescued by a passing Afghan camel driver who took him to the camp of a surveyor, Joseph Harding.[3] Harding and Lasseter were said to have later returned to the reef in the attempt to fix its location, but failed because their watches were inaccurate.[1]

According to Lasseter, he spent the next three decades trying to raise sufficient interest to fund an expedition into the interior. But at the time the fortunes being made from the gold rush at Kalgoorlie in Western Australia meant that no-one was prepared to risk trekking into the uncharted desert wilderness of central Australia, even if the supposed discovery was as rich as he claimed.

The 1930 expedition

By 1930, when Australia was in the grip of the Great Depression, the attractions of desert gold were much greater, and Lasseter succeeded in securing approximately £50,000 in private funding towards an expedition to relocate the reef. Unusual for the time, this expedition included motorised vehicular transport and an aircraft. Accompanying Lasseter were experienced bushmen Fred Blakeley (leader) and Frank Colson as well as George Sutherland (prospector), Phil Taylor (engineer, driver), Blakeston-Houston (governor-general's aide, 'explorer') and Errol Coote (pilot).[1][3]

On 21 July 1930 the group left Alice Springs, Lasseter was a sullen companion and a vague guide.[1][3] They headed for Ilbilba (aka Ilbpilla Soak) – an aerodrome created earlier that year for Donald George Mackay's expedition, near Lake Mackay.[4] The group endured logistical difficulties and physical hardships (including the loss of a plane).[5] On reaching Mount Marjorie (now Mount Leisler), Lasseter declared that they were 150 miles (240 km) too far north of the search zone. Exasperated, Blakeley declared Lasseter a charlatan, and decided to end the expedition. They parted with Lasseter at Ilbilba.[1][3]

Lasseter insisted on continuing the trek, accompanied by a dingo-shooter, Paul Johns and his team of camels. Lasseter, whose behaviour was increasingly erratic, set off towards The Olgas. One afternoon Lasseter returned to camp with some concealed rock samples and announced that he had relocated the gold reef. He refused to reveal its location. Johns, who by now doubted Lasseter's sanity, accused him of being a liar. A fight ensued, and Johns left Lasseter to his own devices, returning to 'civilization'. Lasseter himself trudged off into the desert sands with two camels.[1][3]

A search for Lasseter was conducted by a bushman, Bob Buck. In March 1931 Buck found Lasseter's emaciated body at Winter's Glen and his personal effects in a cave at Hull's Creek. From Lasseter's diary it was learned that after Johns had left, Lasseter's camels bolted, leaving him alone in the desert without any means of sustaining himself or returning. He encountered a group of nomadic Aborigines, who rendered assistance with food and shelter; but a weakened and blinded Lasseter eventually died of malnutrition and exhaustion, having made a belated attempt to walk from the cave to Ayers Rock or the Olgas.[1][3]
Later history

No maps showing the location of the fabled gold reef were ever found, and over subsequent decades the tale of the reef and its discoverer has assumed mythic proportions; it is perhaps the most famous lost mine legend in Australia, and remains a "holy grail" among Australian prospectors. Popular adventure-story author Ion Idriess, in his book Lasseter's Last Ride (1931), gives a detailed description of Lasseter's time with the Aborigines.[6] His diary's notes were hidden under camp fires from the Aborigines. They had shunned Lasseter after their Kurdaitcha man "pointed the bone at him" – he was condemned to be ignored and no longer cared for.
In popular culture

Lasseter's Reef became a famous Australian folk tale. It inspired a sub-plot in the film, Strike Me Lucky (1934), and Lasseter's fate was recreated in the movie Phantom Gold (1936). In 1974 Bill Gill Productions and Australian Film School worked on a film version of Lasseter's Last Ride.[7] Two songs titled "Lasseter's Last Ride" are: first by P. Dawson and Edward Harrington and performed by Peter Dawson (May 1940),[8] second was written and performed by Dean Thomas (September 2012).[9] Other songs dealing with the subject include: "Lasseter" (James Hermel), "Lasseter" (William Lovelock), "Lasseter's Dream" (Keith Glass), "Lasseter's Gold" (M Vijars, T Davis), and "Lasseters Reef of Gold" (Brian Letton).[9]"

I just researched the story to familiarise myself with the details, which show a Man believes he has found it and going to mine it as you will see in the links and quotes i've added bellow, above is from Wikipedia.

Would you really go public with that info if you did know where??

Maybe if you had the lease sorted and the claim. This is mind boggling this whole story. Make of it what you will, I am interested to know what you make of it. Myself wonder if it should ever be found, if it is there due to its size it will certainly be found one day. I will be happy to find smaller caches that aren't in the limelight.

"THE man who founded Darwin's Beer Can Regatta says he has discovered Central Australia's fabled Lasseter's Gold reef _ and is getting ready to mine it.

Darwin businessman Lutz Frankenfeld said he has known where Lasseter's reef was for years. He found the site by carefully studying accounts of Lasseter's second and fatal trip to find the gold.

"There are a lot of major landmarks to find before you can consider it the area – and we've found all of those," he said.

Mr Frankenfeld said that the reef is often hidden by sand after flooding.

He said he has had Central Land Council permission to mine the site since 1994 and is now negotiating with a mining company for a potential joint venture agreement to develop the project.

Mr Frankenfeld says he has had an exploration lease over the area for almost 25 years and has been slowly organising his plan to mine it.

He said the site was almost 500km west of Alice Springs on the border of Western Australia.

Harold Lasseter said he stumbled on a quartz gold reef seven miles long, four to seven feet high, and 12 feet wide in 1897 at the age of 17. He said it bulged with gold. Lasseter died searching for the lost reef in 1931.

Since then at least 13 major expeditions have set out to find the treasure, but all have failed.

And Lasseter's grandson Robert Lasseter jnr said just as many have claimed they have struck it lucky.

"My mum had a fellow on the phone last night from New Zealand who claimed he found it," he said.

But Bob jnr said he did believe the gold reef existed. "Some day someone will find it," he said.

Darwin historian Peter Forrest has written that he believes Lasseter made up the story about the fabulous reef.

"I haven't been given any information to make me change my mind ... but I have been wrong before," he said yesterday."

Google team 'finds' Lasseter's lost gold | News | NT News | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia | ntnews.com.au

BTW I certainly will show you my pics of my finds, I promise that...

Nugget_Dreaming_OZ

 

[EagleDown]

Thanks for the post Brother!! I had forgot about Laseter's reef. Yeah, I first read about it in the late 50's and was very intrigued at the possibilities. In about 1964, I even asked for and recieved information from the Australian Embassy about the requirements for immigrating to Australia. Unfortunately, I found I would need at least $10,000 USD + a place to stay, and a way to earn a living. Plus other requirements which I don't remember. Needless to say, in 1964, $10,000 was a princely sum, especially when average wages here was about $75.00 weekly. In other words; If you could afford to move to Australia, that meant you were well off enough that there would be little reason to immigrate to there. (lol)

 

[wagbert]

EagleDown for President !!

Howdy EagleDown and all who are reading this amazing thread!

I'm just checking in to tell you I'm on page 30 now, and I've been enjoying every minute of it.

Good Luck!
Phil
(wagbert)

I had a big long comment typed up, but it got et. lol Now it's late, and I am tired. That gold hand is something else. I have a little gold story that I will post later on.

 

[EagleDown]

EagleDown for President !!

Howdy EagleDown and all who are reading this amazing thread!

I'm just checking in to tell you I'm on page 30 now, and I've been enjoying every minute of it.

Good Luck!
Phil
(wagbert)

I had a big long comment typed up, but it got et. lol Now it's late, and I am tired. That gold hand is something else. I have a little gold story that I will post later on.

If chosen, I will not run!! If elected, I will not serve!!

That office ages a man too quickly. (lol) But thanks for the thought!

Welcome to our thread my Friend!!!

 

[wagbert]

Hello EagleDown,
It looks like everybody's out in the field lookin' for gold. Imagine that!
You can't be gone too long before a bunch of the guys start asking about you. For some reason their questions about you show up on google.
Do you have a catalog site, or a web page with prices of the things you craft?
Take care,
wagbert

 

[Sharp Rock Jerry]

I am not out looking for gold. I'm hiding from the heat! It's to blooming hot out there!

Take care all,

Jerry

 

[EagleDown]

Hello EagleDown,
It looks like everybody's out in the field lookin' for gold. Imagine that!
You can't be gone too long before a bunch of the guys start asking about you. For some reason their questions about you show up on google.
Do you have a catalog site, or a web page with prices of the things you craft?
Take care,
wagbert

You're kidding! Google? Yikes, what kind of questions?

No, I no longer have a web site. Anyway, most of my crafts were being sold through ebay. Some opal cabs and Native American (six hole) cedar, maple and chestnut flutes. I still make a flute ocassionally, but mostly to order.

 

[EagleDown]

I am not out looking for gold. I'm hiding from the heat! It's to blooming hot out there!

Take care all,

Jerry

I was out looking today. Not for gold, but for a gold mine. (lol) And yeah, man it was hot in that Gulch!!

 

[Sharp Rock Jerry]

I was out looking today. Not for gold, but for a gold mine. (lol) And yeah, man it was hot in that Gulch!!

A better man than I, you are. I am awaiting the fall with glee. I hope you found what you were searching for, and if not, at least you know it's not where you've been. I haven't got started on my research project yet. Things have boiled over here the last week. Hope to get back on the gold track soon. Stay cool my friend.

 

[calisdad]

Hot here and getting hotter: Rim Fire Burns 2500 Acres - myMotherLode.com
This is about 10 crow miles north of Briceburg and has jumped the Tuolumne River and Hwy 120, moving south, south east.

 

[Oakview2]

Good grief I hope our club claim doesn't burn up to

 

[EagleDown]

Hot here and getting hotter: Rim Fire Burns 2500 Acres - myMotherLode.com
This is about 10 crow miles north of Briceburg and has jumped the Tuolumne River and Hwy 120, moving south, south east.

View attachment 848850 View attachment 848851

Is it close to Groveland?? Stay safe Brother!!

 

[calisdad]

Is it close to Groveland?? Stay safe Brother!!

3 miles. I took the left pic from my front yard and the right pic is near the ranger station on 120. Wind seems to have gone back to the north now but we can see flames.

 

[Oakview2]

I hope you get some breaks from the weather and doesn't turn into a fire like aspen. It started on 7/22/13 and is still burning, although it has consumed most of the burnable material. My prayers go out to the folks living up there and to the firefighters. These thunderstorms are a receipe for diaster in a mismanaged forrest.

 

[Drawman]

3 miles. I took the left pic from my front yard and the right pic is near the ranger station on 120. Wind seems to have gone back to the north now but we can see flames.

I didn't think there was that much fuel, didn't the Jawbone fire torch most of that area in the past? damn, this really sucks

 

[calisdad]

20 years ago. It took 2 DC-10 drops today and multiple fixed wing and helicopter drops to keep us from bugging out today. Stressful.
(sorry for the hijack Eagle- I have a thread in "My Daily Snapshot" called "Rim Fire")