Our Gold sales into the USA are increasing monthly. With our popularity as a quality site we are attracting a great deal of business including bullion sales.
We presently have buyers for large nuggets over 50 ounces - so if you have large nuggets please contact us.
No nuggets are too big - as we have one order for a very large nugget.

We also advise that John Gladdis has retired from Coiltek - and is in the process of moving to Victoria. No doubt we will see John from time to time - and we wish him well in his retirement. Perhaps we should say semi-retirement as I am sure John will be active in the Gold Fields for some time yet.
Thank you John for your contribution and co-operation. You have been an inspiration to us for some time and your friendship and advice has been greatly appreciated.

This month we complete our story on the small township of Licola. It is a tragic story indeed, with government agencies running rampant and destroying peoples lives. It makes compelling reading.

Editor

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Gold is a fascination to many who deal with it - in any form. But what it hides within those golden nuggets and pieces as they come from the ground is most interesting.

But where is the best gold to be found in Australia? Now that is a question that is not easy to answer, although the purity of gold throughout Australia is quite high in the nuggets that come from recognised gold fields.

One must speak in general terms as nuggets can vary so much even in the same gold field - but overall the gold that comes from the Victorian Gold Fields in the famed Golden Triangle is second to none anywhere in the world.

However the gold fields from the Golden Triangle north through New South Wales and into northern Queensland have a high concentration of gold in the nuggets that are recovered. Generally the gold from this region averages between 94 - 98% gold. This is a very high concentration with few impurities.

As one heads further west in Australia to the Golden West of Western Australia - the gold may be more prolific - but the purity is not generally of the same level as it is on the east coast.
Gold in this region is usually 88 - 94% pure. However - this is only a general rule and gold of higher concentration is not unusual - but over all the gold from this area is a little less pure than that from the east coast.

To the naked eye, gold nuggets can look spectacularly bright - yet ironically this does not necessarily mean that the gold is of greater purity. Some quite dull nuggets actually contain more gold than some that are brighter.
One would think that brighter gold or gold that displays a more yellow colour should contain more gold. This is perhaps generally the case - but do not let the naked eye deceive you.

Many say that the purest gold in Australia is found in North Queensland at the Palmer River Gold Field. Gold here is of a high quality but reflects generally the high concentrations that are found through-out the east coast.
Gold coming from the South Australian gold fields is averaging 90 - 95% pure. This indicates that as one moves further west the gold becomes a little less pure.

Perhaps this should be taken in a global context - where extracted gold can be as low as 60% pure. Almost all gold nuggets contain some silver. Maybe only a minute percentage - but some reflect this in higher concentrations.

Generally, nuggets from Australia are of high enough gold concentration to sell at gold price. In particular those nuggets that are in the 5 gram and above range, sell quite well, even if their gold concentration is as low as 90%. It really depends on what a nugget looks like - rather that the gold concentration.

Gold that is often referred to as 'scrap' gold. That is gold nuggets that are under 3 grams and look 'scrappy', attract a price of gold less 5% when being traded to gold buyers - who after all need to consider their investment if they need to on sell to the Perth Mint for melting down.

It should be said that smaller nuggets under 3 grams generally ends up being smelted at the Perth Mint, from all gold fields in Australia. Perth Mint will pay for the gold that is extracted, and in general in WA they are paying 10% below gold price - and from the eastern gold fields - around 5% below gold price. It simply depends on the amount of gold in the nugget.

Globally, Australian gold is well sought after and once a market is found sells well. It is just not that easy to find good markets for gold.

Of course there are always those who would want a bargain - with leaders around a couple of months ago for US$100 million in gold bullion being sought.
When the contracts arrived - the purchasers required an 8% discount.
Some people just don't understand that gold bullion at 99.99% pure will always hold its value. And so it should.

Have you ever jagged a piece of gold while out prospecting?
Well if you have - you have experienced one of the great pleasures in life - actually finding a nugget in the bush. That first nugget you find is always a great buzz - and so it should be.

Now I can still remember the first little nugget I ever found. It was some years ago now - and I was a complete novice. I had become interested in gold since seeing a large nugget by chance that was shown in the local pub. It was about 22 ounces as I remember, and it was a beauty. I only had a few moments to glimpse this magnificent piece of gold - but it sure had an impact and from that day, I have always been interested in the treasure that lies in the ground.

It was a few weeks later when I had a few spare dollars and I hired a Minelab 2100 and headed off into the wilds of gold country at Wedderburn. I was a complete novice and it showed. I think I dug up more bullets and bottle tops on that first day than anyone else in the total gold fields of Victoria on that day. To say the least it was a disappointing first day.

I remember going home totally disillusioned with the whole 'detecting' thing. But that big nugget just kept my interest going, and eventually I went back again about 3 months later, and tried my luck down at Inglewood.
Why I picked Inglewood, I don't know, as the rubbish I was digging up was thicker than at Wedderburn - but as this day went on - I began to recognise the sounds through the detector better, and would leave the heavy metallic sounds that I had previously been digging up in my naivety.

I was just about to break for lunch when I heard a signal that seemed somewhat faint, but thought I would dig it anyway. I had been told to dig everything, so I did. It took me a little while to find the sound in the dirt and rocks - but eventually there in my hand was a small piece of gold. It really was - yellow - and about 2 grams as it turned out - but to me it could have been the Welcome Stranger. I yelled and actually squealed with excitement, like a kid.
Just as well I was out there on my own. I stopped for about an hour - cleaned it - licked it - touched it - I just didn't want to put it down, and I didn't for some time. I was wrapped.

I didn't stay there much longer after lunch. I just had to go home and show my folks the little piece that was to me a treasured possession. My parents didn't seem to be that impressed - but to me it was like winning the lottery. I glowed for days.

Well, from that time on, I learnt to detect a little better, and eventually became quite adept at detecting pieces of gold. But without doubt I still remember that first little two grammer that began my quest with gold.

Many of my friends still have the first piece of gold they ever found. It's their little treasure, and to them it represents a mile stone in their lives. An achievement to be remembered. That first piece of gold has taken many of us on a long journey with fossicking.

I must say - that it is not easy to always find gold. Patience is perhaps the most required element when detecting. Many days can be spent without as much as a hint of gold in the ground - although one would expect gold to be there, from the areas previous history. With the detectors that are presently available these days, gold can be found, and as technology progresses even more gold will be found.

I have never been lucky enough to find a large piece of gold. My biggest find was just 2.3 ounces at Dunolly about two years ago.
Now that was a real find, and after jagging that little beauty, me feet didn't hit the ground for quite a few days. I kept it for a while - and only recently sold it. Sometimes one needs the dollars for other things in life - like buying new detectors and detector coils to keep up with the technological changes.

I don't think I can ever say that when I have picked up a bit of gold - I have not had had a large grin from ear to ear. It is a great pleasure and one that I enjoy immensely, and will continue to enjoy for many years to come. See you out there - somewhere.

Victoria's mighty Gold Rush may be scheduled for a re-run. A further 5,000 tonnes of the precious metal - twice what has already been dug up in the past 150 years - is thought by scientists to still lie hidden beneath the impassive landscape of the Murray River plains.
"The gold was formed during a period of violent volcanism and eruptions of granite from deep in the earth's mantle, 400 million years ago," says Professor Neil Phillips of CSIRO Exploration & Mining.

"So far more than 2500 tonnes of gold has been unearthed in Victoria - 2 per cent of all the gold mined in human history - from sites along the hills. But we've just about run out of areas that can be easily prospected from the surface. However the geology gives us every reason to believe the gold continues under the Murray plain - and that two thirds of the prospective ground lies buried, sometimes hundreds of metres deep, under eroded surface rubble, soils and river flats."

This week, earth scientists from across the State are meeting in Benalla to develop a unique project aimed at building a more prosperous and sustainable future for Victoria on the geological uproar of its past.

The scientific team is preparing to follow a 500-kilometre 'slice' across the Victorian heartland from the SA border, through the Grampians, Bendigo, Benalla and Wodonga, curving down to Mallacoota on the coast.

Using seismology, drill cores and aerial survey techniques, they will 'peel' away the surface layers to disclose an eerie, hidden landscape of undiscovered gold and mineral wealth, subterranean hills, valleys and fossil streams, extinct volcanoes and lurking environmental time bombs like salinity.

The "Victorian Geotraverse" is the largest experiment of its kind in Australian history - a full-scale attempt to probe into the titanic processes that shaped today's Victoria and formed the wealth that has powered its economic and social prosperity for almost two centuries.

It is also a vast test-bed for the technologies that will make the next generation of mineral discoveries across Australia, and pioneer the first generation of sophisticated environmental management and landscape-scale sustainable systems.

Fifteen of the State's and nation's top earth science bodies plan to join hands with local and State government, industry and communities, to unlock hidden wealth, head off land degradation, create new regional jobs, industries and opportunities.

The peak of gold production in Victoria spanned more than 60 years during the 19th century, with peak production in the mid-1850s, followed by a slow decline as gold from quartz veins replaced alluvial gold. Bendigo yielded 697 tonnes, Ballarat 408 tonnes and Castlemaine 173 tonnes. Nine other fields produced more than a million ounces (31t) of gold. Of this era of huge activity, only Stawell now remains a major producer, yielding about 100,000 ounces a year.

Professor Phillips says the gold formed during two distinct geological events - the huge volcanic and magmatic upsurge of 400-350 million years ago, which actually produced the gold, and the much more recent rearrangement of the landscape which resulted in the large alluvial gold deposits.

"Basically, huge plumes of liquid rock erupted from deep within the earth's crust and mantle as part of a major geological cataclysm that was taking place. These created super-hot waters deep down which, at 350 degrees, could dissolve many minerals including gold, and transport them to the surface."
"As these waters rose along the faults and folds formed during mountain-building, they reacted with the wall-rocks, and precipitated their gold along with silica, to form gold-bearing veins of quartz."
Such veins are widespread in the uplands, from the Grampians to Kiewa, but more recent geology has rubbed away and buried traces of them to the north and south.

Researchers believe that the original gold leads are still there, in "hills" buried many metres below the surface.
They hope the insights gained from the Victorian Geotraverse will help mineral explorers to pinpoint them, releasing a new era of gold-based prosperity for the State.

The geotraverse project was discussed at a major conference, Victoria Undercover, that was held in Benalla from 30 April - 2 May, 2002.

Following the Great War to end all wars Australia moved forward in Nationhood. A united and committed young country was forging ahead into the 20th Century. What lay ahead after that great conflict could not have been foreseen and the trials and tribulations experienced were global calamities for the world.

The years after the end of the Great War were difficult - unemployment was rife and of course the great depression of the 1929 - 1930 era had a serious impact on the economy. This was a global event that the developing western nations all experienced. The endless lines of unemployed and soup kitchens were not only seen in the US - but were similarly replicated in Australia.

At this time the heart of the nation and its people were tested. The roads were frequented by "swagmen" humping their "bluey's". (Unemployed men roaming the bush, moving from farm to farm, town to town searching for work and for food, was a common sight at that time). These men would hump their belongings including a palliasse to sleep on at night. And of course they always carried a "billy". This was a metal can in which he would boil water and fill with tea leaves - and from which he would gain some freedom from his plight by drinking tea with his mates along the way.

Australia was still essentially a part of the British Empire. At this time the King of Australia was the British King, George the 6th. The call to arms to defend "home" as the UK was known at that time was again answered by the young men of this nation, in 1939 when The UK found itself again at war with Germany.
Over one million men and women served in this six year conflict. There were substantial commitments against the Germans and Italians in Europe.

They served in the Mediterranean and North Africa fighting against Rommel.
Just a few days after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour they attacked the northern port of Darwin, Australia in force.
Several ships were sunk including US ships. In the darkest hours of the war Australia found itself with most of its troops either in Europe or captured in Singapore or in other areas of South East Asia, and very few men or materials to halt the advancing Japanese.
The jungles of New Guinea proved a formidable place to mount a defence against the ever advancing Imperial Japanese Army. But mount a defence they did - and eventually held them on the Kokoda Trail.

At the conclusion of this great conflict Australia had progressed. There were giant strides in technology and the economy after the war was booming.
Australia had a white Australia policy, with people from Asia and dark skinned races being banned from immigrating here.
However, with the massive dislocation in Europe, Australia opened its doors to a tidal wave of humanity that began the move towards a multi cultural Australia. There was work for everyone. The Italians who came became market gardeners - the Creeks moved into Melbourne and even today the Greek population there is the second largest outside Athens.

There were people from the Balkans, and from all over free Europe. These people and their cultures found a home and peace for their families and by the second generation assimilation into this peaceful and prosperous land was to them a way of life to be honoured and respected.

In 1950 Australia again found itself at war, serving with the UN forces in Korea. Over 17,000 men and women served in this conflict against the Communist North Korean invasion of South Korea. More than 1500 casualties were suffered with 339 being killed.

The 1960's in Australia was a period of great prosperity. The rock and roll era was with us and a new prosperity was evident. Everyone could afford their own home, a car or two and most definitely a television. During the mid 1960's Australia again found itself fighting with US forces in South Vietnam. A total of 50,000 men and women served in that conflict, with over 2,000 wounded and 496 killed.

Australia's commitment to the Vietnam war divided this nation - just as it divided the US. The conflict and civil disobedience within the nation with many demonstrations tore at the very fabric of democracy. Australia's commitment in Vietnam concluded with a change of federal government in the early 1970's. The democratic process was displayed for all to see.

There was an era of stability during the 1970's. The nation was progressing positively with economic growth paralleling the best levels of prosperity of other western nations. Perhaps politically it could have been more stable - as the Governor General dismissed the elected Labor Government in 1975 - and the country went to a Federal election - where the Labor Government was swept from power - by the Liberal and National Party coalition.

In Australia the Labor Party has similar policies to that of the Democrats in the US - where the Liberal National Parties - would be allied with the Republicans of the US. The political process in Australia is a true democracy. Voting in Australia is compulsory. At least if you are of voting age - you must register and on Election Day there is a legal requirement to attend at a polling booth and to have your name crossed off as having attended to vote.

Australia consists of a Federal Government which maintains control over matters - such as - Monetary control - Defence - Immigration - Taxation - Pensions - Customs - Imports and Exports.
There are 6 States and two Territories. The States are - New South Wales - Victoria - Queensland - Tasmania - South Australia - Western Australia.
The two territories are the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) and the NT (Northern Territory). The States look after such matters as Hospitals - Police and Emergency Services - Regulatory Laws - and Civil obedience matters. It should be recognised that what is known as the Separation of Powers laid down in the constitution is zealously guarded in the process of good government.
Essentially - this means that although the Governments may make the laws - the obligation of interpreting them and dealing with prosecutions regarding breaches of Statute Law - lies entirely with the judiciary. This ensures that political interference in legal matters is minimal - as it should be.
Australia's population is close to 20,000,000.

The third tier of government is Local Government. Known as Shire Councils - - District Councils or just Councils - this tier of government looks after local matters, like - local roads - rubbish collection - library resources - local parks and gardens.

What is referred to here - is a minimal look at Australian Government and the way it functions. As a result of a fine Constitution, this country enjoys perhaps the most peaceful country on earth. In the entire history of white settlement - there has only one recorded incident of organised rebellion in the history of this country. This occurred in the Gold fields of Victoria in 1954.
Fatalities totalled 22 - 14 diggers and 8 soldiers.
This occurred at the Eureka Stockade, in Ballarat.

TIP CLOSURE

The Licola tip was taken over by Parks Victoria. This was then closed, as Parks would not allow trees to be cleared for a new pit. The area bulldozed to stop access to the Caledonia Valley would have kept the land fill going on for between 400 to 500 years.
Parks refused to annex the area, or help the community in any way. Residents and businesses were faced with a round trip of 10km to dispose of rubbish. The Wellington Shire Council helped by providing a trailer and cartage expenses for local people, but not park users. Previously much of the rubbish around campsites was cleaned up by visitors. This has stopped as they have nowhere to dispose of it, the park is becoming a health hazard accumulating rubbish in many areas.

LITTLE IMPROVEMENT

Grass fuel, on areas burnt by the Caledonia fire of 1998, has built up to ridiculous and dangerous levels around sphagnum bogs, and ancient single trunk snow gums. The very environment Parks are supposed to be protecting is at serious risk. Parks have actively encouraged the fuel build-up again that caused the problems in the first place.

Retired people from the timber industry have told the Licola community that there has been so much grass growing after the fire in the Carey State Park (surrounded by the National Park) that it has choked out large areas of regrowth woolly butt and wrecked a substantial area for timber production for the Heyfield saw mills for the next sixty years (cattle could not be put in there, as there was no boundary fence to stop them wandering into the National Park).

Kevin Higgins and the other small land holders now face an even more dangerous situation after the fire with the uncontrolled grass build-up and dead trees around them in the park (Parks were well warned that this would happen). Kevin has been advised that it would he too dangerous for the Licola fire brigade to bring in a crew, or the fire truck, if there is a fire with a wind behind it, coming in from the Park. These people have done everything reasonably expected to protect their properties, they also fought the Caledonia fire to save many of their assets.

Minister Garbutt has said that the "Fire Protection Plan" balances the need for protection of life and property with the need to protect the natural features of the park. She was pleased to note the land holders in question had carried out everything reasonably expected of them.
While Parks have spent around $500,000 to try and remove cattle grazing from the fire effected area, because it might cause problems, and anywhere up to $100,000 on needless earthworks in the Caledonia valley, grossly inadequate money has been spent on clearing fuel from around fire places and campsites along the Wellington River.

Parks have not been able to list one thing they have learnt from the Caledonia fire, or any policy changes they have made to stop the same, or worse, from happening again. Old timers now consider the mountains to be at far more risk than before the devastating 1939 fires.
It is ironic that environmentalists are concerned trees wont be left long enough for hollows, when the environment Parks Victoria is creating, has trees at risk of not surviving long enough to even set seed. The Hon Keith Hamilton, as acting Minister for Environment and Conservation has said "The new parks and reserves will not have a detrimental effect on fire prevention or increase the threat of wildfire. All areas are subject to robust fire prevention activities by the DNRE and this will not change."

On Kevin Higgins property, grazing has continued after the fire with no apparent erosion or damage to the numerous sphagnum bogs. Parks have claimed bog skinks are an endangered species in the park, yet these small lizards can he easily caught just through the fence on Kevin's land.

CRAIG INGRAM

Gippsland East independent, Craig Ingram, has said he will oppose legislation to create more National Parks, until the Government demonstrates it is serious about looking after those already established. He said there is ample evidence that the forests were open and park-like, not choked with undergrowth and weeds as they are today.

THE GOVERNMENT

Our community is not opposed to national parks, it is just the management. It should not be necessary for any small community like Licola to have to blockade or picket a National Park to try and stop environmental mismanagement that threatens the very existence of the environment it is supposed to protect.
Our caring sharing Premier, who is "here for all Victorians," really does have to explain just how far his government is prepared to go sacrificing the environment, the safety and well being of small communities, land holders and visitors, in implementing Labour Party policies.

Unfortunately the Liberals do not seem to be much better with their policies of supporting new parks that have a detrimental effect on small rural communities.
The Hon Peter Hall is an exception. Peter has been an outstanding politician representing his constituents, and showing genuine concern for the environment. From approx. 6,000 signatures collected at Licola, on various letters, only approx. 20 people have expressed support for park management.
None of these had any answers for the serious problems that caused more environmental damage than all groups combined (including wood chipping). Yet this minority is supported by the Labour and Liberal Parties and they are planning to give them yet more land to manage. If there are so many supporters for National Parks, when will we see them coming to Licola?

During Easter 2001, over 600 people signed a letter to the Premier and independents with a sentence stating: "Many from the Licola community and visitors to the area, expect to be mislead, frustrated and lied to, when dealing with Parks Victoria." The Premier forwarded this to Minister Garbutt. There has been no further reply. It would have to be asked if this is now government policy?

Judge Stretton made the comment in his report after the 1939 fires:- "to expose and scotch the foolish enmities which mar the management of the forests by public departments who being our servants, have become so much our masters that in some respects they loose sight Of our interests in the promotion of their mutual animosities."

Editor: We support the stance of the residents of Licola.

PREVIOUS	CONTENTS	GO TO ARCHIVES	TOP

Australia - Land of my Dreams - Part 2 Fred Mason - completes his Aussie Adventure Woolshed Valley The Upper Ovens Valley Gold Field We are Australia - Part 4 Australia - it's History and it's People The Garrett Infinium LS Is this Detector as good as they say?