12 Day Camping & Gold Prospecting Trip

Come along with me as I head out to some live tenements outside Leonora, in WA's goldfields. I gained permission to be on these tenements and spent 12 days camping and gold prospecting, hoping to find my share of yellow rocks.
I went on this trip with a game plan, to work the ground in a certain way. Even though I found lots of junk and evidence of others having been there before me, the theory I was working on, was a success, in my opinion.
Finding 2 nuggets for a total weight of 1.5gms was below my expectations for the trip, but it's always good to find gold!
The weather was in the mid to high 20s, except for a couple of days in the low 30s...and only 1 day of light rain.
The winds were strong every day, which prevented me from cooking on the camp fire. I wouldn't want embers from the fire being blown across the ground and potentially starting a bush fire, so I cooked in the van.
A special thanks to my twin brother, Rusty, from Rusty's Metal Cut Signs & Designs, for 'allowing me' to use his computer and plasma cutting table to fabricate the aluminium checker plate box for my detector. You can check out his channel here: / @rustysmetalcutsignsde...
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Music credit: Blood, Sweat, No Tears by Jeremy Korpas. KZbin Audio Library.
Thanks again for watching and I'll see you in the next video.

[@stevezodiac575]

Hey Rusty, it was so great to be on this adventure with you! Enjoyed every minute! Thank you for sharing!! Excellent video in all respects. Lovely to see the van giving such good service! And I love the wheel mods on the quad bike! Terrific and fitting improvement for this application! Good to know there are lots of your video just waitng for me to watch!

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hey Steve, I really enjoy getting out in the bush, looking for yellow rocks. The van is a big improvement over the camper trailer, although the camper trailer served us well for a few years. Looking to get out bush again once the weather cools down a bit.

[@danielflinn3571]

Thanks for the look

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thanks Daniel.

[@peterware5173]

Good on ya rusty.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thanks Peter, appreciate you taking the time to view and comment on my videos.

[@No_Use_For_A_Name]

Honestly, I like what you do. I watch these sorts of vids for a bit of something chilled out to watch. It doesn't really matter not finding too much gold, it's still the enjoyment of the anticipation. I would say it was a bit annoying that you were always filming with your phone when digging, so had to stop to dig it up. But again, it doesn't matter too much as it's more about the chilled out walking through the bush, and anticipation.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hi Brad, thanks for your comments and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I agree with you, that filming the 'digging targets' should have been done with the GoPro on it's small tripod, instead of my phone...something I'll fix for next time I'm out bush.

[@jdean1851]

GREAT RIG " GLAD ALL'S WELL! Cheers" from -2c Idaho!

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thankyou, the van is a great step up from the camper trailer. While you're shivering, we're enjoying 30C temperatures here in Western Australia.

[@jdean1851]

Jealous " mate!

[@naebro5336]

Awesome mate, it was nice to see the towns on the way up. I would suggest getting a camera mount or gopro so that you can film without needing to hold a phone.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hi Nae Bro and thankyou for your feedback. I do have a suction cup mount for the car and also a small tripod for my GoPro, so I'll definitely be using it in future.

[@ianburton8050]

The staples...those are size they used to use for grid pegs back in the nickel boom of the late sixties and early seventies. The grid coodinates were scratched onto aluminium tags about 70mm x 25mm. and the tags stapled to the top of the pegs.... in those days cost was no object. That's 60 years ago...the pegs rotted, the tags blew to South Australia and beyond, and the staples stayed behind. If the staples are bent, that is a sure sign they were using dried hardwood Jarrah pegs... you could waste a lot of staples that just refused to penetrate the timber and you ended up with heaps of bent staples on the ground. The job was usually done at one spot with the pegs hanging over the tailgate of the ute. If you did not press the staple gun hard against the timber (if you were a limp wristed newby) the staples would bend. So you could end up with a useless pile that was just brushed of the tailgate onto the ground.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thanks for the explanation, Ian. Those leaving the staples on the ground, weren't thinking about us prospectors coming along in the future, swinging our metal detectors and finding them!!

[@michaelstevenson3872]

first of your videos I've seen, will be watching more. thank you. I'm curious, but I would have worked that small stream next to the fence.

[@RustysMetalCutSignsDesigns]

Thanks for your comments, Michael, and I hope you enjoy my other videos. I hadn't really considered the stream next to the fence, but I'll certainly give them more thought, next time.

[@LegendLength]

I appreciate the regular footage of Kalgoorlie. It's nice to see those country style towns. Looks exactly like Goulburn NSW.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thanks LegendLength, I'm glad you enjoy my videos.

[@johnphanos1753]

Great video Rusty. I'm knew to your channel and amazed how you've managed to get a a quad bike on the draw bar. Those staples go off, I dug up a few in Leinster, they sound like a four ounce nugget. I think they are used to staple temp signs on wooden posts, ie poison bait notices etc.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hi John, the caravan came with the longer draw bar, so the quad bike easily fits on it. Those staples (like any junk) are a pain, but you have to dig every target because you don't know what it is.

[@zoezoe610]

Good setup nice and comfy for out there.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

The caravan is definitely a step up from the camper trailer....nice to have a few creature comforts.

[@brianbell1630]

Enjoyed watching this sorry not much gold but learnt a lot listening to you commentary. Thanks

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hi Brian, thanks for your comments and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Will be heading back to the goldfields again, as soon as the weather cools down a bit.

[@jdean1851]

Great Vid" Nice Bit! Thanks for Posting!

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Glad you enjoyed the video. With the weather heating up now, I probably won't be going prospecting again till next March/April, when it starts to cool down again.

[@Agha-901]

Good choice 👌

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thankyou Ghandagha.

[@Jennifer-007]

I love watching your videos Rusty, they remind me of watching the old Jack Lange videos... please keep doing them mate!!!!

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hi Jennifer and thankyou for your kind words. I do enjoy making these videos and I'll be heading out bush again, soon.

[@steveewart6474]

Love Your work mate. The other empty case is .303, it will have a date on the base if it's an old one.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thanks Steve, appreciate your comments.

[@bigtexasprospecting]

Just subd you Rusty! Looking forward to catching up on your videos. Thank you for sharing! Big Tex

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

G'day Big Tex, thanks for the sub and I hope you like my videos. I've subbed you back, as I'm keen to see more of how you find your gold.

[@detrackozi6292]

Still a good trip out mate after your short trip last time cut short, at less you get to try out the setup and it took me back 5 months , no horse at pud or walking about town.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

I'd been itching to get out again, after my last trip was cut short. I didn't see Willie this time, but I don't think he was far away.

[@timothywarehime5956]

the staples are from permits nailed to trees. common practice back in the day.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thankyou for the explanation, Timothy...that would make sense.

[@danieldeanmasterfinisher4715]

Stick to the quartz reef . ironstone is a good indicator of gold , find old creeks and old river beds look for where they would washout in high waters and floods (find the inside bends) river gravel deposits.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thanks Daniel, I appreciate to taking the time to point me in the right direction.

[@danieldeanmasterfinisher4715]

Sometimes we can’t see the forest amongst the trees, we sometimes need reminding to do the little and most obvious things that we often forget. Look at it as a confidence booster or positive reinforcement that your in the right area and your hitting all the key spots . Good luck mate , hope you find the mother load and remember “ KEEP IT SHINY “ ✨👍👍🍻

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

We're aiming on heading out in April so during my research ahead of that trip, I'll certainly be taking note of the things you've pointed out, so thanks again.

[@prospectorpete]

You should have looked for mineralised quartz and taken some samples. U might have got more gold

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

I'm still learning about the geology associated with finding gold, so thanks for your tip about the mineralised quartz.

[@ManufactureBelief]

that quad would have gone through that no issue. Designed for such

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thanks P I.

[@clarrycurtis54]

So disheartening when you travel 1000 klm just to find rubbish ,but them are the breaks. I know I have done it myself

[@RustysMetalCutSignsDesigns]

It's all part of the adventure, I suppose!! I enjoy being out in the bush, but finding those elusive yellow rocks definitely makes the trip worthwhile.

[@TheTransmissionman]

Great video, what make of gold scanner are you using.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hi Brian, I'm using a Minelab GPX5000 metal detector. My main coil is the Nugget Finder Evolution 17" x 13" and I also carry the Nugget Finder Evolution 12" x 8" and well as an older Nugget Finder Advantage 14" x 9" coil. All have found gold!!

[@killmozzies]

I loved the video. I learned some things that without you sharing I wouldn't be aware of. Editing is 1st class.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hi John, thanks for your comments and I'm glad you enjoyed this video.

[@darrengray2309]

Been wondering when a video of your first trip away in the new van was coming but you got sick hope it wasn't too bad

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thanks Darren. According to the doctor, I got a viral infection in my chest, which knocked me around for 3 weeks. All good now and pleased to have got out again before the summer heat hits WA...which it's about to do.

[@darrengray2309]

@@RustysOutbackAdventures im sitting here crook as a dog myself testing positive to the good old covid on Tuesday

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Bugger about catching covid....hope you're back on your feet real soon.

[@independent5564]

Why would they plug a drill hole, but leave a mine shaft wide open?

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

That's a really good question. I've been told it's to stop cattle from getting their foot stuck and falling over, as it's probably not something the would easily see. As for leaving a mine shaft open, I guess the mullock heap around the opening to the shaft does offer some protection from falling in....maybe.

[@bigkev19]

Great video. How do you go about getting leases?

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

With a 'Western Australian miner's right' you can prospect on vacant crown land or 'pending ground', which are leases that have been pegged but haven't yet been granted. To prospect on a live Exploration lease, you can apply for a Section 40e permit through the mines department. To prospect on a live Prospecting lease or a Mining lease, you'll need written permission from the leaseholder....but it's not likely that you'll get permission. To get a lease for yourself, you can either go and peg vacant crown land and submit the paperwork to the mines dept, or you could buy an existing live lease. Prospecting leases are granted for 4 years, with an option to apply for another 4 years...after that, they're usually surrendered and become vacant crown land again (from what I understand).

[@thomasanglin1751]

G'day guys, question for you.. when on the dam you looked at the creek or drain off area. Can you detect that area or is it off limits? I see by these videos and others your gold level is really shallow I would think every time they flood that area I bum load of color would be found there.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hi Thomas, Niagara Dam is surrounded by live tenements, so you would need to take out a Section 40E permit from the Mines Dept, to detect in and around that area. You're correct in that some of our alluvial gold is close to the surface, so heavy rain can unearth nuggets.

[@thomasanglin1751]

@@RustysOutbackAdventures thanks for the reply. I'm so intrigued by your videos. I want to come play in the dirt someday. I have family in Rockhampton I plan to visit maybe I can take some time to detect...

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Not sure about the gold prospecting in and around Rockhampton, but maybe your family will know where to go.

[@bruceallen6202]

How do you find the quad at the front of of the van? P. S good video overall

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hi Bruce, even though the quad bike does add a bit to the towball weight, it's nowhere near the vehicle's limit. Overall, I've not noticed any negative issues while towing the van with the quad bike on the A frame.

[@bruceallen6202]

@@RustysOutbackAdventures OK thank you I would love to see how you drive it up onto there it's a good idea I was thinking a simuar idea but boxed in to stop any rocks flicking up

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

I carry 2 ramps that strap to the quad frame. These ramps are approx. 1.8m long and all I do is lock the ramps in place, ride the quad up onto the frame, tie the quad down, put the ramps in between the quad, on the frame, and strap them down.

[@bruceallen6202]

@@RustysOutbackAdventures thank you very much you got my subscription and like

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thanks Bruce, much appreciated.

[@nuggetnomads7391]

Staples = tea bags is what we were told...

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

I've not heard of that, but it would make sense....the rest of the teabag would disintegrate over time. However, some of the staples look like they haven't been used.

[@detrackozi6292]

They must be big tea bags . I think more like leases staple on pegs from old style of marking leases. We get nail on our old leases he in vic

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

I suspect the staples have something to do with lease marking or maybe from the drillers, as there was evidence of old drill holes.

[@kareldonachie5857]

How do u get permission from the lease holders ? Can I drive a Motorhome around WA? I’m a solo female,with dog

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hi Karel. Yes, you should be able to drive your motorhome on the main roads, as well as the 'main' gravel roads, too. It's really only the 'outback tracks' that wouldn't be suitable, though. As for permission, you'll need to get a WA Miner's Right, available from the WA Mines Department. As for permission from leaseholders, if it's an exploration lease, you can apply for a section 40E, from the Mines Department. If it's a mining lease or a prospecting lease, you will need written permission from the leaseholder before you can access those leases. You might not have much luck, though. There are leases that are 'pending', which means they're going through the approval process, and anyone with a WA Miner's Right can camp and prospect on them. Same goes for vacant crown land, too.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Also, most prospecting leases are on pastoral leases, and the pastoralist probably won't allow you to bring your dog onto their leases because of the wild dogs that are present. The pastoralists use poison baits as well as employing professional trappers/shooters to manage the wild dog problem. Your dog could eat a bait, or even attract wild dogs to your camp...not something that you would want.

[@kareldonachie5857]

@@RustysOutbackAdventures yes I understand that, he’ll have to stay in the Motorhome or on a long leash

[@auintogold4725]

Really…. Toilet??😂 Camping yeh right…..