I spent most of 2007 prospecting around Leonora in W.A with a Minelab 3500.Gold was around US$800 at the time,and at that price big mining companys,with many thousands of acres pegged under lease were starting to restrict access to fossikers,so at US$1800 per ounce forget it.To answer a question,it is the fossikers responsability to know which areas are pegged,and your first stopping point in a new area is the Mines office.A GPS is basic equipment now.Prospecting is just like fishing.You just have to enjoy wandering around in the middle of nowhere taking in the serenity,otherwise it is full of dissapointment and frustration.I had some success.The Minelab detectors are very,very good but like all very good technology they take time to learn how to use them properly.The thing that amazed me about prospecting was that you could drive hundreds of km's into the scrub,to what you would presume is virgin territory,and those old gold rush pioneers have left nails, horseshoes and bully beef cans everywhere.
