Gold Fever

[addo]

Not sure how much this made the UK news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21055206

One of the more interesting things about Australia (to me!) is how readily one may find virginal, unbroken ground. With, of course, the things that lay beneath its surface. I've never found a scrap of precious material; not possessing the patience to fossick for days with nil result.

As a side note, the metal detector used retails at almost £4500. :eek: The "windfall gain" of a licensed prospector finding a nugget is also untaxed!

[ron]

You Aussies are so sensible.I think in the UK the crown owns natural resources(or is it our thieving government?)cratch:

[addo]

It cuts both ways. My "freehold" rural property title specifically excludes mining rights, so if a mining company found useful stuff underneath the ground, I'm obliged to cede some degree of access to them at a fair cost. They're obliged to make good at the end of a lease, too.

One local comedian commented on the prospector being very specific about time of day he found the gold nugget. Was it, our funny man postulated, that prospecting resembled fishing in the sense that at certain times of the day, nuggets were more easily found?