Naseby (Hogburn) INTEL
Naseby sits at the heart of the Maniototo goldfield, a region known for its red clay ground and fine flour gold. The area is particularly beginner-friendly, with shallow deposits that are easy to work and plenty of public fossicking ground near the historic Hogburn Diggings.
Mission Profile
Discovery Metrics
Operational Gear
Stratigraphy & History
Gold was discovered in the Naseby area in 1863, leading to the establishment of a thriving township that serviced the surrounding diggings. Unlike the dramatic river workings of Arrowtown or the Shotover, Naseby's gold came from dry terrace gravels that could be worked without complex water systems. Today, the town retains its gold-rush character and hosts the curling rink built by Scottish miners.
Geological Context
The alluvial gold sits in what miners called "Maori Bottom" gravels — quartz pebble layers resting on a distinctive red clay. The gold is fine but plentiful, concentrating at the gravel-clay interface. Simply dig down to the red clay and pan the overlying wash.
Field Note
CONFIDENTIAL PRO-INTEL
Verified Sector Secret
"Try Coalpit Dam. Tailings washing into the dam often hold lost gold — sample the black sand along the margins."
Economic Potential
Historical yield data suggests unrecovered fines at depth. Optimal for small-scale suction or high-banking if permitted.
Trade Gold
Leverage spot price movements globally while you're in the field.