Shotover River INTEL
The Shotover was once called "the richest river in the world" — and for good reason. Gold was discovered at Arthur's Point in 1862, with prospector Thomas Arthur finding 200 ounces in just eight days. The alluvial gold here is notoriously coarse, with nuggets rather than flour gold being the prize. It remains a challenging but rewarding location.
Mission Profile
Discovery Metrics
Operational Gear
Stratigraphy & History
The Shotover gold rush was intense and lawless. At its peak, the Queenstown district population hit 20,000 as miners braved the river's dangerous rapids and frequent flooding. Water races, tunnels, and increasingly elaborate engineering were employed to access the gold-bearing gravels. The Arthur's Point Gold Mining Company even attempted to divert the entire river through a tunnel in the early 1900s to access the rich alluvial ground on the riverbed.
Geological Context
The Shotover cuts through schist country, and the gold accumulates in slate bedrock cracks and crevices. Unlike the Arrow, the gold here is coarse and chunky, deposited by high-energy flood events. Crevicing with a pry bar and suck-pump is far more productive than panning. Target the deep potholes in the slate bedrock.
Field Note
CONFIDENTIAL PRO-INTEL
Verified Sector Secret
"Access "Big Beach" via Arthur's Point track. Dig below where the Oxenbridge Tunnel outlet meets the river. The old miners' tailings still produce."
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.