CQ Diggings

14/09/2026

Good fieldwork starts before the detector or pan comes out. Learn the basic sequence for legal access, equipment, repeatable testing, safety and recording both positive and negative results.

https://cqdiggings.com.au/field-knowledge.html

13/09/2026

We’ve given the CQ Diggings homepage a proper tidy-up.

Not the usual “we moved everything and now nobody can find a bloody thing” sort of update either.

The important stuff should now be easier to find, including maps, research, fossicking areas, old diggings, community links and the main tools people actually use.

Same site, same information, just less wandering around in circles trying to remember where something was.

Have a look and let me know if there’s still anything hiding where it shouldn’t be.

Evidence-first research archive for Queensland goldfields, gemfields, mines, old workings, maps and historical geological record.

13/09/2026

NEW ON CQ DIGGINGS – MAPS BY STATE

CQ Diggings has expanded beyond Queensland with a new Maps by State page.

You can now browse gold, gem, fossicking and geological mapping resources from around Australia from one place.

Queensland remains the main focus of CQ Diggings, but if you are researching interstate ground, planning a trip, or just seeing what mapping is available elsewhere, this gives you a much easier starting point.

The other states and territories currently link through to official mapping and survey resources, while the full Queensland historical maps library remains available on CQ Diggings.We are expanding avail maps all the time.

Go straight to the new page here:

https://www.cqdiggings.com.au/maps-australia.html

If you know of a useful Australian mapping resource that should be included, let me know in the comments and I’ll check it out.

CQ Diggings
Research the ground before you walk it.

Gold and gem maps for Australian states other than Queensland, organised by state on CQDiggings.

11/09/2026

The reported-finds register separates government occurrences, historical field records and named mines. It records what sources say—without pretending a reported site guarantees remaining gold or lawful entry.

https://cqdiggings.com.au/reported-finds.html

09/09/2026

A mine marker, old working or modelled pathway does not give anyone a right to enter land. Before every trip, check the exact parcel, current tenure, exclusions, licence requirements and written permission. Research first; access separately.

https://cqdiggings.com.au/access.html

07/09/2026

You’d be surprised how many places around Queensland have some sort of gold, mining or prospecting history attached to them.

Some are well known.

Others are places you’d drive straight through without giving them a second thought.

That’s one of the things I’ve been enjoying while building CQ Diggings. Following an old mine record, newspaper mention, geological report or forgotten locality name and seeing where it leads.

So here’s one for a bit of fun.

Drop a Queensland town, locality or area in the comments and I’ll have a look through CQ Diggings and the research behind it to see what gold, gem or old mining history turns up.

No promises there’s a nugget behind the pub.

But there might be a 120-year-old mine nobody talks

07/09/2026

CQ Diggings preserves full-resolution Geological Survey maps with previews, official identifiers and source links. Browse old goldfield, mine and district maps without losing the provenance that makes them useful.

https://cqdiggings.com.au/maps-library.html

06/09/2026

Trying to find Queensland prospecting, detecting or fossicking groups?

CQ Diggings is making it easier.

Our Connections directory brings together Facebook groups, forums, clubs, associations and online communities for:

• Gold prospecting
• Metal detecting
• Fossicking
• Sapphires and gemstones
• Lapidary and rockhounding
• Regional Queensland groups

Browse by region or interest, then go straight to the community that suits you.

We’re not trying to replace existing groups. We’re helping more people find them.

Know a Queensland group that should be listed? Send it through.

🌐 www.cqdiggings.com.au

Find the groups. Find the people. Get out there.

Evidence-first research archive for Queensland goldfields, gemfields, historical workings, geological maps, official mineral records and fossicking access context.

05/09/2026

I got over 100 reactions on my posts last week! Thanks everyone for your support! 🎉