Fossicking
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fossicking is a term found in Cornwall and Australia referring to prospecting. This can be for gold, precious stones, fossils, etc. by sifting through a prospective area. In Australian English, the term has an extended use meaning to "rummage". The term has been argued to come from Cornish.
In Australia, "fossicking" is and was protected by a number of laws. In Cornwall, such prospecting was monitored by the Stannary.