A question about creek banks.

[Oldyoungtimer]

So I have been running around creek for a while now and am being troubled by bends in the creek. Every time i run up on a sharp bend in the creek i get excited thinking gold is right there! When I get to closer inspection there is a ton of silt being deposited right on the inside of the turn. Now do i run all the material till i start hitting river rocks? Or should i scoop the silt away because the gold is under it? Usually after test i don't find any gold in it, but i get worried that if i dig it away i might be throwing away gold. I was wondering what y'alls take was on that. I also see on the outside usually there is some good looking places to dig but everyone says it is on the inside. I know at one time that outside bend might of been the inside but would just like some expert opinion and experiences.

 

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[kazcoro]

It is all about sampling. Take a sample of each layer that you run across where you want to prospect. It doesn't take you but a couple minutes to pan out a little bit. Pan the silt. Nothing there, try the first layer of gravel you run across in your hole. Keep going till you hit bedrock. With that being said, an inside corner AFTER the corner is going to be your best bet. Of course, if you can identify the ancient river bed, and work its inside corner, that would be the best. Second best is the current bed's inside corner. Here is a link to my thread. I currently have no idea where I am in the ancient riverbed, only that I am working it. Look at the last post by me, and you will see the gravels that show this line of old gravel. It is gold bearing. Good luck, and don't forget, it is hard work to get gold. Otherwise, it wouldn't be almost 2k an ounce.http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/gold-prospecting/337786-first-time-drywashing-az.html

 

[sidvail]

Good topic. I hope this picks up a lot of posts.

Also, if you do dig - should you pan at different levels? Or do you just go straight to the bedrock? Does it depend on how long the gravel bar has been there? A new bar from last runoff - or an old established bar?

I have to admit, I'm more interested in high benches. Any good tips for these?

 

[Oldyoungtimer]

Great pic of an ancient river bed kaz. I'm prospecting north east Georgia. So the terrain is totally different from where I'm thinking you are. Out west? It's dense Forrest so there is a lot of over burden outside of the actual creek. Although sometimes there is a cut in the mountain that reveals what seems to be not so ancient river bed right above the current water line. I think it's called chaluchee. But this is almost always on the outside on the bend. I'll have to get pictures of what I'm talking about next time i go out. But thanks for the reply i guess it's all in the sampling.

 

[Oldyoungtimer]

Oh and the hard work part l have found out first hand.....hand and shovel lol.

 

[kazcoro]

It's spelled caliche. Good luck bud. Sample like crazy. You should set a goal of only sampling for a period of time to identify the areas that are good in your neighborhood. A day, a weekend, a month. However long you decide to sample for. Remember, one color in every other pan will add up pretty quickly when you bring the highbanker out. When you start finding gold, run a few pans to get an idea how much is there. It is the same as hunting. You scout out an area to identify some of the animals that live there, then you try to figure out their schedule.

 

[B H Prospector]

Hi oldyoungtimer,
From your discription and if I understand it what you are saying is that the gravel is building up on the outside bend and not the inside bend. The inside is just mud and silt. When you come across a creek with a sharp bend and the gravel is building on the outside that is called a hook. What happens is that the sharp bend causes the gravel to travel past the inside bend and deposit on the outside bend. What you want to do is work the material a few feet from the outside bank. That is where the gold dropped out. Becareful though as there will usually be a deep dropoff at the edge of the down stream side of the gravel. This is probably the only time you will ignore the inside bend rule. So if all there is is mud don't waste your time. No matter how deep you dig you won't find any gold.

Good Luck!

B H Prospector

 

[Oldyoungtimer]

Wow thanks for the reply B H that helps tremendously. I find that behind big boulders in the middle of the creek (when i say creek it's only 5 to 7 feet wide) that silt deposits behind that as well. Is that kind of the same thing?

 

[Oldyoungtimer]

Come to think of it B H i know a perfect example of a hook from what you described on a gold bearing creek i know. I'll for sure have to check it out where you said on my next trip. Thanks again everyone for your help!

 

[phishisgroovin]

i usually hit the head or tail of a bend and dig down atleast 2 feet. then dig in the middle later on after i tire of the ends.

 

[Oldyoungtimer]

Even if the whole bend is made of silt?

 

[B H Prospector]

I can't say I have ever seen silt build up around boulders. Very find sand and gravel but not silt. If the bend is nothing but silt ignore it there isn't any gold there. Look for the hook.

Good luck!

B H Prospector

 

[TheNewCatfish]

Go to "Mygoldpanning.com" and check out the article and video on locating "Ancient River Beds And HighBenches". Present day watercourses usually don't hold as much gold as ancient river beds, because the visible existing river bed has been pounded by modern day prospectors. You think you're in a good spot, but you're actually only "re-working" bedrock that has been cleaned out (quite recently in geologic terms), many times before. I've thought i was on virgin bedrock before, (because i was finding significant gold) only to uncover nails and part of a metal sluice from the 1800's sitting on the same rock. Obviously, i wasn't working on virgin rock. On the otherhand ancient river beds are NOT readily apparant, unless you know what you're looking for. These may have been "overlooked" by other prospectors. Where modern day watercourses cross ancient river beds, is also important to recognize. Good Luck.

 

[goldog]

When you are sampling be, using your "gold sense". (I just made that up but do it anyways.)

The silt may be what is called a tail wash I believe. Lighter, finer material will wash in after a flood. May or may not include black sand. If there is a large boulder its worth digging down to find out what's under the light stuff. Think heavy. dark rocks are usually heavier, watch for lead or other metals etc...

 

[Oldyoungtimer]

Thanks for the help everyone I'll try to get some pics and see if i can get your input. I love this site!

 

[Oldyoungtimer]

And i love the members! Lol it's because of y'all this place is great.