Alaskan Pay dirt

[SteveDigsGems]

Earlier this evening I decided to pan some Alaskan pay dirt that I bought from an eBay seller. I bought 1 pound for $15, and it is guaranteed to have gold, because the lady sprinkles a pinch in. I didn't get rich, but I am really happy with the experience I got out of it. I have a lot of friends that want to travel out to my local gold bearing rivers with me to sluice, but before we go, I'm probably going to have them pan some of the dirt in my backyard. It is a good opportunity for them to see how the gold behaves, and it will motivate them for the upcoming trip.





Sorry about the quality, my camera ran out of batteries, this is an iPad picture. I'll get some batteries next time I'm at the store and upload what I found.







-Steve

 

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[GoldFracture]

Ill be in Idaho at several claims I own this july thur mid aug. Maybe Ill see you nearby, if youre going to be around.

 

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[elkie13]

Long day today, got the wash plant installed and the new grizzly put together. Hope to be running dirt by tomorrow noon. Maybe I'll have a nice picture of our gold hog mat full o gold for you guys tomorrow.

I know about that mercury covered gold, it just ain't as bright yellow as the stuff we find. Ive got a couple ounces from running a bunch of hard rock stuff with a friend, people look at it and dont know what it is.
But hey, it's still gold AND you are doing the world a favor by cleaning it up.

By the way we are huge fans of the hydro force we use it to clean up the clay and bed rock after we run everything else. But when we first started we did it just like your video, hydro force and high banker! Look out, you'll be buying a back hoe next!

 

[Fullpan]

What was your thought process to arrive at the spacing between the grizzly bars? - seems a little too wide.

 

[GoldFracture]

I didnt realize I hijacked the thread. My bad, I use mercury for fine gold recovery. Its only is very poisonous if you burn it off. Just make sure you do it outside and wear a cough mask. I find some mercury out on my claims and save them. Ill make a video this summer on how I do it. Its a very basic process. I just dont see anything wrong with using mercury only if you know what youre doing.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

I didnt realize I hijacked the thread. My bad, I use mercury for fine gold recovery. Its only is very poisonous if you burn it off. Just make sure you do it outside and wear a cough mask. I find some mercury out on my claims and save them. Ill make a video this summer on how I do it. Its a very basic process. I just dont see anything wrong with using mercury only if you know what youre doing.

A retort is way safer than burning it off. I recovered all of the merc without it ever hitting the atmosphere. You should build one. Or have one built. Some commercial systems can run $1500 but I built mine with $20 worth of scrap material. But the peace of mind that I'm not poisoning the environment or risking my health or my family's health is priceless. There is a recycling center near here that takes the mercury no questions asked and that works for me.

 

[elkie13]

What was your thought process to arrive at the spacing between the grizzly bars? - seems a little too wide.

We wanted to get rid on anything we couldn't lift by hand if it got jammed up in the hopper. The bars are 10 inches apart. Unfortunately, the gold is very often stuck to the clay-covered rocks so we don't want to get rid of all of them. I think it has more to do with our safety than weather the wash plant can handle the big rocks.
But, you might be right, were gonna see how it goes and weld additional bars if needed.

 

[SteveDigsGems]

Don't worry goldfracture, anything you ask elkie is not "jacking the thread", this thread was originally about elkie, and still is. Ask away.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Don't worry goldfracture, anything you ask elkie is not "jacking the thread", this thread was originally about elkie, and still is. Ask away.

What he said. And when you make it this way hit me up. We will see if I can make it out there with you.

 

[elkie13]

Ok guys we had some trouble with the wash plant got rocks hanging up in the hopper. But we worked it anyway for a few hours in the pouring down rain. Gold hog mat seemed to work but most of the gold was in the carpets. Sorry I couldn't get a good picture of the sluice in the rain.

I don't believe that you can hijack a thread, let the conversation lead where it may.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Looks like you either need to add a shaker or steepen up the angle if the rocks are sticking. Looks good though keep it up. Wish I could be doing what you are doing!

 

[SteveDigsGems]

Nice! That is some good looking gold right there!

 

[Jeff95531]

Nice to see it (and you) up and working. How much material did you run to get that gold?

 

[elkie13]

Here's the update from last night. We raised the hopper and then the whole wash plant, still, rocks hanging up on the grate. Then over dinner it was decides that maybe we could utilize all the extra pumps we have and use them like a fire hose to blast the grate clear. Worked like a charm, but Fullpan was right we're gonna need to change our grizzly bars a little to get rid of the larger rocks. We ran for a couple more hours, finished cleaning up as it was getting dark. In my neck of the woods that's midnight.

We ran about 10 yards in both runs the first pan is last nights second run and the one with the quarter is yesterday's take.

 

[GoldFracture]

Looking good. Water hose may not be necessary, increase water flow.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Looking good Elkie! If extra water is the ticket what about increasing the flow from your water bars so you don't have to firehose it?

 

[GoldFracture]

I also think you should set up the hopper at steeper angle so the rocks can go down quicker.

 

[Alex Burke]

Looking good Elkie! If extra water is the ticket what about increasing the flow from your water bars so you don't have to firehose it?

Good idea or put a water bar on the firehose and mount it up top Mcgyver style lol. Better to just add pump and more holes?

 

[elkie13]

Looking good Elkie! If extra water is the ticket what about increasing the flow from your water bars so you don't have to firehose it?

We're working about 100 yards above the creek and were at the max we can get out of our 4 inch pump. Your right we need a way to blast water right at the grate. We also have a cement vibrator mounted to the bottom ad the hopper.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

We're working about 100 yards above the creek and were at the max we can get out of our 4 inch pump. Your right we need a way to blast water right at the grate. We also have a cement vibrator mounted to the bottom ad the hopper.

Must be some heavy rocks. Maybe you could use that backhoe to dig a recirculation pond and increase your pressure by decreasing your head pressure. Also a little environment friendly soap to bust surface tension and provide hopper lubrication? Dawn soap is wonderful. About a 1/2 to fill bottle for a 300 gallon retention pond and it will also eliminate the natural oils that occur from plants and animals that may be stored in the ground. Also few tablets of dishwashing detergent or laundry detergent are anti sudsing agents and will stop the foaming action of the dawn.

Hopefully we get to see some pics of your sluice soon.

 

[Fullpan]

A little more tweaking and it'll be fine - the gold is there.