Bedrock and Gold: The mysteries . . .

[Lanny in AB]

Do you love to chase the gold? Please join me--lots of gold hunting tips, stories of finds (successful and not), and prospecting poetry.

Nugget in the bedrock tip:

I had a visit with a mining buddy this past weekend, and he told me of an epic battle to get a nugget out of the bedrock, and of what he learned from the experience. I thought some of you might like to learn from his mistake.

While out detecting one day, he came across a large sheet of bare bedrock. The bedrock was exposed because the area had been blasted off with a water cannon (a monitor), by the old-timers! It was not fractured bedrock, in fact it was totally smooth.

He was not optimistic at all of the prospects of a nugget. But, for some reason (we've all been there) he decided to swing his detector over that bedrock. After a long time, just as he was about to give up on his crazy hunch, he got a signal, right out of that smooth bedrock.

There was no crevice, no sign of a crevice, nada! So, he had to go all the way back to camp to get a small sledge and a chisel. The signal in the rock intrigued him, but he still wasn't overly optimistic. For those of you that have chased signals in a similar situation, sometimes there's a patch of hot mineralization in the bedrock that sounds off, but this spot, according to him, was sharp and clear right in the middle of the signal, not just a general increase of the threshold like you get when you pass over a hot spot in the bedrock.

Anyway, he made it back to the spot and started to chisel his way into the bedrock. If any of you have tried this, it's an awful job, and you usually wind up with cut knuckles--at the least! Regardless, he kept fighting his way down, busting out chunks of bedrock. He kept checking the hole, and the signal remained very strong.

This only puzzled him all the more as he could clearly see that it was solid bedrock with no sign of any crevice. He finally quit at the end of the day, at a depth of about a foot, but still, nothing in the hole.

An experienced nugget shooting friend dropped by the next morning to see him, and asked him how the hunt was going. My buddy related his tale of the mysterious hole in the bedrock, and told the friend to go over and check it out, and see if he could solve the riddle.

Later in the day, the other nugget hunter returned. In his hand was a fine, fat, sassy nugget. It weighed in at about an ounce and a quarter! After my friend returned his eyeballs to their sockets and zapped his heart to start it again, he asked where the nugget had come from.

Imagine his surprise when he heard it came from the mystery hole!! He asked how deep the other guy had gone into the bedrock to get it. "Well, no deeper" was his reply.

So, here's the rest of the story as to what happened. When the successful nugget hunter got to the bedrock, he scanned the surface got the same strong signal as my buddy. He widened out the hole and scanned again. Still a solid tone. He widened the hole some more so he could get his coil in, and here's the key and the lesson in this story, he got a strong signal off the side of the hole, about six inches down, but set back another inch into the side of the bedrock!!

My unlucky friend, the true discoverer of the gorgeous nugget's resting place had gone deep past the signal while digging his hole!!

Now, of course, a good pinpointer would easily solve this problem. The problem was, my buddy didn't have one, so why would he widen the hole, right? Well, the other guy was the one with more experience, and that's why he did. It was a lot more work, but what a payoff!

So, my buddy's butt is still black and blue from where he kicked himself for the next week or so for having lost such an incredible prize.

Some nugget hunting lessons are harder than others to learn. . . .

All the best,

Lanny


P.S. When in gold country--check the bedrock, regardless of whether it looks likely or not! Mother Nature likes to play games sometimes.

 

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[SushiDog]

Wow! That is so sweet....are you up in Canada?....SushiDog

 

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[Lanny in AB]

An hour from the Rocky Mountains.

 

[nuggy]

Hi Lanny, that last shot is great, seen similar through the face mask. One look at that and I could smell the rubber and feel those little needles of cold round my neck and cuffs. Never had a camera that would catch that view though, thanks.
Good looking gold, with some nice big specks peeking out of the crevices in a very sassy manner too.

Nuggy

 

[SushiDog]

Lanny...you are an awesome guy! Sorry about all of the questions concerning your equipment, but what kind of camera do you use? (I know it's an underwater camera...ha..ha..ha...so don't tell me that (smile)....SushiDog

 

[Lanny in AB]

Nuggy--loved how you said it, "One look at that and I could smell the rubber and feel those little needles of cold round my neck and cuffs." You've been there--must have had some luck? Any stories? I have a couple of underwater cameras now that take pics and video--I'll try to take more underwater pics next season. Now that gold has broken the 1400+ barrier, it makes me wish I'd have spent more time chasin' down that sassy northern gold--I spent too much time playing I guess.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[Lanny in AB]

Sushi--I have two underwater cameras--they both do a great job of stills and video with sound. The one that takes the smaller picture files (lower resolution) is the Pentax Optio WPi; the one that takes the bigger files is the Canon Powershot D10. They are both waterproof and dustproof. The little Pentax fits easily into my shirt pocket. However, the Canon (slightly bigger) is also shockproof, freezeproof, and has a greater waterproof depth rating. Nevertheless, they are both perfect prospecting cameras. I believe you'll have no trouble finding either of them online.

And, by the way, keep asking questions--it's a primary method of learning.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[SushiDog]

Lanny....thanks so much for all the replies and your time sharing your expeditions with us...did you do a lot of research in finding this tributary where you are finding the gold? And, do you spend most of your time dredging? Also, thanks so much for the 411 on the camera gear...I will peep it out on Amazon perhaps....Did you ever consider making video's on a commercial basis on how you prepare for an expedition.....the equipment used....and the expedition itself without giving too much information away as to location? I believe YOU are the real gold mine here, and I LQQK forward to all of your future posts...Thanks!...SushiDog

 

[Astrobouncer]

Thanks to all of you guys for making and contributing to this thread. I have gained much knowledge from it over the last year, and spent many a rainy day reading your stories wishing I could get out there and prospect as well. I just wish we had more exposed bedrock around here, but there's so much overburden in the foothills where I am at that the bedrock is usually down deep.

 

[Lanny in AB]

Sushi--I split my prospecting time around metal detecting, sluicing/testing new ground, and dredging. I like them all and dredging lets me combine two of my top-priority recreational activities--diving and gold prospecting. And yes, I spend a lot of time researching any area before I hit it.

There are lots of gold producing areas that produced well in the past--the gold is still there, but you have to research well past what the average person can find out on the Web or in books/reports to get the best information. For instance, I have found that first you research modern and archived materials, then you have to risk boots on the ground--you've got to get into the area and meet the resident gold hunters. Consequently, you need to seek out the locals--the longer they've been in the goldfield the better.

This takes a lot of time on your part--most people want you putting in your time, getting to know them, listening to them, trying to understand what they're all about, showing them that you care, finding out why they're doing what they're doing, etc. It takes time--you have to be willing to put the time in--to show that you're sincere. You can't fake that--people can detect fakes a long way off and they'll shut down--they've met many in the past.

However, if you're sincere, considerate, genuinely helpful, and willing to listen, you'll learn valuable specifics about the vagaries and quirks of any gold-bearing ground. These are priceless specifics that just are not available in print or on the Web, couple this second-hand knowledge with the details of gold reports and book publications about an area, and you'll have a very practical goldmine of functional information. Yes, you'll run into a few jerks along the way--people that will let you know they don't want to share any information of any sort that may help someone else. However, my experience has been that if you are sincere, and genuinely interested and willing to invest the time necessary to listen and listen some more (the old "two ears--one mouth" principle), you'll eventually get some tips that will blow your smelly prospecting socks right off. Moreover, I've met far more helpful people than jerks so far--far more. I believe the reason for this is common interest--an instant comfort zone and common ground of familiarity. After all, who do we click with better than others that have the same interests?

I've never considered doing outfitting videos though. But, Ive had a lot of sustained pressure over the years, and even more pressure recently, to write a book or two on gold prospecting--I may get around to that project in the near future if I can free up some time. However, writing books is often intimidating, as I've tried to get a couple of old-timer's that are walking encyclopedias of mining knowledge to write a book, or to let me ghost-write for them, but they just won't do it/allow it. All that learning will simply expire with them and that's an unfathomable loss to me. Both could check out any day--so, I'll keep after them as long as I can and maybe one day they'll graciously give in.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[Lanny in AB]

Astro--don't feel too bad. I spent a whack of years chasing glacial gold--no bedrock involved in that pursuit whatsoever (I do understand your desire to get to the mother rock--it's pretty much universal in the gold-seeking gene pool). I'm not familiar with your area, but don't overlook flour/micron gold that hangs out in deposits far above the bedrock. If glaciation was a force in your area and if it's a gold bearing area--there will be glaciated gold around. Moreover, if you can find the small stuff, when you get to scout out an area with coarse gold and bedrock--you'll have already acquired the skills to move forward! Thanks for your kind words.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[SushiDog]

Lanny....what you described in your most recent post is spot on, and it sounded like you were describing me....I do have a genuine interest in people, and I am always interested in what makes a certain individual "tick"....during my career in law enforcement, I taught at a local Junior College part time, and I wrote a work book to make things easier on my self for the course I was teaching...I self published the book (Kinko's), and sold it in the campus book store at cost....my point is, that simple work book took one year to write, and it was an endeavor unto itself....writing is not easy, and not everyone can do it....may I make a suggestion to you? Why not record your thoughts on a recorder of some sort so that you have all of these anecdotes to go back to at a later time in the future? Tell the story to a tape recorder, and have one with you all of the time....trust me, this works out great, and you chronicle your story....there is an old adage that I really like and subscribe to, and it goes like this: "People judge you by the company that you keep", and I believe this is so true....and Lanny, you seem to be as solid as they come, and you are the type of person I enjoy associating myself with, and making close friendships with as well....we might never meet in person, but we have met here, and in my book, that's good enough for me! (smile) Thanks for being a stand up guy, and it's my pleasure to know you....you are a natural born story teller, and that's a gift!....SushiDog

 

[63bkpkr]

Re: Bedrock and Gold: The mysteries . . . & Moving big rocks

Hello Lanny,

I had to smile at your comment about people being lazy and not wanting to move some big rocks. I moved the big rocks this summer, attached are my finds from 4 trips. Not that much gold for all the work I put into it but worth it just the same. After I was finished for the year I back filled the diggings to hopefully preserve the area during the 2011 spring floods. In one picture I'm sitting on a pile of rocks, these are the rocks I back filled into the prospect site.

Keep yourself good and busy this winter, Regards 63bkpkr

 

[Lanny in AB]

63--if you moved those rocks--you're not one of the under-motivated breed. Well done! Nice pictures too. I'm glad the gold was still there for you. A lot of people just don't understand the drive that pushes a gold seeker to move all of those rocks.

Thanks for your post, and all the best,

Lanny

 

[nuggy]

Hi Lanny, yes I have been there. All my stories are old ones though. Started dredging in 79 here in New Zealand when the price of gold shot up. I had previously done some sluice boxing and panning. My first gold detecting was the year before that 78 in Australia. Bought an old Whites machine, I think it was called a coinmaster. I found some impressive junk with that, huge buried goldfield relics even a whole buried car!
The dredge gave me my first good returns. In my first 2 seasons I worked a creek that was full of old timers rewash sitting on a layer of clay, about 18 inches deep. It was mostly fine gold with the odd flat picker, but very consistent. If I could get the motor to run and keep going I could get a third of an ounce a day. It was a pig of a motor made by Sashes, a rotary two stroke that would not start when it was warm, it took an hour to cool down, and sometimes wouldn't start then.
I didn't take many photos back then, and lost most of the ones I had in a house fire about ten years back.
I will try to put a few words together here and there for you as I get a chance. Can't hope to come up to your standard though. I've done other dredgeing, detecting and creviceing. Ended up running a trommel fed with a hydraulic digger. Nuggy

 

[Lanny in AB]

Nuggy--it's so great to hear from a fellow gold seeker/dredger. I loved your story about dredging, but I sense there's more to tell. I don't envy you that cantankerous motor at all! I had a similar experience with the first detector I took to the gold fields--it was not a gold detector and I too uncovered bountiful trash. I think everyone goes through a trashy learning curve on their way to the gold. Thanks again, and if you've got some other stories to share--post away.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[nuggy]

Thanks Lanny for your kind words, I have enjoyed your posts and your great way of telling the stories while passing on good information. I will do what I can to repay you a little for the enjoyment I got from reading them. I feel like I'm intruding on your thread though.
I guess I should start with that first creek. It was in a gorge, 20 minutes easy walk from where I could drive to. In times of normal flow the water was just over ankle deep except in holes here and there. It could rise quickly in heavy rain, and it only got two or three hours of sun a day even in summer because of the gorge walls and trees atop them, so it was always cool. There were no large rocks in this part of the creek, the gravel had all been washed down from bench workings higher up atop the gorge walls.
Not too long after starting dredging there I discovered an old sluice box that had been built right down one side of the creek. It was slowly rotting and my activities probably finished it off. The box was about 18 inches wide and deep and the top was just below the gravel. The gold was better inside the box than elsewhere as it had been neglected but still doing it's job thirty or more years after being built.
I worked the gravels down to a clay layer around the same depth as the bottom of the old box. I had to take the soft, gritty top layer off the clay without going too deep - as the solid clay would ball up, and roll through the dredge picking up any gold it contacted on it's way. I had tried the gravels below the clay and there was very little gold down there.
I was young and inexperienced, in a hurry to do everything, and left a lot of good ground as I leapfrogged up that creek trying to find the hot spots, not realizing that I had what dredgers really want, a good steady paying claim.
The cheap old equipment that was all I could afford, and the lack of knowledge about dredge technology meant I only put through a pitiful amount compared to what a good dredge would have done, but I loved doing it. I would work4 - 5 days and camp out, cooking over a fire, sleeping in a leaky pup tent and finding gold every day.
The next guy in there found really rich gold on rock bottom, about 16 feet below the clay layer I worked. The dredge I used ran out of suction at four feet so there was no way I would have gotten down to it. He used a 20 ton hydraulic excavator which made it easy.
Well that's about all I can manage tonight. Nuggy

 

[Lanny in AB]

Nuggy--you're not intruding--you're most welcome. I love stories of the hunt for nature's most precious yellow metal.

It's always fascinating when you find an old sluice box. A buddy of mine found one in Alaska that was made out of California Redwood. It was on a creek that wasn't supposed to be anything special. Right after the sluice discovery, they next found a cache of mining tools in a hole under a piece of tin--the whole thing had been covered with live moss that had really grown over. Moreover, my partner and his buddy figured it had been abandoned sometime in the 30's from the equipment they found. Well, to make the story shorter, they got digging around and hit some incredible gold, 15-20 fat flakes to the pan. They just panned and followed where those old-timers had left off working in the permafrost, and then they brought the equipment in. I went up the season after they located that creek, and I was there when they made a clean-up--man, you should have seen the nice nuggets and the flake gold.

So, in your case, whomever built the sluice knew the gold was there--likewise, you followed along too and found some gold and of course, someone would come after you; naturally they worked down deeper and got the good stuff. (Murphy's Golden Law.) That's too familiar a tale for anyone that chases the gold--it just seems to work out that way; but, as they say in the movie The Motherlode, "There's always one place you haven't looked." I just wish, as you probably do and did, that people didn't reexamine the places I've already worked and then somehow hit a bonanza I've completely missed!

I hear you too about being young and eager and in a big hurry--been there, done that, made those mistakes. I take more time now and invest the time to think and reflect much more before I go raring into things.

Thanks again for your story and your wisdom.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[SushiDog]

Lanny...I just nominated your posts for a Banner...it is soooooooo worthy! SushiDog

 

[SushiDog]

Wow Lanny! You never seem to amaze us with all your pics and info! IF anyone deserves a Banner Nomination, it's you Lanny...hands down! We are so fortunate to have you here, and you are a true treasure! SushiDog

 

[Lanny in AB]

Sorry about that Sushi--I'm having some posting troubles. Thanks so much for the nomination. Here's a couple of shots of some nuggets that were nestled all snug in their bedrock beds.

I'll see if I can find a pic of any of these before I moved them.

All the best,

Lanny