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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[Lanny in AB]

Lanny - your letter to the Rookies was bang on and an important thing to remember by everybody (not just the rookies). It made me think of a few other "rules of thumb" that I would like to share.

Time and again, I have bumped into young newbies who seem to think that you have to get way off the beaten path to find good gold. They have the energy, desire and usually unrealistic expectations. Their plan is to hump into "untested" remote areas, live off the land, and come home rich. Instead, I have found that: if there is/was gold in an area, that there is/was at least a path into it. If you pick a spot to prospect that is outside of the known gold bearing zone or inside a known gold bearing area but nobody has cut a trail, then the likelihood of success is greatly diminished.

Instead, once you get into an area, it is probably best for individuals to narrow down their search to identify "micro zones" with potential, for the type of mining you are able to do. Extra effort to get into a difficult area can pay dividends, but think first the definition of "difficult". In my humble opinion, there are not many places that the old timers would have deemed too difficult to mine, if the gold was good. However, they might have moved on, leaving economically workable ground if the mining itself was too difficult. For example, the "rule of thumb" for old hand miners was only dig to the depth of the shovel handle. Or perhaps, there was a lack of water or alternatively too much water in their hole (they did not have gas pumps). ie. Technology has changed, so use that to your advantage.

The other kind of situation is machine mining. There are locations that have small patches of good gold, that have enough barren ground in between that it was not worthwhile for a machine operation to pursue. Another possibility is some kind of physical blockage (like a narrow high canyon) that would be difficult or impossible to economically bypass with a cat, excavator or rock truck.

Last thought is human nature. You are right about the really easy places being hammered. For example, there is a recreational panning area that I have visited in the far north and the only time I see people there, is panning behind the same big rock as everybody else has done, right beside where the road hits the stream. There are countless holes from others, perhaps 100 yards in either direction, that get sparse the further out you travel (or even less on the other side the creek that you can usually cross in the summer with high boots). On the other hand, the folks that are willing to descend a steep hill or dig a fresh hole off to the side are the ones that have any hope of finding something to "write home about". The funny thing is there are also the folks that take it to the extreme and focus on the worst possible dangerous access at the greatest distance away. What I am saying is sometimes the best location is in fact somewhere between the dead easy and the way out there - between these two types of individuals. ;-)

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas with health and adventure in the New Year.

What a solid post!!

Thanks for your insight and experience, and thanks for taking the time to write your specific, helpful notes.

Nicely done!

All the best to you in this New Year,

Lanny

 

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[Jim Hemmingway]

Thanks for your complimentary post Jim.

The poem I wrote for you and Joanne centers around the Klondike gold rush, and it involves selected details of various events that many miners went through on their journey in to the Yukon, and some of the disappointments, trials, and severe adversity they faced once they arrived.

I will continue to tweak the poetry as I have the opportunity, as I was very short of time this season to write.

Hopefully, this new year will provide a bit more time.

All the best,

Lanny

Thanks Lanny, I appreciate the background historical information behind your writings. I've read Pierre Bertons "Klondike" although it was loaned-out and never returned years ago. Recently I've read "The Floor of Heaven" by Howard Blum... a highly detailed account of the Yukon gold rush, a real pleasure to read, I'd highly recommend it to interested parties.

Jim.

 

[Lanny in AB]

Thanks Lanny, I appreciate the background historical information behind your writings. I've read Pierre Bertons "Klondike" although it was loaned-out and never returned years ago. Recently I've read "The Floor of Heaven" by Howard Blum... a highly detailed account of the Yukon gold rush, a real pleasure to read, I'd highly recommend it to interested parties.

Jim.

Thanks for the tip on the book Jim. It's one I have not read, but if you recommend it, it must be worth the read.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[Lanny in AB]

merry Christmas lanny and a happy and fun new year!!! as sad it is of eagle passing it far better to have known him. he was and still is a treasure. he walked and talked like a true man. the world is better for it. god bless you all. dave

Thanks so much for the seasonal best wishes!

Eagle truly is and was a treasure, and luckily we still have his stories to read: it is far better to have known him.

All the best to you as well, and best wishes for the season,

Lanny

 

[Lanny in AB]

I'd like to take this moment to wish you one and all a very Happy New Year!

Here's to 2015!!

All the best,

Lanny

 

[meMiner]

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

That is a classic story! The lesson that I would take from it is twofold. (1) check the bedrock, even if it looks smooth and clean, and (2) have a way to pinpoint (either hand held or a small coil) before doing too much work busting a bedrock hole. Carving 1 foot down in hard bedrock would be an awful job, quickly forgotten if successful and always remembered if not. The great thing here is your friend was able to "solve the mystery" and hear what happened. I think it is worse to never know. For example, when I was a kid river (stealhead) trout fishing - I would try to do everything right, in a pool that ought to have fish. Just before leaving, I would toss in a big rock in - - to see if anything darted away. I would of course kick myself if a big trout got spooked, but at least I found out if something was there, or not. It was nice to know.

 

[Lanny in AB]

That is a classic story! The lesson that I would take from it is twofold. (1) check the bedrock, even if it looks smooth and clean, and (2) have a way to pinpoint (either hand held or a small coil) before doing too much work busting a bedrock hole. Carving 1 foot down in hard bedrock would be an awful job, quickly forgotten if successful and always remembered if not. The great thing here is your friend was able to "solve the mystery" and hear what happened. I think it is worse to never know. For example, when I was a kid river (stealhead) trout fishing - I would try to do everything right, in a pool that ought to have fish. Just before leaving, I would toss in a big rock in - - to see if anything darted away. I would of course kick myself if a big trout got spooked, but at least I found out if something was there, or not. It was nice to know.

What you say is so true.

The nugget shooter sadly did not have a small coil with him that day, but the other guy did.

Your comments about trout are very insightful and the lesson is much appreciated.

On a connected note, I've often looked for gold in the same places that trout like to hang out in as they love to get out of the main current, then dash back into the current to ambush feed as it spins by. (I've watched this many times while underwater running the dredge.) The areas that resting trout frequent can often be back-eddies or calm places down-stream of boulders or rock ledges or logs, the same places gold like to drop out into.

Checking the same places where the bigger trout hang out has paid off more than once as it's helped me find new deposits of stream gold.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[Sample Pan Dan]

Lanny, I was thought by an oldtimer friend of mine in Georgia to read a gold bearing creek the same way i would read it to fly fish. Has paid off in southern and northern California as well.

 

[Jeff95531]

I have at times thought I had a slight advantage for finding gold by my previous fish finding experiences. Sometimes yes, sometimes no...just like finding gold. But the biggest fish always rules the roost and that's a good place to start for sure.

 

[Lanny in AB]

Lanny, I was thought by an oldtimer friend of mine in Georgia to read a gold bearing creek the same way i would read it to fly fish. Has paid off in southern and northern California as well.

I really appreciate your comment!

It's always nice to know when someone else has discovered the same thing that works when it comes to chasing the gold.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[Lanny in AB]

I have at times thought I had a slight advantage for finding gold by my previous fish finding experiences. Sometimes yes, sometimes no...just like finding gold. But the biggest fish always rules the roost and that's a good place to start for sure.

Jeff.

I agree that's a good idea, and while dredging, I'd often see big, sassy trout hanging out and resting in perfect low-pressure drop zones, the same places where a super heavy like gold would like to drop out of the current to rest as well.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[meMiner]

As cabin fever is setting in, I have started to reread your thread from the beginning. There is so much good information here.

I have my next trip to northern BC booked for end of May. This time, I am going alone and will take two metal detectors. I plan on spending all of my time nugget shooting. If I take other gear, I will end up getting distracted by digging a hole and chasing fine gold. Nothing wrong with fine gold, but this time, I want to pursue nuggets. I hope to have a Zen like thing happening - do one thing and do it well. The general area is known for unusually coarse gold, so I hope I can put my detector coil over some. Going alone means I can follow my own schedule and agenda. I will report back how it works out.

 

[BurntBear]

How cold have you been Lanny?

 

[huntsman53]

As cabin fever is setting in, I have started to reread your thread from the beginning. There is so much good information here.

I have my next trip to northern BC booked for end of May. This time, I am going alone and will take two metal detectors. I plan on spending all of my time nugget shooting. If I take other gear, I will end up getting distracted by digging a hole and chasing fine gold. Nothing wrong with fine gold, but this time, I want to pursue nuggets. I hope to have a Zen like thing happening - do one thing and do it well. The general area is known for unusually coarse gold, so I hope I can put my detector coil over some. Going alone means I can follow my own schedule and agenda. I will report back how it works out.

I agree with the idea of having a mission and sticking with it! However, one has to consider what you would be able to do if you happen upon a large deposit of small but coarse Gold along and/or in a stream or river! I plan on metal detecting in and along some streams in North Carolina where Gold is and has been found and even some large nuggets have been found. Although my primary mission is to metal detect, you can bet your' a$& that I will have my' highbanker/dredge combo, classifiers, Gold pans, shovels, mattocks, chisels and short sledge hammers with me just in case I hit a large deposit of placer Gold in the streams. Not to mention, a firearm or two for protection from anything that might want to do me harm.


Frank

 

[meMiner]

I agree with the idea of having a mission and sticking with it! However, one has to consider what you would be able to do if you happen upon a large deposit of small but coarse Gold along and/or in a stream or river! I plan on metal detecting in and along some streams in North Carolina where Gold is and has been found and even some large nuggets have been found. Although my primary mission is to metal detect, you can bet your' a$& that I will have my' highbanker/dredge combo, classifiers, Gold pans, shovels, mattocks, chisels and short sledge hammers with me just in case I hit a large deposit of placer Gold in the streams. Not to mention, a firearm or two for protection from anything that might want to do me harm.


Frank

Everything you say is good advise, but my situation is a bit different. These are my claims, so if I stumble upon a spot with potential, I will come back with the appropriate gear. Typically however, you only find the gold you pursue and it takes a good deal of effort (multiple sample holes, moving big rocks etc). I don't have the luxury of taking in extra kit on spec, because I am going there by air. Otherwise, it is a 72 hour drive for me. Nowadays with the airlines, even a second bag or oversize is $50 plus plus). Even the firearms stay at home, because of the hassle traveling with one. Living near the site and having my dog, gun, ATV, truck, dive gear, camper & mining gear will have to wait until I retire which is still a few years away.

 

[calisdad]

Everything you say is good advise, but my situation is a bit different. These are my claims, so if I stumble upon a spot with potential, I will come back with the appropriate gear. Typically however, you only find the gold you pursue and it takes a good deal of effort (multiple sample holes, moving big rocks etc). I don't have the luxury of taking in extra kit on spec, because I am going there by air. Otherwise, it is a 72 hour drive for me. Nowadays with the airlines, even a second bag or oversize is $50 plus plus). Even the firearms stay at home, because of the hassle traveling with one. Living near the site and having my dog, gun, ATV, truck, dive gear, camper & mining gear will have to wait until I retire which is still a few years away.

There's a lot to be said about focus. I'm pretty sure your detecting activities will teach you how to better your placer recovery. I know if I head to the shop for a tool to finish my task at hand I'm sure to pass a task or three waiting to distract me.

Lanny- you comment about gold falling out where fish congregate really is a stroke of genius. That's clarity- makes all the sense in the world.

 

[huntsman53]

Everything you say is good advise, but my situation is a bit different. These are my claims, so if I stumble upon a spot with potential, I will come back with the appropriate gear. Typically however, you only find the gold you pursue and it takes a good deal of effort (multiple sample holes, moving big rocks etc). I don't have the luxury of taking in extra kit on spec, because I am going there by air. Otherwise, it is a 72 hour drive for me. Nowadays with the airlines, even a second bag or oversize is $50 plus plus). Even the firearms stay at home, because of the hassle traveling with one. Living near the site and having my dog, gun, ATV, truck, dive gear, camper & mining gear will have to wait until I retire which is still a few years away.

I understand now that you clarified that you have to fly there! However, I believe that I would find a way to pack a shovel that breaks down as well as a Classifier, Gold Pan and Snuffer Bottle into my checked baggage. If you have not already done so, you might consider leaving any or all of these at your' Claim, so you don't have to fly them back and forth with you. Of course, you would need to find a good place to hide them, just in case some unwanted two-legged guests happen to wander in and snoop around.


Frank

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

I understand now that you clarified that you have to fly there! However, I believe that I would find a way to pack a shovel that breaks down as well as a Classifier, Gold Pan and Snuffer Bottle into my checked baggage. If you have not already done so, you might consider leaving any or all of these at your' Claim, so you don't have to fly them back and forth with you. Of course, you would need to find a good place to hide them, just in case some unwanted two-legged guests happen to wander in and snoop around.


Frank

There has to be someplace between the airport and the claim where he could make arrangements.

 

[Lanny in AB]

How cold have you been Lanny?

We had a bad stretch before Christmas where it was around 30 below for a while, but since then it's been unseasonably warm, and I'm sure not complaining!

How about you? Have you had a chance to get out and chase any sassy gold?

All the best,

Lanny

 

[Lanny in AB]

I understand now that you clarified that you have to fly there! However, I believe that I would find a way to pack a shovel that breaks down as well as a Classifier, Gold Pan and Snuffer Bottle into my checked baggage. If you have not already done so, you might consider leaving any or all of these at your' Claim, so you don't have to fly them back and forth with you. Of course, you would need to find a good place to hide them, just in case some unwanted two-legged guests happen to wander in and snoop around.


Frank

Very solid advice. Moreover, when you're chasing nuggets, as he will be, when you start to find the nuggets, there's often nice pickers and find gold down in the same bedrock traps. I found that sad lesson out the hard way. Who knows how much gold I've left behind! But, I finally clued in, and wow! What a lot of nice gold I recovered that way.

Well, all the best to you and I like the advice you've given Placergold,

Lanny