Colorado Prospecting. South Platte, Clear Creek and Denver.

shofs · May 17, 2016

I need a new scale mines sort of out of whack. Also what you you reccomend for containing and drying of the gold for weighing it? I have an identical glass vial that I could use to carry my gold in and I could weigh one, tear the scale and see the difference, but that wouldn't be super accurate. I am guessing the last big cleanout I had was around .15g and the ones before anywhere from .09-.06 grams. Ill work on getting a way to weigh it out. maybe Ill go to goodwill and get a soap dish similar to yours there 8-)

KevinInColorado · May 17, 2016

shofs said:
I need a new scale mines sort of out of whack. Also what you you reccomend for containing and drying of the gold for weighing it? I have an identical glass vial that I could use to carry my gold in and I could weigh one, tear the scale and see the difference, but that wouldn't be super accurate. I am guessing the last big cleanout I had was around .15g and the ones before anywhere from .09-.06 grams. Ill work on getting a way to weigh it out. maybe Ill go to goodwill and get a soap dish similar to yours there

I just dry mine in the soap dish under an incandescent light. I found a little funnel at the science supply shop at 2nd & Broadway that makes it easy to dump the gold from the weighing tray into the vial

but a lot of folks just use a small creased piece of paper to weigh and then pour.

Jeff95531 · May 17, 2016

If you're in the market for a new scale, I can save you a lot of time. Go to Amazon and enter

American Weigh Scales GEMINI-20 Portable MilliGram Scale, 20 by 0.001 G

Now only 17 bucks and accurately reads our type of finds. Several members here have it as well and are very happy with it.

Kevin...I would add to take the vial with you when shopping for a funnel. Last time I was at the Dollar Store I bought a set of miniature funnels and the smallest one still wouldn't fit in the vial. So back to the creased paper again. :thumbsup:

shofs · May 19, 2016

So I got out today and built a rock dam at the upstream end of the "straw bench" bend because I saw a lot of heavy rocks around that area. I dug down and it was some pretty tightly packed material. One of my best clean outs yet!

Trying to get a measurement of today's catch using an old scale I have on hand. I have 2 identical glass vials that I've filled underwater to prevent air bubbles. The first one is empty and the second one is my gold from the creek so far.

0.34 grams so far from the creek. But after today its up to 0.51g! So 0.17 grams after an hours dig, not bad at all!

HardHatMatt · May 19, 2016

Awesome and inspirational tales, shofs! Just had a little one but I'd love to get out and join you sometime.

Duckwalk · May 19, 2016

Jeff95531 said:
If you're in the market for a new scale, I can save you a lot of time. Go to Amazon and enter

American Weigh Scales GEMINI-20 Portable MilliGram Scale, 20 by 0.001 G

Now only 17 bucks and accurately reads our type of finds. Several members here have it as well and are very happy with it.

Kevin...I would add to take the vial with you when shopping for a funnel. Last time I was at the Dollar Store I bought a set of miniature funnels and the smallest one still wouldn't fit in the vial. So back to the creased paper again.

AND for those interested it has many "other" scale type uses...

Jeff95531 · May 19, 2016

Yes Ducky...it also measures Humboldt nuggets quite well indeed. :thumbsup:

shofs · May 21, 2016

HardHatMatt said:
Awesome and inspirational tales, shofs! Just had a little one but I'd love to get out and join you sometime.

Anytime! I'm free most mornings.

shofs · May 21, 2016

Jeff95531 said:
Yes Ducky...it also measures Humboldt nuggets quite well indeed.

I live in Colorado of all places and I had to google that shame on me :laughing7:

I'm always sure to NOT bring my scale with me in my car. When you look young and you have a scale, telling a cop "that's to weigh um....treasure" just wouldn't go well.

I might get this scale. The black would contrast nicely with the gold and its little cup looks good for pouring into vials.

shofs · May 21, 2016

Also, I took the bazooka out this morning before work. I was sweeping in the creek from left to right and getting about 5 inches of gravel till the clay consistently, but near the middle of the creek the clay layer took a straight 90 degree drop and I got down to maybe 2.5 feet of good paydirt with more to go. I was pulling out big almost basketball sized rounded rocks and it is very tightly packed. To bad I had to leave for work right when I got down to the heavies! Hopefully I can get a good long dig in tomorrow.
Here is today's gold displayed in a Kevin like manor .19 grams! Used a (-30) and (-60) mesh to classify.

KevinInColorado · May 21, 2016

It makes me happy to read this, well done!

Jeff95531 · May 21, 2016

shofs said:
I live in Colorado of all places and I had to google that shame on me
I'm always sure to NOT bring my scale with me in my car. When you look young and you have a scale, telling a cop "that's to weigh um....treasure" just wouldn't go well.

View attachment 1315612

I might get this scale. The black would contrast nicely with the gold and its little cup looks good for pouring into vials.

It's OK shofs. We have both kinds nearby so easy to be confused... and they are almost legal to have too...depending how you get it. :laughing7:

Giant gold nugget found in California finds secret buyer | Fox News

and

https://www.leafly.com/products/flower

shofs · May 22, 2016

Got out and dug to the bottom of yesterday's hole. Got 20 pieces of gold too big to fit through -30 mesh! Heaviest cleanout yet with the scale estimating .30 grams though it seems like more :icon_thumright:

. I'm not used to finding such large gold in Colorado! My new goal is to get enough gold to match the cost of the bazooka at $155, so right around 4 grams by the end of the summer, though I'm keeping the gold :goldbar:

utah mason · May 22, 2016

Im thinking you should set your goals a little higher. As much as your getting out, I think you could double or triple your goal. Looking forward to watching your progress over the summer! 🙆

shofs · May 24, 2016

I'm planning a quick dig tomorrow before work. I havn't been out in a few days because I'm in the middle of buying a house and real estate in Colorado is crazy tough right now.

On a side note I was in the shower this morning thinking to myself hmm "you know what I used to love as a kid" These things...

Not practical AT ALL but I definitely be the would be the coolest kid on the block just swiveling in my chair scoopin dirt right in the bazooka.

GoldpannerDave · May 24, 2016

HardHatMatt said:
Awesome and inspirational tales, shofs! Just had a little one but I'd love to get out and join you sometime.

Ditto. We just closed on a house today about 15 minutes closer to metro Denver. Of course, now we have to move; we have to be out of our current place before the 13th of June. That means not much digging time until after we get all moved.

GoldpannerDave · May 24, 2016

Jeff95531 said:
If you're in the market for a new scale, I can save you a lot of time. Go to Amazon and enter

American Weigh Scales GEMINI-20 Portable MilliGram Scale, 20 by 0.001 G

Now only 17 bucks and accurately reads our type of finds. Several members here have it as well and are very happy with it.

Kevin...I would add to take the vial with you when shopping for a funnel. Last time I was at the Dollar Store I bought a set of miniature funnels and the smallest one still wouldn't fit in the vial. So back to the creased paper again.

YES, I am one of those who brought it; I love it.

KevinInColorado · May 24, 2016

GoldpannerDave said:
Ditto. We just closed on a house today about 15 minutes closer to metro Denver. Of course, now we have to move; we have to be out of our current place before the 13th of June. That means not much digging time until after we get all moved.

Dave, he's digging next to one of my honey holes a bit upstream of "you know where"!!

Jeff95531 · May 25, 2016

LOL, we just put a bid on a mobile on the other side of the park from us. We'd be movin on up if it all goes down. We'll know soon but hate this part...especially when the realtor plays you against someone else. But we want it and bid what was comfortable so... :thumbsup:

Jeff95531 · May 25, 2016

shofs said:
I'm planning a quick dig tomorrow before work. I havn't been out in a few days because I'm in the middle of buying a house and real estate in Colorado is crazy tough right now.

On a side note I was in the shower this morning thinking to myself hmm "you know what I used to love as a kid" These things...
View attachment 1317344

Not practical AT ALL but I definitely be the would be the coolest kid on the block just swiveling in my chair scoopin dirt right in the bazooka.

Oh hell ya! I think I'd even pay to watch! Or we'll work sumthin out for a share of your gold. :headbang:

Colorado Prospecting. South Platte, Clear Creek and Denver.

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