Finding source of gold on claim

[Jachyrah]

I have a claim in Placer County CA that I have been working recently and am hoping to get help with some gold specimens I found.
In this region the gold is most concentrated in the modern waterways, but I am also curious to follow the eluvial deposits and find the sources of the gold.
This area has an interesting geography with lots of volcanic rock and iron rich red soil. It has first period ancient river gravels as well as second period volcanic gravel channels passing through, as well as many highly mineralized quartz veins. I have found gold that fit all three of these as sources. Flat scales, chunky sponge looking pieces and small flour gold.
The gold I find most of is fairly chunky and spongy looking to the naked eye. It doesn't appear to have travelled far. Under a microscope the pieces have reddish black globs and lighter red mineralized rock mixed in.
Example gold specimens are pictured. I found them mostly in a dry ravine on a hillside that is only really workable in winter.
I'm trying to figure out as I move up the hillsides hunting the source what type of weathered rock outcrop types I might be looking for based off the photos.
Maybe someone who has found similar specimens or knows more can give me a few pointers. I'll try to get more specimens and better photos later too.

 

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[arizau]

I have a claim in Placer County CA that I have been working recently and am hoping to get help with some gold specimens I found recently.
In this region the gold is most concentrated in the modern waterways, but I am also curious to follow the eluvial deposits and find the sources of the gold.
This area has an interesting geography with lots of volcanic rock and iron rich red soil. It has first period ancient river gravels as well as second period volcanic gravel channels passing through, as well as many highly mineralized quartz veins. I have found gold that fit all three of these as sources. Flat scales, chunky sponge looking pieces and small flour gold.
The gold I find most of is fairly chunky and spongy looking to the naked eye. It doesn't appear to have travelled far. Under a microscope the pieces have reddish black globs and lighter red mineral rock mixed in.
Example gold specimens are pictured. I found them mostly in a dry ravine on a hillside that is only really workable in winter.
I'm trying to figure out as I move up the hillsides hunting the source what type of weathered rock outcrop types I might be looking for based off the photos.
Maybe someone who has found similar specimens or knows more can give me a few pointers. I'll try to get more specimens and better photos later too.

An intermediate step may help you find a or the source if it still exists. Search, uphill, both sides of the wash to see if you can find pieces of "float"/gold bearing host rock then continue to where you stop finding it. That is usually where the source is or was.

Good luck.

 

[ArfieBoy]

Those are rough little suckers! Source would seem to be somewhere nearby.