Last minute day trip to Mineral bar area

Bnugget

Bnugget

Full Member
Oct 17, 2013
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I am planning kind of last minute day trip to check out the location some of you went on the last un official TN Weekend to the mineral bar area. I'm willing to hike in as far as necessary to get away from the heavily trampled areas.

Any tips on upstream or downstream? I'm still pinpointing/researching to finalize details. Is there any private property/claims to watch out for?

Anyone experienced in the area care to join?
 

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Some nice pic's....I should have gotten my act together and went Sat....
ended up waiting until Sunday, and then my brother flaked on me anyways.

There were A Lot more people than I expected out there Sun ! Ended up going upriver to Secret Ravine, messed around just below the confluence of the two....couldn't really get my sluice set-up very well :icon_scratch:, and ended up packin out a little early to stay ahead of the rain. I know there are some better spots up that way, but man that's a long walk.....and it is about 2-3x as far as the gravel bar where I actually do find color ?

Oh well, gonna pan down the con's today / tonight, hopefully there's more than I think.

Going to try again next weekend.....
 

fowledup said:
That looks like a damn fine time! Wish I could have made it. How was the hike, do you think a nine year old could do it? We are sure blessed with some beautiful country, aren't we? Nice touch with the buckets, cracks me up, my daughter always says that in her best Rocky Balboa accent.
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To get where BNug and I were might be a little tricky for a nine year old depending on how good he is on his feet lol. But the trail is pretty decent for a good 1/4 mile downstream, so there are plenty of chances to stop before it gets dicey to find a place.

The day after we had the Unofficial TN outing, I took my wife/8year old/and 6 month old down below the bridge... ran a couple buckets of material through his sluice. Only got a couple flakes, but the experience/view/weather was great. Plus, to an 8 year old, a couple flakes is just as good as fort knox lol
 

After getting home and looking on google earth I realized we didn't go as far as I was hoping, plan in pushing further next trip. Need to find the bigger gold, lol!
 

It sounds like you guys had a blast out there! I miss the motherlode!
 

Bnugget said:
After getting home and looking on google earth I realized we didn't go as far as I was hoping, plan in pushing further next trip. Need to find the bigger gold, lol!
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Above mineral bar, once you cross over the claim there, for nearly five miles up river there is no reason to expect much gold. The mineralization just isn't there like some other portions of the river. It's not until you get directly below Iowa Hill and cross into the greenstone and graywacke that you will have significant sources of placer gold. Those sources are all from the local tertiary gravels found well above the river.

That's not to say you won't find gold in the river there but if you are looking for "bigger gold" you'd be better off just around Iowa Hill or further up river around Truro, Tommy Cain or Sheldon Ravine.
 

Clay Diggins said:
Above mineral bar, once you cross over the claim there, for nearly five miles up river there is no reason to expect much gold. The mineralization just isn't there like some other portions of the river. It's not until you get directly below Iowa Hill and cross into the greenstone and graywacke that you will have significant sources of placer gold. Those sources are all from the local tertiary gravels found well above the river.

That's not to say you won't find gold in the river there but if you are looking for "bigger gold" you'd be better off just around Iowa Hill or further up river around Truro, Tommy Cain or Sheldon Ravine.
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Clay Diggins Thanks for your expertise in these matters... I always enjoy your help.

Goldenmojo
 

Yes... Thanks for the tip, will have to look into these locations when I get a chance.
 

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greenie learning the ropes...need help.

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