DizzyDigger
Gold Member
- Dec 9, 2012
- 6,354
- 12,884
- Detector(s) used
- Nokta FoRs Gold, a Gold Cube, 2 Keene Sluices and Lord only knows how many pans....not to mention a load of other gear my wife still doesn't know about!
- Primary Interest:
- Prospecting
As Spring comes closer, we are now getting 1-2 days a week
of decent weather up here. Temps are getting into the low 60's,
which (for me) is perfect for getting out and doing some prospecting.
I can't get the Gold Cube into the areas I was sluicing last year (have
enough trouble getting just me in there..lol), so I've been searching
for a few spots with easier access where I can drag/carry/float the
two large tubs (30 and 38 gal.) that carry all my gear. One tub doubles
as my classifier, but I pack a load of gear in it to get to the site.
Spent all afternoon Wednesday prospecting and test panning a few
bars that were within 50 yds. of the creek access, and was surprised
to find (after testing a dozen spots) that there was -0- gold on any
of them. Another 200 yds. up the same creek there is decent flood
gold to be found, but there was nothing at all in the areas I could get
the Cube to.
Moved to a different spot about 2 miles further down the creek where
I had some some successful sluicing last year, but again couldn't find
squat (nary a flypoop!). I only had one small, inside bar left to check,
and then it was back to square one.
That last little bar was only about 5' wide and 10' long, but was the inside
portion of a rather tight bend the creek makes. Moved a few larger, basketball
sized rocks out of the way and dug a panful of material...worked it down
and came up with 2 flakes about 60 mesh in size...first gold I'd seen all day!
Two more pans, each with 2 small flakes, confirmed that I'd found a place
to bring in the Gold Cube the next day.
Had a hard time carrying the tubs as the only path to this spot was 40 yds.
right up the middle of the creek; made it, and was pleased with myself that
I didn't "crash 'n burn" in the creek even once..
Using the new, oversize classifier made a huge difference in the amount
of material I could run, but the digging is tough there. Ended up putting
6-1/2 full, 3 Gal. buckets of -1/8" material through the cube, and ran the
cons when I got home:
The 2 largest flakes are +20 sized, and the rest ranged from -30 to -100
(and smaller). Total weight is about 1.5/10ths of a gram..not much for some,
but a very good day for me.
Only worked half of the available material, so there's plenty left for
one more trip.
For any of you new folks: It was well worth the time spent finding and
locating a workable deposit, and then mining it, over just setting up at
a location that I *thought* held gold and wasting time and energy digging
worthless ground.
Prospect, sample, sample, sample...find it, and then MINE IT..
of decent weather up here. Temps are getting into the low 60's,
which (for me) is perfect for getting out and doing some prospecting.
I can't get the Gold Cube into the areas I was sluicing last year (have
enough trouble getting just me in there..lol), so I've been searching
for a few spots with easier access where I can drag/carry/float the
two large tubs (30 and 38 gal.) that carry all my gear. One tub doubles
as my classifier, but I pack a load of gear in it to get to the site.
Spent all afternoon Wednesday prospecting and test panning a few
bars that were within 50 yds. of the creek access, and was surprised
to find (after testing a dozen spots) that there was -0- gold on any
of them. Another 200 yds. up the same creek there is decent flood
gold to be found, but there was nothing at all in the areas I could get
the Cube to.
Moved to a different spot about 2 miles further down the creek where
I had some some successful sluicing last year, but again couldn't find
squat (nary a flypoop!). I only had one small, inside bar left to check,
and then it was back to square one.
That last little bar was only about 5' wide and 10' long, but was the inside
portion of a rather tight bend the creek makes. Moved a few larger, basketball
sized rocks out of the way and dug a panful of material...worked it down
and came up with 2 flakes about 60 mesh in size...first gold I'd seen all day!
Two more pans, each with 2 small flakes, confirmed that I'd found a place
to bring in the Gold Cube the next day.
Had a hard time carrying the tubs as the only path to this spot was 40 yds.
right up the middle of the creek; made it, and was pleased with myself that
I didn't "crash 'n burn" in the creek even once..
Using the new, oversize classifier made a huge difference in the amount
of material I could run, but the digging is tough there. Ended up putting
6-1/2 full, 3 Gal. buckets of -1/8" material through the cube, and ran the
cons when I got home:
The 2 largest flakes are +20 sized, and the rest ranged from -30 to -100
(and smaller). Total weight is about 1.5/10ths of a gram..not much for some,
but a very good day for me.
Only worked half of the available material, so there's plenty left for
one more trip.
For any of you new folks: It was well worth the time spent finding and
locating a workable deposit, and then mining it, over just setting up at
a location that I *thought* held gold and wasting time and energy digging
worthless ground.
Prospect, sample, sample, sample...find it, and then MINE IT..
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