The Many Lost Treasures of Mariposa, CA (Photos Added)

[EagleDown]

My ship came in! (But I was waiting at AmTrak)

I had a friend bring me a pint size cottage cheese container today. It had about
1 inch of a greenish sand in it. He wanted me to identify it for him. Said he picked
it up while digging a test hole for his boss about 3 years ago. I asked if he minded
if I panned it down to see what 'heavies' might be in it. He said "go ahead". So,
I proceeded to pan it. I got down to black sand and small pyrites and started
seeing gold. Ended up with about 2 grams of gold. (Estimated) I asked where
he found it. It turned out that he dug a hole for the co. he worked for, to test the
soil for percolation. (To see how well it drained water). At about 7 ft. he hit a
layer of this greenish material about 3 ft. thick and collected a handfull just out
of curiosity. He put it in the container and when he got home, he sat in on the
shelf in the garage and forgot about it, until he saw me running my drywasher.



I then asked if we could go to the place and collect some more samples. He said
"Let's go". So, I drove about 5 miles or so. When we got to the spot......There were
several homes that had been built in the last 3 years.

Well, there's another potential fortune 'down the drain'. (Excuse the pun, the test
hole was to see if a septic tank would be ok there). (lol)

Here's a photo of the panned sample. I haven't figured out what the small grey
pieces are. And, I don't want to sink any money in tests for non-accessable areas.
I have a feeling that there use to be a stamp mill above the area, possibly back in
the mid-eighteen hundreds and this was from the tailings from the crushed materials,
showing just how much the "old timers" lost in gold. From this little sample, I would
roughly estimate about 3 ounces per ton.

 

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[GarretDiggingAz]

I had a friend bring me a pint size cottage cheese container today. It had about 1 inch of a greenish sand in it. He wanted me to identify it for him. Said he picked it up while digging a test hole for his boss about 3 years ago. I asked if he minded if I panned it down to see what 'heavies' might be in it. He said "go ahead". So, I proceeded to pan it. I got down to black sand and small pyrites and started seeing gold. Ended up with about 2 grams of gold. (Estimated) I asked where he found it. It turned out that he dug a hole for the co. he worked for, to test the soil for percolation. (To see how well it drained water). At about 7 ft. he hit a layer of this greenish material about 3 ft. thick and collected a handfull just out of curiosity. He put it in the container and when he got home, he sat in on the shelf in the garage and forgot about it, until he saw me running my drywasher. I then asked if we could go to the place and collect some more samples. He said "Let's go". So, I drove about 5 miles or so. When we got to the spot......There were several homes that had been built in the last 3 years. Well, there's another potential fortune 'down the drain'. (Excuse the pun, the test hole was to see if a septic tank would be ok there). (lol) Here's a photo of the panned sample. I haven't figured out what the small grey pieces are. And, I don't want to sink any money in tests for non-accessable areas. I have a feeling that there use to be a stamp mill above the area, possibly back in the mid-eighteen hundreds and this was from the tailings from the crushed materials, showing just how much the "old timers" lost in gold. From this little sample, I would roughly estimate about 3 ounces per ton.

Can you file mineral rights on that land still? I've heard stories about that happening. Then give them a percentage. He'll if bet they'd love it. Just put a pool in the hole. Lol

 

[familyhunter]

Well Eagle thats a crappy way to start off my day reading about a find like that but cant get it.

 

[EagleDown]

Can you file mineral rights on that land still? I've heard stories about that happening. Then give them a percentage. He'll if bet they'd love it. Just put a pool in the hole. Lol

Well Eagle thats a crappy way to start off my day reading about a find like that but cant get it.

GarretDiggingAz, That's not a bad idea. If they "won" a new, olympic size swimming pool and accepted, the materials would have to be "hauled off". Problem is, we'd have to take several core samples to determine which way the pay-streak runs. But, the good news is: We wouldn't have to worry about 'mineral rights'.
Hmmm, I wonder if we could get enough gold there to buy the house from them. (lol)

familyhunter; How do you think I felt when we turned onto the road and saw the houses there. But, never say can't. (lol)

 

[angelus2k5]

I had a friend bring me a pint size cottage cheese container today. It had about
1 inch of a greenish sand in it. He wanted me to identify it for him. Said he picked
it up while digging a test hole for his boss about 3 years ago. I asked if he minded
if I panned it down to see what 'heavies' might be in it. He said "go ahead". So,
I proceeded to pan it. I got down to black sand and small pyrites and started
seeing gold. Ended up with about 2 grams of gold. (Estimated) I asked where
he found it. It turned out that he dug a hole for the co. he worked for, to test the
soil for percolation. (To see how well it drained water). At about 7 ft. he hit a
layer of this greenish material about 3 ft. thick and collected a handfull just out
of curiosity. He put it in the container and when he got home, he sat in on the
shelf in the garage and forgot about it, until he saw me running my drywasher.



I then asked if we could go to the place and collect some more samples. He said
"Let's go". So, I drove about 5 miles or so. When we got to the spot......There were
several homes that had been built in the last 3 years.

Well, there's another potential fortune 'down the drain'. (Excuse the pun, the test
hole was to see if a septic tank would be ok there). (lol)

Here's a photo of the panned sample. I haven't figured out what the small grey
pieces are. And, I don't want to sink any money in tests for non-accessable areas.
I have a feeling that there use to be a stamp mill above the area, possibly back in
the mid-eighteen hundreds and this was from the tailings from the crushed materials,
showing just how much the "old timers" lost in gold. From this little sample, I would
roughly estimate about 3 ounces per ton.

is it just me or are there some semi-transparent red stones in that mix. also wouldnt it be great if those grey pieces were platinum?

 

[EagleDown]

is it just me or are there some semi-transparent red stones in that mix. also wouldnt it be great if those grey pieces were platinum?

Good eyes Brother! The red stones are garnets, though they look like rubies. (Well, actually, there's very little difference, just the trace minerals that gives them their color). As far as the grey pieces, you've mirrored my thoughts exactly. But, I'm still not going to have them assayed, unless I come up with a way to access the deposit.

 

[angelus2k5]

Good eyes Brother! The red stones are garnets, though they look like rubies. (Well, actually, there's very little difference, just the trace minerals that gives them their color). As far as the grey pieces, you've mirrored my thoughts exactly. But, I'm still not going to have them assayed, unless I come up with a way to access the deposit.

not knowing the exact location of the sample(and i wont bother asking) would it be possible to claim or assay maybe a surrounding area? (assuming the houses are taking up a relatively small area)

 

[EagleDown]

not knowing the exact location of the sample(and i wont bother asking) would it be possible to claim or assay maybe a surrounding area? (assuming the houses are taking up a relatively small area)

It's my understanding that the smallest land can be subdivided in this county is 4 acres. So, the area where this sample was taken is pretty well covered. But, I'm checking the surrounding terrain to see if I can find any other area that this green 'sand' might show up. If so, perhaps the property can be bought. Who knows? I'm not giving up yet. (lol)

 

[angelus2k5]

It's my understanding that the smallest land can be subdivided in this county is 4 acres. So, the area where this sample was taken is pretty well covered. But, I'm checking the surrounding terrain to see if I can find any other area that this green 'sand' might show up. If so, perhaps the property can be bought. Who knows? I'm not giving up yet. (lol)

never give up, never surrender!! by the by, our side project hopefully will be worked on this weekend as my cousin will be coming over so the extra set of hands should be usefull for building a sluice box or maybe just panning. any tips for a first timer on panning?

 

[EagleDown]

never give up, never surrender!! by the by, our side project hopefully will be worked on this weekend as my cousin will be coming over so the extra set of hands should be usefull for building a sluice box or maybe just panning. any tips for a first timer on panning?

Just shake the pan from side to side to settle the gold, then gently wash materials out until you see a speck of gold, then shake the pan again and repeat until most of the lighter materials are out. It's rather difficult to explain. It is much better if you see it in person. Try some youtube videos. There are some good ones on panning. I just found this video for you. It's not the best on youtube, but you can get the basics.

 

[angelus2k5]

Just shake the pan from side to side to settle the gold, then gently wash materials out until you see a speck of gold, then shake the pan again and repeat until most of the lighter materials are out. It's rather difficult to explain. It is much better if you see it in person. Try some youtube videos. There are some good ones on panning. I just found this video for you. It's not the best on youtube, but you can get the basics.

would you recomend using a rare earth magnet to remove black sand from a pan?

 

[EagleDown]

would you recomend using a rare earth magnet to remove black sand from a pan?

At times, I do. Make sure you put the magnet in a plastic bag so it doesn't get covered with the magnatite. That stuff's hard to get off of the magnet later. (lol)
Also, have a clean container to put the black sand in. You'll find that the black sand will often pick up small flakes of gold, so you would want to check your black sand before you throw it away.

 

[GarretDiggingAz]

Good eyes Brother! The red stones are garnets, though they look like rubies. (Well, actually, there's very little difference, just the trace minerals that gives them their color). As far as the grey pieces, you've mirrored my thoughts exactly. But, I'm still not going to have them assayed, unless I come up with a way to access the deposit.

Eagle
Are any of them for rent? We could rent for a couple months and then restore it or offer to buy the neighbors if got enough. Of course depends on direction of streak. Might be digging under the house. Lol. Basement addition?

 

[EagleDown]

Eagle
Are any of them for rent? We could rent for a couple months and then restore it or offer to buy the neighbors if got enough. Of course depends on direction of streak. Might be digging under the house. Lol. Basement addition?

Sorry, but they're all new homes and all occupied. As for the "streak", he was just digging a hole for his employer, so not knowing anything about mining, he has no way knowing which way the streak might go. I should add; since the hole was to check for drainage, that's probably where the septic tank is now. (lol)
But, I do have a couple of ideas I'll be checking out. If either works out, I'll let all my readers know.

 

[GarretDiggingAz]

Eagle
I think it's time to do some septic inspections and replacing.

 

[GarretDiggingAz]

I'm stoked right now Eagle.
Got my new power sluice the other day. Finally don't have to spoon feed my mini high banker. Though it is a great tool.
Only downside is that I haven't tested it yet. Oh and that I took my truck in for an oil change for $35, but of course they found my brake pads were gone and eating my rotors. Ughhhh!! So then the total went to $433. Then, they tell me that my rack and pinion seals were leaking and needed to be replaced. The good news was that rack and pinion was covered by warranty (cost me $135 for that repair). I only had till December 13th till that expired. So I got the new toy for 400 and thought that was all would spend for the month. Then added another $568 to monthly expenses. Why, why, why is it that you save some money for fun and then repairs pop up from nowhere? The common story of life. Lol

 

[EagleDown]

I'm stoked right now Eagle.
Got my new power sluice the other day. Finally don't have to spoon feed my mini high banker. Though it is a great tool.
Only downside is that I haven't tested it yet. Oh and that I took my truck in for an oil change for $35, but of course they found my brake pads were gone and eating my rotors. Ughhhh!! So then the total went to $433. Then, they tell me that my rack and pinion seals were leaking and needed to be replaced. The good news was that rack and pinion was covered by warranty (cost me $135 for that repair). I only had till December 13th till that expired. So I got the new toy for 400 and thought that was all would spend for the month. Then added another $568 to monthly expenses. Why, why, why is it that you save some money for fun and then repairs pop up from nowhere? The common story of life. Lol

Congratulations on your power sluice!!

As for the car, that's why I do the light work myself. I replaced both front calipers, brake pads and one rotor. Cost?? Less than $125. And, it took me a whole hour to do. Well, actually, mgb did most of the work. Removing and replacing the wheels is pretty heavy work at my age. (lol) But, I figure I saved about $300 from what a shop would have charged.

 

[Sam 8]

Eagle, glad to see you are still flying.
I am alive and returning to well after a bit of a battle. I will be around, and I am planning some trips for next spring. Getting to your neck of the woods is high on the list. We bought a new 5th wheel RV, decided t was time to begin living the dreams before time runs out.

 

[shepcal]

Just letting you know, I'm keeping an eye on you! ;-)
Shep

 

[EagleDown]

Just letting you know, I'm keeping an eye on you! ;-)
Shep

Well, thank God!! I thought I was all alone with my thoughts. (lol)