Where to start ? ... Tips and Advice please...

[AstralDruid]

In April I will be back in my homeland, and intend to spend a while detecting farm lands etc... all around a range of small mountains, The Mourne mountains N Ireland..
In recent years there has been a resurgence of prospecting in those hills, legends have gold and gemstones aplenty, and there is evidence of ancient gold from this area...
So ...thought i would give the resident Gold hawks a shout out, and see if you guys could help decide some things,,, like for example where to start ? Are rivers /streams always the best bet ?
The rock is mostly granite,,, some slate, greenstone and horn-blende, i believe... these are old fold mountains,, small in stature but they were in place way before the Alps and the Rockys...
They sweep down to the sea (Irish sea) and are very easily accessible,,, I spent most of my early days in these mountains..
So... if anyone is open to discussing, i would plan on at least 3 days in the hills, this spring...

Range coordinates:	54°10′N 6°05′

 

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[Crow]

Gold has been found in the Mourne Mountains of County Down, Ireland. Scientists believe that the Mourne Mountains were the primary source of prehistoric gold in Ireland.

You might want to try panning along the Mourne rivers, in particular the Carcullion, the Leitrim and the rocky river for alluvial gold wearing out the host rock. the Rocky Rivers and some say the River Bann just below Spelga Dam. it is very fine. I prefer in catchment above the dam in stream above along moyad road fine particles gold is eroding from eroding hills above through tiny streams.

Here is geological map red signified gold particles found in river sediment.

Crow

 

[AstralDruid]

Thanks Crow
So, rivers are the way to go then ?

My brother lives 5 mins from Spelga Dam, just on the other side of Slievenamuck,, so again, easy access. I have a set of Garrett pans, so i guess i'll have to give it a go..
Slow water areas , is that right ? Should i be digging into the rocks etc... really i have watched a few videos but never really understood it all...

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