Why do I need a pick-ax? And is there any American made prospecting equipment?

[RookieDad]

Super rookie going this weekend for the kids.

So I bought a prospecting kit off the internet and a bunch of pans and a separator. It came with some vials etc. and a real nice small pick-ax.

In my mind, I anticipate digging a hole about two feet, collecting some material, separating it and then letting the kids try panning.
What's the pick ax for? Should I be smashing a certain type of rock?

Also in my rush to get equipment, I just purchased whatever without thinking about where it was made. I should of investigated and been more thorough as I always try to support American businesses.

Can someone recommend a company that makes prospecting equipment in the USA?

The next purchase, if the kids love it and have a great time, would naturally be a sluice.
Is there a good sluice that is made in America?

Thanks for any help. And please laugh at me and my dumb rookie questions, I can take it.

 

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[Asmbandits]

Pick axe or geologist hammer is a must have tool for any prospector. Id say other than my pan it is probably the second most used tool I own. I use it to dig and break up bedrock, pry rocks apart, crevasse etc. Also handy defense tool if need be. I use my geologist rock pick/hammer most, just google it or search on amazon they can be found all over the web.

 

[CA Gold Hunter]

There are lots of American made products. Apex picks, bazooka sluice, keene, garret. The list goes on. I used to us a cheap little rock pick but I ended up getting an apex pick and it moved cobble like a hot knife in butter, I'm sure other large picks would do fine as well. I got that one because I like to metal detect too and it has rare earth magnets attached to it.

 

[arizau]

This advice may too late since it sounds like you have already planned an outing but......The best way to pique kids and maybe your interest is to try to insure success (find some color). Before you blindly go out to look for gold do some research or ask on here where you may go where you are likely to at least find some color. There may be clubs in your area who have outings and those are usually a good start for beginners. You also may have a shop that sell prospecting equipment near you and they may be able to direct you to some likely spots.
It sounds like you have the basic equipment for now and has been stated, all of what you may need in the future can be found as American made. Shop wisely as some equipment may need special conditions to operate them and those conditions are not found in all areas.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[enamel7]

As for the pickaxe it will come in handy. Digging isn't easy. If your plan is to just dig in the sand, don't expect much. There needs to be cobbler in the material.

 

[RookieDad]

Thanks so much for the input.

Yes. I blurted out lets go look for some gold on Sunday.
Signed up for this forum on Monday or Tuesday. Ordered some gear on Tuesday online since I work very long days (5am-9pm is the norm with travel).
Been studying and getting great advice from the wonderful people on this forum.

Then last night as I was unpacking gear, I started peeling the Made in China stickers off of it and I cursed myself out for my stupidity.
Will be focused on purchasing American made products from now on.

I like when my kids lose a game. I am not upset when they fall or get a little hurt.
They are going to have a great time by the river and finding cool rocks. Finding any gold would be a great bonus, but they have to learn that success takes hard work.

I did however impulse buy a little bag of pay dirt from the Yuba river for 10 bucks and while eyeballing it last night I saw
a nice gold flake in it.
That will be Sunday's activity.

Thanks again everyone. Happy to hear the bazooka is American made, maybe the boys can earn one with their chores.

 

[RookieDad]

Cobbler material.

Thank you for that tip.

 

[Goldwasher]

You don't really need a Geologist pick..The thing you got with your kit. Unless
you are sampling outcroppings and splitting samples.
A pick axe or pick.. Is bigger and has a longer handle....more power!! for breaking up hard material.
You can use it to break up ground, loosen bigger cobble and scrape top material out of the way.
Once you get to bedrock you can use it do break up the top few inches you can actually break.
A small detectorist size pick with a two footish handle will serve you well for most digging when your just panning or sluicing. We don't pull out a full size pick unless were going to move around several tons in a day...that's two to three men digging.
A RAKE or even a three or four tine cultivating tool with a long handle is like having another person with you. The cultivators are great hiking staffs. Small ones are good for sniping and kids. Its hard to find the small tools not foreign produced. All the stores are flush with them come February/March pre garden season.

American made you will pay for. Most replacement handles are American. Smaller hardware stores carry long standing American brands. Though, you are at the mercy of who ever took over the company from grandpa. American handles and heads sent to other places for assembly stuff like that. Hybrids,,business is business.
I have a Remington "Boys Axe" my Grandpa bought it for my dad a long time ago... The handle I replaced last was American.

The best, and my favorite place to get American made tools for me seems to be yard sales and thrift stores. I buy every metal sprinkler I can. I have all that plastic crap you find in wal-mart but in glorious aluminum and brass...If I pull up and see an old guy in suspenders and a flannel.....tools against the garage ...old tool box on the table I AM DROOLING....there's gonna be quality stuff. That's where I get American tools someone that's had them for forty years

 

[Asmbandits]

Depends on how you prospect I guess, I don't see how you can crevice without a good pick hammer.. I see the benefits of a pick axe for shoveling and moving lose or hardpacked material but what do you use for that deep crack that you want to break away at to get deeper in with a crevasing tool? You can chip away at the bedrock, bust cracks and get into areas that a triangle shaped pick axe cant, also you can jar loose the rounded rock at the bottom of a deep crack or bust it out with the pick end or pry open a crack, you would just bend the flat pick axe.

I use mine like a mini sledge to break away bedrock as well, I don't really even bother with toting around a pry bar either, you can do wonders with a pick hammer and a good set of wedges that weight less and are easy to carry and in my opinion are more effective in most creviceing and breaking situations. That combination can replace a pry bar, hammer and pick axe all in one tool and a few wedges. Of courses each situation has its own special application that could benefit from certain equipment, but I think a good pick hammer should be in every prospectors bag.

 

[goldog]

For your trip it wouldn't be essential to bring. But the kids will enjoy bustin' rocks. Just be careful tho. There are some bedrock areas so who knows...

Plan on finding some gold. Maybe just a little but some.

 

[Goldwasher]

You don't really need a Geologist pick..The thing you got with your kit. Unless
you are sampling outcroppings and splitting samples.
A pick axe or pick.. Is bigger and has a longer handle....more power!! for breaking up hard material.
You can use it to break up ground, loosen bigger cobble and scrape top material out of the way.
Once you get to bedrock you can use it do break up the top few inches you can actually break.
A small detectorist size pick with a two footish handle will serve you well for most digging when your just panning or sluicing. We don't pull out a full size pick unless were going to move around several tons in a day...that's two to three men digging.
A RAKE or even a three or four tine cultivating tool with a long handle is like having another person with you. The cultivators are great hiking staffs. Small ones are good for sniping and kids. Its hard to find the small tools not foreign produced. All the stores are flush with them come February/March pre garden season.

American made you will pay for. Most replacement handles are American. Smaller hardware stores carry long standing American brands. Though, you are at the mercy of who ever took over the company from grandpa. American handles and heads sent to other places for assembly stuff like that. Hybrids,,business is business.
I have a Remington "Boys Axe" my Grandpa bought it for my dad a long time ago... The handle I replaced last was American.

The best, and my favorite place to get American made tools for me seems to be yard sales and thrift stores. I buy every metal sprinkler I can. I have all that plastic crap you find in wal-mart but in glorious aluminum and brass...If I pull up and see an old guy in suspenders and a flannel.....tools against the garage ...old tool box on the table I AM DROOLING....there's gonna be quality stuff. That's where I get American tools someone that's had them for forty years

True every prospector should have one. I have one spray painted yellow so I' don't lose it. It goes in an outside loop on my alice pack. so I don't have to root when I need it. Though my alice pack is more of my carry and destination pack.
When im detecting its a long handle pick in my left hand, scoop in a side pocket, screwdriver in my back pocket. Pack with incidentals.

When I'm cracking and sniping covering ground I also use my smaller climbing pack. In it are my Pan, classifier, 2 pound hammer, and a few chisels. and a small screwdriver and a long 10 inch screwdriver.. Chisels for wedges. And whatever else the day or spot dictates A two pound hammer requires less smacks on a chisel or bar to open cracks and break rock itself Also a prospectors pick really isn't designed for that . My pick is not at wide as an apex. works as a great shim It can get much deeper in a crack then a prospectors pick by several inches. It goes on the outside of my small pack I use the carry candle as a holder.

I walk a long with a 5 pound pry bar.. flat end and pointed end. It's light but long and strong. I can walk along bedrock. poke it in cracks and tap around for loose slabs....open up cracks lever off chunks and break apart bedrock with out pulling my pack off or getting out any other tools.

I break apart a lot of bedrock...sometimes I pound away with a hammer but, lots of repetitive tapping and pounding also draws attention. I don't dig anywhere that I am not allowed..but, sometimes I dig near people and houses. in those situations I don't like to hammer that much and have found that I can break apart most any bedrock with that prybar. I have three of them standing watch over a couple areas I make my rounds to so I can carry something else back and forth like a come along

 

[CApicker]

Wow after reading responses from Goldwasher and Asmbandits I think I will add a pick hammer and a long "hiking stick" pry bar to my gear. I am a little under-tooled I guess. My backpack has a classifier, pan, small pry bar, and garden shovel. Sucker Bottle is in the side pocket and Advil in the front pocket, that's about it!

Still I always have fun finding as much if not more Gold than my buddy who hikes in fully weighted down, both hands full; tool bag and all. Good advice though guys are you talking about a Pick Hammer like this?

 

[Asmbandits]

Wow after reading responses from Goldwasher and Asmbandits I think I will add a pick hammer and a long "hiking stick" pry bar to my gear. I am a little under-tooled I guess. My backpack has a classifier, pan, small pry bar, and garden shovel. Sucker Bottle is in the side pocket and Advil in the front pocket, that's about it!

Still I always have fun finding as much if not more Gold than my buddy who hikes in fully weighted down, both hands full; tool bag and all. Good advice though guys are you talking about a Pick Hammer like this?

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1174139"/>

Yes sir Capicker, this is what I'm referring to. Yeah my dad likes to bring in all types of gear when we go out prospecting but over the years my gear seems to get less and less. You will find what works best and what doesn't and being that I ride to most of my prospects I try to pack only the bare essentials. If I'm on foot I might bring a few more tools as they are easier to carry on foot. Another great tool is a flexible plastic cup cut at an angle that you can flex into places and scoop material with, works great crevicing. Also a metal 4" putty knife works great for scraping the sides of busted bedrock and can be used to remove material where a scoop won't fit or scoping material from a flat bedrock surface.

 

[rodoconnor]

Rookie, swing by Keene's in Nothridge and talk with Pat K. He is involved with the San Fernando Valley Prosp. They have outings at the EFSG from time to time . Good Luck

 

[SchoolOfHardRocks]

If you plan on only digging a small hole to experiment panning with your kids then all you really need to bring is a pan and a garden shovel. If you all enjoy it then you can begin to invest in other tools. One important thing that I was taught is to let the gold dictate your tools. Not the other way around. Sample, sample, sample... if the area you're prospecting has some good gravel bars, invest in a sluice to move material faster. If the area has some nice exposed bedrock invest in a pick hammer, pry bar, and butter knife....If you buy a bunch of tools before you have tried prospecting, you will likely have bought tools that you will never use. With the warm weather we're getting in NorCal I'm sure it's warm down there too- pack as light as possible (don't bring tools you don't KNOW that you need) so that way you have room for plenty of fluids for yourself and your boys. good luck, stay safe, and have fun with those kids!

 

[KevinInColorado]

If you plan to crack rocks with a geologists hammer, be sure to wear eye protection. A rock chip in the eye can ruin more than your day!

 

[Goldwasher]

Yes sir Capicker, this is what I'm referring to. Yeah my dad likes to bring in all types of gear when we go out prospecting but over the years my gear seems to get less and less. You will find what works best and what doesn't and being that I ride to most of my prospects I try to pack only the bare essentials. If I'm on foot I might bring a few more tools as they are easier to carry on foot. Another great tool is a flexible plastic cup cut at an angle that you can flex into places and scoop material with, works great crevicing. Also a metal 4" putty knife works great for scraping the sides of busted bedrock and can be used to remove material where a scoop won't fit or scoping material from a flat bedrock surface.

I'll see your putty knife and raise you a 5- way toolhttp://data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4...DJyxywMYMnLHLAxgycscsDGDJyxywMZY6nPlhUwP/2Q==

And a cut plastic water bottle...very thin walls but, will someday be used by our cockroach ancestors

 

[goldenmojo]

Please be careful when breaking rocks or shale bedrock. Some of the edges can be very sharp. Also dropping cobbler on your toes hurts very much. Other than that you and your kids should have a great time out and about. You are to be commended for starting them out early in prospecting. Good Luck. Post pics of the gold and the fun.

 

[RookieDad]

Thanks again everyone.
Luckily, I've been an EMT for 15 years so safety and first aid are two things I am good at.

Actually, when it comes to working out in the heat, I highly recommend picking up some electrolyte tablets. They are easy to pack and can make a huge difference. But check with your Dr if you take blood pressure meds. My personal favorite product is Sqwincher Sugar Free Quik Stix. It's an electrolyte powder(the liquid is messy) that you can add to water. It will protect you from heat stroke, bring you back to normal if you experiencing heat exhaustion or cramps and is easy to carry. I never hike without it.
You can order it from MooreMedical but I think it is cheaper on Amazon.

That's the little advice that I can offer as a big thank you for all of your assistance and great advice.

I'll be sure to make a trip report.

Thanks again

 

[The Gilded Lens]

Thanks so much for the input.

Yes. I blurted out lets go look for some gold on Sunday.
Signed up for this forum on Monday or Tuesday. Ordered some gear on Tuesday online since I work very long days (5am-9pm is the norm with travel).
Been studying and getting great advice from the wonderful people on this forum.

Then last night as I was unpacking gear, I started peeling the Made in China stickers off of it and I cursed myself out for my stupidity.
Will be focused on purchasing American made products from now on.

I like when my kids lose a game. I am not upset when they fall or get a little hurt.
They are going to have a great time by the river and finding cool rocks. Finding any gold would be a great bonus, but they have to learn that success takes hard work.

I did however impulse buy a little bag of pay dirt from the Yuba river for 10 bucks and while eyeballing it last night I saw
a nice gold flake in it.
That will be Sunday's activity.

Thanks again everyone. Happy to hear the bazooka is American made, maybe the boys can earn one with their chores.

Well shoot I'll mail you all the Yuba dirt you want, lol! No guarantees there's any gold in it though. Just pack up those kids and take 'em to the Yuba instead and do see all the nearby historic mines. Educational field trip for them, vacation for you

Garrett products are made in America and if you get the fever you'll be wanting an American made Bazooka Gold Trap Sluice soon enough.