Working an inside bend

[Wilderness medic]

So you find a nice inside bend with heavies deposited perfectly with clear defined lines where they drop off into lighter material. Do I just continue to remove all the baseball to basketball sized rocks until I get down to soil? Every time I’ve tried this it seems like there is no end to moving them and usually I get a hole filled with water.

 

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[RTR]

How about some pix. of the area in question.

 

[Underburden]

So what does the material look like at the bottom of the water filled hole. Keep removing those boulders.Don't let the water discourage you...BEDROCK OR BUST.

 

[arizau]

An inside bend is not just creekside material in a lot of cases so sample inside the inside bend too. It might not even flood.

 

[Wilderness medic]

So what does the material look like at the bottom of the water filled hole. Keep removing those boulders.Don't let the water discourage you...BEDROCK OR BUST.

Usually can’t see in the mud. More boulders.


I can take pics next time I’m out but I’m talking in generalities. Gold drops out on the inside bend due to low pressure along with the heavies. But every time I try to get down it seems like endless boulders. Guess I need to either find one a bit more dry up shore or get a snorkel lol

 

[mytimetoshine]

This happens a lot. You need a hole higher above the water line.

 

[Wilderness medic]

This happens a lot. You need a hole higher above the water line.

Bummer! Can’t think of one spot I’ve been to in many counties where the heavy deposits are that high out of the water. Usually right on it.

 

[mikep691]

Something to consider: The current rivers and streams may not be where the ancient rivers once flowed. I tend to look outside that wet box, at areas that are 20, 30, even 100 feet higher than the current flow. Over millions of years, what was an ancient river has moved, and sometimes can be found near the mountain tops. We work in a current day creek but on the three mile dirt road drive to the area we cross bedrock at 6000 feet elevation. Whos to say that at some point in the past, the actual river or creek ran in this area when it was at the bottom of the valley? There are lots of old drift mines that are thousands of feet above the current river flows, with river rock and placer deposits.