Stories, tips & tricks
What Equipment Do I Need?
October 2014
Getting started in prospecting often requires the purchase of some equipment, but one can spend as little as $10 and be finding gold or spend thousands and also be finding gold—yet you will probably have many more opportunities and possibilities with more and better equipment.
Getting started in prospecting often requires the purchase of some equipment, but one can spend as little as $10 and be finding gold or spend thousands and also be finding gold—yet you will probably have many more opportunities and possibilities with more and better equipment.
Detecting Alone -- What to Look For
October 2014
I figure there are a lot of new people out there who have the same question. I will try to give some answers that hopefully will give you more confidence in finding your own spots.
I figure there are a lot of new people out there who have the same question. I will try to give some answers that hopefully will give you more confidence in finding your own spots.
A Trip to Morgan-Monroe State Forest of Indiana
October 2014
Some experienced panners with the vigor and longevity to spend a full day panning in the small creeks and ravines can possibly find as much as a gram or more on a good day.
Some experienced panners with the vigor and longevity to spend a full day panning in the small creeks and ravines can possibly find as much as a gram or more on a good day.
Ganes Creek After The Flood
October 2014
Doug told me that there had been a 100-year flood that took place in October of 2013 and it washed out part of the mile-long landing strip. It also washed a large, wide gully down below and above the camp.
Doug told me that there had been a 100-year flood that took place in October of 2013 and it washed out part of the mile-long landing strip. It also washed a large, wide gully down below and above the camp.
Ask the Experts
September 2014
• What to prospect with on the Klamath River
• What to prospect with on the Klamath River
Ask the Experts
September 2014
• Using drywashers to work desert gravels
• Using drywashers to work desert gravels
Gully Prospecting and Mining
September 2014
This article is about our recent gold prospecting adventure, which has yielded over 20 ounces of specimen gold—with more to come.
This article is about our recent gold prospecting adventure, which has yielded over 20 ounces of specimen gold—with more to come.
Finding Streams of Gold
September 2014
Without knowing or even thinking about it, I had put together a map that showed me a pattern of the ancient Sacramento River channel. I also had a distinct picture of where the ancient channels of several other creeks and rivers were running.
Without knowing or even thinking about it, I had put together a map that showed me a pattern of the ancient Sacramento River channel. I also had a distinct picture of where the ancient channels of several other creeks and rivers were running.
This is Why You Check Your Tailings
September 2014
The nugget was cast aside with larger rocks during the screening process, but it was found later by an employee...
The nugget was cast aside with larger rocks during the screening process, but it was found later by an employee...
There's a First Time for Everyone
September 2014
...day one was like watching the Gold Rush television show. He furiously worked the nozzle in an up and down fashion that resembled Jack Hoffman sitting on a backhoe.
...day one was like watching the Gold Rush television show. He furiously worked the nozzle in an up and down fashion that resembled Jack Hoffman sitting on a backhoe.
Ask the Experts
August 2014
What are the tell signs of garnet deposits?
What are the tell signs of garnet deposits?
A Model Mining Operation
August 2014
After he excavates the ore down to bedrock, he goes over the bedrock with a metal detector to ensure he didn't leave any gold behind before he backfills the area.
After he excavates the ore down to bedrock, he goes over the bedrock with a metal detector to ensure he didn't leave any gold behind before he backfills the area.
I Finally Made It to Northern Nevada
August 2014
After a while I got a very nice signal and out came a sweet kidney-shaped bit of gold weighing about three grams.
After a while I got a very nice signal and out came a sweet kidney-shaped bit of gold weighing about three grams.
Sniping for Drought Gold
August 2014
There are not a lot of tools needed to get out and take advantage of the situation. Other than my wetsuit, I typically travel light with a gold pan, maybe a pry bar and a few crevice cleaning tools.
There are not a lot of tools needed to get out and take advantage of the situation. Other than my wetsuit, I typically travel light with a gold pan, maybe a pry bar and a few crevice cleaning tools.
Successful Rally for Suction Dredge Miners in Idaho
August 2014
Representative Paul Shepherd stopped by, and Idaho County Commissioner Jim Chmelik dove with one of the dredgers so he could see for himself that no harm was being done to fish or their habitat.
Representative Paul Shepherd stopped by, and Idaho County Commissioner Jim Chmelik dove with one of the dredgers so he could see for himself that no harm was being done to fish or their habitat.
A Return to Silver City, Idaho
July 2014
...we were able to pull out close to another 3+ ounces of small, angular Silver City gold. This also included several more small nuggets, pieces of wire gold and some quartz-gold pieces—not bad for 4 days with a small sluice.
...we were able to pull out close to another 3+ ounces of small, angular Silver City gold. This also included several more small nuggets, pieces of wire gold and some quartz-gold pieces—not bad for 4 days with a small sluice.
Swing and a Miss
July 2014
A very good baseball hitter might get a hit roughly one time out of every three at-bats, but for prospectors often the results are much sparser and it may take many trips before the prospector hits a home run.
A very good baseball hitter might get a hit roughly one time out of every three at-bats, but for prospectors often the results are much sparser and it may take many trips before the prospector hits a home run.
Romancing the Lens
July 2014
...a large number of these aspiring miners developing their operations seemed to have missed "Placer Mining 101" somewhere along the way.
...a large number of these aspiring miners developing their operations seemed to have missed "Placer Mining 101" somewhere along the way.
Want to Go to Australia?
July 2014
Every year there are large nuggets found by the diligent, and occasionally by the lucky newbie.
Every year there are large nuggets found by the diligent, and occasionally by the lucky newbie.
Finding Gold with a VLF Detector—Part III
June 2014
The higher the sensitivity setting, the louder and sharper the signal from a gold nugget or other metal target.
The higher the sensitivity setting, the louder and sharper the signal from a gold nugget or other metal target.
