Prospecting & Detecting
An Alaskan in the Lower 48
July 2013 by Steve Herschbach
Our destination was some old hydraulic workings where the old miners had washed literally mountains of material away to expose gold in ancient river channels.
Give That Club Claim A Chance
My first trip to the claim was the tip-off that there might be larger gold to be found. I brought my puffer drywasher and my dad to a local prospecting club outing that was held at the claim.Placer Channel Sampling
Sampling gold placers can be rewarding, but remember to treat the samples so you are not high grading or low grading your results. Learn the rules and apply them so your samples are accurate.
Trail to Treasure
We are both very experienced working this type of ground, and we quickly found the pay layer where we would focus our efforts. The bedrock has good gold, but so does the red hard pan.
A Model Mining Operation
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.
Greenhorn Finds Gold in Colorado
Using a snuffer bottle to pick it out of the pan, he continued his panning efforts. He continued to find more yellowish stuff, but it wasn’t shiny like he thought gold should look.
Placers Directly Associated with Lode Deposits
Placers that are directly associated with lode deposits are sometimes overlooked and may have good potential for those who are willing to search for them.
Sunset Sunbaker
He began hiking my way and was as astonished as I was when he saw it. Another high five moment! It makes you wonder how long this gold had just been sitting there on the ground.
Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill
• Ask the Experts
• Ask the Experts
• The Birimian Greenstone Belts of West Africa
• Study Confirms Mercury Levels Safe in California's Gold Country
• All About Quartz—Part II
• The Pearce Mineralized Area, Dragoon Mountains, Arizona
• Romancing the Rock
• Placer Channel Sampling
• The Oquirrh Mountains, Utah
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
• Record $11 Million Fine for California Mine
Free:
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Backwards Find
• Balmoral Resources
