California: The Land of Big Nuggets—Part I

December 2017 by Chris Ralph

The nugget sat there in plain sight, though it was covered in dirt, while hundreds of people had passed that way every day.

Divide and Conquer—Detecting Old Placer Grounds with Friends

February 2014
He no sooner had turned around and started moving when I hollered again that I had another nice one.

Take a Kid Detecting

January 2014
I thought things started off okay until I realized I had forgotten some of my gear and had to return to the house. My troubled start was not helped when my boy came up to me a few minutes after my return to show me his first nugget of the day.

It's Hard to Find Gold!

October 2013
...even the best prospectors have times when they do not find gold. It is all about taking chances against tough odds and succeeding.

Sunshine and Gold

January 2016

His eyes were gleaming and he was smiling as he dropped his first piece of gold into my hand. It was a small, earring-size nugget, and he had found it almost immediately.

Successful Detecting Requires Attention to Detail—Part I

August 2016
So much of gold detecting depends on attention to detail. Every gold area offers its own distinct geological markers and as prospectors we must pick up on those markers.

Continuing Hard Rock Exploration

April 2014
We had been picking away at it, but the going was mightly slow. Why not use some explosives to advance a little quicker?

Where Should I Start?

October 2015
Digging in the right spots will produce excellent results, like this group of nuggets taken by the author while metal detecting during the last few months. The biggest nugget is over an ounce.

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