Detecting Wet Ground Yields More Fun Than Gold

June 2019 by Ray Mills

We all continued over to another location at the top of a massive placer operation. Arriving at the draw, I showed everyone where gold had been found before and we all began detecting.

All About Quartz—Part I

May 2013
One of the first minerals most prospectors learn to recognize is quartz, because, in the right circumstances, it can be an excellent indicator mineral for prospectors. Quartz is common, easy to identify, and is often associated with gold and other valuable metal deposits.

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?

A Hole In One

October 2023

A nugget that had been struck with a bullet! 

Prospecting Underground: Use Caution

April 2011
In underground placer work, the contact point of the bedrock tunnel and the gravel is a very weak point and always has to be timbered. The bedrock here is thin, fractured, and the gravels loose from many years of oxidizing.

Feather River Gold

February 2017
I didn’t think too much of our dredge hole and we were both considering a move when we hit bedrock. There was a good quantity of flakes and fines, but no nuggets.

Nevada's Lithium Boom

March 2017
When prospecting for lithium, after confirming for macro attributes through research and field work, including examination of surface geology, the main tool is an accurate lithium assay.

Back to Green Valley--With A Sluice

December 2019

As I planned for my trips, I concentrated on how to lighten my pack yet still carry enough gear to make the trip productive and enjoyable.

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