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.

Q: Could you write more about the last two methods that you mentioned—the expanding chemical mixtures and the micro blasters, how and when to use them, and when not to use them?

Every time we prospected here we found gold, sometimes some really coarse flakes, but no large nuggets (yet).

…At present we may be entering a period of relative stability on many economic fronts and, therefore, our focus is now trending more toward social upheaval and the resultant increase in tensions as the prime movers for the precious metals.