Prospecting & Detecting
I Was Looking for Gold But I Found Jade
February 2021 by Matteo Oberto
Excited for this first notable evidence, I returned to that riverbed, looking for another paystreak and obviously more jade.
Hard Rock 101: Micro Blasting
Micro blasting can be used to take down hanging rock, separate minerals from overburden, and collect gemstones and other high-value product with minimal damage.
Prospecting After Winter Storms
So, how much rain does it take to cause a major movement of gravels in a stream and redistribute the gold? The technical answer is enough water to move the bed load of the river.
All About Quartz—Part II

Hard Rock 101: Breaking Rock—Part I
What do you do when you’ve located a promising deposit of gold or gemstones, but it’s trapped in solid rock?
Sharing Gold Fever with a Friend
While sitting there, I wondered if I should go over the hole again. I did and got a louder signal that turned out being about another twelve inches deep.
How to Use BLM’s New Mineral and Land Records System
This new map-based tool is far superior to the old version with lots of potential layers and information that a prospector can use in research.
Strategies for Detecting Heavily Pounded Areas—Part III
This helps me to see if there is a pattern taking place with where I am finding nuggets, and when I study the map layer with all of my pins marking nuggets, I can drop in new pins where I want to search the next day.
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The Bawl Mill
• Ask The Experts - Where did the gold go?
• Ask The Experts - True north or magnetic north?
• Ask The Experts - How do I avoid claim jumping?
• Ask The Experts - Are closed placer and lode claims worth my time?
• Gold Geochemistry: Where Does Gold Come From?
• Goal Setting and Rock Tossing
• Principles of Designing Your Mill Production System, Part II: Mill Design
• Gold Prospecting for Better or Worse: A Claim to Die For
• Tips and Tricks: How to Make Your Own Gold Bars Without Burning the Place Down
• Understanding Rock Formations: Petrology for Prospectors
• Minnesota Lawmakers Move to Stop New Mines
• Drywashing for Desert Gold—Part I
• Seven Troy Ounces of Premonition?
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices