burke county NC

[Bell]

I've been a relic hunter for years but recently moved to south east burke county nc on the east side of the south mountains. I've been going at pretty hard in the area around my house including the jacob fork river with zero results. I don't know if its a lack of gold in my area, or my lack of experience. Anyone familiar with the are that can maybe give me some advice?

[Bell]

Well I guess I'm in the club now, and I coulnt be happier about it. After a month and a half of pounding out the creeks around my house with nothing to show today I thought id use my day off to head to the historic gold mining areas about 20 miles west on the other side of the south mountains. Well I got there and drove around for hours looking for a spot only to discover there are only a couple small creeks in the whole area. I was able to find the owner of one who told me I was welcome to try it, but at least a dozen people including himself with no luck and he would giv e me a hundred bucks if I found a flake, so I headed back home. About half way home I saw a nice creek and the farmer was out working his land. This basicly splits the difference between my house and the known gold fields, about eight miles from both. I stopped and asked and he said knock yourself out, that only one person had tried since he owned the land and they found nothing. By this time it was getting late so I did three or four tests pans with no collor and then clasified about a third of a five gallon bucket to take home and pan with my three year old. Well sure enough I found three pieces of lead shot and two gold flakes in that bucket. Boy when you find the real thing there is no more mistaking mica for gold, it stands out. The bed rock is exposed in places there and about two or three foot down where I dug. Of course I didn't take the time to dig to it today so I stoked to go back for a full day with a sluice as I am sure there is more there.

[jog]

Nothing like seeing that yellow in the bottom of the pan for the first time, go back and find some more of that good stuff. Great job...

[Goodyguy]

Yep, you're in the club now for sure

Go for the gold
GG~

[Bell]

Thanks guys. Tried to go back yesterday but after rain the creek was to high to get back to where id had success. The good area was a small low gravel bar after a bend. The spot I could reach yesterday was long high gravel bar that cuts across the creek but not after a bend. No luck there. I guess I thought any gravel bar might be ok since decent sized rocks are obviously being deposited there, but apparently not. Confusing. I hope to ge back today. Incidently a half full bucket of wet gravel is a chore to carry home.

[Troyounce]

Welcome Aboard! Take your time and try to find some cracks in that bedrock and CLEAN it out ! Use some kind of plunger to put force of water in cracks to move out the gold...
Good Luck!