do gold flakes settle to the bottom of the bucket?

[Bell]

So I've been working an area and found a few small fines there. Mostly I've been classifying a couple buckets from a gravel bar and taking them home to pan. Figuring there must be more and bigger pieces around I've moved my diggings around on every trip with no improved results. Keep in mind I'm new and this is the first gold I've found. Also because of time restraints I've never been able to dig down more than a foot or so in the creek. Now, here's the question, I noticed that all my gold has come from towards the bottom of the bucket, which made me think it came from the first shovel full or two I dug, and thus the top layer of gravel. So today with that in mind I scraped the top of the gravel bar and filled two buckets with the first six inches or so. Of course I found nothing. So now I'm thinking I have to carry those buckets about a tenth of a mile and then drive them home about ten miles. Is it possible that gold is coming from deeper and just settling in the bucket as I carry it? Or, is it all just chance?

[enamel7]

Just like in a stream, it's settling down to the bottom.

[pastorals]

The ride home will stratify the contents of your bucket just as it does in a pan when you give it some good hard shakes.

[Tuberale]

The shaking/vibrations/bumps as you drive home allow the gold to settle further in your buckets. Not certain how much that would be. Smaller fines are less likely to head directly to the bottom. In a creek, small fines can attach to air bubbles and actually rise.

[kuger]

The shaking/vibrations/bumps as you drive home allow the gold to settle further in your buckets. Not certain how much that would be. Smaller fines are less likely to head directly to the bottom. In a creek, small fines can attach to air bubbles and actually rise.

there has to be oil involved for that to take place

[GrayCloud]

Kuger, you are confusing me and at my age that seems to be a recurring issue.
But, in water oil seems to make gold float more, not sink.

[kuger]

Kuger, you are confusing me and at my age that seems to be a recurring issue.
But, in water oil seems to make gold float more, not sink.

sorry bout that....I was referring to Tubes remark that small gold attaches to "air",bubbles and rises

[russau]

your material needs tobe in a fluid state for this to happen.theres not enough water in that 5 gallon bucket to make this a fluid state. the gold would be locked in the material and not drop much if at all.ive driven across many states with a bunch of cons and never have seen this to happen! i wish it would!!!

[Bell]

I sort of agree russau. It seems too tightly packed in there for anything to move much with that little shaking. I tell you what. Next time I do it ill put some lead shaings on top of the bucket and see where they end up. I'll post the results.

[kuger]

your material needs tobe in a fluid state for this to happen.theres not enough water in that 5 gallon bucket to make this a fluid state. the gold would be locked in the material and not drop much if at all.ive driven across many states with a bunch of cons and never have seen this to happen! i wish it would!!!

....I AGREE....WOULD SAVE A LOT OF PANNING HUH??

[spoofman]

anytime i use a bucket to classify i shake it with each shovel, with lots of water in the bucket and i am always finding the gold in the bottom of the bucket. I will put the classified material through my sluice other than the last bit and pan it directly. Always find the most in the panned amount and very little through the sluice. Just a trick I have used to cut down on the amount of stuff i process.

[GrayCloud]

Welcome aboard Spoofman.

[TerryC]

It doesn't take long for the gold, even the fines, to hit the bottom.... just don't depend on it happening automatically. Good agitation is the key. TTC

[Bell]

Actually good point. I rescind my previous comment as I wasn't thinking about that. I do keep the bucket full of water and shake the heck out of it while classifying. That would do it and I don't know why it didn't occur to me

[TerryC]

anytime i use a bucket to classify i shake it with each shovel, with lots of water in the bucket and i am always finding the gold in the bottom of the bucket. I will put the classified material through my sluice other than the last bit and pan it directly. Always find the most in the panned amount and very little through the sluice. Just a trick I have used to cut down on the amount of stuff i process.

Welcome to the NET, Spoof. Your point is well taken. In fact, if you get those fingers into the pan, move them around vigorously for 20 to 30 seconds, you can pretty much just push the top portion of the pan out without loss. The gold's specific gravity says it will be on the bottom. Even the little bitty pieces. I like to use a GPAA pan or Garrett "gravity trap" pan to work the cons. First a 14 incher, then a 10 inch to finish. Again, welcome. TTC

[kuger]

You guys are missing what he asked....unless you bring your buckets home full of water.The material must be in a slurry state to allow significant "travel",yes by the sheer weight gold does migrate down but its not all going to be down on the bottom.Also to the OP,only on a rare ocassion will you find the majority of your gold near the "surface",of your material in its natural setting.Your best bet to know where it is coming from is to sample pan in the field....not all crevices even have gold.I have had situations where there was one above and one below...barren and the one in the middle "carry"