huntsman53
Gold Member
Hey Fellow TNnet Gold Prospecting Folk,
About 7 years ago while Gold prospecting in a creek, I found a spot where white/bluish/grey clay comes up into one location in the creek, which is the downstream, shallower portion of a deeper hole! Knowing that usually the white/buish/grey clay contains Gold, I began digging some of the clay out and panning it down. This is no easy task as each full shovel full of the clay, must weigh in at 35 pounds or more. Well, once getting down 12 inches or more, I noticed that I was getting some color in the Gold Pan as well as some other possible heavy metals. After making some inquiries as to where the clay is coming from since this is the only spot on this creek or in the entire area with this white/bluish/grey clay, I was told by several Gold Prospectors and some others with backgrounds in Geology, that I may have found an eroding Volcanic Pipe. The problem I am having, is that if it is an eroding Volcanic Pipe, the exit of the pipe into the creek is about 3/4's blocked by large boulders. When I dig out the clay in the hole until I can dig no more due to the boulders, I then have to quit digging in this location. However, if I return a month or so later and there has been some rains, the hole is again full of the clay and I can dig, classify and pan it out. There was supposed to have been a Gold Mine in this area back in the 1800's to early 1900's but since I have looked everywhere in the area for the Gold Mine and can't find it, I am thinking that this hole in the creek, is the actual mine location and someone blocked the exit of the Volcanic Pipe into the creek for several reasons. One, they may have blocked it to prevent the loss of Gold downstream, so that they could come back some day and get more Gold but never did. Two, they blocked it for safety purposes as the exit of the Volcanic pipe may be unstable and someone could actually fall into and disappear in the hole. Whatever the case, I would like to extract some if not all of the boulders from the hole, so that the clay that is being brought into the creek from the eroding Volcanic Pipe, will flow more freely and I can get more Gold and the other possible heavy metals. What would you advise for me to do concerning trying to unblock the exit into the creek? Is this a good idea or a bad idea? How would you go about doing this as some of the boulders probably weigh in at 300 to 500 pounds? Keep in mind that I am not stupid and that if I attempt to unblock the exit of the Volcanic Pipe into the creek, I will have myself tied off to a large tree that is at least 30 yards or more from the hole! I surely don't want to fall into such a hole but at the same time, I want to make it where it (the Volcanic Pipe) will give up the Gold and other possible heavy metals more easily. I have spent too many years contemplating this delimma but due to work, family matters and financial issues, I could not see it through. However, I am now retired and since I have most of the monkeys off my' back per see, I now want to see this through! Any input and advice would be greatly appreciated!
Note: I cannot give any specifics to the location (i.e. which State, County or even creek) as it may lead others to this location.
Frank
About 7 years ago while Gold prospecting in a creek, I found a spot where white/bluish/grey clay comes up into one location in the creek, which is the downstream, shallower portion of a deeper hole! Knowing that usually the white/buish/grey clay contains Gold, I began digging some of the clay out and panning it down. This is no easy task as each full shovel full of the clay, must weigh in at 35 pounds or more. Well, once getting down 12 inches or more, I noticed that I was getting some color in the Gold Pan as well as some other possible heavy metals. After making some inquiries as to where the clay is coming from since this is the only spot on this creek or in the entire area with this white/bluish/grey clay, I was told by several Gold Prospectors and some others with backgrounds in Geology, that I may have found an eroding Volcanic Pipe. The problem I am having, is that if it is an eroding Volcanic Pipe, the exit of the pipe into the creek is about 3/4's blocked by large boulders. When I dig out the clay in the hole until I can dig no more due to the boulders, I then have to quit digging in this location. However, if I return a month or so later and there has been some rains, the hole is again full of the clay and I can dig, classify and pan it out. There was supposed to have been a Gold Mine in this area back in the 1800's to early 1900's but since I have looked everywhere in the area for the Gold Mine and can't find it, I am thinking that this hole in the creek, is the actual mine location and someone blocked the exit of the Volcanic Pipe into the creek for several reasons. One, they may have blocked it to prevent the loss of Gold downstream, so that they could come back some day and get more Gold but never did. Two, they blocked it for safety purposes as the exit of the Volcanic pipe may be unstable and someone could actually fall into and disappear in the hole. Whatever the case, I would like to extract some if not all of the boulders from the hole, so that the clay that is being brought into the creek from the eroding Volcanic Pipe, will flow more freely and I can get more Gold and the other possible heavy metals. What would you advise for me to do concerning trying to unblock the exit into the creek? Is this a good idea or a bad idea? How would you go about doing this as some of the boulders probably weigh in at 300 to 500 pounds? Keep in mind that I am not stupid and that if I attempt to unblock the exit of the Volcanic Pipe into the creek, I will have myself tied off to a large tree that is at least 30 yards or more from the hole! I surely don't want to fall into such a hole but at the same time, I want to make it where it (the Volcanic Pipe) will give up the Gold and other possible heavy metals more easily. I have spent too many years contemplating this delimma but due to work, family matters and financial issues, I could not see it through. However, I am now retired and since I have most of the monkeys off my' back per see, I now want to see this through! Any input and advice would be greatly appreciated!
Note: I cannot give any specifics to the location (i.e. which State, County or even creek) as it may lead others to this location.
Frank
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