How deep should I go?

[alarmstudio]

We have been panning/ sluicing a dried out riverbed for the last few days, and it's been quite good. Plenty of colours on the top so we started digging down. Around 4 feet down we got some lovely baby nuggets, about one third of a gram. We went deeper still and got very little, it's like the gold streak stopped. There is no sign of bed rock yet, so I am wondering is it worth spending a few more days digging deeper?? Any suggestions will be much appreciated!

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Take it down to bedrock and vacuum out those cracks!

 

[goldhog]

Agreed....... go ALL THE WAY DOWN...
Layers will vary all the way down and each one represents 100's or even 1000's of years history.
However... time STOPS at bedrock and "usually" holds the best results.
Consider bedrock the "end of history" and it makes sense.
Doc

 

[alarmstudio]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I guess it's time to do some stretches and start digging! I have no idea how deep the bedrock is, it could be another 5 feet down!!! Will keep everyone posted with the results

 

[Hoser John]

Gold miners make it on bedrock-John

 

[kcm]

Keep in mind that there may not always be more goodies the farther down you go. Have been lots of reports of folks going through a false bedrock (clay layer) only to find no gold. Sounds like you're in an area with more chunky gold, so you'll probably do well to keep digging.

 

[dave wiseman]

Not only clean out the bedrock crevices,but break them open.Also you should scratch around the bedrock for tiny and smaller crevices that may be covered with clay or mud.

 

[alarmstudio]

Hopefully I will be able to find bedrock, we haven't seen any exposed in the area, so it could be quite deep!!

 

[kcm]

Hopefully I will be able to find bedrock, we haven't seen any exposed in the area, so it could be quite deep!!

TIP: Get a long-handled shovel.

 

[arizau]

Hopefully I will be able to find bedrock, we haven't seen any exposed in the area, so it could be quite deep!!

It is hard to leave an area with known gold but it might be worthwhile to at least test around some bedrock outcroppings on the adjacent hillsides if there are any. If the valley is broad enough there may be another stream channel(s) or elevated bench deposits closer to bedrock that are currently unexposed but still productive.

Good luck.

 

[QNCrazy]

Hopefully I will be able to find bedrock, we haven't seen any exposed in the area, so it could be quite deep!!

That was going to be my question, is there any exposed in the area? Since youve answered that, I might go a couple of feet deeper and if nothing, I would concentrate on the layer you found the pickers in. Try to determine the direction and follow it. Good Luck.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

A defined 4" thick pay layer might produce far more gold than digging an unknown depth to bedrock (which may or may not be suitable for catching gold).
That is one of the reasons the old timers only surfaced mined some areas.
It is entirely possible that the bed load was blown out during a flood event long ago and it is fairly barren down there.
Or it may be littered with large nuggets...

 

[alarmstudio]

Going back tomorrow, (with my long shovel) and try dig another 2 foot down! Hopefully we'll get something worthwhile! Will post the results ⛏��

 

[OwenT]

I hope you make it!

 

[scruggs]

Go to bed if you can! It may hold the best gold for you! Good luck!

 

[allenknight555]

If your finding small pickers I
would dig to the bottom just to be sure.if its barren just work that layer and test left and right to see what's paying the best. Check any draws and gulches up stream and maybe find the source.

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[alarmstudio]

Went back again today and went only a few inches deeper and got some pickers and a beautiful half gram nugget of good Irish Gold. I am hitting yellow hard pack clay which the miners hammer is only breaking small bits off. The stream runs from the edge of a turf bog and the mountain is only a quarter of a mile away. The stream seems to originate from there. There are three more streams nearby and all carry powder gold near the surface. As one reply said I should check out rocky areas at base of mountain. Thanks again for your advice.

 

[goldhog]

Went back again today and went only a few inches deeper and got some pickers and a beautiful half gram nugget of good Irish Gold. I am hitting yellow hard pack clay which the miners hammer is only breaking small bits off. The stream runs from the edge of a turf bog and the mountain is only a quarter of a mile away. The stream seems to originate from there. There are three more streams nearby and all carry powder gold near the surface. As one reply said I should check out rocky areas at base of mountain. Thanks again for your advice.

Bravo................
Dig deep my friend... dig deep.

 

[OwenT]

+=

 

[Ragnor]

Not that I have to say it, but yes, All The Way!