Advice Needed.

[TommyGlad]

Hi Guys
As I said when I introduced myself, I’m very
new to all of this. I want to do a bit of gold
prospecting around me and this is the types of
rock around my town. Please advise if I can do
some paning here. I’m really interested in
this as a hobby together with metal detecting
that I’ve been doing for about 4 months. The
problem is I don’t actually have a clue where
where to start with gold prospecting.

 

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[TommyGlad]

 

[Hoser John]

Join a local club to jump start your learning experience. Worth the price for a nice little non-profit club be it mining, metal detecting or rock hounds as all have gold miners and retired folk who like to assist newbies. Lots of luck -John

 

[TommyGlad]

 

[lookingharder]

The gold threads are full of great advise. There are some great people on this site. Golddog, BLK Hole, Mgumby16 and Brianc0053 have sent me some really good info so these guys don't mind sharing there experience and how too's . As a avid fisherman, I can tell you, most of the fishing forums I'm on fisherman wont share there secrets like they do here.

 

[TommyGlad]

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[TommyGlad]

View attachment 1551690

 

[Jeff95531]

The gold threads are full of great advise. There are some great people on this site. Golddog, BLK Hole, Mgumby16 and Brianc0053 have sent me some really good info so these guys don't mind sharing there experience and how too's . As a avid fisherman, I can tell you, most of the fishing forums I'm on fisherman wont share there secrets like they do here.

Speaking of fishing, where the lunkers hang out is where gold drops out also...if you can get to it.

 

[TommyGlad]

No clubs here that I know of but have a few
metal detector friends. Have never seen anyone
panning for gold. That’s what making me think
there is no flower or placer gold here becaus
it looks like I’m the only nut case around here
thinking I might find a flake or two hahaha.
Never the less, it still looks like a interesting hobby.
I see guys are always willing to help on this forum
that’s why I joined here. Really hope someone
can Identity the rocks and give advice on going forward

 

[Jeff95531]

The gold threads are full of great advise. There are some great people on this site. Golddog, BLK Hole, Mgumby16 and Brianc0053 have sent me some really good info so these guys don't mind sharing there experience and how too's . As a avid fisherman, I can tell you, most of the fishing forums I'm on fisherman wont share there secrets like they do here.

Speaking of fishing, where the lunkers hang out is where gold drops out also...if you can get to it.

PSA and geography lesson....Humansdorp is a small town and surrounding district in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, with a population of around 29,000 during the census of 2011

 

[Terry Soloman]

SAMPLE, SAMPLE, SAMPLE! Take that gold pan out and sample areas you are curious about. That is the "secret" to finding gold. Good Luck!

 

[TommyGlad]

Thank you Terry, will do so. Just to find out
what places to get curious about...

 

[TommyGlad]

Ok Jeff. I’m all ears. Were are you going with the PSA and geography lesson?

 

[TommyGlad]

Friends and family just comment that If there
we’re gold to find around here, there will be
people mining around here and more people prospecting
Everybody seem to think it’s a waist of time.

 

[Clay Diggins]

Eastern Cape mining mostly consists of sand for construction, clay for bricks and a little limestone for concrete.

The odds of finding visible placer gold are slim to none in your area. You just don't have the geology to create gold mineralization. The sandstones and shales of the East Cape are mostly beach sand deposits. No gold.

Heavy Pans

 

[winners58]

Learn to pan, might be some areas where the winds have blown heavy sands & fine gold on some spots on beaches.
a quick search found a treasure hunters forum for South Africa might get more specific replies there.
looks like you will have to plan trips to the Mpumalanga area where gold panning is a popular recreation.

this is a video from Sabie Graskop area have to know whos land you are on,
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x2ExIZ2tF-c

looks like a prospecting permit is almost impossible to get
but you can work on gold mines that already have permits
just have to look for old mines that allow prospecting panning to give you permission.
some do panning as an adventure or tourist attractions.
cant link directly to the discussion this is from
here is a text only version

Barberton, Pilgrim's Rest
they have the world gold panning championships there
https://www.umjindi.co.za/activities/barberton-gold-panning.html

 

[benny]

Hi Tommy.
Noted that you're from Humansdorp. This might be of help
https://www.saimm.co.za/Journal/v086n08p273.pdf

At Humansdorp some highly folded,
sheared argillaceous rocks carry steeply dipping quartz
veins containing sulphides and native gold.

 

[audigger53]

Thank you Terry, will do so. Just to find out
what places to get curious about...

One of the best books IMO for learning where to look for placer gold. Also has details to make a knockdown rocker if you want to make one.
[h=2]Prospecting and Operating Small Gold Placers by William F. Boericke[/h]
Amazon has them for around 30+ $

I bought mine back in 1980 for $20 new

 

[audigger53]

Also when trying to learn how to pan, get some lead sinkers and scrape/cut some small pieces and mix them with some dirt and gravel. Them pan for them. Not as heavy as gold but good XP for you. Count the pieces that you put in and then count then at the end. Too much force and you will loose some.