Silver Rock Hunting with an F75 Metal Detector - Revised February 2011

[Jim Hemmingway]

Hi Everyone,

This article is a revised edition, the last in a series of three such essays written about using metal detectors in the silverfields of Ontario. It has been a long, hard winter here so I’ve had the time to update it, and I figure it might as well go up on the board permanently. In view that it is another lengthy read, for awhile at least I am willing to send copies out to anyone interested. This was a fun article to do, please enjoy the read.

Silver Rock Hunting with an F-75 Metal Detector
Revised February 2011

Introduction

The native silver ores and nuggets found here in Ontario share a similar conductive range to gold. The similarity results from factors such as purity, type of mineral inclusions, size, shape, structure and so forth. Native silver here ranges between 85% and 95% purity but is alloyed with some amount of antimony, bismuth, and very minor mercury. Silver ores are frequently associated with non-conductive iron minerals, cobalt-related substances, niccolite and iron arsenides.

Searching for native silver ores with the F75 is a unique application of this detector and it excels at this task. It is superb at separating silver from iron junk in trashy sites, is very deepseeking, and has excellent sensitivity to sub-gram metals and to sub-grain metals particularly when using the 6” elliptical concentric coil. The F75 is ore evaluation capable in the field thanks to possessing a full range, manually adjustable, calibrated ground balance scale in concert with a highly sensitive stat / true non-motion all metal mode.

Rock hunting with a metal detector for silver ores / nuggets as described below is an enjoyable pursuit that has attracted many thousands of hobbyists from across the continent over several decades. If we set forth to hunt for silver, it is best to view it as an outing to enjoy the great outdoors and, with some patience and effort, perhaps locate a few nice specimens. Typical mining country surroundings, as depicted in the following photo, make such outings an enjoyable, relaxing adventure. I recently returned from a visit to silver country here in Ontario where I had an opportunity to further evaluate the electronic prospecting capabilities of an F-75 metal detector.

General Searching

Let’s presume our research has been completed on an area where silver has been found in quantity in the past. We have arrived at a mine site that our information indicates may offer some electronic prospecting potential. Before unlimbering our detectors, let’s spend a moment to assess the site and consider a few search strategies.

We should look around the property and identify the location of former surface ore veins or shafts (mostly fenced-in nowadays in more accessible areas here in Ontario), headframe and storage building areas where we can be confident good silver was retrieved, graded, stored, moved, and sometimes inadvertently misplaced. Below is a photo of a typical headframe…where we know yesteryear’s miners handled considerable valuable silver.

Most frame buildings have long since collapsed or been removed, but on-site inspection usually will reveal evidence of former buildings sometimes in the form of concrete foundations, remnants of building or roofing materials, and an unmistakable proliferation of iron debris.

As a result of misgrading of ores, good silver was occasionally dumped with waste rock onto the mine tailings. In some locals, tailings can be 25 to 30 feet high and occupy enormously large tracts and “runs” that snake off into the bush. These mine tailings were used to build local roads, storage beds, “driveways” into the mine sites, loading ramps, and routes to facilitate waste rock transport from the mine to the tailings disposal areas. All these offer excellent prospects to search with a metal detector.

Both valuable ores and waste rock were transported with wagons, carts and oxen. Occasional breakdowns resulted in “spills” of high grade silver material. It is very easy to imagine under such primitive conditions and terrain that some silver remained right where it fell. The specimen depicted in the photo below was found a few years ago in an overgrown ditch on the downhill side of a sharp bend on a mine site “driveway” along with several other attractive samples.

As we survey the mine tailing landscape, we will observe indications of previous metal detecting and mineral collecting activities. You will doubtless see many dig sites by and large scattered randomly across the flat and other easily accessible areas. To improve our likelihood of locating desirable specimens, we should search areas requiring a bit more effort to access and detect. Such opportunity exists out on the peripheral areas, down in the gullies, up on the benches, along the face of ridges and slopes, under the trees and bushes, and equally important do not ignore prospects available in iron-ridden areas wherever encountered.

Many detectorists will avoid trashy sites, preferring easier pickings. A suitable unit such as the F-75 that offers superior target separation, equipped with a DD or at least a sniper size coil will ferret-out good silver in these environs. Detect these trashy sites carefully and exercise patience. The photo below exemplifies how a mineral collector / detectorist can increase the odds of locating desirable specimens or nuggets by making an extra effort to get away from the large, flat, accessible areas and on to more difficult-to-reach ground.

This particular ridge depicted in the above photo rewarded me a few years back with the attractive native silver-in-calcite specimen in the photo below. Repeated searching along the face of the ridge has resulted in innumerable quality silver finds over the years, ranging from sub-ounce to multiple-pound native silver ores. The largest specimen located on this specific site was a 24-pound highgrade chunk.

The small but handsome native silver nugget depicted in the photo below was one of my first finds using the F-75 this past autumn. It was found literally by making the effort to get into and under the scrubby trees and “bushwhacking” while ignoring the discomfort of heat and fending-off the blackflies. You do what it takes to ‘git-er-done’ when mineral hunting.

Here is a final suggestion to always keep in mind and follow through on when searching these sites. Do not be discouraged by any evidence of past digging in the area you select. Always check any unfilled holes you find. I was recently surprised that an electronic prospector did not dig just a few inches deeper to retrieve two specimens found in two separate holes within spitting distance. These two pieces yielded solid, tight, high conductive signals that could not possibly have been confused with large iron. One such specimen is shown in the photo below and the other example will follow further down.

Silver Ore Target Identification

When silver hunting we are searching for more valuable coin-size and larger pieces of silver. Silver purity, types of mineral inclusions, structure [dendritic, plate, disseminated, massive silver], size, shape, the presence of non-conductive iron minerals within specimen structure, and the profile presented to the coil all result in a wide range of target conductivities. Natural silver ores and nuggets will target ID from low foil up to and including a maximum of copper penny range, but most will occupy a range from mid-foil to pulltab conductivity. There are exceptions resulting from variable factors such as ground moisture content, strength of non-conductive magnetic susceptible iron minerals, and disturbed ground conditions. These factors can result in good silver reading as iron. This is especially prevalent in disturbed ground, such as loose material at the base of slopes, and large areas where tailings have been moved around by mining or municipal authorities.

The F-75 in Rock Country

The F-75 is a deepseeking unit both in undisturbed and disturbed ground, with superb target separation capability. It offers excellent signal response particularly to lower conductives. Its sensitivity to small low conductives exceeds what might be otherwise anticipated from a unit operating at 13kHz. The all-metal autotune and the JE discrimination modes (with or without small iron discrimination) both excel in response to both large and tiny low conductives at very good depth. The unit offers either a calibrated full range, manually adjustable ground balance feature or optionally a fast-grab auto ground balance feature that is invoked by using the auto-grab trigger located beneath the target ID meter. The fast-grab feature is quick, accurate and convenient.

The unit provides full range target ID digital readouts in all modes. It has four separate discrimination modes for coin, jewelry, and relic hunting pursuits. To compliment the manually adjustable ground balance, a stat or true non-motion all-metal mode is available to perform sensitive ore / mineralized rock evaluation. The motion all-metal mode’s adjustable threshold, fast threshold retune rate, and excellent sensitivity to tiny low conductives make it an excellent choice for nugget hunting. The JE mode remains remarkably sensitive and deepseeking over small nuggets while using small iron discrimination at an optimal discrimination setting of ‘12’. This attribute makes it ideal to search for small targets in iron-ridden mine tailings and in mining terrain generally.

The F-75 performed very well over all conditions encountered while hunting in both mine tailings and in the outback while using the stock 11” DD coil with high sensitivity levels. Ground conditions ranged from a GB setting in the high 60’s over weathered rocks to the mid 80’s (GB scale range = 0 to 99) over natural soils. Magnetite susceptibility readings over mine tailings were usually at 0.1% but sometimes higher over dark soils.

Despite nearby hydro wires and transmission towers at some sites, electromagnetic interference (EMI) was not an operating issue. The highly sensitive JE mode was occasionally affected by these power sources, but small reductions in sensitivity satisfactory resolved any stability issues with little impact on depth performance. If instability is an issue in some areas then use the highly stable all-metal motion mode. The visual target ID is available in this mode to help with identifying small iron trash.

In areas that have seen a lot of detecting pressure for decades, where I felt only small silver remained that might be found with this unit, I enjoyed using the all-metal motion mode. It is a highly stable, deepseeking, smooth performing mode that is least affected by EMI overall. I made a point of using this mode adjacent to a nearby transmission tower at one site. The threshold retune rate was quite sufficient to maintain a smooth background “hum” under these search conditions. I operated at maximum sensitivity settings in most areas, but then I prefer a little background chatter to ensure the unit is providing max depth performance. The photo below shows the second silver specimen left in a partial excavation by a careless electronic prospector.

JE Mode

The JE mode excels at searching for small low conductive targets in trashy tailings. With the JE mode you can be confident about getting maximum depth in loose material (disturbed ground) despite employing small iron discrimination at a setting of ‘12’. The other discrimination modes are much less responsive when using any iron discrimination over disturbed ground. In measurable or practical terms, using small iron discrimination in JE mode does not sacrifice depth in disturbed ground. The depth achieved on low conductives is undiminished compared to depths that can be had using either JE or PF or DE discrimination modes in zero discrimination. That statement is supported further by testing both nickels freshly buried at 10 inches or a three grain gold nugget freshly buried at 3 inches in my ground where GB = 85ish and the magnetic susceptible strength meter runs from 0.1% and to 0.3%. Keep in mind that whatever performance benefits can be derived in disturbed ground will improve in undisturbed ground.

JE mode improves sensitivity to very small low conductive targets over the other discrimination modes. In that respect the JE mode at higher sensitivity levels might be a bit overwhelming for inexperienced operators in this type of hunting scenario. As an alternative the PF mode using a small iron discrimination setting of ‘6’ is the next best discrimination mode alternative and is especially practical over uneven mineralized ground. However, over loose tailings I strongly suggest using the all-metal motion mode as an alternative. In fact this is the mode that should be used for general searching, while JE mode using small iron discrimination is more practical over areas inundated with small iron debris. Better to lose occasional tiny nuggets and find something, than walk away from a site frustrated.

Here are some search techniques / nuances to keep in mind when searching mine tailings with the F75.

 Despite that deeper silver targets in loose material / disturbed ground will target ID as iron, the JE mode operating in monotone with small iron discrimination will eliminate small iron but it will not discriminate deep silver targets that also identify as iron. These targets respond with a solid, two-way signal.

 Using iron tone ID means that any target identifying within the entire iron target ID range will be assigned this low tone. This will result in the direct loss of good silver targets in disturbed ground / loose material. More, any co-located silver with iron (in any ground) that might average into the iron range will also be lost to the iron tone. Stick with monotone for best results and signal interpretation unless you are prepared to lose good targets.

 While I’m not suggesting the JE mode is deeperseeking than the all-metal motion mode, the unit does not signal any deeper in either mode to a three-grain nugget buried at three inches in my ground. However, the JE mode even with a small iron discrimination setting still yields a much cleaner, crisper signal response to the nugget. That’s a fact…and it has very real implications for searching small low conductives in iron-ridden tailings. The photo below depicts my first multi-lb native silver specimen found with the F-75.

More About Iron

The F-75 responded to silver ores with a stable readout and a "tight" audio signal. I was always fairly confident when silver was under the coil; a confidence that was enhanced by the fact that shallow, large iron nearly always gave a far more erratic target ID with different sweep directions. In that respect a target ID meter was a real benefit, and I was happy to have it psychologically too. It encouraged digging those tough to retrieve signals that looked promising. This was my first experience with a target ID meter for electronic prospecting and I must say that it certainly added some “fun” to the overall detecting experience.

Target ID and discrimination on large iron in the silverfields was quite different from the results obtained in my “disturbed ground” backyard test plot, as would be the case with other VLF detectors. Most small iron continued to identify and discriminate well within the iron range but large iron continued to give good solid signals that would target ID all over the meter. As just noted above, these would often reveal their iron nature by producing erratic readouts, especially so using different coil sweep directions.

The usual audio indications were evident with this unit, for example harsh signal fringes on flat / wide iron, relatively widespread signals, uncertain pinpointing, at times non-repeatable / or broken signals in one direction, and so on. Nonetheless I still had to dig most of it just to be certain about this new instrument’s target responses. For any newcomers reading here, yes large iron can usually be eliminated from detection by using increased discrimination settings but it’s self-defeating since most desirable silver will also be eliminated.

The above said, digging large iron, particularly at depth, is an unfortunate and mostly unavoidable occurrence when searching for relatively large silver ores using VLF and most PI units. Below is a photo of some of my beautiful iron finds....

The photo below depicts conductive iron sulfide in the form of massive pyrrhotite. Pyrrhotite is not the usual non-conductive iron mineralization commonly associated with hot rocks. Regardless, it causes similar headaches. It’s occurrence is widespread, it comes in all sizes, and there is nothing that can be done to mitigate its wide, blaring, masking iron ID signal other than to recognize and ignore surface pieces where possible. Pyrrhotite can render entire sites unsuitable for detecting. Many electronic prospectors in the area view it simply as a de facto positive hot rock.

Pyrrhotite weathers to a rusty or very deep brown, almost purplish surface, but has a pale brassy metallic luster on a fresh surface. It is somewhat similar in color / luster to tarnished iron pyrite (another iron sulfide with a different molecular structure from pyrrhotite) when not weathered, but does not have iron pyrite’s cubic crystalline structure, and unlike pyrite… it is magnetic to varying degrees. The sample in the photo will discriminate out at a mid-iron range discrimination setting on the target ID scale and rocks containing sufficient pyrrhotite concentration cannot be ground balanced. Pyrrhotite is the main ore body at the great nickel producing facilities located at Sudbury, Ontario. It acts as a host ore for the nickel bearing materials embedded within it. Some collectors consider pyrrhotite worthy of specimen collection. I do as well, but for quite a different reason.

The Fe3O4 Bar Graph

What follows here is a more detailed look at ground minerals in relation to “black sand” meters than you will normally see in any manual. The manuals stay with simple, easily understood explanations partly directed at newcomers to the hobby. They do not reveal as much information as may be desired by more experienced electronic prospectors.

There are many types of non-conductive iron minerals that contribute variably to a soils magnetic susceptible strength. Some common examples, aside from non-oxide / chemically reduced iron (Fe+2) found in clays and darker minerals of the silicate family that are normally weakly magnetic, include magnetite, maghemite, hematite, siderite, goethite and other hydrated iron oxides captured under the generic description of “limonite”. In similar quantity or amounts many iron mineral types exhibit very modest / slight magnetic susceptibilities compared to magnetite regardless of their ground phase (ground balance) measurements.

Magnetite, followed closely by another non-conductive iron oxide named maghemite, have the most profound impact on the Fe3O4 readout because both substances are highly magnetic susceptible. Magnetite is the more highly magnetic of these two minerals. Despite this strong similarity, these two substances occupy quite different ranges on the ground balance scale. Ground phase can be viewed as a ground "target ID" measurement based on phase shift similar to any other target ID measurement. On the F-75 ground balance scale, magnetite predominates from about 75 on up to the maximum of 99 whereas maghemite tends to occupy a range that spans the low 40s up to about 60ish as a general rule of thumb.

Where both magnetite and maghemite exist together as is the case in many soils, the ground phase measurement falls between their respective ground phase ranges subject to whichever substance is dominate. In this example, the soil’s magnetic susceptibility will be much more highly elevated than other soils that fall into a similar ground phase measurement range but by comparison contain less magnetic susceptible iron minerals.

An example supporting the above statement is the hydrated iron oxide “goethite” prevalent in brown soils and northerly latitudes. While able to generate a similar range of ground phase readings to goethite, the magnetite / maghemite mixture used in this example (or either substance individually) will raise the magnetic susceptibility many times more than a similar amount of goethite or other weakly magnetic iron minerals.

The Fe3O4 calibrated bar graph readout is conveniently expressed as % volume magnetite. It represents a measurement of magnetic susceptibility that results from any iron mineralization present in the soil. This measurement may or may not actually include magnetite, although the absence of any magnetite in most soils would be highly unusual, depending on ground iron mineral composition. The bar graph presents this data independently of the ground balance readout. A result is that you can ground balance the soil’s non-conductive iron minerals while still able to measure its magnetic strength utilizing the Fe3O4 meter.

Increased levels on the Fe3O4 readout indicate more highly magnetic susceptible ground and thus more difficult ground to achieve reliable target identification, operating stability, and depth performance with VLF units compared to overall performance in relatively milder magnetic susceptible soils.

In summary, the Fe3O4 readout is a very convenient tool to identify the strength of soil magnetism quickly. It serves as a quick and convenient indicator of detector performance that can be anticipated. Prospectors may utilize the Fe3O4 bar graph as an aid to locating shallow black sand deposits that may contain precious minerals. For interest to newcomers to the hobby, the photo below depicts a crystalline magnetite specimen that easily gives a maximum reading on the Fe3O4 meter in an air test.

Magnetite, a non-conductive iron oxide, is an abundant negative hot rock in my area that gives the well-known “boing” signal familiar to electronic prospectors using the all-metal autotune mode available on nugget hunting VLF units. If the ground balance control is advanced further into the ferrite end of the ground balance scale beyond a magnetite sample’s ground balance setting, magnetite issues a powerful, positive hotrock “zip zip” signal.

Part 2 follows immediately below...

[Jim Hemmingway]

Bench-Testing with the Stat All-Metal Mode

Bench-testing rocks and minerals is an interesting and enjoyable aspect of electronic prospecting whereby we stand to gain information about rocks in the areas we search. You may find it useful to learn how various rocks and minerals in your area respond to a metal detector.

The manual notes the static all-metal mode featured on the F-75 should be used to search for very large items at good depth. Beyond that specific task many users do not have any further practical use for this mode. However, the stat all-metal mode is essential to perform sensitive ore evaluation in the field or bench-testing.

Bench-testing rocks using the all-metal stat mode has limited but definite value. It is primarily used to investigate low level detector responses to rocks. These may result from non-conductive iron minerals, conductive metal sulfides, or precious native metal contained within a sample. When testing rocks with the ground balance adjusted to ignore all non-conductive iron minerals, such iron minerals in some rocks can drive the detector into a negative threshold response. Negative threshold response can overpower a slight, positive conductive response from sulfides and tiny bits or disseminated metal content within the rock structure.

Thus the bench-test as described below is better suited to ores containing light or moderate iron mineralization if we expect to identify valuable minerals within a rock. For newcomers to the hobby, the stat all-metal mode bench-test is considerably more sensitive and preferable to using the all-metal motion or autotune mode, or merely switching over to a zero discriminate mode.

The motion all-metal mode is not a suitable choice because it's threshold retune rate is sufficiently fast that it eliminates modest target responses from potentially valuable substances. To illustrate this statement lets test a coin-size chunk of iron pyrite. Set the ground balance to GB45 (scale 0 to 99). Use the motion all-metal mode with sensitivity set as high as possible, normally at maximum in my house. Now bring the pyrite sample up to the electrical "sweetspot" on the coil...back and forth...no discernible positive or negative audio response is evident with this particular sample. Repeat the same test in stat all-metal mode where the sensitivity will doubtless need to be significantly reduced, about ‘80’ in my house. The pyrite sample now gives a distinct and loud positive response at a reduced sensitivity setting…as should be expected from a quality prospecting unit to a sizeable but very low conductive sulfide.

For newcomers to the prospecting field, here is a photo of a much larger crystalline pyrite sample that, as a matter of interest, will give a good signal in the all-metal motion mode due to its larger size.

Bench-testing ores requires a manually adjustable ground balance (GB). The F-75 features a fully calibrated, manually adjustable ground balance that covers the entire soil mineral range from salt to ferrite. To ensure that all non-conductive iron mineralization (this does not include conductive iron sulfides, common examples include pyrrhotite and iron pyrite as described above) will yield a negative threshold response, the ground balance should be set to GB45 to evaluate oxidized / weathered rock samples. This setting ensures that positive hot rocks containing maghemite respond with a negative threshold response. Maghemite is a highly magnetic red or red-brown iron oxide responsible for hot rocks that exhibit GB compensation points down into the 40s on the GB scale. Otherwise, test unweathered samples by setting the ground balance to a higher, more sensitive GB setting of no more than “65”.

I contacted Fisher Labs after running a few tests, and received a reply indicating the above ground balance settings would suffice. Fisher Labs recommended those specific settings. Except for rocks I’m familiar with, I doubt my ability to visually distinguish evidence of “weathering” resulting from distant past exposure to forest fire. Moreover, some hotrocks containing maghemite may appear similar to many other typical rocks in a given area. This pretty much means that I stick with the GB45 setting when testing suspect rocks. No worries, the GB45 setting is highly sensitive.

A smaller coil is preferable for testing ore / rock samples. The stock 11" DD coil test results are satisfactory provided the electrical "sweet spot" of the coil is used consistently throughout testing. Ensure the electromagnetic field (EMF) can see as much as possible of a sample by rotating the sample as you bring it up to the coil.

Practical Bench-Test Applications

 Bench-testing ores or rocks improves our familiarity with the responses that can be expected from a wide variety of conductive and non-conductive minerals encountered in the field. The full range target ID system is also fully enabled in the all-metal mode to assist with stronger target responses.

Bench-testing distinguishes rocks in an area that are most likely "hot rocks"...those non-conductive iron mineralized rocks that respond to a metal detector. In the field, hot rocks will either respond with a positive metallic-like target “zip zip” sound or a negative “boing” sound. The ‘boing’ response is due to the all-metal motion mode threshold “overshoot” reaction to a “negative” hot rock. A positive hot rock will have a ground balance setting below our operating GB setting whereas a negative hot rock will have a ground balance setting above our operating GB setting. The point here is that any such rocks, regardless of their ground balance setting or magnetic susceptibility, will respond with a negative threshold response at a ground balance setting of GB45.

 Bench-testing will reveal the minerals in your area that will not respond to a metal detector and those will include some metal sulfides. You will come across samples that give neither a positive or negative response at the GB45 setting. A common example that comes to mind is sphalerite, an almost “glassy” appearing zinc sulfide found in close association with galena. Galena is a low conductive sulfide that signals with a positive response at the GB45 setting, but the strength of the response is quite variable depending on size, shape, and amount within a rock.. Molybdenite is another example of a metal sulfide that does not respond with a signal at the GB45 setting despite its galena-silvery appearance and high metallic luster. Please see the test specimen in the photo below…

 At a setting of GB45, any rock that gives a positive response will either contain conductive metal sulfide or native metal in sufficient amount to overcome any iron mineral negative threshold response. As described above, not all non-conductive iron-mineralized rocks containing small amounts of conductive metals/sulfides will respond with a signal. There may not be a sufficient quantity of conductive material to produce a positive signal capable of overriding iron mineral’s negative threshold response. Magnetite gives such an overpowering negative threshold response at the GB45 setting or even within a few GB units below a given sample’s GB setting that a small positive metallic signal simply cannot overcome the negative threshold part of the overall combined response.

 Bench-testing samples indicate why we should ideally be digging all signals, even those small signals that can read as iron. For example lets examine a pint-size chunk of quartz with visibly deep iron mineral staining into about half of the structure. It ground balances at GB70 and yields a modest positive response when using a higher ground balance setting typical of many mining areas. It does not identify on the target meter with an ID number. Please see the photo below.

This rock gives a good negative threshold response at the GB45 setting. Now place a small (this test used a three grain nugget with a target readout in low foil range) nugget in any position on the face of the mineralized quartz rock and take another reading at GB45 while rotating the sample. This combination gives a modulated positive response even when the nugget is behind the rock but still close enough to the coil to signal. It responds with a slightly erratic target ID that remains mostly in the upper iron range.

 Bench-tests emphasize the importance of maintaining proper ground balance over tough mineral ground if one is to have any chance at successfully detecting small nuggets with a VLF unit. As magnetic susceptible iron mineral levels increase, for example over black sands or red maghemite clays, the “tolerance window” of the ground balance setting decreases. Therefore we need to monitor and adjust the ground balance more closely over higher magnetic susceptible mineral ground. The following also underscores bench-test limitations when dealing with highly mineralized samples.

For example, lets test a chunk of magnetite about 3/4" diameter with a ground balance at GB89. At this setting or lower, the magnetite will not respond with a target ID readout. By adjusting to a slightly higher GB setting, the magnetite becomes a positive hot rock that responds with a powerful "zip zip" signal accompanied by a very stable target ID reading at ’14’ in the high iron range. Now reset the ground balance on the magnetite such that it yields no signal and then place a three-grain nugget behind it. This combination responds with a solid signal and a target readout at ‘14’. Finally, test this magnetite / nugget combination at the GB45 setting and it yields only a deep negative threshold response with no target ID.

Jim Hemmingway
February 2011

[trainermick]

Thanks again for the report Jim. Makes me want to head back up there this spring. Great tip about the road spills. I found a 6 pound highgrade specimen along side of the road along with some smaller quality specimens. The tailings at some of the older sites also gave up some great silver. I like to search for float in the valleys and crevices and have done quite well. Just a word of caution when detecting in this area. Have a good map/gps. I spent the night in the woods once there. Not fun !!

[Jim Hemmingway]

Thanks trainermick...if you can put off heading up there until the autumn you can find me at the Loon Lake Park. Its just a quarter mile north of the Hwy 11B turnoff and on the Portage Bay Road about 200 yards along to the right. Its a convenient spot found a few years back, they keep the water and showers on until freeze-up. I head up each autumn now with the camper in tow. When the water gets turned off, we use lakewater heated up in a portable shower nailed high on a handy tree, along with a big fire. They also have a cabin for rent.

There is also another real good camping / cabins for rent place on Marsh Bay Road, but I can't think of the outfit's name just now. Right on the Montreal River, quite scenic. Cabins have heaters, clean and comfortable.

Jim.