suggestions for MDetecting nugget shooting trip to Colorado

[Lance4]

Haven't been to Co since my bride to be and i went to a great dude ranch in Rifle..Thinking of Breckenridge, Idaho Springs or even down to Cripple Creek.
Any suggestions as where i won"t have to worry about mining claims, etc..Just want get on the banks of a stream and prospect for gold with my MD.
Thanks!

 

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[hamiddetecting]

Welcome . hamid from under sand wet.

 

[Lance4]

Thanks Hamid!

 

[nuggetshooter323]

Colorado isn't really known for nuggets, which means they exist, but they're hard to find. I usually take my MD old mines and detect the tailing piles.

 

[Lance4]

Nuggetshooter! good advice on MD for gold on the old tailing piles. When we head to the NC mountains (near Franklin, NC) for our annual rockhounding trip, we use our rock hammers on the old miner tailing piles. My wife found a beautiful ruby and several beryls. Lots of old relics as well left by the old miners.
Thanks again!

 

[jmoller99]

Most of the places you might find a nugget are claimed. There are occasional big nuggets in Colorado, and many people find these in areas where dredges ripped up the bedrock and left huge piles of river rock where they worked. The area between Breckenridge and Fairplay is a good example (there are a few places you can detect or pan/sluice/highbank/dredge in these areas, but not very many, unless you know the claim owners). There are a few Colorado places that you can work where its open to anyone (Point Bar along highway 50 or Cache Creek near Granite), but these are not known for nuggets (and you also need to consider not working where the water is now, but rather where it might have been 10,000 years ago).

There is a campground in Fairplay that is on top of a tailings dump - if you stay there, you can pan for free (but you will need an RV - they have power, water and sewer hook ups, but no facilities for tents or on site rest-rooms/showers). I was there 2 weeks ago to scout it out for a summer weekend outing (Its right at the bridge on 285 at the east end of Fairplay) - Looks promising, but expect to move a lot of river rock to find anything if you stay there. This RV area is very close to where I found my larger nuggets with a White's GMT metal detector.

Any place in Colorado's mineral belt that you see a waterway and huge piles of river rock, its likely been dredged, and also likely to contain gold that was missed.

Cripple Creek is known for Gold in Calverite (arsenic/pyrite) - your metal detector won't find it. You have to know what it looks like - a lot of miners threw out the best ore there, because it did not look like gold to them. Its being reclaimed now.

In Breckenridge you will have a lot of trouble with the law looking for anything within town - they prefer you to shop there instead.

 

[Lance4]

This is outstanding information..Really appreciated!

 

[Lanny in AB]

Most of the places you might find a nugget are claimed. There are occasional big nuggets in Colorado, and many people find these in areas where dredges ripped up the bedrock and left huge piles of river rock where they worked. The area between Breckenridge and Fairplay is a good example (there are a few places you can detect or pan/sluice/highbank/dredge in these areas, but not very many, unless you know the claim owners). There are a few Colorado places that you can work where its open to anyone (Point Bar along highway 50 or Cache Creek near Granite), but these are not known for nuggets (and you also need to consider not working where the water is now, but rather where it might have been 10,000 years ago).

There is a campground in Fairplay that is on top of a tailings dump - if you stay there, you can pan for free (but you will need an RV - they have power, water and sewer hook ups, but no facilities for tents or on site rest-rooms/showers). I was there 2 weeks ago to scout it out for a summer weekend outing (Its right at the bridge on 285 at the east end of Fairplay) - Looks promising, but expect to move a lot of river rock to find anything if you stay there. This RV area is very close to where I found my larger nuggets with a White's GMT metal detector.

Any place in Colorado's mineral belt that you see a waterway and huge piles of river rock, its likely been dredged, and also likely to contain gold that was missed.

Cripple Creek is known for Gold in Calverite (arsenic/pyrite) - your metal detector won't find it. You have to know what it looks like - a lot of miners threw out the best ore there, because it did not look like gold to them. Its being reclaimed now.

In Breckenridge you will have a lot of trouble with the law looking for anything within town - they prefer you to shop there instead.

Great info!

Thanks for taking the time to help the new guy out.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[Gobpile]

Cripple Creek is nothing but a large open pit with casinos around it. Victor is still original and worth a visit.There are very few places to look for ore samples as most of the district is under the mines control and private property. It is truly sad what has been destroyed in the last ten years.I go up just about every weekend to dig bottles or detect.

 

[jmoller99]

Colorado RV Camping Sites | Middlefork RV Resort - this is the RV park I am referring to just outside of Fairplay Colorado. There's at least 1 youtube video showing the gold someone got there highbanking (they allow it, if you pay a bit extra). The office is an RV parked near a utility building in the center of the RV park. Its not fancy (ie. no trees, or facilities beyond full hookups). If you work outdoors in any of the areas in Colorado, wear sunscreen and a large brimmed hat - you will get the sunburn of your life if you are not careful. The altitude is hard on many people from lower elevations, and keep yourself hydrated - its very very dry.