gold nuggets

[steevan]

Any place for metal detecting for gold nuggets in washington state??

 

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[hvacker]

There was a Gold Fever show on Washington State. Not sure what number as they rerun them for years.
Tom was panning sand bars along a large river and chopping up roots on a creek.
If you can find the episode and look close there might be hints of where he is.

 

[63bkpkr]

Howdy stevan,
There is raw gold to be found in Washington State. Nuggets, maybe if you put yourself in the right area. Prospecting is like Real Estate - Location, Location, etc.

I lived in the state a few years back, drove out to the obvious "historical Gold Mining region" and found all sorts of claim postings right along the highway. Now I Enjoy hiking into the rough country with a heavy pack so I can 'get away' from the crowd but I never had the chance to do that in that state. There are several folks here that pan/sluice/dredge (?) for gold in the state and they find it.

I will offer to you sound advice to look for a club in the state and see where they have claims that are open for members to work or to look up the historical gold mining areas or locate Clay Diggins here on Tnet and check out his claim locater information. Some of this can be done by going to a metal detecting shop in the state, ask some questions, get some answers as well as to look see what literature they offer about Washington State.

There's lots of backcountry in the state, one needs to be careful when venturing out there as the weather/water/animals/ground conditions/etc. are changeable on short notice - be prepared!

Metal detecting for gold is one of the ways of finding gold but often one finds hot rocks, trash (bullets, nails, cans, wire and the like). Learning to detect gold is something that is acquired over time, often years worth of it, then there is the ground you swing the detector over and often to all the time it is highly mineralized to capped with an iron deposit making detecting tough. Then there is the machine one is using as well as the person using it - both need to be good at doing what you are asking about. Or, this is not a get rich quick proposition! It can be Very Hard work, moving lots of placer deposit laced with large to very large to gigantic boulders and one must be in good to excellent shape to do any or all of this.

Now I am still a young man, I turn 72 the end of April 2016, so I still enjoy myself "out there" "doing that" BUT it ain't for everyone!! Also, "gold is where you find it" so read Lanny's information here on Tnet, look up Steve Hershberg's site (sorry Steve as likely I just slaughtered the spelling of your last name) - these are very knowledgeable men with machine and muscle that give all of us good advice on what to do/not do with what we've got.

Most of all enjoy being out there as without a good swim, or a good fish dinner, or some good relaxation time, or good company or whatever trips your trigger while out there, without that you can throw a lot of money into this Adventure and have nothing to show for it after many years of doing it. Me, I've taken my children in with me as well as my oldest granddaughter and have had wonderful times with all of them. Once upon a time I even had a lady, city girl, that trusted me enough to take her along on one of these adventures and she liked it so much that she chose to share even more of them with me. Good company out there is a wonderful thing!

So I hope this helps...................63bkpkr

 

[Rob in KS]

This will drive you crazy.....I really shouldn't do this to you...really

Rob Repin | An unforgettable day explains why miners never want to give up

 

[OwenT]

I asked the same question here just about 2 months ago. Seems like there aren't many gold detectorists in WA. I'll tell you what I do know though. There are a couple places in the state that have produced coarse gold and nuggets that I've found searching old reports which I'll give you links to. One place in Pend Oreille County there were multiple $20 (@ $20/oz I think) nuggets found in the old days. On Saturday in an email from Tom Bohmker he said that in his new version of Gold Panner's Guide to WA which just came out about a week ago he wrote about one area that it seems like he detected in and did ok. He'll actually be at the gold show in Monroe this weekend. I would maybe ask him, and ask the clubs. Yes, the Liberty area has nuggets, but most everything is claimed up and most of it is close to bedrock under 30 feet or more of overburden like the ones out of that video. I've heard of a nugget found around Oroville (probably from the Similkameen) and North Bend(?). North Central Washington Prospectors has detecting outings, not sure where to, but I think there may be some very small but detectable pieces in the blewett area, probably mostly in bedrock crevices. Another suggestion I read is if you could get close to the Culver claims or another mine that produced free milling gold there might be some high grade ore lying around to find.
Here some promised resources: http://www.mylandmatters.org/Maps/USGold/Check.html
http://panoramagem.com/download/Hodges1897.pdf
www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_ic57_handbook_gold_prospectors.pdf
http://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_publications_list.pdf (this one has links to a lot of the other ones I'l put, and more)
http://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_b42_gold_in_washington.pdf
http://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_ar1891_mines_minerals_wa.pdf
http://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_ar1890_mines_minerals_wa.pdf
http://digitalarchives.wa.gov/WA.Media/do/D4B0E89E698000B81B0E5970AFE5A556.pdf (maps)
http://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_b37_part2_metallic_v1_2_gold-iron.pdf (gold mines)
http://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_b37_part2_metallic_v1_4_silver-index.pdf (has the references to other reports)
http://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_ri6_wdg_min_prop_snohomish_co.pdf

 

[Lanny in AB]

Steevan, you've been given some very solid advice!

In Washington State, located north of Ellensburg, some of the richest gold bearing areas are located around Liberty, found in Swauk and Williams Creeks. This is where the recent discoveries of the Potato Gold nuggets occurred. But, I believe that whole area is claimed up.

So, good luck. All the best, and let us know how things work out,

Lanny

 

[steevan]

Thanks a lot guys for your help. I'm having been in the forum from a wile. It's just work and work and not a time for anything so far. Two weeks ago I just bought a metal detector, minelab gpx 4500 and I'm really excited and still learning how to used.

 

[steevan]

Do you know have dose claims like a which prospecting club have the claims

 

[OwenT]

If you're referring to Liberty, I don't believe there are any club claims in the area, they are all very private. It will probably be tough to get to be friends with someone to let them have at their claim there. Over the pass however on Peshastin and Scotty Creek there are the Bedrock Prospectors and North Central Wa Prospectors with claims, not know for nuggets though.