Bedrock and Gold: The mysteries . . .

Lanny in AB

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Do you love to chase the gold? Please join me--lots of gold hunting tips, stories of finds (successful and not), and prospecting poetry.

Nugget in the bedrock tip:

I had a visit with a mining buddy this past weekend, and he told me of an epic battle to get a nugget out of the bedrock, and of what he learned from the experience. I thought some of you might like to learn from his mistake.

While out detecting one day, he came across a large sheet of bare bedrock. The bedrock was exposed because the area had been blasted off with a water cannon (a monitor), by the old-timers! It was not fractured bedrock, in fact it was totally smooth.

He was not optimistic at all of the prospects of a nugget. But, for some reason (we've all been there) he decided to swing his detector over that bedrock. After a long time, just as he was about to give up on his crazy hunch, he got a signal, right out of that smooth bedrock.

There was no crevice, no sign of a crevice, nada! So, he had to go all the way back to camp to get a small sledge and a chisel. The signal in the rock intrigued him, but he still wasn't overly optimistic. For those of you that have chased signals in a similar situation, sometimes there's a patch of hot mineralization in the bedrock that sounds off, but this spot, according to him, was sharp and clear right in the middle of the signal, not just a general increase of the threshold like you get when you pass over a hot spot in the bedrock.

Anyway, he made it back to the spot and started to chisel his way into the bedrock. If any of you have tried this, it's an awful job, and you usually wind up with cut knuckles--at the least! Regardless, he kept fighting his way down, busting out chunks of bedrock. He kept checking the hole, and the signal remained very strong.

This only puzzled him all the more as he could clearly see that it was solid bedrock with no sign of any crevice. He finally quit at the end of the day, at a depth of about a foot, but still, nothing in the hole.

An experienced nugget shooting friend dropped by the next morning to see him, and asked him how the hunt was going. My buddy related his tale of the mysterious hole in the bedrock, and told the friend to go over and check it out, and see if he could solve the riddle.

Later in the day, the other nugget hunter returned. In his hand was a fine, fat, sassy nugget. It weighed in at about an ounce and a quarter! After my friend returned his eyeballs to their sockets and zapped his heart to start it again, he asked where the nugget had come from.

Imagine his surprise when he heard it came from the mystery hole!! He asked how deep the other guy had gone into the bedrock to get it. "Well, no deeper" was his reply.

So, here's the rest of the story as to what happened. When the successful nugget hunter got to the bedrock, he scanned the surface got the same strong signal as my buddy. He widened out the hole and scanned again. Still a solid tone. He widened the hole some more so he could get his coil in, and here's the key and the lesson in this story, he got a strong signal off the side of the hole, about six inches down, but set back another inch into the side of the bedrock!!

My unlucky friend, the true discoverer of the gorgeous nugget's resting place had gone deep past the signal while digging his hole!!

Now, of course, a good pinpointer would easily solve this problem. The problem was, my buddy didn't have one, so why would he widen the hole, right? Well, the other guy was the one with more experience, and that's why he did. It was a lot more work, but what a payoff!

So, my buddy's butt is still black and blue from where he kicked himself for the next week or so for having lost such an incredible prize.

Some nugget hunting lessons are harder than others to learn. . . .

All the best,

Lanny


P.S. When in gold country--check the bedrock, regardless of whether it looks likely or not! Mother Nature likes to play games sometimes.

 

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Lanny in AB

Lanny in AB

Gold Member
Apr 2, 2003
5,651
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Alberta
Detector(s) used
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Primary Interest:
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Got out to detect this past weekend and found some small nuggets.

It was great to be out in the mountains again, finally!

Saw a fat black bear just as the sun was going down; he was running as fast as he could up the mountain. That's the way I like to see bears behaving, running away as fast as they can.

All the best,

Lanny
 

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Lanny in AB

Lanny in AB

Gold Member
Apr 2, 2003
5,651
6,342
Alberta
Detector(s) used
Various Minelabs(5000, 2100, X-Terra 705, Equinox 800, Gold Monster), Falcon MD20, Tesoro Sand Shark, Gold Bug Pro, Makro Gold Racer.
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
I know I've posted this before, but it's so misunderstood and commonly discounted or ignored in the field, I need to bring it up again.

When you're out looking for nuggets, rarely do you ever get a very sharp signal, unless you're very lucky.

Last week when I found the two nuggets, the one signal was a faint signal that I only picked up because I was going slow, and on digging down a bit, then checking back over the same spot, the signal was marginally better, yet definitely stronger. Digging down a few more inches, the signal became nice and clear. After that, it wasn't much of a task to isolate the signal and recover the nugget.

However, the other nugget is the one that almost every beginner would miss.

As I passed the coil over the ground, the threshold was barely interrupted for a tiny fraction of a second. It almost sounded like it was the briefest audio processing glitch in the world. But, since I've found many nuggets by paying attention to what appears to be an audio interruption (but nothing that resembles a signal whatsoever), I slowed down and swept the area again, and swept again at 90 degrees to the original sweep.

Still, there was nothing but that tiny stutter.

I scraped off some soil, then hit it again. This time the stutter break was more obvious, but not a recognizable tone at all.

More dirt off, and finally there was a very, very weak signal.

After that, it only got stronger until I recovered the nugget.

If you're not a nugget shooter, or if you're a rookie, you may think this sounds ridiculous, but it may be one of the most important tips you'll ever get on hunting gold nuggets.

All the best,

Lanny
 

Jim Hemmingway

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Jan 26, 2008
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Hi Lanny... was wondering if you'd have more to say about your most recent trip into the wilds. Were you able to take some photos, or perhaps just too busy to bother?

Jim.
 

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Lanny in AB

Lanny in AB

Gold Member
Apr 2, 2003
5,651
6,342
Alberta
Detector(s) used
Various Minelabs(5000, 2100, X-Terra 705, Equinox 800, Gold Monster), Falcon MD20, Tesoro Sand Shark, Gold Bug Pro, Makro Gold Racer.
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
Hi Lanny... was wondering if you'd have more to say about your most recent trip into the wilds. Were you able to take some photos, or perhaps just too busy to bother?

Jim.

Jim,

I'll gladly post some pictures when I get a chance to get everything together.

All the best,

Lanny
 

63bkpkr

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Aug 9, 2007
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Thank you Lanny for the 1 oz nugget metal detected way down in that placer mine and no shoring. God is a quirky mistress, it is where we least expect it.

Have I mentioned that Texas is flat?! Some of the rainstorms here are tropical in nature, like 15" in a fairly short period of time and then the place floods. And if you see ripples in a flood pond well, they are not from fish (snakes).

This Monday I head back to NorCal for a Doc's apt so only be there 1.5 days, no time for the mountains. Sigh

I am still enjoying my work! Got out target practicing a week ago with my 'little' .22 pistol, it was Fun. Put the reloading bench together and was sizing and punching out primers today, 45 ACP. I do not own a .45, just getting some casings ready for friends.

Have fun yall, Herb/63bkpkr
 

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Lanny in AB

Lanny in AB

Gold Member
Apr 2, 2003
5,651
6,342
Alberta
Detector(s) used
Various Minelabs(5000, 2100, X-Terra 705, Equinox 800, Gold Monster), Falcon MD20, Tesoro Sand Shark, Gold Bug Pro, Makro Gold Racer.
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
Thank you Lanny for the 1 oz nugget metal detected way down in that placer mine and no shoring. God is a quirky mistress, it is where we least expect it.

Have I mentioned that Texas is flat?! Some of the rainstorms here are tropical in nature, like 15" in a fairly short period of time and then the place floods. And if you see ripples in a flood pond well, they are not from fish (snakes).

This Monday I head back to NorCal for a Doc's apt so only be there 1.5 days, no time for the mountains. Sigh

I am still enjoying my work! Got out target practicing a week ago with my 'little' .22 pistol, it was Fun. Put the reloading bench together and was sizing and punching out primers today, 45 ACP. I do not own a .45, just getting some casings ready for friends.

Have fun yall, Herb/63bkpkr

Herb,

Thanks for dropping in, and great to hear from you again.

Texas is flat I know from the stories my son told me after he finished working on the rigs.

Sorry you didn't get a chance to visit your long lost mountains. I find the mountains to be a place of great healing and beauty.

All the best to you Herb,

Lanny
 

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Lanny in AB

Lanny in AB

Gold Member
Apr 2, 2003
5,651
6,342
Alberta
Detector(s) used
Various Minelabs(5000, 2100, X-Terra 705, Equinox 800, Gold Monster), Falcon MD20, Tesoro Sand Shark, Gold Bug Pro, Makro Gold Racer.
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
Actually hit a small patch this weekend!

Took some pictures of the nuggets to boot.

I'll post them when I get time.

The interesting thing is that the three I found this weekend I found with the X-Terra! I finally got serious about using it to chase nuggets and it really surprised me, in a very good way.

All the best,

Lanny
 

Jim Hemmingway

Hero Member
Jan 26, 2008
788
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Canada
Detector(s) used
F-75, Infinium LS, MXT, GoldBug2, TDI Pro, 1280X Aquanaut, Garrett ProPointer
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Actually hit a small patch this weekend!

The interesting thing is that the three I found this weekend I found with the X-Terra! I finally got serious about using it to chase nuggets and it really surprised me, in a very good way.

All the best,

Lanny

That's good Lanny, it would be nice to learn about how you used the X-Terra and of course how it performed in your opinion. Congratulations on the nuggets!!! :icon_thumleft:

The scheelite is the creamy-yellowish material scattered across the right-hand side of the rock below... can't resist adding a photo to spice things up a bit... found by my brother using his shortwave UV light at night.

Jim.

2.5 LB SCHEELITE SF (ONTARIO).JPG
 

EagleDown

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May 13, 2010
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That's good Lanny, it would be nice to learn about how you used the X-Terra and of course how it performed in your opinion. Congratulations on the nuggets!!! :icon_thumleft:

The scheelite is the creamy-yellowish material scattered across the right-hand side of the rock below... can't resist adding a photo to spice things up a bit... found by my brother using his shortwave UV light at night.

Jim
Tell your brother to keep his eyes open for diamonds. Diamonds found in CA quite possibly were pushed down from Canada. And, they tend to glow a silvery blue under a shortwave UV. Doesn't hurt to 'copper your bets'. (lol)

Love your ore (silver) pictures Jim!!
 

63bkpkr

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Well if I could spell it would help to understand what was really meant as that was "Gold" not "God" though God does watch over all of us.

Leaving for SFO Soon. 63bkpkr
 

Jim Hemmingway

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Jan 26, 2008
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Tell your brother to keep his eyes open for diamonds. Diamonds found in CA quite possibly were pushed down from Canada. And, they tend to glow a silvery blue under a shortwave UV. Doesn't hurt to 'copper your bets'. (lol)

Love your ore (silver) pictures Jim!!

Thanks EagleDown… your advice above about diamonds is right on the mark. In recent years diamonds have been discovered in my main search area for natural silver. Can’t say whether or not such discoveries have commercial value… because I’m not current on the subject… but diamonds do exist there.

Of course... diamonds are a girl’s best friend… and as noted in a “007” Bond film… diamonds are forever. And that is pretty much the extent of my knowledge about them.

The photo below is for Herb. I don’t know who took it... but it wasn't me. It and a few others came in an email some time ago and I can't even recollect who sent it... quite a dazzling shot!!!

Jim.
WEST TEXAS ELECTRICAL STORM.JPG
 

63bkpkr

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Jim,
Thank you for that "sparkling picture", it runs shivers down my spine! I was born in Michigan and lived in and around Detroit for 12.5 years and have been in the house when it was struck by lightning, of course as a 12 year old I thought it was cool even all the Ozone. I do not personally care to be the lightning rod of its interest though I love watching it.

At this moment I am in San Bruno CA just down the road from San Francisco, be here for a total of 24 hrs. Very pleasant dry temperatures along with hills. Talked with Hefty for "a spell" as they say back 'home'. Good to touch base with him!

All my best, Herb
 

EagleDown

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Herb,

Thanks for dropping in, and great to hear from you again.

Texas is flat I know from the stories my son told me after he finished working on the rigs.

Sorry you didn't get a chance to visit your long lost mountains. I find the mountains to be a place of great healing and beauty.

All the best to you Herb,

Lanny
As Red Skelton said: "Miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles"!! (lol)
 

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Lanny in AB

Lanny in AB

Gold Member
Apr 2, 2003
5,651
6,342
Alberta
Detector(s) used
Various Minelabs(5000, 2100, X-Terra 705, Equinox 800, Gold Monster), Falcon MD20, Tesoro Sand Shark, Gold Bug Pro, Makro Gold Racer.
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
Sorry for the delay, but this time of year I only get brief windows of time to post things.

Here's the nuggets I found on my last two outings:



That's a Nevada special issue quarter for comparison.




These last three I found with the Minelab X-Terra 705! What a surprise!!


Later in the year, I hope to get a chance to write up a story or two about their discovery.

(The nuggets range from the biggest, at 2.5 grams, all the way down in size and weight to the littlest.)

All the best,

Lanny
 

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Cariboo5

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Excellent start to the season Lanny....looking forward to seeing many more..
 

EagleDown

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I'll be heading down to the Merced River this morning, where I'll be meeting up with a Tnet member. We're going to attempt to open back up an abandoned mine that I ran across back in the 1970's. If the samples we collect turn out as good as the ones I collected back then, I'll also be pretty busy for most of the summer. (It's a lot cooler inside of a mine). (lol)

I wrote about the mine in my thread. I think the name of the story was "Lost, but not Forgotten". (lol)

It's no wonder that history comes up short in this area. This is only 1 of 6 (apparently paying) mines that I've stumbled over in the past. Not a one of them shows up in County or Federal records. Go Figure!

Best of luck on your forays Lanny. Go get that Au.

P.S., For most of my life, I've had people come up and ask: "Are you getting any GOOD gold"??

So, I'm just wondering; have you ever seen any BAD gold?? (lol)
 

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Lanny in AB

Lanny in AB

Gold Member
Apr 2, 2003
5,651
6,342
Alberta
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Various Minelabs(5000, 2100, X-Terra 705, Equinox 800, Gold Monster), Falcon MD20, Tesoro Sand Shark, Gold Bug Pro, Makro Gold Racer.
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
Excellent start to the season Lanny....looking forward to seeing many more..

Many thanks!

Are you thawed out up on your claim yet?

I hope you have a great season and find lots of sassy BC gold!

All the best,

Lanny
 

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Lanny in AB

Lanny in AB

Gold Member
Apr 2, 2003
5,651
6,342
Alberta
Detector(s) used
Various Minelabs(5000, 2100, X-Terra 705, Equinox 800, Gold Monster), Falcon MD20, Tesoro Sand Shark, Gold Bug Pro, Makro Gold Racer.
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
I'll be heading down to the Merced River this morning, where I'll be meeting up with a Tnet member. We're going to attempt to open back up an abandoned mine that I ran across back in the 1970's. If the samples we collect turn out as good as the ones I collected back then, I'll also be pretty busy for most of the summer. (It's a lot cooler inside of a mine). (lol)

I wrote about the mine in my thread. I think the name of the story was "Lost, but not Forgotten". (lol)

It's no wonder that history comes up short in this area. This is only 1 of 6 (apparently paying) mines that I've stumbled over in the past. Not a one of them shows up in County or Federal records. Go Figure!

Best of luck on your forays Lanny. Go get that Au.

P.S., For most of my life, I've had people come up and ask: "Are you getting any GOOD gold"??

So, I'm just wondering; have you ever seen any BAD gold?? (lol)

Eagle,

I see that you've been very, very busy. I trust that you'll find what you're looking for, and I think it's fantastic that your memory is helping you find places the government has forgotten about--there must be some irony there somewhere, but good irony in your case.

Good luck with your joint mining venture, and post some pictures over here when you get a chance please.

All the best, and thanks for the comments on my gold hunting as I agree, I've yet to find bad gold,

Lanny
 

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Lanny in AB

Lanny in AB

Gold Member
Apr 2, 2003
5,651
6,342
Alberta
Detector(s) used
Various Minelabs(5000, 2100, X-Terra 705, Equinox 800, Gold Monster), Falcon MD20, Tesoro Sand Shark, Gold Bug Pro, Makro Gold Racer.
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
Hit another patch of small nuggets this weekend.

Still playing with the Minelab XTerra 705 and it's really proving itself a worthy gold machine, much to my pleasant surprise.

Pictures to follow as I find the time.

All the best,

Lanny
 

Jim Hemmingway

Hero Member
Jan 26, 2008
788
1,615
Canada
Detector(s) used
F-75, Infinium LS, MXT, GoldBug2, TDI Pro, 1280X Aquanaut, Garrett ProPointer
Primary Interest:
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Hit another patch of small nuggets this weekend.

Still playing with the Minelab XTerra 705 and it's really proving itself a worthy gold machine, much to my pleasant surprise.

Pictures to follow as I find the time.

All the best,

Lanny

Lanny... will certainly look forward to your description re: the X-Terra 705, when you have the opportunity to do so. Never used that unit, so am curious about what you'll have to say about it. Congratulations on finding those sassy nuggets... and thanks for posting the dandy photos. The photo below is just to spice up the post a bit...

Jim.
4.7 TROY OZ SILVER SPECIMEN SF (B).JPG
 

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