Bedrock???

[goldfever1978]

This is a definite rookie question but how can you tell when you have made it to the bedrock and/or how far do I need to dig I usually can't see the bottom due to depth or muddy water so visually I might not be able to see it. If I don't at least find something soon my partner/help(the misses) will abandon the quest.

[pgleba]

One thing it depends on is where you are digging. On a hilltop bedrock is near. If in a valley, some distance away.

Get a surficial geologic map.

Ultimately geophysics would be necessary.

[killian110]

Bedrock is typically deep in your area of NC. I was in Rutherfordton NC on Saturday at Heather Grove Gold Mine. A couple of guys dredging in the creek there were at 14ft and had still not hit the bedrock. They were finding some nice pickers along the way, but they were having to work for them.

[goldfever1978]

Bedrock is typically deep in your area of NC. I was in Rutherfordton NC on Saturday at Heather Grove Gold Mine. A couple of guys dredging in the creek there were at 14ft and had still not hit the bedrock. They were finding some nice pickers along the way, but they were having to work for them.

Killian,

That is what i was afraid of. Since I'm only panning/sleucing, I don't know how I would ever get down there. How was the Heather Grove? I tried a spot out near Cotton Patch and all i found was a little flour.

[autopilot42]

I am relatively new to panning and sluicing but the one thing I have found is their is either gold or no gold. I have never hit bedrock except in the river that all the streams I prospect in flow into except for one stream. Most of the steams I prospect have a distinct clay layer that the gold will lie upon. You will have to dig ab it of overburden to get to it. I will take some photo's of what has worked for me and post them. This is possibly only in the area I am prospecting in. What works in one place may not work in another area of the country. It might also depend if you are below an old mine or if it is natural eroding gold from the creek bed itself or placier.

Take care
Bob

[arizonaames]

Bedrock can be rock, clay, or calichi soil. Some places have 3 or 4 layers of bedrock or clay layers. Examples of this are found in Spring Valley, NV and Rabbithole, NV.