Found ancient river channel :)

[omnicron]

So guys I found this ancient river channel...well what I think is one.



Knowing that ancient river channels can contain massive gold deposits, I tried to dig some of the gravel but it was rock hard.
I ended up just taking some of the loose gravel but only about 1/3 of a bucket.

I didn't classify on site and ran the gravel today after classifying down to -30
This is what I recovered... some Gold, Silver and mercury.


I think it's good considering the amount of material.
I'm going to go back up there and bring back 5 classified buckets to run. Not going to be the best sample.
If it's good then I will need to figure out the path of the channel and start claiming up land like crazy!
I'll also need to figure out a water source...
And most importantly...Funding!!!
It sucks to be poor.

 

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[KevinInColorado]

Very cool...see if you can find a spot where a creek cuts through this stuff, that'll be your bonanza! Even lacking that feature you are onto a solid opportunity!

 

[omnicron]

Agreed! Being this is a high desert location water will be a issue. There may be a seasonal creek near by, but I need to get my feet on the ground and scout the area more. I was just out of time yesterday on my way back from dredging. I sure hope this is a turning point in my life!

 

[DesertNuggets]

Nice! Amazing how the material is so uniform and rounded.

 

[Bejay]

Nice find. But I am curious as to why an ancient riverbed would have mercury. So the possibility of it being something other than mercury is quite likely.

Bejay

 

[Hoser John]

Looks more like tailing pile materials as natural mercury contamination is quite rare,except very few places such as NF of the EF trinity,then everything covered as cinnabar oozing all over-John-John

 

[dave wiseman]

You might want to read the mining reports on that area.With cemented gravel you'd either have to blast or use heavy equipment....or both.

 

[omnicron]

My first thought was tailings but if you zoom in on the pic, the rocks are just to neatly packed in verses just randomly tossed like tailings. The nearest placer mining area is 20 miles away.
The silvery stuff was mainly one large flake but broke when pressure was applied to it. I'm no expert by any means but I assume it's silver.
I looked at everything under close magnification and moved it around with a toothpick and I don't think it's mercury as it wasn't binding with the gold or silver. Maybe it's electrum. If you look at the pic I posted you can see the gold and silver together.
IDK...
I'm no expert...

 

[Oakview2]

Jackhammer

 

[Bejay]

Correct...the gravels are sorted. Unlike tailing piles and slide material (including some glacial deposits) that are unsorted. Remember silver tarnishes.

Bejay

 

[KevinInColorado]

Metals don't break under pressure, the deform (bend, flatten, etc) so whatever the silver bit is, it's not a metal like silver or gold. If it's heavy keep it but not in your gold vial. A "high n dry" deposit such as you've found is the hardest to work but that's why the prospectors back in the day walked away and left it for you! I also agree that the material does not look like a tailings deposit to me, I think you have a real virgin placer there

 

[Oakview2]

If had the budget, this is the way for a small op to tackle cemented river channels

 

[Aufisher]

Agree does not look like tailings!

 

[Oakview2]

My budget would be more like this

 

[Fullpan]

There is a brand new product out that may solve your problem of compacted gravels, depending on a water source within reach. Its called a "Little Giant" and
works on the high-pressure fire hose concept. If you send me a down payment, I can promise delivery. Hurry, as they are selling out !!

 

[omnicron]

I have considered renting a small backhoe or mini exevator from home depot Kubota BX25 Tractor Loader Backhoe Rental | Tractor Loader Backhoe | Compact Power Equipment Rental or TC16 Mini Excavator Rental | Mini-Excavator | Compact Power Equipment Rental
Not sure if it will have the power to break it up and 250 bucks is more then I can afford...but if it will bust it up I could possibly stockpile some of the gravel for processing...my primary goal would be bedrock and the beautiful bounty it would hold...
For now I have champagne taste on a schaefer beer budget. Pick and shovel will be my tools of the trade... I was going to dig a few sample holes on the back side of the hill but I think it will just be one single hole as deep as I can go in a day. If the single sample is good then I may try to come up with the money to rent some equipment. Don't really know the best way to sample on my zero budget.

 

[dave wiseman]

......And how far is it to bedrock?

 

[omnicron]

Good question! I'm making a guess of 15' or so based on the surroundings. Bed rock is exposed all over the place in this area...wont know 'till I start digging.

 

[panningjack]

I've taken a sample from the same place and come up with nothing. It's definitely not a tailing pile. They did mine that creek back in the day that runs by it. I actually found a little gold, an old shovel and pick head further up stream from there.

 

[Aufisher]

Nice display!