How deep is to deep when crevicing?

CharlesP

Sr. Member
May 18, 2012
258
53
Merced/Mariposa
Detector(s) used
Still searching for the right one
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
How deep do you go when cracking bedrock? I keep running into a really dense brownish red clay that is impossible to deal with. Do you stop when you get to this nasty stuff or do you process it? I have saved it and processed it a few times and have come up blank?

Let me sum up my question, what signs do you look for that says, it's not worth going any deeper into this shale, slate or hard bed rock? Thanks y'all.
 

Upvote 0

GrizzlyGremlin

Hero Member
Nov 17, 2012
594
761
I dont stop. I may sample a pan but what sometimes happens is that the light gold will settle on top of a clay layer, and the bigger stuff will get pounded through it. So you may find gold on top. Then a few inches of nothing then bam!! Picker picker picker. The heavy pieces CAN migrate through clay!
 

goldenIrishman

Silver Member
Feb 28, 2013
3,465
6,152
Golden Valley Arid-Zona
Detector(s) used
Fisher / Gold Bug AND the MK-VII eyeballs
Primary Interest:
Other
There's no such animal as "Too Deep" when cleaning out a crevice. Of course you stop when you get to the bottom of it and are busting up the bedrock that doesn't have any crack in it already. ;)
 

OP
OP
C

CharlesP

Sr. Member
May 18, 2012
258
53
Merced/Mariposa
Detector(s) used
Still searching for the right one
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
I dont stop. I may sample a pan but what sometimes happens is that the light gold will settle on top of a clay layer, and the bigger stuff will get pounded through it. So you may find gold on top. Then a few inches of nothing then bam!! Picker picker picker. The heavy pieces CAN migrate through clay!

Thank you for your input. I have a hard time imagining just what's happening when a creek is raging. There is a lot more chaos going on than meets the eye.
 

OP
OP
C

CharlesP

Sr. Member
May 18, 2012
258
53
Merced/Mariposa
Detector(s) used
Still searching for the right one
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
There's no such animal as "Too Deep" when cleaning out a crevice. Of course you stop when you get to the bottom of it and are busting up the bedrock that doesn't have any crack in it already. ;)

There's no such animal. Lol love that phrase. So what you guys are saying is "just keep digging dam it"
 

goldenIrishman

Silver Member
Feb 28, 2013
3,465
6,152
Golden Valley Arid-Zona
Detector(s) used
Fisher / Gold Bug AND the MK-VII eyeballs
Primary Interest:
Other
There's no such animal. Lol love that phrase. So what you guys are saying is "just keep digging dam it"
Pretty much. :headbang::headbang::headbang: Just remember that if there's no crack in the rock already you're deep enough. No sense in beating your head against a wall after all. :BangHead::BangHead::BangHead: (unless you're into that sort of thing that is... :tongue3:
 

MadMarshall

Hero Member
Nov 12, 2012
942
1,632
na
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
It's a common mistake for prospectors to stop digging in cracks when all the debri is cleaned out or they hit the bottom of the crack..depending on the crack whether it be a hairline fracture or a crack couple of inches wide with a gravel hardpack..I would at least break the bottom a few more inches and let the gold tell me if I might be on the right track..

I worked this crack for about 2 weeks off and on it was pretty hard rock and I only had handtools.But anyway in the begining of the vid you can see the part of the crack I was working..all the gold came from the reddish wall(backwall) some case I had to wire brush it off..Anyway if I were to just dig the obvious I wouldn't be getting the GOLD!!I am with HEFTY if the gold dictates dig to China!!!Maybe I will see you there!!
 

OP
OP
C

CharlesP

Sr. Member
May 18, 2012
258
53
Merced/Mariposa
Detector(s) used
Still searching for the right one
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
It's a common mistake for prospectors to stop digging in cracks when all the debri is cleaned out or they hit the bottom of the crack..depending on the crack whether it be a hairline fracture or a crack couple of inches wide with a gravel hardpack..I would at least break the bottom a few more inches and let the gold tell me if I might be on the right track..

I worked this crack for about 2 weeks off and on it was pretty hard rock and I only had handtools.But anyway in the begining of the vid you can see the part of the crack I was working..all the gold came from the reddish wall(backwall) some case I had to wire brush it off..Anyway if I were to just dig the obvious I wouldn't be getting the GOLD!!I am with HEFTY if the gold dictates dig to China!!!Maybe I will see you there!!
YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31dogqCxxNs&feature=c4-overview&playnext=1&list=TLUkUiz_L-Quo

Holy crap mad! If I was finding gold like that I'd be digging to china as well. What a crack! What a Pan.
 

mytimetoshine

Bronze Member
Jun 23, 2013
1,574
3,370
El Dorado County
Detector(s) used
GRIZZLY GOLD TRAP - ANGUS MACKIRK EXPLORER- BLUE BOWL - GOLD CUBE, MINELAB PRO 25 PINPOINTER-
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
It's a common mistake for prospectors to stop digging in cracks when all the debri is cleaned out or they hit the bottom of the crack..depending on the crack whether it be a hairline fracture or a crack couple of inches wide with a gravel hardpack..I would at least break the bottom a few more inches and let the gold tell me if I might be on the right track..

I worked this crack for about 2 weeks off and on it was pretty hard rock and I only had handtools.But anyway in the begining of the vid you can see the part of the crack I was working..all the gold came from the reddish wall(backwall) some case I had to wire brush it off..Anyway if I were to just dig the obvious I wouldn't be getting the GOLD!!I am with HEFTY if the gold dictates dig to China!!!Maybe I will see you there!!
[
Wow, what a great video and song. Thank you. Oh and EUREKA!
 

Last edited:

Jason in Enid

Gold Member
Oct 10, 2009
9,593
9,229
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Holy crap man use some of that gold to buy a new pan! Nice gold though!
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top