Reading a stream help

[GoldbeltDan]

Hi everyone I'm new to the prospecting hobby. I have a stream that is close to my house. This stream in a heavy rain raises like 30 ft. It's in a deep ravine. Very few areas has bedrock coming out of the stream. It also has multiple sandbars on the inside and outside bends and one big one in the middle of the stream that raises up like 5 ft above the stream at normal water height. I have found a lot of course black sand some rounded quartz rocks lot of course sand as well. Found a lot of rocks with iron in them. How do I approach this stream to sluice in? Any help would be deeply appreciated!

 

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[vpnavy]

I noticed this is your very first post - so, Welcome Aboard! You didn't list your state (or country) in your profile. So, you might consider jumping over to Sub-Forums: Select Your Area.... and selecting location information (i.e., clubs, hunts, finds, legends, maps, etc.) directly related to your state (or country).

 

[GoldbeltDan]

Sorry just went back and updated my profile. I'm from Villa Rica, Georgia USA

 

[kcm]

First question is, are you in a gold-bearing area??

While gold is still being found in N Georgia, it's not all over the place like in CA and AK.

As for where to set up a sluice, the best approach is to grab a pan and sample, sample, sample. If you spend a few days, or even a few hours sampling, you may be able to tell whether your area even has gold in it. Make sure of your local laws before setting up a sluice. Hopefully GA isn't as crazy as CA!!

 

[GoldbeltDan]

Thank you for the info. Yes there is gold but only found one piece of 200 mesh on the only sand bar I was able to get to. I just tested a few pans plus I was on an outside bend. The stream has vertical banks and about 15+ ft tall. All red dirt walls with no change in color or texture.

 

[arizau]

If memory serves, one of TNets' members was/is(?) in Villa Rica. He has not posted for a while but he may respond to a PM (private message) and maybe you two can hook up or he can give you some info about your area. See here for one of his threads: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/p...uckys-thread-georgia-panning-prospecting.html

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[GoldbeltDan]

Thank you will give him a shout

 

[goldenmojo]

Last time i talked to Ducky about a year ago he was living in different state. Kevin in Colorado has been to Villa Rica and mined there and maybe he will chime in. Do you have some pics of the creek you can share and some specific questions about them? Its hard to give specifics about a creek by just imagining whats there. You might look up the local mining history at the library or historical society.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Yup there's gold in Villa Rica. Check Out the little museum about the VR gold rush and chat people up to learn more. Ducky and I dug right at the edge of town on private land. Good times!

The gold we found was all quite small pieces but that may vary by location of course.

The spot you describe sounds very promising. Get to the inside bend and sample surface, down a foot or so, upstream end of gravel bar and highest point at mid-bar.

Welcome and good luck!!

 

[Golden_Crab]

Thank you for the info. Yes there is gold but only found one piece of 200 mesh on the only sand bar I was able to get to. I just tested a few pans plus I was on an outside bend. The stream has vertical banks and about 15+ ft tall. All red dirt walls with no change in color or texture.

Try sampling more gravely material if you can find it.

 

[GoldbeltDan]

Thanks I will try the museum in town.

 

[GoldbeltDan]

I will try to post some soon just didn't bring phone last time

 

[GoldbeltDan]

I will definitely do that. Just need better boots to cross the stream. Google earth shows some bedrock in the stream but with the big rain think that got all covered up. Looks like I'm going to be digging deepen the bars. Thanks for the help I will post a few pic of my next trip

 

[Hunt4gold]

Goldbelt, Welcome to Tnet. Looking forward to your posts! You will find a lot of helpful people on this site.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Hip waders!

 

[Hoser John]

Since gold can be elusive you should check into gems/minerals as a great addition to your warchest. No gold ..no problem...gems/minerals...none? well relics pay too, got a detector?? Diversity is the mother of success AND a whole lotta fun-John

 

[Duckwalk]

Hey Guys ( and new member!). Im still alive. I've moved to North Carolina for work. The money is good, but the spare time is crap. As far as villa rica is concerned, just about every stream has gold in it. Its going to be best to talk to some local land owners and try to get you some permission. Where Kev and i prospected was 100% private and be ready to see a gun pointed at you if you do not have permission. Finding the land owner was the hardest part. I must have spoken to 15 different people before someone pointed me at the right guy. PM me some more details into what creek you are talking about. Post some pictures of your creek but dont give out names. If its the creek im thinking it is, you might be SOL.....