Astrobouncer
Hero Member
- Jun 21, 2009
- 823
- 343
Hey guys I am sick with a pretty bad flu this weekend (I overdid it last weekend and now my body's paying me back I guess) so I haven't been able to get out like I usually would but this gave me some time to do some thinking.
I was wondering if you guys could point out some tips for working out of water, and working higher ground for gold. I vaguely remember Takoda talking about some methods he uses but I couldn't find the post offhand.
Here's what I been doing so far and maybe you guys can point out where I am going wrong...
I usually study the rocks (on the ground and exposed outcrops) I find looking for any kind of chunky/dirty/shiny/sparkly rock that either looks out of place or has any kind of veining/staining on it. Quartz veins of any kind get a harder look. I try to ID the stones in the area so I know what else should be around there. I also look out for heavy rocks (heavy to lift) and If find some bigger chunks of quartz I usually bust em open. I look for washes, and then study the rocks that have been eroded in them. I found a piece of quartz with some tiny black crystals about the size of spaghetti noodles in a wash not a mile from my house last week.
Also I check out exposed cliffs/hillsides and look for erosion exposed rocks.
Sometimes I take dirt samples and then carry those back to the house to pan, though usually I don't do this as theres so much clay in the area here it hasn't been worthwhile.
Despite all this, I still haven't found much worth finding. That huge chalcopyrite boulder I found a couple weeks back was about my most exciting find yet, and Its still sitting in the river cause I cant move a 600lb boulder, heh.
I was wondering if you guys could point out some tips for working out of water, and working higher ground for gold. I vaguely remember Takoda talking about some methods he uses but I couldn't find the post offhand.
Here's what I been doing so far and maybe you guys can point out where I am going wrong...
I usually study the rocks (on the ground and exposed outcrops) I find looking for any kind of chunky/dirty/shiny/sparkly rock that either looks out of place or has any kind of veining/staining on it. Quartz veins of any kind get a harder look. I try to ID the stones in the area so I know what else should be around there. I also look out for heavy rocks (heavy to lift) and If find some bigger chunks of quartz I usually bust em open. I look for washes, and then study the rocks that have been eroded in them. I found a piece of quartz with some tiny black crystals about the size of spaghetti noodles in a wash not a mile from my house last week.
Also I check out exposed cliffs/hillsides and look for erosion exposed rocks.
Sometimes I take dirt samples and then carry those back to the house to pan, though usually I don't do this as theres so much clay in the area here it hasn't been worthwhile.
Despite all this, I still haven't found much worth finding. That huge chalcopyrite boulder I found a couple weeks back was about my most exciting find yet, and Its still sitting in the river cause I cant move a 600lb boulder, heh.
