Above or below?

[Sample Pan Dan]

Testing a new area in a known gold bearing creek, would you go for gravel from the bottom, under the water or from the cracks above the water first in this picture?

 

[recondigger]

If it was me I would work from the top down.

Scouts out!

 

[DesertNuggets]

I'd sample both and go after whichever was best.

 

[63bkpkr]

Seeing as how "below" is in water, it will therefore make sampling harder as every time you move a rock or dig a hole the gold goes down when it can.

"above" is dry but when the cracked rocks are moved IF one is not careful then the dirt from "above" will contaminate what is below. So, make some sort of 'catch apron' to catch what is lost opening up the cracked rock face. Apron could be taped or glued to the rock face and be angled to allow caught material to funnel into a catch bucket. Put enough rocks in the bottom of the bucket to keep it from floating in the water. Ok, that is my stab at it, best of luck!............63bkpkr

Do you have a 'gold' detector? If so yo can detect the rock face for gold. I do with my GMT and it finds it!

 

[B H Prospector]

All the above are good ideas. In a spot like that it is going to be quality of material and not quantity.
@ 63 hows the recovery coming? Hope you are getting out soon. I'm getting out for the second time today. My first time out sent the cons to young Alex. Get well.

BH Prospector

 

[Hoser John]

Sample both,but I always start dry first as gold moves down the sides of the canyons faster than in water as a general rule. Dry finds usually feed the wet but for every rule a thumb mother nature will fool ya-detective work is sooo cool that's why it's called prospecting-as in seeking,much more fun,as when found then the WORK begins and no longer roaming around,mutzing and a putzing is more fun for me-John

 

[Sample Pan Dan]

Thanks all for the suggestions and advise. Headed up the creek now, not sure if I'll make it to that hole today or not, but I do have my falcon MD20 with me, so I'll see if I can any hits and go from there, this is about a 1/4-1/2 mile upstream from where I've been digging and honestly, I don't yet how far upstream I will continue to find gold.

 

[Vance in AK]

I'm with John (I wish I was physically with John down in that warm country chasing gold! 32* & just starting light snow AGAIN here right now). Whenever possible I start dry.