Black sand ledge

[chevyman75]

I know of a spot that is like pure black sand. It is about 20 yards X 100+ yards. It is an area that was strip mined yrs ago would this be worth panning out or hitting with a metal detector? Been trying to Pan throughout last few yrs with no luck finding anything.. trying to get help where can... P's: this area just dawned on me forgot about it

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[Kenmitch]

Are you sure it isn't previously run material? An area of 18000 sq. ft. of pure black sand sounds somewhat unnatural too me. What does the area look like?

Only thing you have to loose is time and I guess gas.

 

[chevyman75]

Are you sure it isn't previously run material? An area of 18000 sq. ft. of pure black sand sounds somewhat unnatural too me. What does the area look like?

Only thing you have to loose is time and I guess gas.

I have no idea what it is it's like a consistency of sand and is black. It holds animal tracks decently and usually always damp. You go up a hill to the black sand shelf then there is another high pretty much cliff side at the back.

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[chevyman75]

Are you sure it isn't previously run material? An area of 18000 sq. ft. of pure black sand sounds somewhat unnatural too me. What does the area look like?

Only thing you have to loose is time and I guess gas.

This pic is from when it was being mined.. that darker strip between the 2 lighter ones in center is the strip I'm talking about .. I can't draw on pic for some reason

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[Johnnybravo300]

You should test everything. If you question whether you should test it, then you should test it. Haha

 

[chevyman75]

Ok haha that's what I was thinking but it's just out there and didn't know. May get a bucket sample tomorrow. Gonna be cold 14℉. Wind chill

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[Hunt4gold]

Test with magnet - am curious if it is magnetite. What was mined here? The stratification of the materials do not look natural. Also would be helpful to see some photos from side angles to see how these beds lay out.

 

[chevyman75]

Test with magnet - am curious if it is magnetite. What was mined here? The stratification of the materials do not look natural. Also would be helpful to see some photos from side angles to see how these beds lay out.

I will try a magnet tomorrow and it was stripped for coal and I will try and get some pics but I have some snow so won't be as noticeably black but you will get the idea.

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[arizau]

Probably any gold you may eventually find was deposited by receding glaciers. Maybe you have researched glaciation already but if not look here. https://www.google.com/webhp?source...&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=glaciation+in+pennsylvania. Along with reports of past placer discoveries, it may give you a clue as to what areas to look in.

Good luck.

PS If what you are describing is magnetic black sand it is likely to be 50 mesh or smaller and if it is then it is best to pan in small quantities of much less than a pan full. Classifying before panning is also recommended.

 

[chevyman75]

Probably any gold you may eventually find was deposited by receding glaciers. Maybe you have researched glaciation already but if not look here. https://www.google.com/webhp?source...&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=glaciation+in+pennsylvania. Along with reports of past placer discoveries, it may give you a clue as to what areas to look in.

Good luck.

PS If what you are describing is magnetic black sand it is likely to be 50 mesh or smaller and if it is then it is best to pan in small quantities of much less than a pan full. Classifying before panning is also recommended.

Thanks!

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[kcm]

From the information given, I suspect that there was once a smelting operation there, and that all the slag was crushed and then run. As KenMitch said, that much black sand in one spot isn't natural.

Still, if this area was created a century or more ago, then there is a good chance there is still some value of PM's in the sands as recovery technology has come a long way since then, and especially over these past 10 years! Take a few random samples and have them assayed. Make sure the samples give a decent general picture of the entire pile. Also, do your assay on ALL metals, as in the old days, anything other than their target metal was often just cast out as waste.

Prior to all of this, do a bit of research on the location. Try to find out if any old smelting operations were there. You "might" be able to find enough info to tell you whether to assay the pile or not to bother.

 

[chevyman75]

From the information given, I suspect that there was once a smelting operation there, and that all the slag was crushed and then run. As KenMitch said, that much black sand in one spot isn't natural.

Still, if this area was created a century or more ago, then there is a good chance there is still some value of PM's in the sands as recovery technology has come a long way since then, and especially over these past 10 years! Take a few random samples and have them assayed. Make sure the samples give a decent general picture of the entire pile. Also, do your assay on ALL metals, as in the old days, anything other than their target metal was often just cast out as waste.

Prior to all of this, do a bit of research on the location. Try to find out if any old smelting operations were there. You "might" be able to find enough info to tell you whether to assay the pile or not to bother.

I have old Aeriel photos from the 30's. I have done alot of research and haven't read anything on a smelting operation or seen any photos. I will try and get some pics here in a bit I'm on my way there

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[chevyman75]

first hill
the ledge


Give me your thoughts and it does not stick to magnet

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[Tpmetal]

deleted

 

[chevyman75]

What?

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[Goldfleks]

Get a bunch of those 1 gallon zip locks. Tag/Bag/Photo samples from different areas. Take them home and classify/pan/gold cube/multi sluice/whatever and record what you get from each location.

 

[Tpmetal]

sorry missed the coal mine part. I was going to say I went to an old silver mine one time that had stuff that looked like that but didn't see it till after I posted. Couldn't figure out how to delete.

 

[chevyman75]

Get a bunch of those 1 gallon zip locks. Tag/Bag/Photo samples from different areas. Take them home and classify/pan/gold cube/multi sluice/whatever and record what you get from each location.

I got a half a bucket full that can see in pic. I did 2 pan's and it turned my water black and only thing left in Pan was like quarter sized globs. So I'm just wondering if it is ground up coal or something? I'm not an expert as in that's why I posted this to get an idea on if it would be worth my time to even mess with it.

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[chevyman75]

sorry missed the coal mine part. I was going to say I went to an old silver mine one time that had stuff that looked like that but didn't see it till after I posted. Couldn't figure out how to delete.

O OK I was wondering haha did you find anything near your silver mine?

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[Hunt4gold]

If this was an old coal mining pit, these mounds could be coal mining waste dumps where the operator bulldozed waste off to sides of operations. The ultra-fine grain structure of what you are describing (and non-magnet property) that forms a sludge-like consistency when mixed with water also supports this theory. My best guess...