Culvert prospecting

[reptwar1]

Hey y'all. Hope everyone's weekend is going good. I was wondering if anyone has ever tried cleaning the upstream 2-4 feet in a culvert under a road. I've seen videos of Jeff Williams and Tom Massie both doing it, and would like to plan a 4 day trip to Arizona just to clean culverts, but would like to hear from folks that have tried it. Thanks in advance

 

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[Goldwasher]

only the first 14.9 inches of a post '84 culvert are worth it. If you can find a pre '84 culvert man you are in good shape. good 16 to 28 inches of recovery for sure!

 

[Terry Soloman]

You see the snowbirds cleaning out all the culverts out by Stanton, AZ in the winter months. I've even seen greenhorns try it in the spring and summer when rattlesnakes are having block parties in them!

 

[Hard Prospector]

I've had mixed luck in the Mojave desert cleaning out old culverts. I'd say 3 in 10 hold some color the first 3' in but nothing to write home about. If going through the area it can't hurt to stop and check along the way, I use a small wisk and dust pan and just reach back in as far as possible.

Watch out though 'cause once I was about to reach into the pipe, a 40lbs coon bolted out like a Tomahawk missile and I about" fouled" myself

 

[Daryl Friesen]

Hello,

I have tried this myself as well many times as the culvert is like a giant sluice box.. It made it into the following vid that I made. Have a watch.



Daryl

Treasure and Gold Prospecting leads in British Columbia

 

[reptwar1]

Thanks for the response y'all. I'm gonna be heading out that way to do some prospecting anyways, so it won't be a wasted trip. Done with GPAA and their hunted out sites. Anyone know any clubs with decent claims in Az? I would have to join prior to my trip I'm sure.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Thanks for the response y'all. I'm gonna be heading out that way to do some prospecting anyways, so it won't be a wasted trip. Done with GPAA and their hunted out sites. Anyone know any clubs with decent claims in Az? I would have to join prior to my trip I'm sure.

Here you go:

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/clubs-hunts-arizona/339994-arizona-gold-prospecting-clubs.html

 

[Hard Prospector]

Hello,

I have tried this myself as well many times as the culvert is like a giant sluice box.. It made it into the following vid that I made. Have a watch.



Daryl

Treasure and Gold Prospecting leads in British Columbia

The culverts I typical prospect are no more than a yard or two wide, very nice scenery up there and thanks for the vid. It got me thinking how long its been since I've done any mining in the rain. Hell I can't even remember as the drought, heat and blowing dust have clouded my memory.

 

[Maitland]

I'd like to prospect some culverts in my area as well, but I'd like to know what everyone is using to do it. I'm guessing a small PVC hand dredge or something similar?

 

[Oregon Viking]

I'd like to prospect some culverts in my area as well, but I'd like to know what everyone is using to do it. I'm guessing a small PVC hand dredge or something similar?

Yep!



Or.... Do as a friend of mine has done for years, when they replace the culvert (he works for the highway department) you can completely clean it out. We have a creek every mile or so...literally.

 

[jcazgoldchaser]

Skip out to 6:50 on that last one if you got board.

 

[Daryl Friesen]

Here is one more vid you may enjoy where we go further up the Stave way past the culvert..

 

[reptwar1]

Skip out to 6:50 on that last one if you got board.

Thanks for the links! It's beyond me, how Jeff Williams has that much energy lol But I do like his videos, as he covers unconventional ways of finding gold

 

[goldenIrishman]

Also be careful of two legged critters in some of those washes in the south part of the state! Many an undocumented worker has been known to sleep in them. When I lived in Douglas ,AZ we cleaned out a couple of culverts just to see what we could find. While doing the one at the end of our driveway, Border Patrol stopped and asked what we were doing and if everything was alright. When we told them what was up, they had a good laugh and went on their way. On this particular culvert we only found a bunch of garnets but it did show me that it will work.

The more you can think outside the box these days the better. When it comes to culverts, I 'd advise not to do any along a state highway as that is state land and we all know how they feel about mining of their turf. Now... If one was to approach them with a "Culvert Cleaning Service" and wanted to invest a little time and money to make up some "Professional" gear..........