Dealing with rusted, concrete, decaying bedrock, and clay.

[MosesOfTheSouth]

I was wondering about methods some of you might use to make breaking this stuff up easier. The cracks I have been working lately have a top layer of loose cobble that quickly changes into cobble held together with basically sold iron, rusty concretion which doesn't just wash off the rocks, it's concrete. Following is generally dense clay in combination with rotting bedrock of different varieties. All of it is sticky and it holds the gold. After digging it or sucking it up with a hand dredge and classifying it to run in the sluice i inevitably see unbroken chunks in the tailings. The clay and small clumps of iron concretion are light and will pop right through the sluice trap or over the grizzlies. ... Despite using a metal brush or rough stones to try and disintegrate, using a metal scraper, holding the bucket in deeper water and swirling, trying to smash it up in the hole with shovel.. ect ect... I can't really work it fast, sometimes i might run two or three 5 gal buckets in a day.

I've thought about trying to make a grizzly classifier with hardware screen that would be more abrasive. Just curious as to methods any one else might have employed to deal with this stuff.

 

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[N-Lionberger]

I have the same stuff, its a real pain to work through it. I am building a trommel, when I get that done I plan to rerun all of my highbanker tailings.

 

[et1955]

Have you thought of a rock crusher ?

 

[MosesOfTheSouth]

rock crusher....The hike into the place is brutal. mechanized equipment is also not allowed. I've pondered over taking a hollow steel fence post, welding a cap on to one end, handles on the other, melting lead into it and just pounding away... but in dealing with these vertical cracks you reach a point where you have to work around jagged corners that don't really give as they narrow.

 

[Prospector70]

Have you guys seen that clay claw doc uses on his highbankers?
That might help

 

[et1955]

rock crusher....The hike into the place is brutal. mechanized equipment is also not allowed. I've pondered over taking a hollow steel fence post, welding a cap on to one end, handles on the other, melting lead into it and just pounding away... but in dealing with these vertical cracks you reach a point where you have to work around jagged corners that don't really give as they narrow.

Maybe if you would share pics of what you have to deal with and the rules and regs we could help you.

 

[MosesOfTheSouth]

Maybe if you would share pics of what you have to deal with and the rules and regs we could help you.

is the pic included in my opening post not working?

 

[MosesOfTheSouth]

Have you guys seen that clay claw doc uses on his highbankers?
That might help

i've seen it but it's not applicable in this situation, even if it was i don't think it would break this stuff up.

 

[N-Lionberger]

you could let this stuff sit in the hopper all day with that clay fence thing and it it still wouldnt break up. A high quality pick really helps.

 

[triple d]

Need to find some way to crush it. Its the only way to handle it. But a slow process. By hand. I say take what you can get and call it good enought. If its decent gold then crush some.But most generally if you have to crush it. Its very fine.

 

[trdking]

I only know of the manual way. It is a pain as described above. You did not mention what your yield is? I would say that if you are getting gold its worth it. If not why bother?

 

[coolfinie]

One thing I so with difficult material is to break it down and get it under my feet then wet it if underfoot is not already covered with water. So after that, as I work, I am walking on it breaking it down some more, like treading grapes. Then I work on the next bit, but the material going into the sluice is always the most trodden on.