Found small gold nugget in a bag of sapphire gravel

[Gemmy]

When I cannot get out to hunt, I like to by bags of mine ore to search at home. I usually am looking for gemstones. I usually buy bags of material from the same person since I found found his ore and gravel bags had the best material. Before Christmas I bought a few bags of sapphire gravel, to go thru over the holidays. I found some very nice sapphires as usual, but in the second bag I found a 7 gram nugget. This was a nice find for me. There always seems to be some fine gold in the bags, and I have found a few very small pieces of gold in quarts, but this is the first nugget I have found. Very exciting.

 

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[steelheadwill]

Welcome!
sounds like a great pastime, Would love to see the Gems & Gold!!

 

[augusthog]

Outstanding! And please post some pics. And welcome to T-Net

 

[Gemmy]

I just posted 2 photos of my finds. These are from the first 2 bags I have gone thru of my purchase.
After I have gone thru all my bags, then I will process the sifted dirt to see if there are any fines.

 

[bryguy5]

Awesome AU! my daughter said it looks like an alligator head on it, I can see it too. congrats.

 

[EagleDown]

They appear to be "corn flower blue" sapphires from Colorado. The nugget is a very special bonus.

Thanks for the pictures.

Eagle

 

[Gemmy]

Hi.
Yes the nugget was a nice find. Usually I only find fines or occationally small pickers, this was the first nugget of size.
The sapphire are actually from Montana, Missouri River, Eldorado Bar.
Most are the light corn flower blue, others are green and yellow. I really enjoy doing this, when I cannot get out and prospect. Even though any gold finds are much easier to sell, the sapphire and other gemstones I find, can either be sold in their rough state or I have some faceted and then sell them.

 

[nuggy]

That's quite a find ...... I'm impressed, good luck with the other bags.

Somehow reminds me of when I took an elderly lady to a local gentle creek, as she wanted to pan for gold. She only walked about ten steps from the vehicle, scraped up some wash from a crevice I showed her .......... 2 minutes later she had an six gram nugget! From her first ever pan!
I hammered the creek for a week afterwards, detecting and creviceing - but it was back to just a few flakes here and there, not another nugget to be found. Must have washed in from the side somewhere, never did find out where. Nuggy

 

[Old River]

Nice find. Congradulations....

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Loved reading your story about finding sapphires and gold Gemmy!

How much does that nugget weight anyway?

Do the sapphires sell for more when they're "faceted"?

Can you please tell me what faceting means?


Cheers,
Dave

 

[James from TN]

Very Nice! Prospecting is something I have always wanted to do. Being in West Tennessee I have never had the chance. James

 

[Gemmy]

Hello Antiquarian.
The nugget weighs almost 7 grams.

Faceting is the process of cutting and polishing a crystal into a gemstone for jewelry. At least 2 of these sapphire crystals will cut a sapphire over 1 carat in size, that is a good size and depending on how clean they are and the color, they can be worth some good money. Only 1% of sapphire found are gem quality and worth having cut.
I also hunt for other types of gemstones and minerals, some much more valuable, but since sapphire is heavy it usually is found in the same pay layer as the gold in Montana. So when I want a double hunt, this is just perfect.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Hello Antiquarian.
The nugget weighs almost 7 grams.

Faceting is the process of cutting and polishing a crystal into a gemstone for jewelry. At least 2 of these sapphire crystals will cut a sapphire over 1 carat in size, that is a good size and depending on how clean they are and the color, they can be worth some good money. Only 1% of sapphire found are gem quality and worth having cut.
I also hunt for other types of gemstones and minerals, some much more valuable, but since sapphire is heavy it usually is found in the same pay layer as the gold in Montana. So when I want a double hunt, this is just perfect.

Thank you very much for the clarification on the term "faceting". You have a very interesting hobby there Gemmy! Sure wish I had access to the same bags of material that you do!

Have a very Happy New Year!

Dave

 

[Gemmy]

Hi Antiquarian.
I usually do not like to give the ID of a seller with good material, just like I do not like to tell my favorite prospecting spots. I cannot buy it all and the seller is a great guy. www.capistranomining.com

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Hi Antiquarian.
I usually do not like to give the ID of a seller with good material, just like I do not like to tell my favorite prospecting spots. I cannot buy it all and the seller is a great guy. www.capistranomining.com

Thank you for the website link Gemmy. It was interesting reading.

I'm sure you're aware of the laws between United States and Canada with regard to restricting the import and export of soil and plant material within our two countries. Even if I wanted to buy a couple of bags of gravel from Capistrano Mining, the bags would be confiscated at the border and I could very well be fined for trying to import banned materials.

Thanks again and good luck in your future prospecting efforts.

Dave

 

[Gemmy]

Hi Antiquarian.
I usually do not like to give the ID of a seller with good material, just like I do not like to tell my favorite prospecting spots. I cannot buy it all and the seller is a great guy. www.capistranomining.com

Thank you for the website link Gemmy. It was interesting reading.

I'm sure you're aware of the laws between United States and Canada with regard to restricting the import and export of soil and plant material within our two countries. Even if I wanted to buy a couple of bags of gravel from Capistrano Mining, the bags would be confiscated at the border and I could very well be fined for trying to import banned materials.

Thanks again and good luck in your future prospecting efforts.

Dave

Hi. You should cotact the owner. I know that he ships to my freinds in Calgary almost monthly.

 

[traverdog]

Very niceeeeee!!