Gold folks

[gold tramp]

I noticed that not many gold folks are on the forum last few years, was wondering what caused people to leave, was it the political environment ?
Or just that prospecting has lost it's shine and no one's doing it ?
Maybe we can get some honest answers here.
I would hope that it was lack of prospectors and not mining folks being divided by politics, we are already so few in numbers, I feel some days I'm the only one left ...
Anyways just something I'm wondering about.....
Gt......

 

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[Terry Soloman]

In the late 1970s, early 1980s nuggetshooting was in its infancy. Large, even multi-ounce nuggets were being found almost daily. By 1990, nuggetshooting was in full swing, and multi-ounce finds were becoming scarce. You could still drop a 4" dredge in just about any river and come away with a few ounces for your trouble.

By the early 2000s, a little gold prospecting was on many people's bucket lists. Several prospectors, including myself, opened gold tourism businesses to take advantage of the surge in gold mining popularity. Then the "Green Meanies" and new regulations started to attack the hobby, and gold mining in general.

Today, areas are limited, gold is scarce, equipment is expensive, and our society has changed dramatically (think "girlie men"). The "hobby," can only be practiced by those in placer gold bearing states. Most club claims are played out, private claims are expensive. Scams rule as idiots flip fake claims or worthless plots of barren soil to pilgrims.

It will never go away though.

 

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[bc5391]

Terry I would not say the claims are played out, Many claims are 20 acres, some might be 120 acres. What I have found is that people in general are lazy. I say that because I have been to many a club outing, everyone follows the lead person to the same spot time after time. Me I walk, sometimes 2 miles in 1 direction, yes I wander off the claims. I sold my side x side, that got me further than my Toy 4x4. I've seen places and found gold where club members never dreamed of going, found old homesteads, mines, areas where the Spaniards mined in the 1600's, been to places there was no turning arround and changed the color of my shorts going down hill.

 

[gold tramp]

In the late 1970s, early 1980s nuggetshooting was in its infancy. Large, even multi-ounce nuggets were being found almost daily. By 1990, nuggetshooting was in full swing, and multi-ounce finds were becoming scarce. You could still drop a 4" dredge in just about any river and come away with a few ounces for your trouble.

By the early 2000s, a little gold prospecting was on many people's bucket lists. Several prospectors, including myself, opened gold tourism businesses to take advantage of the surge in gold mining popularity. Then the "Green Meanies" and new regulations started to attack the hobby, and gold mining in general.

Today, areas are limited, gold is scarce, equipment is expensive, and our society has changed dramatically (think "girlie men"). The "hobby," can only be practiced by those in placer gold bearing states. Most club claims are played out, private claims are expensive. Scams rule as idiots flip fake claims or worthless plots of barren soil to pilgrims.

It will never go away though.

Good points Terry,
For me it's in my blood, folks call this gold fever it a sickness can make one forsake all in the search for the yellow metal, most think they have it, but they know not .
I will be at it till the good Lord takes my abilities to do so, I've got the sickness, don't think anything can discourage me from the thrill of the chase, that's why I do the hardrock it's always gonna be there, don't get me wrong I love doin the placer, bleepin, snipin, drywashin, ect, but I always come back to hardrock..
Gt......

 

[crashbandicoot]

Not much rock here in S.E.Arkansas,unless you dig down about 1000 ft.But,I think there,s some flour gold in the Arkansas River that may have washed down from Colorado.These gold forums have piqued my curiosity to find out,so I,ve got a pan and soon as the River falls out I,m going out looking.That,s prospecting isn,t it? I know I probably won,t find much but it,s the hunt and satisfying my own curiosity that,s got me going. Thanks to everyone for posting your experiences and knowledge.

 

[Oregon Viking]

Gold prospecting is great in Oregon! Republic mining helps us a lot. 820 acres of mining claims throughout Oregon, Washington, and California. 99 bucks a year.

Republic Mining – Helping Miners Mine

republicmining.com

A couple of grams from a coastal creek. 8 rivers close. The Klamath, Smith, Whinchuck, Chetco, Rogue, Pistol, Elk and the Sixes within 50 miles.

 

[Ohiogoldfever]

Not all us (girlie men) are afraid to dig! Hell I broke a nail just yesterday while opening my spiced chi latte. Bahahaha!

Some of us young fellas in it. Just always busy taking care of family before we have time for digging in the creek.

 

[crashbandicoot]

Gold prospecting is great in Oregon! Republic mining helps us a lot. 820 acres of mining claims throughout Oregon, Washington, and California. 99 bucks a year.

Republic Mining – Helping Miners Mine

republicmining.com

A couple of grams from a coastal creek. 8 rivers close. The Klamath, Smith, Whinchuck, Chetco, Rogue, Pistol, Elk and the Sixes within 50 miles.

View attachment 2020679

You know how the Pistol River got it,s name? You drink beer till midnight,Pistol dawn! Nice gold OV!

 

[Tesorodeoro]

In the late 1970s, early 1980s nuggetshooting was in its infancy. Large, even multi-ounce nuggets were being found almost daily. By 1990, nuggetshooting was in full swing, and multi-ounce finds were becoming scarce. You could still drop a 4" dredge in just about any river and come away with a few ounces for your trouble.

By the early 2000s, a little gold prospecting was on many people's bucket lists. Several prospectors, including myself, opened gold tourism businesses to take advantage of the surge in gold mining popularity. Then the "Green Meanies" and new regulations started to attack the hobby, and gold mining in general.

Today, areas are limited, gold is scarce, equipment is expensive, and our society has changed dramatically (think "girlie men"). The "hobby," can only be practiced by those in placer gold bearing states. Most club claims are played out, private claims are expensive. Scams rule as idiots flip fake claims or worthless plots of barren soil to pilgrims.

It will never go away though.

Terry, I would disagree with your assertion that only people in gold bearing states can mine because people are limited to played out club claims and expensive private claims. My point of view (from a person living in the middle of gold country) is that there are MANY unclaimed areas to prospect gold, be it placer, float gold, or lode deposits. These areas are not published in books or magazines, but they ARE disclosed in published documents and maps. Your assessment could be compared to say elk hunting…right down to the expensive equipment. Doesn’t slow out of state hunters much. Maybe switch up your detecting vacations and start hunting “public ground” out west instead of popular pay to play areas. The newest gold detectors are expensive, but are incredibly easy to use. They only require basic digging and recovery skills. They are also drastically more sensitive, detect deeper than most detectors used historically in the gold fields, and are light weight and very well balanced. That means worked out ground is new again.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

Gold prospecting is great in Oregon! Republic mining helps us a lot. 820 acres of mining claims throughout Oregon, Washington, and California. 99 bucks a year.

Republic Mining – Helping Miners Mine

republicmining.com

A couple of grams from a coastal creek. 8 rivers close. The Klamath, Smith, Whinchuck, Chetco, Rogue, Pistol, Elk and the Sixes within 50 miles.

View attachment 2020679

Shhh. Don‘t think of mentioning all the lode deposits that fed those rivers.

 

[opalboy]

I was out this last weekend, got me some! I can find some gold, but time is always a problem, finding the time!

 

[Terry Soloman]

The newest gold detectors are expensive, but are incredibly easy to use. They only require basic digging and recovery skills. They are also drastically more sensitive, detect deeper than most detectors used historically in the gold fields, and are light weight and very well balanced. That means worked out ground is new again.

How long will it take to pay off a Minelab GPZ finding one-gram pickers? Almost all the big, easy, gold is gone. Paying off a Goldbug II on today's claims takes forever.

 

[goldnuggets]

I noticed that not many gold folks are on the forum last few years, was wondering what caused people to leave, was it the political environment ?
Or just that prospecting has lost it's shine and no one's doing it ?
Maybe we can get some honest answers here.
I would hope that it was lack of prospectors and not mining folks being divided by politics, we are already so few in numbers, I feel some days I'm the only one left ...
Anyways just something I'm wondering about.....
Gt......

The younger people aren’t really into it it seems. They just wanna play video games and find virtual treasure instead of real treasure. I think it’s mainly just a dying hobby unfortunately, but hey more for us I guess!

 

[gold tramp]

Terry, I would disagree with your assertion that only people in gold bearing states can mine because people are limited to played out club claims and expensive private claims. My point of view (from a person living in the middle of gold country) is that there are MANY unclaimed areas to prospect gold, be it placer, float gold, or lode deposits. These areas are not published in books or magazines, but they ARE disclosed in published documents and maps. Your assessment could be compared to say elk hunting…right down to the expensive equipment. Doesn’t slow out of state hunters much. Maybe switch up your detecting vacations and start hunting “public ground” out west instead of popular pay to play areas. The newest gold detectors are expensive, but are incredibly easy to use. They only require basic digging and recovery skills. They are also drastically more sensitive, detect deeper than most detectors used historically in the gold fields, and are light weight and very well balanced. That means worked out ground is new again.

Always easy for us locals to talk about ease of finding gold or knowing where to look, coming from out of state most don't even know where to camp, not knowing the terrain or even where to look is a big disadvantage to even getting one coil over gold, most districts only have gold concentrations in certain areas, and those have been picked to death.
How many elk hunters bag one just coming in from out of state? I'm sure it's like gold nuggets one relys heavily on luck ..
Gt ....

 

[goldnuggets]

If history repeats it self there will be more mining activity when each new depression / recession comes around.

Hard work with little returns is more common now however with determination can go a long way's in the direction that can spell success for anyone who sticks with it.

Depressions open up a lot of new horizons for people who don’t instantly crumble during them. You’re completely right. There’s still enough gold in this country to spark anouther rush for sure. They never even found the mother lode in alder gulch before they stopped mining out there in the 1920s

 

[goldnuggets]

If it is "Critical minerals" you will have Congress backing up the mining big time.

Always easy for us locals to talk about ease of finding gold or knowing where to look, coming from out of state most don't even know where to camp, not knowing the terrain or even where to look is a big disadvantage to even getting one coil over gold, most districts only have gold concentrations in certain areas, and those have been picked to death.
How many elk hunters bag one just coming in from out of state? I'm sure it's like gold nuggets one relys heavily on luck ..
Gt ....

Enough research and anyone from out of state can come and have a decent idea of where to start looking. Personally I live in Estes but typically go to the western side of the divide to detect or prospect. That doesn’t mean there’s no gold on the eastern slopes. Just means (personally my opinion) the Rocky Mountain national area may have been over looked due to the gold rush at pikes. Then the park was established and you can’t claim on federal land.

 

[goldnuggets]

How long will it take to pay off a Minelab GPZ finding one-gram pickers? Almost all the big, easy, gold is gone. Paying off a Goldbug II on today's claims takes forever.

It’s still out there in places people have looked. Remote hard to get areas no one ever went to. Sure it’s not as easy as the old timers had it, but I’m sure there’s big chunks up in a tributary that’s been overlooked for centuries

 

[gold tramp]

It’s still out there in places people have looked. Remote hard to get areas no one ever went to. Sure it’s not as easy as the old timers had it, but I’m sure there’s big chunks up in a tributary that’s been overlooked for centuries

I doubt one could find a spot that hasn't been visited by miners from the early days, I tell ya the old timers had it far worse than we do today, they may of got the cream, but many lost there lives from just exposure to the elements, not to mention everything was either carried on ones back or by beast of burden. Working was done by hand in the beginning.
We have it made today compared to days of old it's just harder to find the yeller stuff.
Gt....

 

[Tesorodeoro]

How long will it take to pay off a Minelab GPZ finding one-gram pickers? Almost all the big, easy, gold is gone. Paying off a Goldbug II on today's claims takes forever.

Like I said, maybe venture off those worked claims. People are still “paying” detectors off in finds. I’m watching someone work towards paying off a GPX 6000. I have complete confidence that it will happen before the end of the year.

 

[russau]

The time is coming when we ALL will have the time to get out prospecting.......A resesion is here and the DEPRESION is on it's foot steps. We might not have the $$$ to do what we like BUT we will have the time for it !

 

[Reed Lukens]

I ended up moving to AZ last year... then put my back out moving, been recovering for 6 months... I'm doing great today, but it's been a long haul. Running my own mining business and having it destroyed by the low life state California has left me far away from the left coast. Never again wil my 2- 8" dredges be able to run there.
I do love Arizona ❤ 😍 💖
I'm still mining here, and involved with the local mining association here, just not much lately being that I'm still recovering. But.. I'm just about ready, moving good again, swimming & getting built back up to go out.
I've been teaching people on the net for over 20 years and so many people know my old answers by heart these days, that I've been able to read posts and not have to answer them myself, while watching other "Far Younger Miners" give excellent advice.
Advice that puts a huge smile on my face 😀😃🙂
I fought the good fight and I've been loving my retirement. No more politics for me