Gold prospecting in South Carolina

[Cstyle00]

Hey fellow prospectors and treasure hunters. I started this thread to see what people had to say about gold still in South Carolina. I aq'uired a small tract of land in Smyrna, York County. Land has been untouched since the California rush (except the little old lady that lived there since 1912). Basically I'm wondering has anyone ever picked up a nug in SC. I understand that it would be rare and would be quartz, not like a nug found in the west. If anyone knows of the Dixon Mine, Martin Mine, Horn Mine, or Southern Gold Mine which all closed in 1939 I think by Roosevelt because of the war. I'm near there. They were pulling some good size nugs from the myths. So let me know of your stories of gold found in SC.

Using a White's GMT. So far about 20 hrs. prospecting. Digging everything under 85% iron somtimes I dig targets anyway off of fence lines. Slow going lots of nails and .22 cal. bullets in rocky soil. Found a few buttons with no markings and some worn down axe heads about 14" down under large roots. Makes you wonder what happened to make someone be so careless with such a valuable asset of the time. I'm going to search it all of course, consentrating on the tickest areas of the forest first since the leaves are down and try to hit as many ridges and hillsides before summer slows things even worse. I'm detecting the area first then I'll dig some prostpecting pits. What gold have you guys seen in SC?

 

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[behappyjason]

My hole and what I've been digging up

 

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[southern gent]

You guys are on some cool ground there. That rock is likely full of gold, but its gonna be small. You never know though!!
I hope you find a nugget the size of your fist!!!

 

[behappyjason]

That would be nice. But I doubt it. Most of gold around here is very small because of all the metamorphism of the plates when the continents collided and the quartz occurred or formed after so everything in the veins is from what it picked up as it passed through the ore. But I could be wrong and that's why I keep looking even when I don't find much.

Just keep digging and the gold is where u find it.

 

[sideshowmick]

I have crushed similar rocks and haven't found any gold in them. The gold I have found is in the sand and rocks. Lots of sand and rocks.if you do find a rock that has visible gold in it DONT CRUSH IT until you get it assayed.

 

[behappyjason]

The quartz I had assayed was .03 ounces per ton but was mostly quartz not the stuff in the picture but came from same vein

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

Ive solved my water issue. Now im having trouble with my sluice clogging up.

View attachment 865330

Do I need more or less pitch?

I was having that same worry with my box until I heard this piece of info. Now remember that normally you dont want to go jamming your fingers into the area behind the riffle but its ok when you are trying to figure out how your sluice is running especially when you just start out or the water is too muddy to see whats happening. Go ahead and run some dirt then run your finger behind one of the riffles. If the dirt moves out of the way pretty easy this is a good sign and it means that the material is loose and exchanging. If it is hard packed this means that it is just settling and your gold is just flowing over that packed dirt. You are going to have to experiment with pitch and flow until it loosens up. I know this is an older thread but I am just reading up. Keep up the good work guys! Great gold in this thread for the areas being worked!

 

[sideshowmick]

Thanks layn. I was thinking along those lines. Youve just reassured my thoughts. It seems to be going well so far!! Thanks again.

 

[sideshowmick]

I think this is too much.



I need to build this to withstand the water pressure.



Wish me luck!!. Lol!

 

[behappyjason]

Nice pump how wide is ur sluice

 

[behappyjason]

Ur going to be running material like gold rush does before u know it

 

[sideshowmick]

To be honest... I haven't messured it. I'd guess 12 inches or so.

 

[KevinInColorado]

To be honest... I haven't messured it. I'd guess 12 inches or so.

boy is this ever begging for a crude joke or two... ,

 

[sideshowmick]

)

 

[sideshowmick]

So...any idea how to get this out of my snuffer bottle?

 

[enamel7]

So...any idea how to get this out of my snuffer bottle?

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=893236"/>

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=893237"/>

Put water in bottle. Pull straw out of bottle. Put empty vial on top of bottle. Turn bottle over and shake, keeping vial pressed securely against bottle. Gold will fall into vial.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

So...any idea how to get this out of my snuffer bottle?

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=893236"/>

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=893237"/>

I always use a flask funnel. Place the funnel upside down on top of the open bottle then place the vial on top over the end of the funnel. Flip it all over in one motion holding the three tight together. Then swirl the water into a vortex pretty violently and the gold will drop into the vial. Lift the bottle off the funnel first letting the remainder of the water flow over the edges of the funnel. Then slowly break the seal between the vial and the funnel allowing the remaining water in the funnel to flow out of the top of the vial. Do the last part under water if possible and it's less likely to blow the gold out of the vial but if you can't then do it slowly enough to prevent the gold from blowing out of the vial. It's not so hard once you get the hang of it but remember to do all of it over your pan so that if you do spill you can start over.

 

[sideshowmick]

Thats awesome. I will try that in the morning.

 

[sideshowmick]

Yesterdays finds at 60x magnification

 

[behappyjason]

Nice

 

[sideshowmick]

Thank you. :-D