new to prospecting

[keeptheedge144]

pa prospecting help

Ok so i am new to this 100%. First thing is i am prospecting in north eastern pa and i am wondering if that is a good location to look for gold and if anyone has ever found anything there. I have done some research and have not found any answers. Also what do i look for? Thanks for all the help!

 

[TerryC]

144, You know you won't find much in PA, right? Don't get discouraged if you don't see any color for awhile. Just keep at it. If you are indeed 100% new, get some lead shot and practice panning. Maybe buy some paydirt to practice. Pan into another pan so you can re-do the same cons over and over again. Go to a garden shop and buy one of those black "tubs" they call "soil mixers" or something... the idea being, save the concentrates to pan more than once. TTC

 

[keeptheedge144]

why is there so little in pa? I looked on maps and stuff and it has the right bedrock and lays in the right spots i thought. I actually did get some paydirt to practice with. I went twice and thought i had some but i couldnt tell because they where so small.

 

[B H Prospector]

Hi 144 and welcome to the fever.
The reason Pa doesn't have much for gold is that it is all glacial gold brought down from Canada. Pa has no load deposits (gold locked in veins) that can be eroded out, like many western states have. Like Terry C said get some paydirt and practice panning. See if there is a club near you to join. They will have places to go and will help with the learning curve. Go through these forums and read every thing you can find that will help you answer any of your questions. There is a wealth of info in here and everyone is very helpful.
The gold you will find in Pa will be very small. If you find anything of size it will be extreamly rare. Here are some contacts in Pa for the GPAA. They are a good start for you as far as clubs go. Pick the one near you.

David Buzzard, Bethleham PA, 610-431-4693
Sean McGarry, Greenville PA, 330-793-5357
Gale Livelsberger, New Oxfors PA, 717-817-7569
Robert Seager, Port Matida PA, 717-935-5384

Hope this helps.

Good Luck!

BH Prospector

 

[TerryC]

why is there so little in pa? I looked on maps and stuff and it has the right bedrock and lays in the right spots i thought. I actually did get some paydirt to practice with. I went twice and thought i had some but i couldnt tell because they where so small.

Gold is basically a product of seismic activity and hydrothermal vents. You need the metals "in solution" and "faults" to hold it. The western states have (or had) an abundance of both at one time or another. That is why they have the gold. TTC

 

[TerryC]

why is there so little in pa? I looked on maps and stuff and it has the right bedrock and lays in the right spots i thought. I actually did get some paydirt to practice with. I went twice and thought i had some but i couldnt tell because they where so small.

If you bought paydirt, you better have some in there! They are selling you gold.... not dirt. TTC

 

[KevinInColorado]

The usual deal on pay dirt is to give you gold equal to about 50% of the price you pay...that is fair, less is a rip off. Maybe find a more experienced Panner to help you with it?

 

[chris rizin]

Lots of good info above! I can get the info of a mining store here in sacramento that is very fair in paydirt cost and amount of gold in each bag.

I paid 30$ for two bags and after panning and drying I figured from scale weight it only cost very close to 7$. Lots if flakes, a little bit of fines and a couple pickers in the two bags..

 

[KevinInColorado]

Lots of good info above! I can get the info of a mining store here in sacramento that is very fair in paydirt cost and amount of gold in each bag.

I paid 30$ for two bags and after panning and drying I figured from scale weight it only cost very close to 7$. Lots if flakes, a little bit of fines and a couple pickers in the two bags..

So 25% gold value? Sounds right for retail. Mail order should do better...about 50% as I said before although many will give you less...

 

[chris rizin]

So 25% gold value? Sounds right for retail. Mail order should do better...about 50% as I said before although many will give you less...

That just doesn't sound right.. I paid 30, retrieved 23$ worth of gold by weight.. So I lost 7$ in the grand scheme of things.. Is that still 25%? Not good with calculating percentages.. Either way its quality gold and consistent when I break down and buy a bag after not getting out and digging on my own..

Though.... If I add up the cost of gear, gas, food and labor etc. it almost seems these bags are paying off better lately! Lol.. I fail.. have fun

 

[KevinInColorado]

Oh I just read your post the other way. You did great at about 75% gold value!! Congrats

 

[Jeff95531]

"Though.... If I add up the cost of gear, gas, food and labor etc. it almost seems these bags are paying off better lately! Lol.. I fail.. have fun"

You are very wise for a rookie...most of us take years to learn that...if ever!

Welcome to the forum btw

 

[TerryC]

It is by far cheaper to buy cons than to pan out of the stream.... if from the East. If you live in the gold country, you can break even if you try hard. TTC

 

[keeptheedge144]

thank you all for your answers. I actually went for the heck of it this weekend in pa and the stream I was in a did find some gold. But its all super small and hard to get out even with tweezers. Is there any way to retrieve this super small gold flakes? And also the paydirt I got did have a nice amount of gold in it deff worth the money.

 

[mytimetoshine]

thank you all for your answers. I actually went for the heck of it this weekend in pa and the stream I was in a did find some gold. But its all super small and hard to get out even with tweezers. Is there any way to retrieve this super small gold flakes? And also the paydirt I got did have a nice amount of gold in it deff worth the money.

Snuffer bottle

 

[keeptheedge144]

I have one but I need to remove the sand from the tiny pieces. how do I do that? Ive tried a few diff methods and cant get it

 

[KevinInColorado]

I have one but I need to remove the sand from the tiny pieces. how do I do that? Ive tried a few diff methods and cant get it

I put that last bit of sand and gold dust in a ceramic soap dish with some water and swirl it to do the final separation...works great. Got the green soap dish at Walmart for less than $2!

 

[keeptheedge144]

how does that make it separate? Like I said im new and any tips of the trade help. Thank you!

 

[KevinInColorado]

how does that make it separate? Like I said im new and any tips of the trade help. Thank you!

Differences in specific gravity lead to the different materials moving differently when swirled in a soap dish full of water (not too full, don't want to spill it all over).

Use a magnet to remove any iron sand first as that makes separation easier too.