Northern California - Nuggets Only

[Honkey3k]

Hello,

I've been mostly lurking these forums for about a year now but have been mining since 2012. I was born and raised in Northern California, and I really enjoy mining for gold. I work a desk job so getting away at least once a week is critical to my mental happiness. No phones, no emails, no problems... Just the river. You can't beat it and I am so thankful to live in such a beautiful place.

I own a 36" Bazooka, 3"x50' complete gravity dredge with 12"x52" traditional sluice and a Honda GX120 hookah for sniping. I have only used the hookah once so far. Looking forward to spring and summer so I can really get used to diving. Below are some of my better finds. The large flat piece is 7.3 grams - the other two pieces were found within red, decaying bedrock.

 

[Honkey3k]

Some recent shots of the Bazooka.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Nice Gold!

 

[Aufisher]

Awesome gold! Looks like you are well set up to get more!

 

[KevinInColorado]

Welcome!!

 

[GoldpannerDave]

Nice looking gold you got there. Keep digging and keep posting (with pictures, of course). I like you choice of sluices, too.

How is that gravity dredge working for you? Often thought I might want to try one, but most of the places I go don't have the vertical drop so that I could use one. Fifty feet of three inch -- isn't that a lot of hassle to carry to a place where you _do_ have the vertical drop?

I wish you a very golden welcome; you will find this is a great online community.

 

[Honkey3k]

Nice looking gold you got there. Keep digging and keep posting (with pictures, of course). I like you choice of sluices, too.

How is that gravity dredge working for you? Often thought I might want to try one, but most of the places I go don't have the vertical drop so that I could use one. Fifty feet of three inch -- isn't that a lot of hassle to carry to a place where you _do_ have the vertical drop?

I wish you a very golden welcome; you will find this is a great online community.

Thank you Dave.

The gravity dredge is a huge pain in the a$$. I purchased two 25' sections of 3" waste water hose which is super heavy duty but man is it heavy. It is not realistic to carry the hoses so I purchased a flat top cart that I strap everything to. When I get the the right spot I just let 'r go tumbling down the hill... getting it back up is near impossible - but doable. I have some internal switch that believes if I work super hard to get the gold, the gold will be plentiful... however that is often not the case. I'm sure you all understand what I'm talking about

 

[GoldpannerDave]

Yes, we do understand!!

Yeah, super heavy duty also means super heavy. I like your approach; cart it in, throw it down the hill. Now get a winch to haul it back up the hill.

 

[stefen]

Just curious...where approximately are you finding gold bearing streams or rivers from Chico?

I'm located another several hundred miles (maybe 250 miles) further northwest near coastal Eureka...our gold is salmon, steelhead, trout, elk and bear on the Eel River

 

[Honkey3k]

Just curious...where approximately are you finding gold bearing streams or rivers from Chico?

I'm located another several hundred miles (maybe 250 miles) further northwest near coastal Eureka...our gold is salmon, steelhead, trout, elk and bear on the Eel River

I mine up in the foothills about 30min east of Chico. Feather River, Butte Creek, and some other small tributaries. The gold in and around the valley (Chico) has traveled so far its nothing but fine flake. I am not interested in that. Nuggets only

 

[GoldpannerDave]

I mine up in the foothills about 30min east of Chico. Feather River, Butte Creek, and some other small tributaries. The gold in and around the valley (Chico) has traveled so far its nothing but fine flake. I am not interested in that. Nuggets only

We all would like nuggets only, but where I am, a 3 mm x 3 mm flat piece of gold is a real find. So I have to save the little stuff, too. Below is some of the bigger stuff I find in Colorado. The largest, just right of center is the 3 mm x 3mm one.

 

[mikep691]

Welcome to the board, we take what we can get up by Quincy. The area has been pounded HARD over the years, so when we work, that gram or two at least pays for the beer.

 

[Honkey3k]

I really wish I was out mining in the hot summer sun! Can't wait to try my new Honda GX120 powered HOOOOKKAAHHHH

 

[SchoolOfHardRocks]

Geeze..talk about chunky!!!

 

[mytimetoshine]

Nuggets only...

 

[PurpleGold]

Beautiful spot and beautiful gold. Way to keep my fever rising there Honkey3k!

 

[eyemustdigtreasure]

Wow!
Those are fine nuggets, for sure!
Real "pickers"...!
They didn't travel too far from the source...!
(you got a claim, upstream....? hmmm??)

 

[Honkey3k]

Been a while... some pics from last summer;

 

[arizau]

Been a while... some pics from last summer;

View attachment 1803377
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Love the scenery, love the gold.

Good luck.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

That’s a good looking claim you have.