The only way to find out is to test the area. There are several ways to do this.
first get in the creek and test samples from any bedrock cracks that run more or less
across the creek; and BE SURE you get it all. You want to leave CLEAN bedrock on the
bottom. Take samples from behind any large boulders again try to get to bed rock if
you can. Take note if there are different colored layers of material as you dig your
samples, and take a sample from each if they are present. Take good notes as you take
your samples ( how much gold found in each sample, depth of sample, color of material,
etc. etc.) After you sample the whole length of the creek , start at the lower end of the creek
on one side and above any sign of high water or flood material and take samples every fifty
feet as you move to the upper end of the creek( mark the location of each sample with a stick
with a numbered tag fixed to it. Do the same thing on the other side of the creek. This will
tell you if the gold is coming from a lode up on the side of the hill and what side. If you are
getting ANY gold AT ALL in one of these samples, go back to where you started on that side
and move up the hill about fifty feet and right above sample number two of your first row and
continue to sample at this elevation above your first row until you get to the next to the last
sample you took on your first row. What you are doing here is if you draw it out on paper is
rows of samples on the side of the hill in the shape of a pyramid that will lead you to the point
where the gold is coming out of the ground. Lots of work? YES! But then you KNOW where
the gold is and/or coming from and that is what you are after to start with. Then and only then
can you tell if the area is worth more time and labor and money.
??I am new at this could you give me any good pointers ?this is a old mine that was never worked report from one source back in 1910said it was not proftible what do you think would it be proftible today
