Pay Pile

southfork

Bronze Member
Jun 15, 2014
2,299
7,478
California
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I've posted on a couple different threads of my sons prospecting panning / metal detecting on this tailing pile. This is a big unwashed pay pile from the gold rush the rest of the tailing piles along this ravine are all rock no soil. My son has been digging away at the base of the pile where it rests on bedrock this pile is all hand dug and piled by the early miners. This is a big pile all we need is water not enough rain yet to run a sluice and too damp for a dry washer. I might start shoveling this into a quad trailer and haul it closer to water look at the photo the quad is parked on top of the pile not sure about length yet. But he's found enough gold to give me the fever. Happy mining, I added a photo of a pile we moved with the skid steer all rock no soil.
 

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Upvote 16

russau

Gold Member
May 29, 2005
7,250
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St. Louis, missouri
I assume you already checked the ownership of this land BEFORE you started digging. And in Cal. i'd really check BEFORE I'd bring in a skidster ! Cal. is VERY temperamental about anyone digging in "their" land!:BangHead: BUT GREAT FIND AND GOOD LUCK ! Please keep us posted on your progress !
 

beekbuster

Hero Member
Jan 17, 2015
750
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gpz (died in a fire. rip)
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I assume you already checked the ownership of this land BEFORE you started digging. And in Cal. i'd really check BEFORE I'd bring in a skidster ! Cal. is VERY temperamental about anyone digging in "their" land!:BangHead: BUT GREAT FIND AND GOOD LUCK ! Please keep us posted on your progress !
It is his property. But knowing California they might still have a problem with it. I know you can move 100 yards without a permit, but if any of it makes it into the creek water, you are asking for big fines, even if the rain carries the material there. ( if it ever rains again)
 

Tesorodeoro

Bronze Member
Jan 21, 2018
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I assume you already checked the ownership of this land BEFORE you started digging. And in Cal. i'd really check BEFORE I'd bring in a skidster ! Cal. is VERY temperamental about anyone digging in "their" land!:BangHead: BUT GREAT FIND AND GOOD LUCK ! Please keep us posted on your progress !
Jeeze! Way to throw a wet towel on their excitement! I know you were just trying to be helpful, but I think we are all well aware of the boot on our neck. Especially in California.
 

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southfork

southfork

Bronze Member
Jun 15, 2014
2,299
7,478
California
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I assume you already checked the ownership of this land BEFORE you started digging. And in Cal. i'd really check BEFORE I'd bring in a skidster ! Cal. is VERY temperamental about anyone digging in "their" land!:BangHead: BUT GREAT FIND AND GOOD LUCK ! Please keep us posted on your progress !
I own it and building a fire break right through these piles I don't need permission. I thought everyone would be interested in left over pay piles. Just clearing off an old road of all the dead and down trees and brush
 

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southfork

southfork

Bronze Member
Jun 15, 2014
2,299
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California
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This is from a half a pail of soil off the side of tailing pile. A few specks nice spot for a sluice if the rains return my personal finds today and the total take so far from the pile.
 

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arizau

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May 2, 2014
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3,854
AZ
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Beach High Banker, Sweep Jig, Whippet Dry Washer, Lobo ST, 1/2 width 2 tray Gold Cube, numerous pans, rocker box, and home made fluid bed and stream sluices.
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Good luck......I hope that pile pays off for you.
 

pepperj

Gold Member
Feb 3, 2009
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Nice going on the gold.
Nice skidder also, I'd seriously give the left one for that.
 

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southfork

southfork

Bronze Member
Jun 15, 2014
2,299
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California
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Nice going on the gold.
Nice skidder also, I'd seriously give the left one for that.
I hired that logger and his machine to take out some gray pine and pile all the slash to burn. Opens the view and gets rid of ladder fuels below our place. Nice open fire break grass and oaks now.
 

pepperj

Gold Member
Feb 3, 2009
36,996
136,877
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Deus, Deus 2, Minelab 3030, E-Trac,
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
I hired that logger and his machine to take out some gray pine and pile all the slash to burn. Opens the view and gets rid of ladder fuels below our place. Nice open fire break grass and oaks now.
Living in a hot dry for years it's an investment.
Lucky we get seasons up here to keep it a tad moisturizer.
 

russau

Gold Member
May 29, 2005
7,250
6,700
St. Louis, missouri
Jeeze! Way to throw a wet towel on their excitement! I know you were just trying to be helpful, but I think we are all well aware of the boot on our neck. Especially in California.
Thankyou for the comment . BUT some of our younger member's might get ahead of themselves and NOT think of the consequence's BEFORE they act ! I know and have been there myself and saw a lot of other's(gpaa) doing so also. As they say , "a once of prevention is worth a pound of gold" !
 

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southfork

southfork

Bronze Member
Jun 15, 2014
2,299
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California
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Wow I thought this was a gold prospecting forum sorry if my meager finds upset anyone or maybe it's just jealousy.
 

Tesorodeoro

Bronze Member
Jan 21, 2018
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Wow I thought this was a gold prospecting forum sorry if my meager finds upset anyone or maybe it's just jealousy.
Southfork, You’ve got a nice thing going with having family nearby that share your interests, additionally that you own land that provides the opportunity to enjoy multiple hobbies all without having to travel. I’m happy for you that you may have found a pile of ground that might keep providing enough gold to keep pulling you and your family out into the sun working together. No telling what’s inside that pile of dirt. I enjoyed seeing what you have going on there.
 

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southfork

southfork

Bronze Member
Jun 15, 2014
2,299
7,478
California
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Southfork, You’ve got a nice thing going with having family nearby that share your interests, additionally that you own land that provides the opportunity to enjoy multiple hobbies all without having to travel. I’m happy for you that you may have found a pile of ground that might keep providing enough gold to keep pulling you and your family out into the sun working together. No telling what’s inside that pile of dirt. I enjoyed seeing what you have going on there.
Thanks keeps us close to home gold rush junk- bottles- gold and native American artifacts and arrowheads
 

russau

Gold Member
May 29, 2005
7,250
6,700
St. Louis, missouri
Southfork , my comment was NOT to "rain on your parade" ! I didn't see anything about that it was on your land before I wrote my comment ! If that was my land I would most likely do the same thing you are doing ! SORRY for the mess up on my part ! BUT it is good advice for the younger guys that are new to prospecting ! I hope you find the "motherload"!:occasion14:
 

OP
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southfork

southfork

Bronze Member
Jun 15, 2014
2,299
7,478
California
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Southfork , my comment was NOT to "rain on your parade" ! I didn't see anything about that it was on your land before I wrote my comment ! If that was my land I would most likely do the same thing you are doing ! SORRY for the mess up on my part ! BUT it is good advice for the younger guys that are new to prospecting ! I hope you find the "motherload"!:occasion14:
No problem I would not want someone with a skid steer trespassing on our land. It would be a bad day for them we have had problems with trespassers in the past.
 

beekbuster

Hero Member
Jan 17, 2015
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gpz (died in a fire. rip)
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I always appreciate your posts Southfork. Good stuff
 

Tesorodeoro

Bronze Member
Jan 21, 2018
1,216
1,903
Primary Interest:
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Thanks keeps us close to home gold rush junk- bottles- gold and native American artifacts and arrowheads
I know exactly what you mean. I just drove past 3 test holes and a pile of rocks surrounded by square nails if you know what I mean. Might drive out past the older stuff and see if something reflects back at me with the sun going down. ; )
 

Tesorodeoro

Bronze Member
Jan 21, 2018
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Literally the real treasure isn’t the gold. We have such a bigger reward than the folks who’s footsteps we are walking in. Their’s was a huge roll of the dice with everything on the line and life changing wealth as the jackpot….ours a side hobby with only the rules to fear and enjoyment spending time comfortably with our family as OUR PRIZE . No more grizzlies, just zombies and THE MAN fretting about water and missing out on potential fees and/or fines.
 

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