Placer Claim Mined Out?

[desertgolddigger]

I belong to a local club that owns a claim. This club has had this claim for many years, and acquired it after the old timers had mined it previously, and others after they commercial outfits closed up.
I walked quite a bit of the 160 acre claim, and noted that just about every wash had been worked. Most of the surface nuggets has also been detected by those with gold detectors. In other words, this place has been picked over and over and over.
But I m a stubborn type of person, and I figured, just watching how people ram their puffer and blower drywashers, that some gold was just being blown through them. maybe not much, but some small stuff that never got a chance to settle behind the riffles.
I know many of you would never go to the effort of digging for three to four hours through the tailings in these washes. Again, I'm a bit stubborn, and anyway, I just wanted to have some fun locally, instead of driving 300 miles roundtrip to something that gives a little more for less effort.
I've spent the last three weeks, digging a few times a week along about 30 yards of wash, and have recovered just about a gram of gold. That might not seem like much, but I have only dug up 5 grams, not counting this one gram in almost 20 years out here drywashing in the desert of southern California.
As you would know, things always seem to go wrong. My gas powered blower motor decided it was time for the repair shop, and haven't heard from the shop in two weeks. So I purchased a WORX WG521 corded electric leaf blower to use with my Royal Large drywasher. I'm using a portable generator to provide the power. And it actually is working better than with my old gas powered blower. I have to run the blower on the lowest speed, or I just blow everything through the riffles. Results are very good, as I am getting gold specks so small that I will have to use the Blue bowl in order to recover them.
I'm not only getting a little gold, I'm having some fun, and I am getting a good workout. I've lost 10 pounds since I started. So things are going well.
I'm still digging test holes around the old time hard rock mines in the hope I will find where the gold has drifted downhill below these mines. So far just a couple specks here and there. I figure I just have to move laterally one way or the other before I get something better Of course, I' don't really know if the old timers stripped the hillsides. Even if they have, they apparently aren't as thorough as I am. I hope that I may be lucky and find a larger piece of gold that the old timers, previous placer miners, and detectorists have missed.
Hope everyone is having as much fun as I have been having.

 

[Assembler]

I keep the mixer tilted so the balls never contact that area. I never overfill a mixer, as generally they are under powered.

The long pounding time will wear the whole sheet metal drum out in time (1-5 months) so that holes will start to show up.

 

[desertgolddigger]

The long pounding time will wear the whole sheet metal drum out in time (1-5 months) so that holes will start to show up.

The balls don't pound, they roll. But yes, that may happen, though so far, all that's happened is the paint on the inside has been remove in some places. That's after hundreds of hours of operation over the past five or so years.

 

[Assembler]

The balls don't pound, they roll. But yes, that may happen, though so far, all that's happened is the paint on the inside has been remove in some places. That's after hundreds of hours of operation over the past five or so years.

The action is better if the balls pound as far as a crush goes. At a slower speed there is more of a grind including the sheet metal. In one month there is around 700 - 750 hours of grinding time give or take.

 

[desertgolddigger]

The action is better if the balls pound as far as a crush goes. At a slower speed there is more of a grind including the sheet metal. In one month there is around 700 - 750 hours of grinding time give or take.

I keep you to your prediction, and let you know. I run the ball mill five hours each session. As I stated, I have hundreds of hours on the machine, with no wear other than the paint. I used it for laying my driveway and sidewalks.

 

[Assembler]

I keep you to your prediction, and let you know. I run the ball mill five hours each session. As I stated, I have hundreds of hours on the machine, with no wear other than the paint. I used it for laying my driveway and sidewalks.

Well you will get a much better idea of what supper fines are in the rock you are processing. At the much slower speed add a more months of hours before adding sheet metal. At a higher speed where the balls are pounding just keep an eye on it for the added wear.

If and when some holes happen no big deal as you can add more sheet metal in the wear zone.

 

[southfork]

Do you have 220 coming into your main electrical panel a jaw crusher will make life so much easier. After crushing the chain mill will turn the ore to dust.

 

[desertgolddigger]

Guys, I keep getting surprised over and over. The sand I ran yesterday produced pretty good gold. My sluice catch bucket contained that material, so I decided to ball mill it one more time to see what happened.

I fully expected very little or no gold, but I ended up with a little more than I got from yesterday's ball milling. This means I've gotten more from the sand than the material I run after chain milling. I've basically doubled my take.

I now will be saving all the sands from the waste pile material chain milling, and try to find an easy and cheap way of turning the sand into a fine powder. My chain mill just isn't capable of that, and trying makes the chain mill housing wear faster for some reason. Maybe it's like sandblasting something. The sand keeps taking a super thin layer of the inside.

Anyway, I now know not to throw anything away until it's turned to paste.

 

[desertgolddigger]

Do you have 220 coming into your main electrical panel a jaw crusher will make life so much easier. After crushing the chain mill will turn the ore to dust.

I do have 220, but no spare space. I would need a 100 foot extension cord. I could plug into my 30 amp 220 socket that runs my clothes dryer.

I've looked at these jaw crushers, but nowhere do I find a source for replacement jaw plates. That's put me off from purchasing one, as the jaws eventually wear out, and do need replacement.

 

[desertgolddigger]

Well you will get a much better idea of what supper fines are in the rock you are processing. At the much slower speed add a more months of hours before adding sheet metal. At a higher speed where the balls are pounding just keep an eye on it for the added wear.

If and when some holes happen no big deal as you can add more sheet metal in the wear zone.

Yes, some of the gold was flattened, and floating, even with Finish in the water. Some of that gold is invisible to a five power loupe, which probably is close to 800 mesh in size.

I just wish I'd know that i was throwing away gold before. When I first started with hard rock, I actually threw away gold. Why? When I panned it, it didn't settle in the pan corner, so I assumed it was Pyrites. The problem was I didn't know how to pan back then. I was a placer miner, and most placer gold in my area is 100 mesh and larger, when you can find it.

I figure I've probably thrown two thirds of the gold contained in the rock I've work because of ignorance.

 

[desertgolddigger]

Do you have 220 coming into your main electrical panel a jaw crusher will make life so much easier. After crushing the chain mill will turn the ore to dust.

Hey Southfork, Do you have a picture of your jaw crusher here on TN. If not, could you please tell me what one on EBay or wherever you got yours, is listed.

As for chain mills, both of mine have housing problems needing our local welder to fix. So, until I have some money, I'm down for milling, except for the cement mixer ball mill. Problem is that it's getting warmer, and it shut down due to the motor overheating. I'll have to shut things down hourly now to prevent that.

 

[bigtruck68]

Guys, I keep getting surprised over and over. The sand I ran yesterday produced pretty good gold. My sluice catch bucket contained that material, so I decided to ball mill it one more time to see what happened.

I fully expected very little or no gold, but I ended up with a little more than I got from yesterday's ball milling. This means I've gotten more from the sand than the material I run after chain milling. I've basically doubled my take.

I now will be saving all the sands from the waste pile material chain milling, and try to find an easy and cheap way of turning the sand into a fine powder. My chain mill just isn't capable of that, and trying makes the chain mill housing wear faster for some reason. Maybe it's like sandblasting something. The sand keeps taking a super thin layer of the inside.

Anyway, I now know not to throw anything away until it's turned to paste.

Turns out the “waste pile” was just shy gold waiting for a second date

 

[N-Lionberger]

I do have 220, but no spare space. I would need a 100 foot extension cord. I could plug into my 30 amp 220 socket that runs my clothes dryer.

I've looked at these jaw crushers, but nowhere do I find a source for replacement jaw plates. That's put me off from purchasing one, as the jaws eventually wear out, and do need replacement.

Just get ‘em hard faced by a welder when they wear down.

What the heck is assembler talking about with grinding wheels, not sure he understands how an arrastra is made. Also balls in a ball mill roll lol you want to pound rocks get a stampmill. Iirc gold tramps arrastra was built from a mil surplus truck transmission.

 

[Assembler]

Just get ‘em hard faced by a welder when they wear down.

What the heck is assembler talking about with grinding wheels, not sure he understands how an arrastra is made. Also balls in a ball mill roll lol you want to pound rocks get a stampmill. Iirc gold tramps arrastra was built from a mil surplus truck transmission.

See attached:

 

[Assembler]

Just get ‘em hard faced by a welder when they wear down.

What the heck is assembler talking about with grinding wheels, not sure he understands how an arrastra is made. Also balls in a ball mill roll lol you want to pound rocks get a stampmill. Iirc gold tramps arrastra was built from a mil surplus truck transmission.

When the balls come to a stop or a sharp drop in speed that is a form of pounding on the material that transfers all the way through.

 

[southfork]

Hey Southfork, Do you have a picture of your jaw crusher here on TN. If not, could you please tell me what one on EBay or wherever you got yours, is listed.

As for chain mills, both of mine have housing problems needing our local welder to fix. So, until I have some money, I'm down for milling, except for the cement mixer ball mill. Problem is that it's getting warmer, and it shut down due to the motor overheating. I'll have to shut things down hourly now to prevent that.

This is the same company and looks like the same model works great. The feed needs to be small around 1 1/2 inches but it makes little chips out of anything you feed it. https://www.amazon.com/TECHTONGDA-Crusher-Machine-Electric-Shatter/dp/B09TQPRY7B/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=D1SFGKZ6WWVA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yHu3agk4J1TlZ1Rm-G_TEQl5ME5jgB2rAB_oJsijXicqqEyk2Enu6rckSoKMJLzh4Jxg7NQg_aqlhrW0N3QXGhk7-ag182MAJTgxNrJlIagpK82JINue29ogSMsT2YriSmhjdcKno9If3xOnQ9Jn0CsOPRNOOuexTZABBBxS31XepjqfWaa5bjU4chqtdejES2FYuPhNzWcP92vzeAp9ONLErp_RdXQNaQYRVDo76CKB8Gth-2OI9A7_rFq3-36-Vlm6CUNHXClg5xifsV_oasXCl8cogkodRvP5eNiTpvI.pCZpQNSe182jZbHCvwhLlMnTSL62MBR18ZlGHVCFWUg&dib_tag=se&keywords=jaw+crusher+machine+for+rock&qid=1747583186&sprefix=Jaw+Crusher,aps,180&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

 

[desertgolddigger]

This is the same company and looks like the same model works great. The feed needs to be small around 1 1/2 inches but it makes little chips out of anything you feed it. https://www.amazon.com/TECHTONGDA-Crusher-Machine-Electric-Shatter/dp/B09TQPRY7B/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=D1SFGKZ6WWVA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yHu3agk4J1TlZ1Rm-G_TEQl5ME5jgB2rAB_oJsijXicqqEyk2Enu6rckSoKMJLzh4Jxg7NQg_aqlhrW0N3QXGhk7-ag182MAJTgxNrJlIagpK82JINue29ogSMsT2YriSmhjdcKno9If3xOnQ9Jn0CsOPRNOOuexTZABBBxS31XepjqfWaa5bjU4chqtdejES2FYuPhNzWcP92vzeAp9ONLErp_RdXQNaQYRVDo76CKB8Gth-2OI9A7_rFq3-36-Vlm6CUNHXClg5xifsV_oasXCl8cogkodRvP5eNiTpvI.pCZpQNSe182jZbHCvwhLlMnTSL62MBR18ZlGHVCFWUg&dib_tag=se&keywords=jaw+crusher+machine+for+rock&qid=1747583186&sprefix=Jaw+Crusher,aps,180&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Thanks so much. That's a pretty expensive unit. Has one plus, a collection box. At least it would save swinging a 2# sledge for an hour to get one five gallon bucket to run through the chain mill.

 

[arizau]

Hey desertgolddigger,
You may have already seen this ball mill study but, if not, it may help you to better understand the milling process and maybe improve your own setup. Google search "fine grinding in a horizontal ball mill". Scroll down and you will find the link in a ScienceDirect.com posting.

Good luck.

 

[desertgolddigger]

Hey desertgolddigger,
You may have already seen this ball mill study but, if not, it may help you to better understand the milling process and maybe improve your own setup. Google search "fine grinding in a horizontal ball mill". Scroll down and you will find the link in a ScienceDirect.com posting.

Good luck.

Yes, I kind of figured things out on that line. My cement mixer isn't the most efficient version of a ball mill.

Or should I say my cement mixer wasn't. Today I discovered why it was shutting down. The motor is coming to the end of its life. I can only get a maximum run of 15 minutes now, before overheating shuts it off.

Back to horizontal ball mills. I've looked at those on Alibaba, most of which are made in China, The ones they call mini ball mills are still huge, and I would have no way of moving one into my backyard. Nor could I maintain it. I'm just not mechanically inclined. The hatch itself must weigh nearly 100 pounds.

They also have what they call a laboratory grade for about $2000 shipped that can process a load of material (water/balls/material) weighing about 9 pounds. Not big enough, and they just don't have anything that will handle, say a 100 pound load. No one makes such an animal.

So it looks lie I will research a cement mixer with a stronger motor, at least one horsepower, instead of the myriad of mixers with 1/4 to 1/2 horsepower that just won't last long runs.

For now I've been stopped by the gremlin of destruction. I can't placer mine, as both my gas powered blower motors won't work, even though I changed the oil, air filters, and spark plugs. As I said, I just don't understand mechanical things, and consequently cannot fix them.

Both my chain mills are down due to housing cracks. I haven't a clue why that has happened. All my material I run is less than 1/2 inch. This payday I think I can afford to get one fixed at the local weld shop.

So I'm stuck with nothing when it comes to my passion, gold mining.

I ran only 15 cups of sand I pulled back from my flower bed where I had dumped it. Due to my mixer shutting down constantly, I only got two hours at most grinding it. Results were good considering the small amount of material, and mixer failure. Estimate is several hundred specks. Most of the material I tried to grind got somewhat smaller, but still looks like dine sand. There's probably hundreds, if not thousands of gold particles still waiting to be released.

Anyway, I need to research getting an older type cement mixer that has a lot thicker walls. I remember as a child watching the men build things, that their cement mixer drums were a lot thicker, nothing like the paper thin sheet metal they use nowadays.

 

[southfork]

Thanks so much. That's a pretty expensive unit. Has one plus, a collection box. At least it would save swinging a 2# sledge for an hour to get one five gallon bucket to run through the chain mill.

it's paid for itself many times over! the collection box needs to be bungee corded to stay shut. And the machine needs to be bolted to the ground.

 

[N-Lionberger]

I occasionally use a large rock tumbler as a rod mill. My local lapidary club has a large multi drum rock tumbler set up they built.