Prospecting geological clues, tips tricks, signs and anything else.

[MrGneissGuy]

Hey guys I've been wanting to start a thread where beginners like me can learn from experts like you. My hope is to have a thread where everyone can openly discuss things they look for when prospecting for gold. For example, someone might add (look for red coloring - this indicates oxidation) and any explanation about why it's important for finding gold. Other examples would be certain types of rocks and minerals, colors, shapes, faults and anything like that that you look for when prospecting. It would also be nice if you would include details of your location, obviously nothing too specific. I just mean "Northern California" or whatever you feel like including for reference.

What would be the perfect combination of geological signs indicating nearby presence of gold, besides finding gold...? Would it be granite, quartz, and red stuff nearby or what?

 

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[MrGneissGuy]

On a scale of 1 to 10 for an answer....10 being you really got it right I would score you a 3. you only gave 2 examples of intrusive igneous rocks and you said byproduct. But you are on the right track. Remember one thing: both placer and hard rock mining can utilize this knowledge and it is the most significant tool associated with locating valuable locatable minerals. I can't say more without giving away the significance.

This is a "geology 101" aspect of Geology/Mining. Thanks for giving it a lot of thought. Think some more....I believe you may come up with a better and complete answer. Having a Geology background and having been a miner for 40 years I can attest to the importance of the "Intrusive Igneous Rock" awareness. Maybe the geologic term "Orogeny" might help you get there.

Bejay

Damn it. Thanks for the push in the right direction though, this is great!

 

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[dave wiseman]

The main thing is to get and read the mining reports from your area of interest.Even in areas where there was/are vast gold deposits that dosen't mean that every square inch contains gold.The gold will be in the zones of mineralization which may be particular to that area.Actually this is like a gold bearing quartz vein where as some parts of the vein have pay streaks and other parts are lean or barren.Some veins may .The mining reports and histories will have rock types.What's true for finding gold in one mining district may not have any bearing at all in another.The same applies to mines/prospects/veins that are within a stone's throw of each other.Finding any color in a quartz vein sample is worth following as one never knows what's beyond the point of a pick.Read the book Handbook for Prospectors by Pearl or older editions by VonBernewitz,it's a bible of the trade..a never ending read.

 

[bobw53]

The main thing is to get and read the mining reports from your area of interest.

That ^^^

Research Research Research..

I don't know about where you're digging, but where I like to play, there are literally tons of reports out there.. Lots of stories also..
Its like prospecting from the couch.. And maps are fun too..

Another thing to think about. TIME!!! What is here today isn't what it looked like 1000 years ago, or a million years ago, or 30 million years ago..
That stream wasn't always there.. The ground you are standing on may have been 1000ft above you head, that kind of thing.

I have more fun(almost) researching and trying different things than I do actually getting gold..

 

[Nano]

I tried watching this show, and the bios of the team looked impressive. But after I saw all the bone-headed shenanigans and giant egos, and them getting excited about low-grade rubies that were hardly worth chiseling out of the rock, or trace amounts of gold...again...not worth mining -- yet everyone hooting and slapping high-fives, I gave up.

If you can ignore his silliness, watch some of Jeff Williams' videos ("Ask Jeff Williams") on YouTube. He is as knowledgeable as any PhD in geology, and in some of his videos describes how and where gold forms, and the types of rock to look for.

LOL.I find Jeff Williams just exhausts me but I go through it because he has some great knowledge. I just turn the volume down a lot. But worth the ear bashing for the lessons.

 

[Rail Dawg]

On a scale of 1 to 10 for an answer....10 being you really got it right I would score you a 3. you only gave 2 examples of intrusive igneous rocks and you said byproduct. But you are on the right track. Remember one thing: both placer and hard rock mining can utilize this knowledge and it is the most significant tool associated with locating valuable locatable minerals. I can't say more without giving away the significance.

This is a "geology 101" aspect of Geology/Mining. Thanks for giving it a lot of thought. Think some more....I believe you may come up with a better and complete answer. Having a Geology background and having been a miner for 40 years I can attest to the importance of the "Intrusive Igneous Rock" awareness. Maybe the geologic term "Orogeny" might help you get there.

Bejay

Perhaps just answer the question?

We all have access to Google.

But if you're an expert just share the knowledge.

That's what I would do anyway.

 

[Bejay]

Ok...fair enough:

Intrusive rocks are those rocks that are formed deep within the earths crust. Associated with "intrusive rock making" is the process of isolation of mineralization within the unique "alphabet soup mix" of cooling separation within magmas. I won't get into that process. So one might ask: "How do these deep seated intrusive formations get to the surface". Faulting is one way but Orogeny (Mtn Building and the up thrust that occurs) brings these intrusive rocks (rock formations) to the surface.....and faulting is associated in the Orogeny process. These rocks can then be eroded into streams and be exposed in outcroppings etc.

So when one finds intrusive rocks (I'll allow you to look all of them up), one can ascertain there is a potential to find mineralization. Gold is not formed on the surface of this planet, but rather deep within the crust and is thrust upwards via geologic processes. Whenever I am in the outdoors (fishing, hunting, etc) and I see intrusive igneous rocks I pay close attention. In streams I use a gold pan. In outcroppings I look for unique mineralization. An obvious notation is quartz...but not clear white quartz....as one always looks for mineralization'd quartz.

I believe this will serve any prospector well, and it does not have to always be associated with others who have made discoveries.

This method has served me well and I have made discoveries where no claims have ever existed. Like you say: your computer has a vast amount of knowledge, and learning a little about "intrusive igneous rocks" will not be difficult.

Google away!

Bejay

 

[Rail Dawg]

Ok...fair enough:

Intrusive rocks are those rocks that are formed deep within the earths crust. Associated with "intrusive rock making" is the process of isolation of mineralization within the unique "alphabet soup mix" of cooling separation within magmas. I won't get into that process. So one might ask: "How do these deep seated intrusive formations get to the surface". Faulting is one way but Orogeny (Mtn Building and the up thrust that occurs) brings these intrusive rocks (rock formations) to the surface.....and faulting is associated in the Orogeny process. These rocks can then be eroded into streams and be exposed in outcroppings etc.

So when one finds intrusive rocks (I'll allow you to look all of them up), one can ascertain there is a potential to find mineralization. Gold is not formed on the surface of this planet, but rather deep within the crust and is thrust upwards via geologic processes. Whenever I am in the outdoors (fishing, hunting, etc) and I see intrusive igneous rocks I pay close attention. In streams I use a gold pan. In outcroppings I look for unique mineralization. An obvious notation is quartz...but not clear white quartz....as one always looks for mineralization'd quartz.

I believe this will serve any prospector well, and it does not have to always be associated with others who have made discoveries.

This method has served me well and I have made discoveries where no claims have ever existed. Like you say: your computer has a vast amount of knowledge, and learning a little about "intrusive igneous rocks" will not be difficult.

Google away!

Bejay

Good stuff!

Thanks!

 

[MrGneissGuy]

Ok...fair enough:

Intrusive rocks are those rocks that are formed deep within the earths crust. Associated with "intrusive rock making" is the process of isolation of mineralization within the unique "alphabet soup mix" of cooling separation within magmas. I won't get into that process. So one might ask: "How do these deep seated intrusive formations get to the surface". Faulting is one way but Orogeny (Mtn Building and the up thrust that occurs) brings these intrusive rocks (rock formations) to the surface.....and faulting is associated in the Orogeny process. These rocks can then be eroded into streams and be exposed in outcroppings etc.

So when one finds intrusive rocks (I'll allow you to look all of them up), one can ascertain there is a potential to find mineralization. Gold is not formed on the surface of this planet, but rather deep within the crust and is thrust upwards via geologic processes. Whenever I am in the outdoors (fishing, hunting, etc) and I see intrusive igneous rocks I pay close attention. In streams I use a gold pan. In outcroppings I look for unique mineralization. An obvious notation is quartz...but not clear white quartz....as one always looks for mineralization'd quartz.

I believe this will serve any prospector well, and it does not have to always be associated with others who have made discoveries.

This method has served me well and I have made discoveries where no claims have ever existed. Like you say: your computer has a vast amount of knowledge, and learning a little about "intrusive igneous rocks" will not be difficult.

Google away!

Bejay

I duno, I think my answer was better

 

[dave wiseman]

Go where the gold was/is..nothing better than in the field hands on training..especially if you can find an experienced partner.

 

[N-Lionberger]

in public locations that have been hit super hard try the ground that is near water too slow to sluice in.

 

[MrGneissGuy]

Hey guys quick question about bench deposits. I was driving into gold country for work yesterday, and literally on the side of the freeway I saw a small bench deposit. Interestingly, this was in an area that would have flooded out of the auriferous mountains and has been large scale mined for gravel and sand and still is even. Are these kinds of benches worth checking? Or do bench deposits have to be on top of bedrock or a false bedrock? I'm also wondering when I go to the river, when I see random bench deposits on the side of the hill like a cliff face, if those have anything in them but they are just too dangerous to access or something. It seems like you could throw a rock at it and make it "avalanche" down and you could just shovel it all up. Here's an example, some of you may have seen this exact area and/or picture before...but today it looks different. There is more exposed cliff face toward the bottom due to erosion and that hole is gone. Again, this is just an example as the entire area is similar.

 

[N-Lionberger]

Sample it and find out.

 

[MrGneissGuy]

Sample it and find out.

Ok I will! I also don't want to make any people mad by "ruining nature" or anything. I would really hate to throw a rock and cause a major event. Reminds me of those boy scout kids that pushed over that ancient rock. I highly doubt that would happen since the ground is solid like concrete, but anything is possible.

 

[N-Lionberger]

Seems like the best bench material I have worked was pretty well cemented.

 

[nadavis]

In SW Oregon and Calif there is one huge indicator that can be easily seen on the ground or easily with GE. Not saying dikes on the top of intrusives should not always be investigated, but the gold in SW Oregon is usually associated with metamorphic rocks, specifically greenstone in close proximity to serpentine. In Calif the higher eastern granite type rocks are relatively barren of gold, the mother lode region starts in the north south running serpentine belt lower and to the west. The local indicators would be lots of quartz and metamorphic rocks. A good understanding of plate tectonics is helpful. The big indicator is that serpentine is a terrible soil, but greenstone grows stuff really well. So even if the rocks both look similar just look at where the trees and brush are. Anyway, I am still learning please feel free to correct me if I have got some of this wrong. Anyone?

 

[KevinInColorado]

Could this be glacial till instead of old riverbed? The larger Rocks look more random than riverbed cuts I've seen.

 

[goldog]

No glaciers here, that we know of. In so cal so these "piles" may be more like a lahar of volcanic origin. If it's not water worn I tend to ignore. Unless someone has worked it.

 

[utah mason]

Ok I will! I also don't want to make any people mad by "ruining nature" or anything. I would really hate to throw a rock and cause a major event. Reminds me of those boy scout kids that pushed over that ancient rock. I highly doubt that would happen since the ground is solid like concrete, but anything is possible.

That was here in Utah at goblin valley. At least they filmed it so the whole world could see what idiots they are. The most frustrating thing is that it wasn't a bunch of scouts, it was their leaders.

 

[MrGneissGuy]

No glaciers here, that we know of. In so cal so these "piles" may be more like a lahar of volcanic origin. If it's not water worn I tend to ignore. Unless someone has worked it.

Is that picture I sent not water worn? I thought it was.

 

[goldog]

Talk to Kevin. The picture looks good to me as far as it being water worn.

Can you dig it? I'm not sure. In a couple threads and our conversations you're looking up. Bench deposits. In the EF it may cause you troubles with LEOs. 🤔.