Prospecting the PNW

[BoulderTroll]

The first time I picked up a pan was the summer of 2020. I was about to go on a backpacking trip in central Idaho, and I knew the place had a rock mining history. So I bought a pan, watched some videos on YouTube, and set off to learn how to do it. When I finally did see that first color in the pan, I was hooked.

It’s been a few years and I have got a little more experienced. As well as spending hundreds of dollars some pocket change on equipment ;-)
I’ve been wanting to start a journal of sorts, and figured I’d do it here. I can share my experiences with others getting started, and seek some advice from those that know way more than me.

 

[Assembler]

Thing of the past, look up your local lapidary club….

Not completely just check them out as the people there can direct you.
The lapidary club may not be in every town.

 

[BoulderTroll]

It was a bit early for the season, but with the stresses of work and life, I couldn't miss an opportunity to get away and spend the night in the mountains. It was still very cold at night, but very worth it.

So I packed up the truck, and took the dog up for a scouting mission. Wanted to find out how much snow was left, and how far we could get up the road. Was able to drive up further than expected, but not as far as I had hoped. Was also able to scout out a few promising looking spots to look for gold this summer.

What caught my eye was some bedrock that forces all the river through a small gap. Just downstream it widens out, and water slows down dramatically. I had found similar situations in the past that had left a nice flood layer. So question of the day:
When you're scouting a new area, what kind of things do you look for when decided where to start testing?

 

[BoulderTroll]

It's finally getting to the best months of the year, and snow decided to melt, and rivers are running high. I took advantage of some good weather, skipped work and spent a couple nights in the mountains. When I saw the river level, I decided to do more exploring than prospecting. Decided to hike up a drainage that had some exploratory work done back in the 1800's, to see if there was anything worthwhile. Collected a few samples, and more than once wondering if I'm getting to old to be doing stuff like this.
I did find the leftovers of a cabin, a handful of adits, and what I assume to be a smelter (based on the chimney and refractory bricks) and some really interesting looking rocks. Haven't crushed them up to sample yet. I don't expect much out of them based on the old reports of the area. But the primary goal of this adventure was to find a spot that my boys would have a blast camping at and exploring around, and I think I nailed that one!

 

[Oregon Viking]

Nice! Especially that rock.

 

[Assembler]

Nice! Especially that rock.

View attachment 2155054

All of the rocks could contain nice minerals / values.
Crush and pan is a good start.

 

[BoulderTroll]

All of the rocks could contain nice minerals / values.
Crush and pan is a good start.

I will be doing that when I get the time. I don't believe it's free milling, and primarily a silver producer.

There's a lot of public records on this one, especially since they had put in an application with the DMEA (Defense Minerals Exploration Administration). Which they denied, and there hasn't been any development on the property since. But all the drilling and testing didn't show enough values. But those rocks still look pretty

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

https://www.treasurenet.com/attachments/cabin-runis-jpg.2155036/

Now a dayz realtors call that a fixer-uper

 

[BoulderTroll]

Been a very busy and eventful summer! Lots of camping with my boys, hikes to explore some old mines, epic backpacking trips, and many weekends along the rivers washing pans.
Last weekend I found the best spot I have ever worked. (I know it's not a lot for some people) First sign that it was going to be good was very interesting layering of the gravel. Then I got to the packed crevice below it and started getting pans like in the photo. 5-6 of those good pans gave me the best single day total I've had by far!

Now all I can think about is getting back up there and finish cleaning the crevice.... and how many weekends can I spending the mountain before my wife gets annoyed with it?

 

[tamrock]

How inspiring what your doing is. Late 70s early 80s I lived in the high Rockies of Colorado. Had an old 65' IH Scout and a dog named Lucky. I worked in a hardrock mine and had a five day off long change once a month. Me and that dog took that old Scout all over prospecting and just enjoying the peace and quiet. Today so much is off limits and regulated here in the state. Sure glad I got to live like I did back then. There's still some things of discovery from those days long ago now I may if God willing I can get back to. Dang thing is everyone and their brother is now all hanging around. I'm pretty sure they won't recognize what I did, because most of them are more intested in holding a phone away from their faces with big happy smiles.

 

[DizzyDigger]

BT, if'n ya ever want to do any panning up in the Skagit Valley, give me a shout. I can recommend a few spots I've had some success at.

 

[BoulderTroll]

How inspiring what your doing is.

I really apricate that Tamrock! It's been a really great obsession hobby to get into. I already love to go out and wander around the woods, now I can do it with the purpose of looking for minerals. I got into in in my mid 30's, when I already had a family and the laws are very restrictive. I often find myself thinking about what it would be like to be doing this in the 70's, or even earlier.
Let them have their phones.... Less people to trash up the beautiful wilderness

BT, if'n ya ever want to do any panning up in the Skagit Valley, give me a shout.

I will do that! I have been wanting to get further up there and check out the north Cascades, and this might be the motivation I need to finally do it!

 

[BoulderTroll]

It might not be a lot for most people, but it's an accomplishment for me!

I've spent the last 3 years trying to learn where the gold hides. Many hours of driving around to try different places, lots of waking up with a sore back, busting my knuckles, and managed to scrape out just a little over 1.5 grams. But this year I managed to double my gold stash
The other great thing that comes with it is that I got to build great memories with my boys as we spend a lot of weekends camping and playing in the mountains. But now the snow is starting to cover my favorite grounds, so I'll be trapped in the lowlands, hoping to find just enough flour gold to keep the fever at bay.

Hope everyone else had a good 2024!

I know it's hard to read in the low quality photo, but it's 2.055g

 

[BoulderTroll]

Days are getting longer, it's getting warmer and the snow is melting. It's finally getting to the time where I can stop playing with glacial flour gold and can (hopefully) find some of the mountain's chunky gold. I have had plenty of time to daydream about what I want to be able to learn and accomplish this year.
1) Get better at identifying the paystreaks. I had some success with this so far in smaller creeks near home and came away with a weighable amount of glacial flour. But still need to figure it out on larger creeks or rivers.
2) Find and work a paying bench deposit. From what I've heard from a lot of experienced prospectors, this is where to find the better paying gravels.
3) Find more gold than I did last year

Also got a new adventure buddy this year. My other dog is getting a little too old for me to be dragging her up and down mountains and steep ravines. So, we decided to add to our pack. This is my new pup, Cow! He's still getting used to climbing over logs and under fallen trees, but he'll be climbing mountains by fall!

 

[DizzyDigger]

Days are getting longer, it's getting warmer and the snow is melting. It's finally getting to the time where I can stop playing with glacial flour gold and can (hopefully) find some of the mountain's chunky gold.

Yep...we start seeing the Sun on a regular basis, and something asleep inside us starts to wake up..that sense of adventure that cannot be ignored.

In my case, it means cleaning out the garage...

 

[BoulderTroll]

Yep...we start seeing the Sun on a regular basis, and something asleep inside us starts to wake up..that sense of adventure that cannot be ignored.

In my case, it means cleaning out the garage...View attachment 2206479

You’re so right! Even on my days off, I’m waking up at 5am when it starts to get light. Gotta get all the spring chores done so summer can have more days to play.
I got an early start this season, and now I can’t stop thinking about that next trip 🙂 only 28 more hours of being at work until the weekend!

 

[robertk]

Yep...we start seeing the Sun on a regular basis, and something asleep inside us starts to wake up..that sense of adventure that cannot be ignored.

In my case, it means cleaning out the garage...View attachment 2206479

Cleaning out my garage would be an adventure.

 

[Assembler]

Yep...we start seeing the Sun on a regular basis, and something asleep inside us starts to wake up..that sense of adventure that cannot be ignored.

In my case, it means cleaning out the garage...View attachment 2206479

If the cat cleans out your garage will the cat be rewarded with a new mining project?.............

 

[DizzyDigger]

If the cat cleans out your garage will the cat be rewarded with a new mining project?.............

Tried to teach one of my cats how to dig, so I pointed to a spot and said "Luci...Dig here!".

And indeed he did, but then promptly took a dump in the hole, and buried it.

 

[Assembler]

Tried to teach one of my cats how to dig, so I pointed to a spot and said "Luci...Dig here!".

And indeed he did, but then promptly took a dump in the hole, and buried it. View attachment 2206630

Well that is one "Deposit" that should stay put and no cat should dig on it..........👉🐈👈