San Diego gold

Sample Pan Dan · Apr 6, 2013

Got out today for a little sampling, and found a nice little spot I will return to. Found a couple "chunky" pieces for SD gold.

Sample Pan Dan · Jun 12, 2013

Went out to my hole today, hadn't been in a couple of weeks, and it was killing me! I did manage to find a couple more nice flakes, though it was tough as my creek has dried up. I was surprised even my deep hole was almost bone dry :-( and the nearest pool of water is a 1/4 mile away! To far a walk to be hauling in water from the truck, so I think it's become time to try a few new places during the next few months. I think I found one little speck in a drywash I can drive right to, and that was from only 2 gallons of dirt. I think it's gonna be time for a drywasher, or a small recirculator.

KevinInColorado · Jun 12, 2013

Recirc is more efficient recovery if you can manage to haul the water. Be careful of Valley Fever if you go with a dry washer...

Sample Pan Dan · Jun 12, 2013

Thanks Kevin, I think I would prefer a recirc, not only to avoid all that dust, but all that noise... And I believe wet recovery is better. How goes the hunt in Denver?

KevinInColorado · Jun 12, 2013

Hey Dry, the hunt in Denver is going great. I love this time of year since it stays light so late...I can get out after work every couple days or so

over the last couple weeks I've collected about 1/2 gram from several different spots. Great fun!

I sampled a little creek in sw Denver yesterday that is totally unknown for gold and I FOUND gold! Just a couple specs/flakes per pan but still exciting. Now I have to get back there to find that creek's honey hole right?

Ps: good point about the noise...

Sample Pan Dan · Jun 13, 2013

That's awesome! Nothing like finding gold where they say it isn't :-)

Sample Pan Dan · Jun 23, 2013

Anyone finding any color out there?

Sample Pan Dan · Jul 20, 2013

So I haven't been out in what seems like an eternity. Anyone hitting it hard and finding the color here in the county?

Sample Pan Dan · Jul 26, 2013

Planning to go out tomorrow, but I see that there are some temporary road and trail closures due to the most recent fires near my spot. Anyone else got any ideas for me? I've been looking to check some new places. Any water still running on public land?

Sample Pan Dan · Sep 21, 2013

Damn! I just looked and the last post on this thread was July 26! Yikes... Well we've been back out to the now bone dry hole a few times in the last few months. Brought a little dirt home to play with, and we've both found more gold. I've spent most of my time the last few trips on trimming back some brush along the creek, and also using all of our tailings to build me a nice little damn. Went out today and brought a couple buckets home, haven't run any of it yet, but pretty sure we both found bedrock today! My hole at about 3' deep, my buddies at about 2' deep... High hopes for this season!

Sample Pan Dan · Sep 21, 2013

Here's my little dam.

63bkpkr · Sep 22, 2013

Drywallman,
That is a tiny little creek with only seasonal water in it. I would guess that it might really be screaming during high water stage. Digging in that hard pack must be a real chore though 2' to 3' to bedrock might make the effort worthwhile.

So you have some gold where you are at, have you tried up hill from there along the stream route? Tiny gold should mean better gold further up, the miners problem should I stay here or go where its better

? Love to see the pictures of what you are getting. Best of success in your quest.............................63bkpkr

Sample Pan Dan · Sep 22, 2013

Thanks 63bkpkr, by the time I found this area last wet season, it only gave me 2 months of running water. I figure I'll have 5 months worth of water this year. We have done just a little test panning both upstream and up the side of the hill. I know there is bigger better gold somewhere, this season I hope to find the source. I am still a little tickled that I even found this placer gold in an area known only as a hard rock mining district. This could be float from a small stringer, or simply leaching from tailings piles from any direction uphill from us. This area had a ton of water flowing thru it at one time, so I am also looking at and for benches etc.

dragonfly · Sep 23, 2013

Here are a couple specs from my hole last week. Digging in the dry seems to have its benefits . We were able to clear out some large rocks that normally were too slippery to move in the wet. But definitely was an unexpected surprise to hit bedrock so soon!

dragonfly · Sep 23, 2013

As you can see, only 2 feet deep and bedrock. Still a nice project ahead of us

Sample Pan Dan · Sep 25, 2013

Not getting me rich, but keeping me going back... The plan is to start chasing it up the hill side looking for float, and see if we can't just find the source...
Here's the meager take from 2 buckets of dry dirt panned at home.

Sample Pan Dan · Sep 25, 2013

Some of the rocks from this area...

KevinInColorado · Sep 26, 2013

Encouraging mineralization for sure...good luck up hill

Sample Pan Dan · Sep 28, 2013

Thanks Kevin

Sample Pan Dan · Oct 25, 2013

The water is here! It will probably be another month before I have enough flow for a keene A51, but my holes are full of water, and pockets above too. Now I can start doing some serious testing upstream, and find some more/ better gold.

Hard Prospector · Oct 27, 2013

I have heard some rangers take issue with sluicing in that creek(they say panning only), a recirculating system should circumvent their heavy handed civil service crap. I've made a few portable, low cost 12v recirculating systems and be glad to share ideas.