Why Pan???

[starsplitter]

Silly question here...

if my gold detector can pick up flakes, nuggets, and even black sand that might contain gold, why not just walk up and down the stream with the machine? Why pan? Or, why not save the panning until the detector has picked up significant target groupings?

Thanks.

 

[Fullpan]

Sounds like you are making the right moves. Keep us posted!

 

[TerryC]

63bkpkr... made it to Quito to the Instituto Geografica Militar for topo maps - 42 quadrangles yet still a drop in the bucket. A bunch are "permission only" quads along the EC-Peru border and some odd in the middle of nowhere north and south maps. Tomorrow we are heading to a different place to pick up some geological maps. Trying to get hold of three or four maps in particular. One of them is tough to find; a survey of ancient rivers done in the early 1950's. It shows the locations of ancient millions of years old river beds that are now at high elevations. One former prospector and geologist here commented on cutting through forest thousands of feet up and encoutering swaths of river bolders - river rock that has no business existing at altitude. Best news is being linked up with an experienced CA prospector. Making progress.

Good deal, Starsplitter! Keep us posted. TTC

 

[jmoller99]

You will probably want to keep your Whites MXT - its a good prospecting detector. Not all detectors are good for gold. Here is a write up from someone who can tell you what actually works well for Gold Detecting:

Steve's Guide to Gold Nugget Detectors