Your First Ounce - How long did it take?

[greenpan]

I am just starting out in gold prospecting, and I am curious the time scale of what to expect.
How long did it take you to collect your first ounce of gold? (including all the flakes pickers and fine gold etc)
If you haven't found an ounce yet, how long has it taken you to get as much as you have?
And how often do you go out prospecting? I am hoping to get out every weekend.

 

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[goldog]

Depends very much on where you are and what equipment you are using.

I consistantly get around buck or two a day sluicing in the local wash. After about two years I've amassed about a hundred $$ worth.

 

[oldbrundogg]

this is my take since I started. I've been actually panning and or sluicing about ten times in maybe two years with major shoulder surgery thrown in there last March. My dad passed,mom was put on oxygen 24/7, and all the other things that go along with having a wonderful life. 3 almost grown sons,2 still in high school, a fantastic wife. All the things that get in the way of anybody's hobby,but I'll keep trying, hope to get out more this year. All the help I've received from this site should make me at least a more informed prospector.

good luck and good hunting

OBD

 

[Aurabbit79er]

I am just starting out in gold prospecting, and I am curious the time scale of what to expect.
How long did it take you to collect your first ounce of gold? (including all the flakes pickers and fine gold etc)
If you haven't found an ounce yet, how long has it taken you to get as much as you have?
And how often do you go out prospecting? I am hoping to get out every weekend.

First of all the last part of your quote that you're hoping to get out every weekend makes me jealous. As a working stiff with the family, and a gold miner for the last 15 or so years, I feel great if I can get out go Mining five times a year. One of my last jobs kept me from mining for over two years.
Right now I'm unemployed so I'm able to go mining a little more than normal. My only drawback is my finances are a lot less than when I was working. Looking back at all the gold I found in the desert and in the mountain streams I have to honestly say I have never had a whole ounce of gold. I'm always hoping, I came close a couple times, but even my total amount of gold that I've collected in my life would not equal an ounce.
My total amount of flakes and fine gold dried out and weighed totals 4.5 g., and that covers all my mining adventures. only 26.5 g more of gold to get to a Troy ounce. The good news is that it's constantly changing. I'm doing a clean up right now of three buckets of classified desert material that came from the north Mojave desert area. This material had good gold and I found some really good pieces, I should say We found some really good pieces, my partner Tim and I ran 27 buckets in the dry washer, so I'm hopeful this material will present a good amount as well. He is also here on TNet- TDB79 - One of the reasons that I am more hopeful to go mining more is that I'm joining the club that controls the claim were mining on. A great bunch of guys. One of the best times ever had without a lot of women around. I have nothing against the fairer sex, I married one myself. Ann and I did go to another desert spot together before this last outing and had a blast with some friends who just bought the property which is about 25 miles NE. of Barstow. They plan to retire there. Most the time I'm mining solo up at the East Fork San Gabriel River.
I've been to a lot of different rivers and mountain areas, but the the East Fork San Gabriel River is the best and closest mining area for me.
And I like to post pictures. Here is what we found in the desert.

You can see this gold is very coarse, placer gold from the rivers is more rounded and has a slightly different luster. But gold is gold is gold, and I can't wait to get back up there and find some more.

 

[KevinInColorado]

I get about 1/10 gram per hour on a good day in metro Denver, sometimes less than half that of course. So an ounce here will take 300-1000 hours work with your sluice. Gotta hit the mountains to get more faster I suppose ;-)

 

[TerryC]

View attachment 737217View attachment 737219this is my take since I started. I've been actually panning and or sluicing about ten times in maybe two years with major shoulder surgery thrown in there last March. My dad passed,mom was put on oxygen 24/7, and all the other things that go along with having a wonderful life. 3 almost grown sons,2 still in high school, a fantastic wife. All the things that get in the way of anybody's hobby,but I'll keep trying, hope to get out more this year. All the help I've received from this site should make me at least a more informed prospector.

good luck and good hunting

OBD

Good deal, OBD! And I hope others get the message.... FAMILY FIRST! TTC

 

[Hemisteve]

For me, It's not about how much I get, but how much fun I have getting it.
I try to get out a couple of times a month and a dwt is a good day.

 

[Oakview2]

If you spend too much time counting and measuring it, it's just a job

 

[oldbrundogg]

I believe more people out there having fun and good times finding little to nil gold than there are folks counting up their ounces. If the latter happens well a big whoopty doo!! But best to find enjoyment in the former .
Just my little flake of wisdom

OBD

 

[B H Prospector]

Hi greenpan and welcome.
No one can give you a time scale of what to expect. As said before, alot depends on where you are at. Some lucky sods can hit an ounce first time out. I heard of a local guy where I live found an ounce a day in a local canyon in a week. 99% of us aren't that lucky. If you can get out every weekend you definately increase you odds. It all has to do with the ground, equipment, and amout of material proccessed. There is no magic number for time. Too many people these days get into mining thinking they will have a few ounces in a few outings and it is just so easy. Just dig a hole and pan or sluice it and there is the gold.Not that easy my friend. It takes alot of research as where to go, what to look for, what equipment is best suited for this spot, and then the hard work starts. DIGGING! So if you think you will find an ounce in some kind of time fram you are setting yourself up for major disappointment. That being said good luck and happy mining.

B H Prospector

 

[greenpan]

For me, It's not about how much I get, but how much fun I have getting it.
I try to get out a couple of times a month and a dwt is a good day.

Yea true I will definitely have fun out there, but filling up a vial with pretty yellow rocks also seems fun.

 

[mellowyellow]

First of all the last part of your quote that you're hoping to get out every weekend makes me jealous. As a working stiff with the family, and a gold miner for the last 15 or so years, I feel great if I can get out go Mining five times a year. One of my last jobs kept me from mining for over two years.
Right now I'm unemployed so I'm able to go mining a little more than normal. My only drawback is my finances are a lot less than when I was working. Looking back at all the gold I found in the desert and in the mountain streams I have to honestly say I have never had a whole ounce of gold. I'm always hoping, I came close a couple times, but even my total amount of gold that I've collected in my life would not equal an ounce.
My total amount of flakes and fine gold dried out and weighed totals 4.5 g., and that covers all my mining adventures. only 26.5 g more of gold to get to a Troy ounce. The good news is that it's constantly changing. I'm doing a clean up right now of three buckets of classified desert material that came from the north Mojave desert area. This material had good gold and I found some really good pieces, I should say We found some really good pieces, my partner Tim and I ran 27 buckets in the dry washer, so I'm hopeful this material will present a good amount as well. He is also here on TNet- TDB79 - One of the reasons that I am more hopeful to go mining more is that I'm joining the club that controls the claim were mining on. A great bunch of guys. One of the best times ever had without a lot of women around. I have nothing against the fairer sex, I married one myself. Ann and I did go to another desert spot together before this last outing and had a blast with some friends who just bought the property which is about 25 miles NE. of Barstow. They plan to retire there. Most the time I'm mining solo up at the East Fork San Gabriel River.
I've been to a lot of different rivers and mountain areas, but the the East Fork San Gabriel River is the best and closest mining area for me.
And I like to post pictures. Here is what we found in the desert.
<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=737307"/>
You can see this gold is very coarse, placer gold from the rivers is more rounded and has a slightly different luster. But gold is gold is gold, and I can't wait to get back up there and find some more.

Nice looking gold there bud!!

 

[phishisgroovin]

i would love to tell you how long it took me to get my first ounce, but i am still working on the first gram or so & its been over a year & 1/2.
if i even have a gram. Gold is small where i prospect, until this coming springtime when i go to a claim that had larger & better deposits rather than the public lands i slave away on.

 

[Reed Lukens]

Yea, I was 10, when I found my first 4oz nugget. I posted the story somewhere here, the gold nugget or it's on my facebook page. We used to gather up nuggets from all over the river and shoot them out of our sling shots or we would throw them out into the river and then go and dive for them again and again. We had piles of nuggets back then but gold was $35 an oz..
Here's the direct fb link to the story, it just says facebook but it's to the story and pictorial & it's open to the public. I have a lot of stories listed under my album section but they can't be read on most mobile phone as they are too long

Facebook

 

[NeoTokyo]

Well I just found sniping last year and had only panned off and on before that.
If you start from Sniping, right at about the 1 month mark I had 1oz of my own (Not including my wifes) and that was after moving downstream to the 2nd hole.

 

[Sungram]

Sorry for this question, but was is Sniping? Never heard that term before.

 

[wa-au-nut]

If I ever get that 1st ounce I'll let you know. I started in 08 and was skunked that first summer. Got a bit the summer of 09, then do do happened in 10 and didn't go out again untill I went out with phish and his brother Easter weekend last year. My total take so far is about what OBD has in the middle vial. But I'm getting stronger everyday so you never know!

 

[Desertman50]

I am just starting out in gold prospecting, and I am curious the time scale of what to expect.
How long did it take you to collect your first ounce of gold? (including all the flakes pickers and fine gold etc)
If you haven't found an ounce yet, how long has it taken you to get as much as you have?
And how often do you go out prospecting? I am hoping to get out every weekend.

This is my second season and I have found 18-20 grams. I am fortunate to live in a place where the desert / mountains is my backyard. Granted, the first season, the learning curve was much steeper than it is now and had numerous outings where I found nothing. I now belong to a claim (in a location where the gold is much more plentiful), in addition to "my own backyard", so broadening your horizons is always a good thing! As time progresses, I plan to add to my claim memberships, further increasing my odds.

 

[KevinInColorado]

@sungram - gold sniping is using a mask and snorkel (or hookah) to get in the water face down and then search for gold on the bottom of the waterway in cracks etc. Do a search on "gold sniping" to see it in action!

 

[blynch35]

i have about 2.5 grams in 2 years