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ALMOST BEEKEEPING - RELATED TOPICS => OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FORUM => Topic started by: Sean Kelly on April 24, 2007, 04:20:40 am

Title: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on April 24, 2007, 04:20:40 am
Just curious to see how many Gold Prospectors we have on here!

I usally stick to the sluice and pan, but help run my grandfather's 3" suction dredge.  I just joined the GPAA last december and can't wait to try out some of their claims this summer.

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: beeginner on April 25, 2007, 05:16:25 pm
OOOOO MAN thats no fair lol. Ive all was wated to ask you about gold prospecting ever time gold fever comes on ill watch it lol. I think its cool how thay can get the gold like thay do.  Have fun and get the big momma lol
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on March 06, 2008, 10:47:47 am
It took me a year to find this thread but I did. Ya ,I prospect every winter in Az.  This year I didn't get to go as my brother had a lot of medical problems. I only metal detect out there and have done well. I have used other methods but always go back to the dectector. I belong to LDMA,GPAA and others. The gold shows may be fun to watch but don't believe half of what you see.Tom Massie plants gold on those shows,it just ain't that easy. They want you to join the club and get YOUR GOLD!!

Eddie
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: KONASDAD on March 17, 2008, 05:18:53 pm
whats the most any of you have ever found?
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Shawn on March 17, 2008, 06:33:47 pm
Did you see gold is now up to an all time high of $1,000.00 an ounce. My kids want to go to CA. and go panning for gold. I was watching the 10 top treasures and gold prospecting was in the top 5, I think. I have three metal detectors, one for me and one for each kid. We go out to some old homesteads here in Colorado and look for coins, gold. The saying is the people use to dig a hole by a tree by the bedroom or the SE corner of the inside of the house, dirt floors. Still have not found any.  :(
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: annette on March 17, 2008, 07:14:01 pm
Gold was discovered just up the road from me in Coloma California. Gold prospecting  is very popular around here.

Bank of America has this enormous chunk of gold that was taken from a mine somewhere around here.

I have never done it, but it sounds like fun.

Annette
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on March 17, 2008, 08:42:42 pm
I've only found very small amounts of gold.  The whole west coast is known for it's gold deposits from all the volcanic activity.  Just like California, Oregon, and Alaska, Washington has had a few gold booms although not as popular or widely known.
You'll never strike it rich prospecting, but you'll have a blast and a experience you'll never forget.  There's no cooler feeling than seeing a little color in your pan after digging in the dirt all day.  I always keep a extra gold pan in my car, just in case I see a "promising" creek in my travels.  :-)

Yeah, gold prices are through the roof which is really neat if you've invested in gold or have a surplus of gold coins.  But natural placer gold isn't very pure.  After you've classified it down to 99.9%, that big nugget you've had is now really tiny.  Most of the time those nuggets are worth more in their natural form instead of melted down.

But who knows?!  They say the old timers from the gold rushes only discovered 2% of all gold out there.  That's still a bunch of gold just waiting for us to dig up and run through our sluice boxes or metal detectors!!!

Good luck to ya'll and may the bottom of your pan be yeller!!!

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Moonshae on March 17, 2008, 10:03:11 pm
As a side note, the thing I like about precious metals is that they were formed before the earth. Gold, silver, platinum, etc...all formed in supernovae...huge stars that formed and exploded long before our solar system even began to exist. Their "deaths" added complexity to our lives...and pretty much enabled them.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on March 20, 2008, 10:03:42 pm
whats the most any of you have ever found?

I found about 200 + nuggets from 1 1/2 oz. down to match head size. Also found lots of coins, old bullet casings and other interesting things plus huge amounts of trash. Purity of gold varies from area to area,the most pure on the east coast. Az. gold I have is probobly about 93%. I found some near Randsberg Cal. that I know is not even close to that.

Gold is down to $910.00 today.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: wayne on April 05, 2008, 11:35:27 pm
  Now that the price is up, the Great State of Indiana has decided you need a Commercial Sand and Gravel Permit to work a stream they call navigable. That means any stream that has ever had any kind of traffic.
  The permit is $50 and comes with a stack of paper work.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on April 06, 2008, 01:44:13 am
Would that permit allow you to dredge?
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on April 06, 2008, 08:17:14 am
Depends on your state.  Here in Washington it's nearly impossible to run a suction dredge.  They say it messes up the fish breeding and we can only do it during a short period during the summer.   It's possible but you need to go through lots of red tape.  Heck, even using a pan and sluice you still need to have a copy of the "Gold & Fish Pamplet" on hand while you prospect (they'll send you one for free from our state gov office in Olympia).

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Shawn on April 07, 2008, 12:17:59 pm
Wayne,

Im from Indiana, NE corner, but didnt know there was any gold there. Most of the streams I have visited are nothing but mud. I guess if you go far south things might be different.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: indypartridge on April 08, 2008, 12:30:14 pm
Wayne,

Im from Indiana, NE corner, but didnt know there was any gold there. Most of the streams I have visited are nothing but mud. I guess if you go far south things might be different.
I'm about an hour south of Indy, not too far from Brown County State Park. I've seen a number of people panning for gold in the creeks and had a few prospectors come to the door and ask if they could check out the creek that runs thru my property. One old guy didn't want to mention "gold" and said he likes to walk the creeks at night with a flashlight looking for "shiny rocks".
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Shawn on April 08, 2008, 11:10:35 pm
Now thats funny! We use to go to brown County for vacation camping, cant remember the lake. That is a different country down there compared to NE Indiana.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: taipantoo on April 09, 2008, 09:45:33 am
It took me a year to find this thread but I did. Ya ,I prospect every winter in Az.  This year I didn't get to go as my brother had a lot of medical problems. I only metal detect out there and have done well. I have used other methods but always go back to the dectector. I belong to LDMA,GPAA and others. The gold shows may be fun to watch but don't believe half of what you see.Tom Massie plants gold on those shows,it just ain't that easy. They want you to join the club and get YOUR GOLD!!

Eddie

I prospect and mine for gold.
I'm also a member of the GPAA.
I've spent many weeks with Tom & Cindy and Perry, Sandy, & Georgia.
In fact, Georgia is well acquainted with my grand daughter Tabitha.
I've been with Tom when he got skunked and it is on film and in his show.
There is no need for him to lie, exaggerate or "salt" his claims.
Prospecting isn't that easy and Tom would be the first one to tell you so.

I take great exception to your deformation of Tom's character in a public forum especially since he isn't here to defend himself.
This type of behavior is clearly against the rules and I think an apology is in order.

This is a picture of a pan from the beach half way from Cripple River Camp to the Sennic(SP?) River.
The gold you can see is probably about 15% of the gold that was in the pan.
Pretty big pieces for off the beach, but if you do your prospecting, it can pay off.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/taipantoo/100_0219.jpg

This is a picture of my wife, Tom, & Tom's daughter Kea(SP?) up at the trommel operation.
My wife and I stayed late after everyone else left because we were doing so well.
Tom was there with his daughter prospecting to make sure the diggings were still good and they didn't have to move the high bankers.
We assured him the diggings were great.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/taipantoo/100_0217.jpg

This is a picture of my grand daughter Tabitha and Perry's daughter Georgia on our way to the trommel operation during a blueberry picking rest stop.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/taipantoo/100_1398.jpg
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on April 09, 2008, 08:24:57 pm
It took me a year to find this thread but I did. Ya ,I prospect every winter in Az.  This year I didn't get to go as my brother had a lot of medical problems. I only metal detect out there and have done well. I have used other methods but always go back to the dectector. I belong to LDMA,GPAA and others. The gold shows may be fun to watch but don't believe half of what you see.Tom Massie plants gold on those shows,it just ain't that easy. They want you to join the club and get YOUR GOLD!!

Eddie

I prospect and mine for gold.
I'm also a member of the GPAA.
I've spent many weeks with Tom & Cindy and Perry, Sandy, & Georgia.
In fact, Georgia is well acquainted with my grand daughter Tabitha.
I've been with Tom when he got skunked and it is on film and in his show.
There is no need for him to lie, exaggerate or "salt" his claims.
Prospecting isn't that easy and Tom would be the first one to tell you so.

I take great exception to your deformation of Tom's character in a public forum especially since he isn't here to defend himself.
This type of behavior is clearly against the rules and I think an apology is in order.

This is a picture of a pan from the beach half way from Cripple River Camp to the Sennic(SP?) River.
The gold you can see is probably about 15% of the gold that was in the pan.
Pretty big pieces for off the beach, but if you do your prospecting, it can pay off.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/taipantoo/100_0219.jpg

This is a picture of my wife, Tom, & Tom's daughter Kea(SP?) up at the trommel operation.
My wife and I stayed late after everyone else left because we were doing so well.
Tom was there with his daughter prospecting to make sure the diggings were still good and they didn't have to move the high bankers.
We assured him the diggings were great.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/taipantoo/100_0217.jpg

This is a picture of my grand daughter Tabitha and Perry's daughter Georgia on our way to the trommel operation during a blueberry picking rest stop.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/taipantoo/100_1398.jpg

It took me a year to find this thread but I did. Ya ,I prospect every winter in Az.  This year I didn't get to go as my brother had a lot of medical problems. I only metal detect out there and have done well. I have used other methods but always go back to the dectector. I belong to LDMA,GPAA and others. The gold shows may be fun to watch but don't believe half of what you see.Tom Massie plants gold on those shows,it just ain't that easy. They want you to join the club and get YOUR GOLD!!

Eddie

I prospect and mine for gold.
I'm also a member of the GPAA.
I've spent many weeks with Tom & Cindy and Perry, Sandy, & Georgia.
In fact, Georgia is well acquainted with my grand daughter Tabitha.
I've been with Tom when he got skunked and it is on film and in his show.
There is no need for him to lie, exaggerate or "salt" his claims.
Prospecting isn't that easy and Tom would be the first one to tell you so.

I take great exception to your deformation of Tom's character in a public forum especially since he isn't here to defend himself.
This type of behavior is clearly against the rules and I think an apology is in order.

This is a picture of a pan from the beach half way from Cripple River Camp to the Sennic(SP?) River.
The gold you can see is probably about 15% of the gold that was in the pan.
Pretty big pieces for off the beach, but if you do your prospecting, it can pay off.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/taipantoo/100_0219.jpg

This is a picture of my wife, Tom, & Tom's daughter Kea(SP?) up at the trommel operation.
My wife and I stayed late after everyone else left because we were doing so well.
Tom was there with his daughter prospecting to make sure the diggings were still good and they didn't have to move the high bankers.
We assured him the diggings were great.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/taipantoo/100_0217.jpg

This is a picture of my grand daughter Tabitha and Perry's daughter Georgia on our way to the trommel operation during a blueberry picking rest stop.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/taipantoo/100_1398.jpg



Go to Stanton Az. LDMA camp, ask around. Ask Mr. Massie him self. No one goes out with a Tosoro Lobo in a afternoon and gets a hand full of specimens with no dirt on them. It's T.V., they can't film for days and just dig trash, now could they. The fact that they plant gold don't make Tom a bad person, it just makes interesting shows. The Massie family did a lot for prospecting and don't forget the prospectors have done a lot for the Massies. I'm not saying he plants gold all the time,but metal detecting is a lot different than panning.

In conclusion I will not apologize for what I and a lot of other people know to be true. Also I don't believe Perry has ever planted gold.

Well, good luck to you with your prospecting even tho we see things differently.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on April 10, 2008, 05:44:24 am
...It's T.V., they can't film for days and just dig trash, now could they.

Yes it is TV, but you're wrong.  They do dig trash and film for days.  If they showed all of the film they make for just one episode, the tv show would go on for days.  They take the good parts, cut those up, and make a great hour long show.  I'm not a metal detector guy, so I don't know the work involved, but with the knowledge that Tom Massey has, the equipment he has access to, and all the great property the GPAA & LDMA that he has, there should be no problem finding a little flash in the pan each episode.  Some episodes he's found nothing!  And the ones where the pan is completely covered is usually a major group effort over several weeks and what you see is just the end result.

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on April 10, 2008, 09:12:40 am
Believe what you want. I was at Stanton twice while they were filming. They also bring gold to the outings and add it to the take or all the people wouldn't get a cut. I've been there and seen lots of things go on in the last 7 years. One young man from Fla. watched the films and it looked so easy that he was going to make a living with a metal detector. Well ,2 months later and thousands of $ worth of equip., NOT 1 (ONE) nugget. He had to just about give his equip away for gas to get back to Fla. I know lots of people who have $4000.00 in equip. with no gold. Why do you think people would spend that kind of money unless they thought finding nuggets was easy, and what made them think it was easy. I could tell lots of stories, good and bad, but folks believe what they want about their heros and politicians,so enough said by me. By the way when I watched them film, it was a couple of hrs. not days.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Shawn on April 10, 2008, 03:04:28 pm
I really liked the topic when people were talking about gold and finding gold instead of arguing about TV.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on April 10, 2008, 04:41:52 pm
I agree with you Shawn, I just got a little cranked up when I was ,in so many words, called a liar. I didn't lie and won't apologize for telling the truth. Like I said, believe what you want.
I won't respond to anyone who wants to argue here, and it was never my intention to start a war over a stupid T.V. show. So lets talk prospecting.  :) What did you find and where did you find it ? It doesn't need to be gold to be a treasure,could be coins,rocks ,artifacts or just about anything.  :-D
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Shawn on April 11, 2008, 02:10:44 am
I remember whem I was little my father and uncle went out with their metal detectors. My uncle found a jar of gold coins by an old bucket and rope well. My father died about 6 years ago and I lost contact with my uncle so I dont know what he did with them. Colorado has some gold mines but all are private property and well guarded. I guess I could find a stream or river that is close to the minds and look, as long as it is state land. So if you find gold on state land can you keep it or does it go to the state or do you have to split it?
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on April 11, 2008, 06:30:49 am
So if you find gold on state land can you keep it or does it go to the state or do you have to split it?

I think it depends on the state.  I know here in Washington you're required to report your findings and over a certain amount you have to pay taxes on it.  I haven't found much, but it's still a blast.  Always wanted to try my hand at dredging, but the laws here for moving "spawning beds" are nearly impossible to beat.  Too much red tape.  I just stick to my ol trusty Garrett plastic pan and my Keene Engeneering sluice box.  Last year up on the Carbon River I found a nice little coin shaped nugget about the size of my pinky fingernail with just a pan and garden hand trowell.  I was so shocked by my first nugget find that I dropped it back into the river.  Was on my hands and knees for 20 minutes in the water looking for it.  lol.

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: taipantoo on April 11, 2008, 07:37:27 am
BigEddie is the only one arguing here.
I just asked for an apology.
Please don't put words in my mouth.
I never called you a liar for your cowardly deed.

I won't post in this thread again unless it is to accept BigEddie's apology.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on April 11, 2008, 08:04:57 am
 :roll:   Ok boys, that's enough.  Knock it off or we'll make you sit in the corner.    ;)

Now lets go back to talkin bout gettin a little color in our pan!

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on April 11, 2008, 10:25:45 am
:roll:   Ok boys, that's enough.  Knock it off or we'll make you sit in the corner.    ;)

Now lets go back to talkin bout gettin a little color in our pan!

Sean Kelly
     

AMEN brother  :)
How far are you from Oregon? I have friends who have a big placer mine there and they also had some dredging claims that they did well on.
I guess there is lots of gold there,but your state and Idaho should also have lots. Regulations and distance always seem to be a problem, don't they.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on April 11, 2008, 10:43:01 am
I remember whem I was little my father and uncle went out with their metal detectors. My uncle found a jar of gold coins by an old bucket and rope well. My father died about 6 years ago and I lost contact with my uncle so I dont know what he did with them. Colorado has some gold mines but all are private property and well guarded. I guess I could find a stream or river that is close to the minds and look, as long as it is state land. So if you find gold on state land can you keep it or does it go to the state or do you have to split it?

I do most of my prospecting in Az.  You are not allowed to prospect on state trust land, you can't even go on it unless you have a permit or hunting or fishing license. You can go on B.L.M. land any time but can't prospect on someones claim. If not claimed or you have the claim owners permission your all set and what you find is yours.
Is there any gold by you or is it all to the west of you in the mountains? There has to be some B.L.M. land by Pueblo area I would think.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Shawn on April 12, 2008, 02:20:51 pm
So Sean did you find the nugget you dropped  :? Maybe one of these days Ill be able to go out with the kids and strike it rich. Kind of hoping for a boulder of gold! :-D
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on April 12, 2008, 02:35:16 pm
AMEN brother  :)
How far are you from Oregon? I have friends who have a big placer mine there and they also had some dredging claims that they did well on.
I guess there is lots of gold there,but your state and Idaho should also have lots. Regulations and distance always seem to be a problem, don't they.

I'm only a couple hours drive from the Oregon/Washington border.  Just 2 years ago we actually lived in Portland, Or. but moved back up to Washington to get away from the high crime.  Tried a little prospecting over on the Coast range, west of Portland and some up near Mt. Hood in the cascades with little luck.  I know there are TONS of claims and good gold to be found in southern Oregon.  I worked with a guy who has a placer claim down near Medford which paid out several times.  He invited me to come along, but he went to work somewhere else and I haven't heard from him since.
Washington has had it's own little "gold rushes".  Up near the now ghost town, Monte Crisco, there was a pretty big strike in lode mining.  Several smaller mines popped up all around that area.  It's up north near Darrington.  My dad has some property up in Darrington along the Sauk river which has also proven to have some gold.  We've tried a little panning and slucing off the river bank with not much luck.  I know there are some creeks up above in the state forest that have done pretty well also.
I live near Tacoma which is about 50 miles south of Seattle.  Not much here besides the Carbon River and way up river on the White River.  The problem with the Carbon is that it comes straight out of Mt. Rainier in the Rainier National Park.  Like all national parks, no prospecting whatsoever is allowed.  I've hear stories of folks sneaking way up into the park and finding some great gold with just a pan.  Don't wanna get caught though, big fines.
I have a VERY promising spot that I'm going to check out this summer.  I've read articles about this spot in ancient archived newspapers from 100 years ago in the Seattle PI and did some research and found that no one owns claims on this land (anymore..  was a claim on it 80 years ago but it's been lost in time).  I'd tell you where it is but then I'd have to kill ya.  j/k  lol!!!  I'll let you all know where it is after I go through it with a fine tooth comb and not find anything.   ;)
Very much looking forward to gettin wet and muddy in the creeks this summer!  Can't wait to dust off my sluice and try out my brand new steel pan that I got last season and never used.

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on April 12, 2008, 02:41:10 pm
So Sean did you find the nugget you dropped  :? Maybe one of these days Ill be able to go out with the kids and strike it rich. Kind of hoping for a boulder of gold! :-D

No, never did.  That was one of those times I really wished I had a metal detector.  The water I dropped it in was pretty fast moving and about a foot deep.  It's lost for good.  I need to go back up to that spot too and dig around some more.  Didnt find anything besides that nugget that day though.  Wasn't looking very hard either.

You know, you strike it rich everytime you go do stuff like prospecting with your kids.  I know I'll never get rich off of pannin and slucin, but I become a better person every second I'm out there with my Dad or my kids.  To me, that's worth more than it's weight in gold.

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on April 12, 2008, 07:37:54 pm
Sean,
My friends are from Wash. but they mine in So. Oregon on the Burnt River, I think. It's not govt. land, he leases from a land owner, pays the guy like a thousand $ or so a month while he mines, summer only. Last time I talked to him he was going to sell his black sand to some outfit who will process it. I guess it's loaded with gold and Dan has tons of it. He said they were going to pay him enough to make him debt free,and I know he had a lot of debt. He said his payments were $18,000.00 per month on equipment.
I think I'll stick to my 4 metal detectors and have fun instead of ulcers.

Eddie
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on April 12, 2008, 07:59:40 pm
So Sean did you find the nugget you dropped  :? Maybe one of these days Ill be able to go out with the kids and strike it rich. Kind of hoping for a boulder of gold! :-D

Shawn,
I know a couple who live about 100 mi. north of me who came out to Stanton Az.and didn't know a thing about gold , bought a minelab detector,went out the day after they learned how to use it and found a hunk of quartz with about a pound of gold in it. It wasn't a boulder,about the size of a softball,but who cares,you could call it a boulder if you want.
Thats whats great about prospecting, ya never know,you might get skunked a lot but when you get that color or nugget it's a real rush.
By the way my friends never found any more gold after the big whopper,I don't think they go out much any more.
The big boulder is waiting for you and your family, I'm sure God put one somewhere just for you and yours. Enjoy the hunt and each other.

Eddie
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: poka-bee on May 20, 2008, 01:50:07 pm
Gracie should be old enough to go with you this year.  What a treasure if she finds even the tiniest nugget!  She can keep it & every time she sees it she will be reminded of special time with Dad!  Those moments are what makes families, no matter what happens in life, you can look at a small object & go back to the safe, fun, magical times with the most important people in your life!  Jody
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on June 25, 2008, 03:45:54 pm
It's actually funny, I got a t-shirt from the GPAA for Gracie when she was born that says "I'm Daddy's Little Prospector" which she fits into now!  Had her wearing it yesterday when she and I had some daddy-daughter time fishing at the U-Fish in Orting while mommy and the new baby got some peace & quiet back at home.  Grace even has here very own "kid-sized" gold pan!

What a treasure if she finds even the tiniest nugget!  She can keep it & every time she sees it she will be reminded of special time with Dad!

I can't even find a tiny nugget!!  lol
But it's not about getting the gold, it's about the search.  Just being outside with the family, in the mountains, playing in the water.  What's great about this hobby is if you get bored running dirt through a sluice box, you could always take a swim or do a little fly fishing!!!

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: 1frozenhillbilly on November 04, 2008, 05:44:55 pm
i see its been a while since any body posted this thread,  my mothers family were 5 generations in the mining in alaska and i intend to spend next summer carrying on the tradition, my bro in law and i both joined gpaa this summer(were in colorado) but so far we've found about 10$ worth of gold with our $1300 worth of equipment lol.  looking forward to going home next spring and seeing how for out in the woods i can get for the summer!  hold onto those precious times with you daughter sean,  my oldest got married last christmas,  they grow up fast
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on November 04, 2008, 06:31:33 pm
No doubt they grow fast.  My oldest started preschool this year and I dont think I was ready.  :-)

I hear you about spending lots and getting little.  But I think it's the same with all hobbies.  So far after the thousands I've spent on beekeeping, I've only made around $100 in honey sales in 3 years doing it.  Same with prospecting.  All the gas $$ I've spent driving up to the hills to just dig my pan in the gravel is just crazy.  But I still do it.

A trip to Alaska would be really awesome!  I'm totally jealous!  I did a little panning on the Kenai river when I went up for a fishing trip.  Didn't find anything.  I did find out that the Kenai was off limits for prospecting and was protected by the state of Alaska.  Good thing I didn't get caught!  I did catch tons of fish though.  :-)

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: 1frozenhillbilly on November 04, 2008, 11:09:22 pm
glad you had fun,  next time you go up drop me a line, i can put you in touch with the kenai gpaa contact,  thats how i'm starting out next spring.  also have a friend who is a driftboat guide on the kenai :D 
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: BjornBee on November 05, 2008, 12:11:22 pm
I have always been fascinated with prospecting.

Are there any places in the east that one can prospect? I'd love to take a weekend with the kids to do some primitive camping and see what we could find.

Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: greg spike on November 05, 2008, 12:33:14 pm
We've got gold and gem prospecting on private land in N. Georgia.No open mines or hunting on state or federal lands, that I know of.A lot of pay for a day private mines arround. Gems are fun to find but don't expect too much in the way of gold, I've spent a few hard days panning for a few miniscule flecks. But, some get lucky.
Check out the show "Cash and Treasures" on the travel channel or youtube. N. Georgia and the Carolinas are loaded with gems.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on November 06, 2008, 09:38:32 am
I have always been fascinated with prospecting.
Are there any places in the east that one can prospect? I'd love to take a weekend with the kids to do some primitive camping and see what we could find.

I'm sure there are lots of places.  I guess at one point a huge glacier pushed tons of material from northern canada down into the midwest and east coast.  When I have an extra minute I'll check my GPAA claims guide book to see if your area has much.  Even if there isn't, you'd be surprised where you'll find gold.  I read an article in Gold Prospecting magazine a year or so ago about this guy who built a sluice out of parts from an old chicken coop and ran it on a stream somewhere in Nebraska and actually found some!  Nebraska is defiantly not known for gold.  So get yourself a cheap plastic gold pan and a book on how to prospect off the internet and find a nice stream and practice panning!  You'll never know what you'll find.

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: BjornBee on November 06, 2008, 04:56:09 pm
That would be great Sean.
I looked on ebay. May get a pan to play around with. And I guess a book will set me in the right direction.

Is there a type soil that I should look for? I live in a red clay area, and the local high school is called "Redland". I'm guessing that clay area soils are not good? I have a stream running through my property, but wanted know if it even has a chance. 

And if all fails, the pan will make a good conversation item on the shelf. I can hear the stories now.... :shock:

Thank you
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on November 06, 2008, 05:40:31 pm
Clay is really dense and your gold will sometimes sit on top.  So get the dirt that sits on top of the clay.  Gold will also get suspended in the clay so get the clay really wet and break it up.  Any clay chunks in your pan will "snowball" over the gold in your pan and carry it off.  Look for gravel beds in streams or rivers.  Anyplace you find exposed bedrock, granite, or quartz, you will find gold.
And I'm not trying to advertise for the GPAA or anything, but when I signed up for membership I got a gold pan, a how to DVD, the claims guide (it's the size of a phone book!), and a whole bunch of other stuff that will get you started.  Plus it helps support amateur prospecting.

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: 1reb on November 10, 2008, 09:28:35 pm
here is no gold in arkansas.But is still have a gold pan at the house hoping one day I can go panning

Johnny
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on November 10, 2008, 11:04:54 pm
here is no gold in arkansas.But is still have a gold pan at the house hoping one day I can go panning

Johnny

Buy one of those "Gold Bags" from the GPAA!!!  They're kinda fun and always have a little gold in them.  Plus it's good practice!

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: 1frozenhillbilly on November 15, 2008, 05:54:59 am
1reb gold has been found in all 50 states, there may not be a lot of gold and it may be hard to recover but there is some,  have fun man
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: doak on November 15, 2008, 01:19:04 pm
Panning is allowed on U.S. Forest Service land In the State of Georgia.
Go to your local U.S. Forest Service Office and get the Info.

If You can find the book, There was one printed around 1900 that gives all the Gold "belts" in the state of Georgia. It also has a number of mines that was in operation at that time.
A lot of Copper was taken from the mine/s in Lincoln County Ga. (TWT'S) area.

Gold Is not the only thing you should be looking for. Lots of Minerals and gem stones out there.
The Gold on the Ga. State Capitol dome in Atlanta came from Dalonaga. If my memory does me justice, in 1954. Some one can correct me if I am wrong.
Just trying to help.
doak :)
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: doak on November 15, 2008, 01:20:20 pm
Almost forgot, need to check my green rock. :roll: :) ;)
doak
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: TwT on November 16, 2008, 09:59:05 am
here's the big attraction in Lincoln county ga  HERE (http://www.gamineral.org/graves_mtn-pits.htm) its a Rock-Hounds dream, GOLD attraction is across the river in McCormick SC.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: BEES4U on November 16, 2008, 12:09:57 pm

California Gold Facts:

"DOGTOWN NUGGET DISCOVERY SITE, NO. 771" Waymark

This marker symbolizes the discovery of the first large gold nugget in California. It was found across this canyon in Willard Gulch, April 12, 1859. Weight 54 pounds.

http://www.experiencebuttecounty.com/show_attractions_place.asp?pid=626

Have fun gold seekers!
Ernie
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: asprince on November 16, 2008, 06:44:15 pm
Man what I could do with a 54 pound gold nugget! Probably the size of a football?

Steve 
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: 1frozenhillbilly on February 04, 2009, 03:33:29 pm
ok i havent checked up on this thread in a while.  mike and i found about $10 worth last summer but an old friend showed me an abandoned claim he had years ago on the maps so i might do a little better this summer. 
bjorn  look for places in your stream where gravel builds up,  you want to dig towards bedrock on the downstream end and see if any has acumulated there
like gene told me about the claim i'm looking for this spring his partners were all eccited about the gold till they found out how much work the mining is
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: TwT on February 04, 2009, 08:42:25 pm
That would be great Sean.
I looked on ebay. May get a pan to play around with. And I guess a book will set me in the right direction.

Is there a type soil that I should look for? I live in a red clay area, and the local high school is called "Redland". I'm guessing that clay area soils are not good? I have a stream running through my property, but wanted know if it even has a chance. 

And if all fails, the pan will make a good conversation item on the shelf. I can hear the stories now.... :shock:

Thank you

look at this site and it will be posted "READING RIVERS AND STREAMS" ON THE RIGHT SIDE, maybe this will help you some.

http://www.georgia-gold.org/

I will add a few more sites with video's and other info for you to read if interested, look below!!!
http://tin.er.usgs.gov/mrds/find-mrds.php
http://www.bc-alter.net/dfriesen/mineintro.html
http://www.goldminingclaims.net/goldminingclaimssitemap.html
http://marciesalaskaweb.com/  (go to the bottom of the page for gold info thy did)
http://bb.bbboy.net/alaskagoldforum

this was a few pages I collected over the few years I prospected, I am more into Metal detecting now!!
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: 1frozenhillbilly on February 04, 2009, 10:31:06 pm
glad you posted those twt  i have been looking for a site that had some of that info.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Shawn on February 05, 2009, 02:11:03 pm
Great finds TWT. Thanks. Our new commander is into metal detecting so I think Ill hook up with him and head to the mountains for a day this summer and see what we can find. I think he wants to hit all the old home steads here in the plains, the Old Santa Fe Trail. The trail runs right through the outside of our town and there are numerous home steads, dug outs, and Forts we can go around.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: TwT on February 06, 2009, 07:25:30 am
if anyone is into metal detecting, these sites below are the best
http://www.thetreasuredepot.com/index.html
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Shawn on February 06, 2009, 02:17:41 pm
Great sites. Really like the treasurenet.com one. Thanks
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Cockatoo on March 18, 2009, 10:20:03 am
My uncle has a farm in Dahlonega GA.
My brother and I will go pan for gold in a stream that crosses it.
We find a few vials each visit.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: blckoakbees on March 20, 2009, 08:55:36 am
We actually have a gold mine on our property which has not been worked since the thirties as I understand it.  My bee yard is just down the mountain from it.

With the price of gold going so high I thought about having some of the quartz looked at for gold content.  I would be afraid to go into the mine though as it is not safe and has alot of water in it.  We had joked about making it into a wine cellar since a lot of really good wine is grown and produced nearby.

The mine is also protected by a branch of poison oak as big around as my arm.  I may look at the quartz rock on other parts of the protery more though. I would not want to mess up the property by mining.

We have done gold panning with the kids in the local river.  It is very fun and it does not produce much gold even though it is a gold rich area California foothills.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Kathyp on March 20, 2009, 10:56:11 am
with the price the way it is, you'd only have to find a couple of good chunks and you'd be set!  might be worth wandering around with a pickax a bit.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Cockatoo on March 20, 2009, 11:57:10 am
We're gonna dredge my uncle's stream this year!
There was a grist mill there at one times and the stones are still there in the water.
Hopefully, gold has settled around them.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: TwT on March 20, 2009, 10:39:43 pm
We actually have a gold mine on our property which has not been worked since the thirties as I understand it.  My bee yard is just down the mountain from it.

With the price of gold going so high I thought about having some of the quartz looked at for gold content.  I would be afraid to go into the mine though as it is not safe and has alot of water in it.  We had joked about making it into a wine cellar since a lot of really good wine is grown and produced nearby.

The mine is also protected by a branch of poison oak as big around as my arm.  I may look at the quartz rock on other parts of the protery more though. I would not want to mess up the property by mining.

We have done gold panning with the kids in the local river.  It is very fun and it does not produce much gold even though it is a gold rich area California foothills.

if you have a mine there , there should be piles of dirt and rock they pulled out of the mine, there are some people that get metal detectors and search these piles and fined plenty of gold, they weren't real efficient back then, it could be there outside the mine and you dont know it.....
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: BarneyG on April 02, 2009, 12:39:07 pm
Hello another GPPA life time member here  , i've been to some of there claims  1. bakercity oregon ,  2. arizonia , and up to alaska on my dads claims   Barney
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: BarneyG on April 02, 2009, 12:54:41 pm
Hey Bigeddie  the burnt river is in eastern oregon not southern oregon  its over by Bakercity area   Barney
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: 1frozenhillbilly on May 01, 2009, 02:11:35 pm
blackoak i agree with twt,  work those tailings over you may find a lot of gold in them,  i just got the word that the place i was going to stake over a friends old claim has now been added to a nearby designated wilderness area when they actually designated the study area they expanded the borders of the area almost a mile past our old location :'(   we may have a line on a private area where we can get into dinosour bone should know something next week!
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on October 18, 2009, 01:47:01 am
Hey Bigeddie  the burnt river is in eastern oregon not southern oregon  its over by Bakercity area   Barney

You are correct,I was there in Aug. don't know why I said southern. My friend has claims in so. Ore. and his mine is in eastern Ore.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on October 18, 2009, 02:03:03 am
Went dredging in Ca. in july, just got a good start when Ca.passed a no dredging bill. No refund on my $185.00 permit that was supposed to be good untill the end of 09. I guess if you are 50 billion in the hole a few million from dredgers don't mean squat.
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on October 19, 2009, 05:53:36 pm
Went dredging in Ca. in july, just got a good start when Ca.passed a no dredging bill. No refund on my $185.00 permit that was supposed to be good untill the end of 09. I guess if you are 50 billion in the hole a few million from dredgers don't mean squat.

A no dredging bill in California?!?!?!?!  Oh man, I guess the GPAA isn't doing their job!  I thought we paid the GPAA all that money to have them be our voice in the amateur mining community.  What good is that huge "Claims Guide" if you can't mine them.  Ugh.  Washington State finally got a break and can finally pan and sluice year round now!  Used  be we could only do it during the summer months.

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on October 19, 2009, 10:57:18 pm
You can still pan,highbank and detect but just not dredge. Dredging accounts for a lot of the gold found in Ca. Look at the New 49ers web site for more info. I think GPAA gave $5000.00 to fight the bill. Also look at puplic land for the people web, they are non profit and have lawyers on the case. Please let your voice be heard or one day we will not be able to pursue our dreams.


Eddie
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Sean Kelly on October 20, 2009, 09:39:25 am
You think the GPAA would have given more money or done something else to help.  Seems sorta cheap of them, especially since the GPAA is headquartered in California.  The new law affects them directly.  Somebody fell asleep at the wheel here.  California is weird.  No liberty there.

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Bigeddie on October 20, 2009, 06:35:20 pm
I don't understand it either, but its their money. You bet Ca. is weird. I have some good friends there and they would leave the state but their family is all there so it would be hard for them . The law makers in that state are nuts!

I was in Wa. the end of Aug. to see a friend in Omack. We went up west of Oroville with the detectors for a couple days but struck out. Can't remember the name of the river right off hand.

Eddie
Title: Re: Gold Prospecting?
Post by: Reno badboy on December 23, 2010, 06:08:41 pm
I started out with GPAA and was fairly happy with them ,for a short period. I've been at this for almost 10 years now and know better than get involved with this group again. It's called "Miners mining miners",alot of nothing for alot of money! I've gotten more without being robbed. And yes, Cali. passed a no dredge bill. Very smart for a state that's in debt huh??? OK, enough of that. Laterz! Al :evil: