I usually take my pan and sluice with me when I go fishing so when the fish in gets slow in the afternoon I have something to do.

well last weekend a couple were down at the river and they had a proline 2" dredge. it was badass and now I want one.

Just curious who else here has a dredge and what kind you have and what you think of it ?


here is the dredge I would love to get

http://www.prolinemining.com/2_5_dredge.html

.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/fishing/25dredge.jpg

here is a pic of my stash that I have found over the years using my Keene sluice box

.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/fishing/A52.jpg

.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/DSC00212.jpg

here is a pic of my stash that I have found over the years using my Keene sluice box

.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/fishing/A52.jpg

.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/DSC00212.jpg

How long did it take you to get that much? I also assume that is just the nuggets and you have a little dust too? If I didn't live in OK I would try to find some gold.:(

The dredge put the tailings back in the stream on on shore?

Im sorta partial to the sluice box myself.

D.

Is this thread serious... I mean, really. I'm trying to get the joke, but I feel like I'm missing something.

Eric, are you really planning on spending $1,500+ on a mini dredge-thingy, so you can find $1,500 worth of gold? Anyone else having trouble here?

Is this thread serious... I mean, really. I'm trying to get the joke, but I feel like I'm missing something.

Eric, are you really planning on spending $1,500+ on a mini dredge-thingy, so you can find $1,500 worth of gold? Anyone else having trouble here?

Why not? I know a couple of guys with easily $5-8k in metal detectors who use them to find nickels... If it is for fun, it's not about $

Oh, BTW, thanks for the sig :flipoff2:

I suppose that's what I'm missing. I mean, most pople can't understand what I see in driving 3 hours to a match, paying $100, and killing cardboard bad guys for pretend, right? :D

Oh, and try using the 'QUOTE' tags in your sig. 'Tis neater. ;)

Originally posted by TNToy:
There ISN'T a gun site out there that has a PBB 'Flame the newbs! It's fun!' attitude. So don't waste your time hoping.

This is something I have always wanted to try... I find myself clicking on that corny gold prospecting show on the outdoor channel all the time. My girl thinks I am crazy ;)

I suppose that's what I'm missing. I mean, most pople can't understand what I see in driving 3 hours to a match, paying $100, and killing cardboard bad guys for pretend, right? :D

Oh, and try using the 'QUOTE' tags in your sig. 'Tis neater. ;)

Paying only "$100"? Don't fool yourself. :flipoff2: I bet he only pays $15 in gas every time he uses that dredge too.:D


(unless of course you've got a free glock source)


I've always thought that prospecting and wheeling were two hobbies that would go together really well.
You have any idea what that collection of gold you have there is worth Camo?

Is this thread serious... I mean, really. I'm trying to get the joke, but I feel like I'm missing something.

Eric, are you really planning on spending $1,500+ on a mini dredge-thingy, so you can find $1,500 worth of gold? Anyone else having trouble here?

yes I am serious. while some gold prospectors certainly are in it to profit, for me it is just recreation. I enjoy my day down on the river fishing, prospecting and having a few beers with friends. I would not sell my stash of gold at 5x the current price. it sits on my desk at work in a glass vial and I look and play with the vial during the work day and it reminds me of the fun I had finding it and the great adventures I will have finding more.

The cost and time sent prospecting is no different then what I spend on building my wheeling rig and or other hobbies. as a matter of fact, fishing and prospecting is what first attracted me to rock crawling and I continue to incorporate them into most of my wheeling adventures.

FYI... here is where I spent last weekend. wheeled into here on a 5 mile long trail and spent the day fishing and prospecting..... pretty serious if you ask me :flipoff2:

.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/fishing/DSC00347.jpg

I'm sure there's gold up here in WA. I've never been prospecting, so I need to find a plce to go.

You have any idea what that collection of gold you have there is worth Camo?

in dollars ? no idea. in lifestyle ? I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in china :smokin:

This is something I have always wanted to try... I find myself clicking on that corny gold prospecting show on the outdoor channel all the time. My girl thinks I am crazy ;)


take her prospecting and make her a piece of jewelry from what you find. she will be hooked for life :smokin:

Uh, gps coordinates to said "secret spot" please :D

I think it would be interesting to try, but not enough for me to buy my own equipment.
Also, the fact that I live a million miles away from the nearest naturally occuring gold.
I'd be better off panning the creek by the local ghetto hoping to find a gold toof.

I'm sure there's gold up here in WA. I've never been prospecting, so I need to find a plce to go.


When i was a kid me and a friend used to find a little here and there down in pierce county im sure theres got to be some up there.

Uh, gps coordinates to said "secret spot" please :D


Barney Riley trail?

Is this thread serious... I mean, really. I'm trying to get the joke, but I feel like I'm missing something.

Eric, are you really planning on spending $1,500+ on a mini dredge-thingy, so you can find $1,500 worth of gold? Anyone else having trouble here?

Assuming one knows where to look, at $800+/ troy ounce it gets paid for in short order like 3 troy ounces short order. I'd bet the pic above is roughly 1/8-1/4 Tr. oz given the "scale".

D.

I think it would be interesting to try, but not enough for me to buy my own equipment.
Also, the fact that I live a million miles away from the nearest naturally occuring gold.
I'd be better off panning the creek by the local ghetto hoping to find a gold toof.

Wasn't gold one of the primary reasons for the Cherokee Trail of Tears out of GA? :D

D.

How long did it take you to get that much? I also assume that is just the nuggets and you have a little dust too? If I didn't live in OK I would try to find some gold.:(

1. over the last couple of years. mostly a few hours here and there as the fishing is slow in the afternoon.

2. I don't bother to collect the "dust" from my pan.

sounds like there is plenty of gold in OK

http://www.treasurefish.com/oklahoma%20metal%20detecting.htm

I think it would be interesting to try, but not enough for me to buy my own equipment.
Also, the fact that I live a million miles away from the nearest naturally occuring gold.
I'd be better off panning the creek by the local ghetto hoping to find a gold toof.


plenty of gold in the virginia area
http://www.goldmaps.com/east/virginia_gold_mines.htm

how far are you from these counties ?

Big Ten’s Virginia Gold Map shows 200 gold mines and prospecting locations from official geological records of the State of Virginia and the federal government. Gold sites are shown in these 15 counties:

Buckingham Culpepper Cumberland Fairfax Fauquier Floyd Fluvanna Goochland Halifax Louisa Orange Patrick Prince William Spotsylvania Stafford.

and all you need to find gold is a shovel and a pan

Pretty sure you can swing $5 for a pan :flipoff2:

http://www.keeneeng.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=GPHSS

Uh, gps coordinates to said "secret spot" please :D

Barney Riley trail?

nope

and

nope
:flipoff2::flipoff2:

I'll bring my pan on Friday! You know the Mexican will have his kit.

KC

I'll bring my pan on Friday! You know the Mexican will have his kit.

KC

fishing rule #1 always bring at least the pan :smokin:

The one thing to consider is if the areas you plan to use the dredge are open to use of mechanized prospecting. I've never checked Cali laws, but I do know a lot of areas here in Colorado and in Arizona it is illegal to use a dredge.

Wasn't gold one of the primary reasons for the Cherokee Trail of Tears out of GA? :D

D.


That and the eviction notice.

The one thing to consider is if the areas you plan to use the dredge are open to use of mechanized prospecting. I've never checked Cali laws, but I do know a lot of areas here in Colorado and in Arizona it is illegal to use a dredge.

more then one thing to consider but point well taken.

in CA you have to buy an annual dredge permit for $48 and have to stay in legal areas for dredging.

as usual there is a ton of BS to know http://www.goldfeverprospecting.com/casudrredrre.html

For where I live in Eldorado county



3) Class C: Open to dredging from the fourth Saturday in May through October 15.


9) El Dorado East of Highway 49 is Class C

but I live a stones throw from plenty of class H :smokin:


(8) Class H: Open to dredging throughout the year.

This is something I have always wanted to try... I find myself clicking on that corny gold prospecting show on the outdoor channel all the time. My girl thinks I am crazy ;)

I watch it every time I see it too ... got my wife into seeing what the dude will find also.:D

Dredges are like tires, every time you buy one, you'll be eyeing the next size bigger.

It all comes down to moving material, a 2 1/2" rock won't get stuck in a 3" dredge, a 3 -1/2" rock won't get stuck in a 5" dedge and so on... next thing you know you are eyeing Rockwells and 47" LTBs... :D

Ooooh, 8" moves a lot of rocks..... :cool:

http://www.keeneengineering.com/pamphlets/images/8Dredge.jpg


Had a 1-1/2" dredge for a number of years, easy to pack in, that's how I kept from buying something bigger, made sure my dredging areas were pack in only trips.... can't pack in a 3"er in one trip.

Whatever you do, make sure you go with a suction nozzle as opposed to a powerjet model, you can lift the suction nozzle out of the water without loosing prime.

JonsYJjeep, there a alot of places to get color in WA, not many to get the kind of gold Camo is showing.

Dredges are like tires, every time you buy one, you'll be eyeing the next size bigger.

It all comes down to moving material,.

there is a 4 man 6" dredge operation up river a ways from where I like to go. they are a serious endeavor. to much work for me. I like to fish and drink beer to much for that sorta deal. but is is impressive to watch.


like your pack in criteria I want mine to fit on my quad or on the roof of my rock buggy.

the 2" proline will move 2 cubic yards pre hour wher the 2.5 moves 5 cubic yards per hour. seems like a good balance of size to performance.


in contrast. the unit you posted is a 6" and they will move 20 cubic yards per hour. A 12 wheeler dump truck holds 12 cubic yards :eek::eek:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/DSC01286_038_038.jpg

cool Gold Fever episode on panamint city at the top of Surprise canyon

http://www.goldprospectors.org/media/goldfever/index.aspx

Where we live it's just silly not to have interest in gold.
I have the sluice you pictured above, but significantly older.
I frequently run into guys on public land carrying heat, they're way more serious than me. That and the pot crops I stumble into on the banks of the river. :shakinghead:

plenty of gold in the virginia area
http://www.goldmaps.com/east/virginia_gold_mines.htm

how far are you from these counties ?

Big Ten’s Virginia Gold Map shows 200 gold mines and prospecting locations from official geological records of the State of Virginia and the federal government. Gold sites are shown in these 15 counties:

Buckingham Culpepper Cumberland Fairfax Fauquier Floyd Fluvanna Goochland Halifax Louisa Orange Patrick Prince William Spotsylvania Stafford.

and all you need to find gold is a shovel and a pan

Pretty sure you can swing $5 for a pan :flipoff2:

http://www.keeneeng.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=GPHSS

The closest is about 5 hours east of me.
Gold in the east is much more scarce that it is out west.

How do the greenies feel about gold hunters? I am sure they love them as much as wheelers.

take her prospecting and make her a piece of jewelry from what you find. she will be hooked for life :smokin:


Well she is not the jewelry type of girl... but she does like camping and the outdoors. There is actualy a small claim right below their cabin. I would love to be able to find out who ownes it and purchase it from them... as far as I can tell no one has used if for a very long time.


So you guys have any sugestions for the best places to find gold? I know of a lot of mine sites around here and I know gold is heavy but don't realy know the best places to look.

more then one thing to consider but point well taken.

in CA you have to buy an annual dredge permit for $48 and have to stay in legal areas for dredging.

as usual there is a ton of BS to know http://www.goldfeverprospecting.com/casudrredrre.html

What about the legality of actually looking for it, wether by pan or by dredge?

I haven't researched it much, but it's my understanding that just about every square inch of CO is ownded by someone when you start talking mineral rights.

W I would love to be able to find out who ownes it and purchase it from them... as far as I can tell no one has used if for a very long time.


So you guys have any sugestions for the best places to find gold? I know of a lot of mine sites around here and I know gold is heavy but don't realy know the best places to look.

What about the legality of actually looking for it, wether by pan or by dredge?

I haven't researched it much, but it's my understanding that just about every square inch of CO is ownded by someone when you start talking mineral rights.

rcurrie

1. mining claims are relatively easy to find who owns them. go to the BLM website or field office or your county clerk recorder. each state is different but a claim has to be maintained to keep ownership. of find the northwest corner of the claim and the mine owner has to keep a record of ownership in a 4' high post.

2. where to find gold. in the rivers and streams around you is where a hobby prospector spends 99% of the time.


aloharover

1. california owes it's existence on the CA gold rush. as such most of the ca constitution and founding laws were written by gold miners such as, crocker ( huge bank that became part of wells fargo ) strausse ( pants guy ) Amour ( meat packaging empire ) and many other early notable pioneers. the laws that thet wrote are still favorable to mining and certainly hobby prospectors.

colorado is an awesome place to have gold fever !!! I have spent many summers there not only prospecting but touring badass old mines, ghost towns and museums that are rich in history and very fascinating.

try this website http://www.lornet.com/prospector/links.htm
or go take the family to Ouray for a weekend adventure.

the Ouray and Creede museums are my favorites.

I love Ghost Towns as much as I love actually prospecting.

.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/bodie2007.jpg

There is actualy a small claim right below their cabin. I would love to be able to find out who ownes it and purchase it from them... as far as I can tell no one has used if for a very long time.



1. mining claims are relatively easy to find who owns them. go to the BLM website or field office or your county clerk recorder. each state is different but a claim has to be maintained to keep ownership. of find the northwest corner of the claim and the mine owner has to keep a record of ownership in a 4' high post.


As long as it's not a patented claim, you can take over a claim from someone if they are not doing their maintenance, but you have to document for a couple years that no improvements are being done, contest it with the BLM and it can be hard to do.

The best thing we've found is to find out who the owners are, befriend them and get permission to do some small scale prospecting on their claim.

or just join the GPAA of the LDMA and then you can prospect on the clubs mining claims. the cool deal with that is it is inexpensive and proven gold fields.

http://www.goldprospectors.org/membership/gpaa/
http://www.goldprospectors.org/membership/ldma/

Well she is not the jewelry type of girl... but she does like camping and the outdoors. There is actualy a small claim right below their cabin. I would love to be able to find out who ownes it and purchase it from them... as far as I can tell no one has used if for a very long time.


So you guys have any sugestions for the best places to find gold? I know of a lot of mine sites around here and I know gold is heavy but don't realy know the best places to look.

Head west to Virginia City, Alder Gulch, Elkhorn or even above Anaconda because granite is your friend not limestone or other sedimentary stuff in this endeavour... ;)

And for the folks interested in ghost towns all the places I listed are just that. :D

D.

Head west to Virginia City, Alder Gulch, Elkhorn or even above Anaconda because granite is your friend not limestone or other sedimentary stuff in this endeavour... ;)

And for the folks interested in ghost towns all the places I listed are just that. :D

D.

We are going to be up Mica Mine trail with the Bozeman FS this weekend and then on the 23rd and 24th we are going to be up North and South Medow with the Ennis FS. There isn't much water as far as I can tell up Mica but there is a lot over in those tobacoo root trails. I was thinking about trying to get a pan before we go up there.

I see you on here quite often but can't say I have ever met you ... what do you drive?

ROB

colorado is an awesome place to have gold fever !!! I have spent many summers there not only prospecting but touring badass old mines, ghost towns and museums that are rich in history and very fascinating.

try this website http://www.lornet.com/prospector/links.htm
or go take the family to Ouray for a weekend adventure.

the Ouray and Creede museums are my favorites.


I agree. Growing up in ME I always had this fasination with the West. I am having a blast checking out old mines, ghost towns, etc. A large majority of our trails are mine related.
The Leadville area is a awesome and they have an unbelievable mine museum.
Some guys in the club pan.

We are going to be up Mica Mine trail with the Bozeman FS this weekend and then on the 23rd and 24th we are going to be up North and South Medow with the Ennis FS. There isn't much water as far as I can tell up Mica but there is a lot over in those tobacoo root trails. I was thinking about trying to get a pan before we go up there.

I see you on here quite often but can't say I have ever met you ... what do you drive?

ROB

The trips sound fun.

As to what I drive depends on the day, either the wifes Suzuki econobox or a "yellowish" '74 Scout with CO collector tags.

D.

or just join the GPAA of the LDMA and then you can prospect on the clubs mining claims. the cool deal with that is it is inexpensive and proven gold fields.

http://www.goldprospectors.org/membership/gpaa/
http://www.goldprospectors.org/membership/ldma/

x2! We've been GPAA lifetime members since 1999 and it has well paid for itself.

The trips sound fun.


Yep, alot of fun, a little work and hopefully the club can keep some trails open around here.

ROB

ellicot? c'mon am I close?

close in the fact it is on the georgetown divide :flipoff2:

if you know about ellicot you most likely know of this place. I will just say SOUTH of there and below the dam :D

anybody want to join me for some prospecting this weekend ?

Lance's dad is in town from Utah and he want to go also

Sure, I'll jump on a plane and be right down. Hmmm wonder If they'll let me bring my sluice as carry-on.... :flipoff2:

Sure, I'll jump on a plane and be right down. Hmmm wonder If they'll let me bring my sluice as carry-on.... :flipoff2:

greyhound will let you :flipoff2:

I went last weekend in a public gold panning area nearby, panned through a 5 gal bucket(about 5 hours of work) and wound up with .000001% of a ounce :laughing:. They only allow manual panning, no sluices etc. A local club has a claim next door, and for $30 a year you can use it along with small power sluice boxes and long as you dig it by hand. I might start looking for a cheap used sluice box and join up :grinpimp:

FYI... here is where I spent last weekend. wheeled into here on a 5 mile long trail and spent the day fishing and prospecting..... pretty serious if you ask me :flipoff2:

.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/fishing/DSC00347.jpg

Nice spot...and one of my favorites. I'll post a pic of our creek that you passed on the way to get there. You could have spied it if you looked real close through the trees on the way there.
I'll be in touch

greyhound will let you :flipoff2:

Yeah, me at a Greyhound bus station, in my skirt.... :laughing:

Yeah, me at a Greyhound bus station, in my skirt.... :laughing:


glad you found the same humor in it that I did :flipoff2:

You could have spied it if you looked real close through the trees on the way there.
I'll be in touch

I don't miss noticing many creeks so I probably know of it. perhaps you should invite me over to do some diggin :flipoff2:

I don't miss noticing many creeks so I probably know of it. perhaps you should invite me over to do some diggin :flipoff2:

The invite is always open...

My barber told me about a kid finding a big nugget at Rollins lake earlier this month...check out the video here
http://www.knbc.com/news/17108991/detail.html?rss=la&psp=news

You never know what you may find in them hills...I'd sure like to have that as a paper weight to hold down my land use papers :D

Pirates Lair :skull:

I watched the Tougher in Alaska the other day, and the show was about prospecting in Alaska. They followed three different levels of prospecting, from panning a river to one man strip mine to full scale mine.

The one that looked the coolest was the two guys who claimed 120 acres for $160. They rode a bush plane in and they had to pack 1000 pounds of gear 3 miles to their claim. They stayed there for a few months then packed back to the plane and flew out.

I wouldn't care a whole lot about finding gold but that would be an awesome way to spend a few summer months.

Luke

Buddy of mine has an 8" that he built from the ground up. Runs a 3cyl Sprint engine. He is currently working a private portion of the American out by Coloma that has apparently never been dredged before. He's pulling between 2 and 6 oz. / day.

EDIT: he has an online album somewhere - I'll see if I can get it from him and post some pix here :)

I'm sure there's gold up here in WA. I've never been prospecting, so I need to find a plce to go.

Money creek off highway 2 is a good place to pan!

Pirates Lair :skull:

:D
:flipoff2:

Buddy of mine has an 8" that he built from the ground up. Runs a 3cyl Sprint engine. He is currently working a private portion of the American out by Coloma that has apparently never been dredged before. He's pulling between 2 and 6 oz. / day.

EDIT: he has an online album somewhere - I'll see if I can get it from him and post some pix here :)

pics , info or direction to camp ? :D

He's pulling between 2 and 6 oz. / day.
)

According to the financials gold is running 855-895oz.
Lets say he avgs 3oz a day. Does this mean he is making ~2500$ a day?

I have a friend that lives in Auburn and I remember all of the historical gold reference. Coloma is where gold was first discovered in CA isn't it? I am not throwing down a BS flag, I am genuinely surprised that the area has any thing left at all.

According to the financials gold is running 855-895oz.
Lets say he avgs 3oz a day. Does this mean he is making ~2500$ a day?

I have a friend that lives in Auburn and I remember all of the historical gold reference. Coloma is where gold was first discovered in CA isn't it? I am not throwing down a BS flag, I am genuinely surprised that the area has any thing left at all.

yes coloma is where sutters mills is located, Pirate4x4 offices are only a few miles from that location.


as far as gold still here.. they estimate that the OG miners of the CA gold rush only took 10% of the gold out of here.

Dredging offers a prospecting method that was just not available to the individual minner of that era.

as far as his claim of 3.oz a day average. maybe for 2 days out of the year :laughing:

Gold prospecting tales are $900x more exaggerated then fishing tales and always get retold with amazing facts. how do you think the gold rush was marketed back in the day ? LOL


that said. a 8" dredge is certainly able to scour alot of material and if a crew ran it all season long I would be that their actuall average would be in the 1/2ox a day range.

According to the financials gold is running 855-895oz.
Lets say he avgs 3oz a day. Does this mean he is making ~2500$ a day?

That oz price is for basic gold, smelted down etc. Rough gold can go for a heck of a lot more depending on the size and shape.

Jewelry grade nuggets (about the size of matchheads) are very desirable so you can get more per ounce from jewelry makers. Some of the big nuggets can fetch 2-3x the going rate if they have a cool shape, cool coloring, mixed with another mineral or even some cool history behind them.

As with anything, the biggest issue for getting more than the going rate for gold is to find the right buyers.

that said. a 8" dredge is certainly able to scour alot of material and if a crew ran it all season long I would be that their actuall average would be in the 1/2ox a day range.

Ok final stupid question...season? Is it like hunting where you can only do it certain times of the year by law? or is it do to weather conditions, can't mine in the winter?

Depends on the area and the river/creek, but it is due to spawning season, they don't want you disturbing the gravel when the fish are laying and hatching.

Do you have to get Section 404 permits from the Corp?

Do you have to get Section 404 permits from the Corp?

I dont know what a section 404 permit is.

Fish and GAme issue dredging permits


DREDGING SEASON: You can obtain a suction dredging permit from any California office of the Department of Fish and Game. The 2007 permit cost $42.50 (non-resident $167.25). The exact cost of the permit changes slightly each year. The permit allows you to dredge on any waterway open to dredging within California. We have permit forms available at the office if you want to apply through the mail. If you send for the permit from Happy Camp, you should expect a waiting period of at least three or four working days before you receive it back by mail.

Click here for an example of how to fill out the form.

The California Department of Fish & Game can be contacted directly for current rates and an application form by calling (530) 225-2300.

Only those persons actually operating the nozzle of a suction dredge within an active waterway in California are required to have a Fish and Game dredging permit on hand.

The Department of Fish and Game allows dredging along our Klamath River properties between the Scott and Salmon Rivers on a year-round basis, and up the Klamath from its confluence with the Scott from the 4th Saturday in May through September 30. Dredging is permitted along our creek properties and the Scott River from July 1 to September 30. Dredging is permitted on the Salmon River from July 1 through September 15.

I work in mining industry. Everytime we'd do something in a creek, we'd have to get a permit from the Corp of Engineers if the stream was considered "navigatable", which meant that if water was ever present in the stream bed. The permit was under Section 404 or some such reg. Sounds like recreational uses don't have to deal with this. I'll have to ask my wife, she does permit stuff for a living.

The Montana DEQ issues dredge permits here. I just have a little keene hand sluice, but might upgrade it to a 2 1/2" power sluice at some point if I ever get good enough at finding gold to justify it. Figuring out how to work a stream is a art, but each trip out I get little better. At this point I'm not sure I'm making minimum wage.

§ 228.5. Suction Dredge Use Classifications and Special Regulations.
(a) Suction Dredge Use Classifications. For purposes of these regulations, the
following classes of suction dredge use restrictions apply in California's lakes, reservoirs,
streams and rivers as specified:
(1) Class A: No dredging permitted at anytime.
(2) Class B: Open to dredging from July 1 through August 31.
(3) Class C: Open to dredging from the fourth Saturday in May through
October 15.
(4) Class D: Open to dredging from July 1 through September 15.
(5) Class E: Open to dredging from July 1 through September 30.
(6) Class F: Open to dredging from December 1 through June 30.
(7) Class G: Open to dredging from the fourth Saturday in May through
September 30.
(8) Class H: Open to dredging throughout the year.
__________________________________________________ _____________
(9) El Dorado East of Highway 49 is Class C, the remainder is Class H.
(31) Placer East of Highway 49 is Class C, the remainder is Class H.
__________________________________________________ _____________
(1) American River (Sacramento County). The main stem American River from the
Sacramento River upstream to Nimbus Dam is Class A.
(2) American River, Middle Fork (El Dorado and Placer counties). The main stem
American River Middle Fork from its junction with the North Fork of the American River
upstream to the confluence with the Rubicon River is Class C. (Note: Recreational dredging is allowed in the Auburn State Recreation Area on an interim management
basis. Contact the Auburn State Recreation Area for instructions.)
(3) American River, North Fork (Placer County). The main stem North Fork American
River from Folsom Reservoir to the Colfax-Iowa Hill Road Bridge is Class C. From the
Colfax-Iowa Hill Road Bridge upstream to Heath Springs (T16N R14E S26) is Class A.
(Note: Recreational dredging is allowed in the Auburn State Recreation Area on an
interim management basis. Contact the Auburn State Recreation Area for instructions.)
(4) American River, South Fork (EI Dorado County). The main stem South Fork
American River from Folsom Reservoir upstream to the Highway 49 Bridge at Coloma is
Class C.
(5) American River, South Fork Tributaries (EI Dorado County). All tributaries to the
South Fork American River from Folsom Reservoir upstream are Class C.

Theres no gold left in Californau :flipoff2:

So do you have to have legal claim to the area, or can anyone just set up anywhere?

I realise each state is different.

So do you have to have legal claim to the area, or can anyone just set up anywhere?

I realize each state is different.

The area in my first pic is The middle fork of the american river and is part of the Auburn state recreational area. So recreational gold prospecting is open to anybody in certain areas of the river.


2) American River, Middle Fork (El Dorado and Placer counties). The main stem
American River Middle Fork from its junction with the North Fork of the American River
upstream to the confluence with the Rubicon River is Class C. (Note: Recreational dredging is allowed in the Auburn State Recreation Area on an interim management
basis. Contact the Auburn State Recreation Area for instructions.)


finding a legal place to prospect can be a bit of a challenge and takes some research for the area you are in. Many of the rivers and streams do have claims on them and you have to know what and where they are.

A great way to get involved and learn the ins and out is to join http://www.goldprospectors.org/

They have claims that as a member you can use and organized outings were you can meet fellow prospectors and learn. A good bargain for only $70

Yep And dont get caught on someone's claim. The law's on Claims have not changed much since the late 1800's.
1) First I ask you the leave nicely
2) I draw my gun.

There are a few places where I used to live where an old man will come out of a shack with the double barrel ready to meet you. He will be nice and tell you to get off of his claim....It's a good idea to always take his advice on the subject. there were many places like this.
I am the same way with my claim too.
First I will be nice...then I wont be...:D

in my experience, weapons are drawn prior to eye contact, followed by a view of the muzzle, followed by vulgarities.

I dont know what a section 404 permit is.


:confused: http://pirate4x4.com/forums :p

:confused: http://pirate4x4.com/forums :p

:laughing:

Thanks for all the info.

If it's National Forest or BLM land, the claims should be marked. Joining a club can save you lots of time researching open land. I know our local club even has a few claims, and it's only $30 a year to join.

:laughing:

Thanks for all the info.

LOL, realized after I posted that I was no longer in chitchat. :emb:

Is this better? :flipoff2:

http://www.usace.army.mil/cw/cecwo/reg/sec404.htm

http://apps.ecy.wa.gov/permithandbook/permitdetail.asp?id=37

If it's National Forest or BLM land, the claims should be marked. Joining a club can save you lots of time researching open land. I know our local club even has a few claims, and it's only $30 a year to join

Placer claims do need to be marked but only need 1 monument with the location papers for the entire 20-160 acres. It should usually be near the point of discovery.
They are also frequently removed, destoyed etc so it can be a little difficult to know if you are on an active claim or not without some research of the area.

Claim owners do not own the land on unpatented claims and really have no right to keep you off unless you are interfering with their mining operations. They do own the rights to the minerals on the claim and this is considered "real" property. To remove minerals from someones claim is a federal offense.

Some good basic info here http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/iac/faqmc.html

I like GOLD :D

Yep And dont get caught on someone's claim. The law's on Claims have not changed much since the late 1800's.
1) First I ask you the leave nicely
2) I draw my gun.

There are a few places where I used to live where an old man will come out of a shack with the double barrel ready to meet you. He will be nice and tell you to get off of his claim....It's a good idea to always take his advice on the subject. there were many places like this.
I am the same way with my claim too.
First I will be nice...then I wont be...:D


location of said claim ? :D

Found this on CL for you...
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/tls/870120444.html

Found this on CL for you...
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/tls/870120444.html


I have a Keene sluice already and am looking for a Proline highbanker. :D

when do you move in ?

I have a Keene sluice already and am looking for a Proline highbanker. :D

when do you move in ?

f`n lender :mad3:, supposed to be next wed but they are dragging their damn feet :shaking: that's closing, and nothing has changed in like a week and a half :shaking:

PM me who you went through (or post if u like) I may broker it myself through a new lender, or at least start the process as a backup. We have EVERYTHING already, just need to submit it all to a new lender/underwriter.

location of said claim ? :D

If your intrested I can do weekends, But the first rule of Fight club is you do not talk about your location of your claim. :laughing:
BUT I will say its in a Great Gold bearing area and half the claim is surrounded by Trailings left from mid 1800's (= tons of gold stuck in rocks that were tossed.) I am partned with a few other ppl in the area who are connected to my claim, We have an agreement we can cross claims provided we give sufficent notice. I cant wait to get out there thou, Most ppl in sac see a sluice box and think its siding for the house...:shaking:

If your intrested I can do weekends, But the first rule of Fight club is you do not talk about your location of your claim. :laughing:



I will show you mine if you show me yours :flipoff2:

I go most weekend I am in town. helps that it is in my backyard :D

hey whats up good to see other people into gold . i'm up here in p-ville just getting into this gold stuff and have a 4 inch dredge, with air huuca, would like to try it out some where but cant find a good place that does not have a claim needs to be close to some sort of 4x4 road f--king thing is heavy let me know if you need some hole s made in a stream. any info is welcome thank you for your time.

hey whats up good to see other people into gold . i'm up here in p-ville just getting into this gold stuff and have a 4 inch dredge, with air huuca, would like to try it out some where but cant find a good place that does not have a claim needs to be close to some sort of 4x4 road f--king thing is heavy let me know if you need some hole s made in a stream. any info is welcome thank you for your time.


plenty of places to dredge around Gtown divide.

just takes some research.

what dredge do you have ? pics ?

we are going prospecting this afternoon.

camo

Must be nice to have all that water close by.

All we have are the LDMA nutjobs.

got the call today :)

loan docs ordered up :flipoff2:

ya`rig ready for some snow :D :D

Todd get yer ass up here.

we are going prospecting down at the river right now.

cold...might snow tonight ...bbrrrr

Pussy! :laughing::flipoff2::laughing:

I have been prospecting when it's been so cold the shovel freezes in the water, The filter mesh clogs up with Ice and you have to dig down through 3 feet of snow before you get to the dirt....actually thinking about it....no wonder noone ever wanted to go out prospecting with me. :lmao:

I will show you mine if you show me yours :flipoff2:

I go most weekend I am in town. helps that it is in my backyard :D

Damm you...I miss the old days like that....now its hours away..

I will show you mine if you show me yours :flipoff2:

I go most weekend I am in town. helps that it is in my backyard :D

Hey, every day is a Saturday (or Sunday) to me. Love to fish and I've done some panning. If'n you ever find yourself in need of some company, gimme a call... :rasta: 916-803-6940

In the AF, I held an extended Top Secret security classification so I know how to keep my mouf shut... :D:D

We (my family) have an 80 acre claim in them thar hills as well as all the equipment needed to find it.
Been a family past time for longer than Ive been alive.
My uncle spent the summer workin part of it, met lotsa jumpers....... with a barrel. Be sure to know where your at or it could be a bad experience. :flipoff2:

We (my family) have an 80 acre claim in them thar hills as well as all the equipment needed to find it.
Been a family past time for longer than Ive been alive.
My uncle spent the summer workin part of it, met lotsa jumpers....... with a barrel. Be sure to know where your at or it could be a bad experience. :flipoff2:

got new rig :confused: :flipoff2:

Glenn,,

you are always welcome to join us. :smokin:

Bear,

what township and range is your claim in ?

prospecting report from last friday. found some color and drank a few beers. beats working :flipoff2:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=38.817634,-120.937704&daddr=1305+Tanglewood+Dr,+Placerville,+CA+95667&hl=en&geocode=%3BCRd10bB45qQQFYjITwIdmJfK-A&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=18&sll=38.817672,-120.937586&sspn=0.001872,0.003401&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=18

this is where we used to go, i am pretty sure thee is a claim there, there was dredging equipment there on and off when i was a kid, it is near a spot in the river where they blew a channel in the rock, and re directed the river during the gold rush, and near gorilla rock if you are familliar with the river landmarks.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=38.817634,-120.937704&daddr=1305+Tanglewood+Dr,+Placerville,+CA+95667&hl=en&geocode=%3BCRd10bB45qQQFYjITwIdmJfK-A&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=18&sll=38.817672,-120.937586&sspn=0.001872,0.003401&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=18

this is where we used to go, i am pretty sure thee is a claim there, there was dredging equipment there on and off when i was a kid, it is near a spot in the river where they blew a channel in the rock, and re directed the river during the gold rush, and near gorilla rock if you are familliar with the river landmarks.


Off the top of my head that is part of the river that no claim can be made on. Part of the Sutters mill state park.

we whitewater raft that stretch and I see prospecting including dredging frequently.

prospecting report from last friday. found some color and drank a few beers. beats working :flipoff2:

unfortunately I didn't find enough to cover the cost of my broken blinker. :laughing: Was fun talking to the old timer though.

Off the top of my head that is part of the river that no claim can be made on. Part of the Sutters mill state park.

we whitewater raft that stretch and I see prospecting including dredging frequently.

Really? Its pretty far down from sutters mill, down river from the last group of whitewater companies, Gold Rush River runners run the orange boats( used to raft with them a lot as a extra paddler, we had an in there and it was free.) I think they are (or were) on of the last companies down 49 past the coloma club.
AFAIK it is private property down there, but i have been going there sice i was 9 or 10 ( '89-'90) the land owners were cool about it.
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g216/surpip/goldspot.jpg

ahh 10.4 on your link I had to zoom pretty far out to get the map to display so I was taking a guess at your location

you know where arrowbee lake is?
there is aback way to the river down that way, and that how we got there as kids, and there is a way in to that spot from coloma (actually lotus) but i don't know how to describe it, just know how to drive it.

Its a good little swimming hole, and gorilla rock is good to jump off of too if the river is high enough, some people call it convict rock too.

can you find it on google earth ?


if so send me the file

camo@pirate4x4.com

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Lotus+Rd&daddr=Arrowbee+Dr+to:Unknown+road+to:Lotus,+Califo rnia&hl=en&geocode=FXqQTwIdcdPK-A%3BFRqRTwIdSb3K-A%3BFdhPUAIdgZ_K-A%3BFQwRUAIdXxXL-A&mra=mr&mrcr=0&via=1&sll=38.78878,-120.932608&sspn=0.014986,0.026865&ie=UTF8&ll=38.796908,-120.938702&spn=0.059937,0.10746&t=h&z=13

not 100% its been almost 2 years since i have been down there, but i am pretty sure this is the directions to get there
the two houses that you can see from the google maps are new, they wern't there last time i was down there, so it might be private now.

can you find it on google earth ?


if so send me the file

camo@pirate4x4.com

Camo, I am very familiar with this trail and area, partied extensively there as a young un. Forrest lives a hop skip and a jump from there.

here is a pic of my stash that I have found over the years using my Keene sluice box

.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/fishing/A52.jpg

.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/DSC00212.jpg
Hey Camo what river do you go gold prospecting on? i've never found that much gold and i've been doing it for 2 years. :(

Camo... Bring your bike over and I can take you to both of these Mines...they are about 1/2 mile from my house!


MOTHER LODE, EAST BELT, AND WEST BELT DISTRICTS
The Mother Lode, East Belt, and West Belt districts, composing a zone 10 to 20 miles wide extending from north to south in western El Dorado County, are combined here because their individual production cannot be determined.

Most of the lode gold produced in the county to 1959 came from mines of the Mother Lode which were developed in the early 1850's. Two of these, the Union and Church mines, produced $600,000 in gold before 1868 (Clark and Carlson, 1956, p. 427). The Union was the largest in this district, with a total gold production of $2,700,000 to $5 million (Clark and Carlson, 1956, p. 427). Other mines with $1 million or more total production are the Big Canyon, Mount Pleasant, Pyramid, Sliger, Taylor, and Zantgraf.

From 1903 through 1958 the lode mines of the district produced roughly 500,000 ounces of gold. Total production could possibly be 1 million ounces or more.

Hey Camo what river do you go gold prospecting on?

all of them :flipoff2:

Did some prospecting this weekend just a short quad ride from my house.

a place we call Miners camp.

we spent more time exploring around then actually panning and never even busted out the sluices.

found some colors working the cracks. the location supports a dredge camp in the season


http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/minerscamp001.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/meMC.jpg

Looks like you guys had fun... hope to get up there with the quad soon and do some exploring. :D I haven't busted out the gold pans in a while, ok YEARS... but my quad is ready to ride :evil:

House shit is taking so much time.... keys today? Tomorrow? Wed? Fuckers are slow as hell. After that I`m afraid I`ll be only able to escape for a ride rarely / when shit is cleaned up and working around the house :smokin:

You going to be riding this weekend? Is Bryan coming back up? Maybe if I set a "for sure day" to ride I can escape house duties :smokin:

Todd,

I need a better description of where you live.Tried to find it this weekend figuring you were up here already. PM me the addy

Bryan and I went out Saturday and explored a very badass mine near us. checked out a really neat hydraulic site just down the road and then went to the location in the pic.

then yesterday I went behind my house to the Rubicon river. talk about amazing...cant wait to show ya around !!


yes I will be here this weekend and since your honey do list is the limiting factor... you just let me know what day you can ride and I will give ya the tour.

as a matter of fact Lance and I are going riding today to a nearby mine to do some photography work for analysis of the matrix.

I can ride any day you have available... :D


camo

Todd,

I need a better description of where you live.Tried to find it this weekend figuring you were up here already. PM me the addy

Bryan and I went out Saturday and explored a very badass mine near us. checked out a really neat hydraulic site just down the road and then went to the location in the pic.

then yesterday I went behind my house to the Rubicon river. talk about amazing...cant wait to show ya around !!


yes I will be here this weekend and since your honey do list is the limiting factor... you just let me know what day you can ride and I will give ya the tour.

as a matter of fact Lance and I are going riding today to a nearby mine to do some photography work for analysis of the matrix.

I can ride any day you have available... :D


camo

Gotta love working from home/for yourself :D

I`ll txt you when I head up with the quad or to do work.

Gotta love working from home/for yourself :D

.

HUh ? are you going to be be working from the house in Volcanoville ?

I didn't like working from home. I enjoy going to the office for the social interaction and sometimes just a good reason to get out of the area.

stop by the Pirate office if you come thru town during the work day

HUh ? are you going to be be working from the house in Volcanoville ?

I didn't like working from home. I enjoy going to the office for the social interaction and sometimes just a good reason to get out of the area.

stop by the Pirate office if you come thru town during the work day

I was referring to us both being able to pick`n`chose our schedules :D

Yeah, I work from home, up tell a month ago 90%... now I go to the office in Folsom 3 or 4 times a week for 1/2 days.
I agree, social interaction is nice to have at the office especially when you still can maintain your own schedule :)

:D

I had a dream I was panning out a bucket of sand on a beach somewhere, found a bunch of 1/2 golfball sized rounded off quartz pieces with gold veins running through them. Was a pretty cool dream.

I had a dream I was panning out a bucket of sand on a beach somewhere, found a bunch of 1/2 golfball sized rounded off quartz pieces with gold veins running through them. Was a pretty cool dream.

I have that same dream every day I go prospecting :flipoff2:

I went prospecting last weekend. Just after dropping into the canyon (on foot) I came across 3 partial deer carcasses and loads of bear scat. When I was down on the river bottom shoveling gravel into my sluice a bear crossed the river and charged me. I ran about 30', turned and fired 3 rounds in it's direction and it proceeded to steal my pan and take off. Now I have no pan. wtf??

I went prospecting last weekend. Just after dropping into the canyon (on foot) I came across 3 partial deer carcasses and loads of bear scat. When I was down on the river bottom shoveling gravel into my sluice a bear crossed the river and charged me. I ran about 30', turned and fired 3 rounds in it's direction and it proceeded to steal my pan and take off. Now I have no pan. wtf??


that is awesome :D

where did you go last weekend ?

we were on the middle fork sat and I went to the rubicon river on sunday.

saw lots of fresh bear scat

oh... going bear hunting this friday up by ellicots bridge :D

.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Signs/bearwarning.jpg

[/QUOTE]

south fork upstream of mosquito bridge

[/QUOTE]

open invitation to come with us and check out middle fork-rubicon any time you like.

Plans are to go this sunday

Looks like the trout fishing would be good there?




Did some prospecting this weekend just a short quad ride from my house.

a place we call Miners camp.

we spent more time exploring around then actually panning and never even busted out the sluices.

found some colors working the cracks. the location supports a dredge camp in the season


http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/minerscamp001.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/meMC.jpg

Looks like the trout fishing would be good there?


indeed it is :D

fishing and prospecting is what got me into wheeling in the first place

south fork upstream of mosquito bridge

[/QUOTE]

open invitation to come with us and check out middle fork-rubicon any time you like.

Plans are to go this sunday[/QUOTE]

Don't know what happened to my last post, looks funny. What are the details for sunday, I might be in. Was sorta planning to run to kelsey anyway. I'll get another pan friday

plans are a bit vague at the moment but I want to go with another friend who has a beeper ( metal detector r ) and do some detecting in a mine and then another area that has been hydraulic mined with lots of tailing. or we can go to the middle fork or the rubicon all that is right by my house in volcanoville.


if you have a quad that is perfect. if not you can ride mine and I will ride the bike.

give me a call or text me saturday

805-441-0536

I am thinking about 9 0r 10 on sunday leave my house


camo

Sundays 10-26-08 prospecting report.


Aggro, Wes and mopar chick all gathered at my house by 10:00 am

we loaded up the quad, rhino and bike and headed off to a terciary river mine located a few miles from my house.

wes brought the beeper and stunned us all at how well it worked by beeping this nugged 6" deep in the wall.

we then headed for the river to pan out a small bucket of material taken from the mine and set up our sluice boxes and worked some gravels from newtown bar.

newton bar produced some of the best gravel I have ever worked and ever bucket left the black mat in my sluice littered with pickers.

it was one of those remarkable days when ever pan full shows good color and a picker or two.

It was a great day of prospecting

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC00407.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC00411.jpg

inside the mine where Wes used the detector to find the nugget and the crew down by the river getting ready to work.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC00405.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC00410.jpg

Nice work! That mine looks trippy!

Nice work! That mine looks trippy!

what you are seeing in that pic is a lazy miner.


the sloped sides of the wall are not cave-ins rather they stacked the material there from the back of that particular tunnel... there is a very large open chamber around the corner that they worked and I think they were just to much in a hurry to take it all the way out the entrance

my guess is that it was stacked that way when the mine was reworked in the depression and not originally that way from the 1800's era

i had a blast cant wait to go back :bounce2::bounce2::bounce2: minus my side adventure lol

thats awesome
I'm jealous

Had a ball guys! Great company, great gold.

Excellent adventure...

good times for sure.

good times for sure.


is this the one that stole your gold pan ? if so he will be kicking it at my house from now on :flipoff2:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=726598&page=2

I picked up a highbanker this week off CL and was hoping to get up there and try it out. Didn't work out so I set it up in a kiddie pool in the back yard.


I can't wait to give this thing a try now that dredging season is over. Hopefully Thanksgiving weekend.

I picked up a highbanker this week off CL and was hoping to get up there and try it out. Didn't work out so I set it up in a kiddie pool in the back yard.


I can't wait to give this thing a try now that dredging season is over. Hopefully Thanksgiving weekend.

Can I be your friend?

Can I be your friend?


You're welcome to come up...bring a shovel

I'm going to be up Thanksgiving weekend

Should be able to move a lot more material and that bar is big:flipoff2:

Can I be your friend?

You're welcome to come up...bring a shovel

I'm going to be up Thanksgiving weekend

Should be able to move a lot more material and that bar is big:flipoff2:

Aggro is a good shoveler :flipoff2:

sounds like a turkey day gold feast at newtown bar. :D

plenty of material to be shoveled.

score on the HB :smokin:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC00375.jpg

I'd be better off panning the creek by the local ghetto hoping to find a gold toof.:laughing:

Sweet new setup :D Maybe one day I`ll be able to escape to play :shaking:

last weekends gold report.

Wes and I hit the mine and found a nice little nugget and then went down to the river and worked the gravel.

wether was warm and sunny and we enjoyied the last of indian summer. worked 4 buckets of gravel through the sluice and Wes made the comment ever prospector wants to hear.

"dude there is so much gold in this pan I don't know how to get it all out " :smokin:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC00474.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC00475.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC00480.jpg

I went prospecting on Saturday down at the consumnes river in El Dorado... Great day! I found some small pickers but mostly flower gold... Better than just washin rocks though!:smokin: Ill post pics tomorrow.

I went prospecting on Saturday down at the consumnes river in El Dorado... Great day! I found some small pickers but mostly flower gold... Better than just washin rocks though!:smokin: Ill post pics tomorrow.

LOL... i have been waiting for the pics and story from you :flipoff2:

LOL... i have been waiting for the pics and story from you :flipoff2:

why? did you want to compare "pay dirt"?:smokin:

why? did you want to compare "pay dirt"?:smokin:

just figured you were gonna share your prospecting adventure with the PBB

just figured you were gonna share your prospecting adventure with the PBB

Of course I am... I will post my story and pics tomorrow! You totally need to go the Diamond Springs Flea market... They have it every sunday. There are a couple of vendors down there with TONS of mining, panning and sloucing equipment! I got two pans, some viles, and tweezers and a jewlery magnifying glass for under $20.00:eek:

Hey Camo, That quartz bolder in the pic, that looks like it's holding up the entire roof, I double dare you to pop it out of the wall next time. :D

I triple dog dare you! and then you can come back to the mine that we found, and bust some of the quartz out of that celing too, that is after you get out of the hospital! :laughing::shaking:

Hey Camo, That quartz bolder in the pic, that looks like it's holding up the entire roof, I double dare you to pop it out of the wall next time. :D

It would have required a very loud beep from the detector to tempt me to dislodge that boulder :flipoff2:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC00470.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC00474.jpg

Nice pics...:D

One branch of the Ancient Intervolcanic American River circles around Volcanoville, which is noted for it’s gold.


Not many people have seen a river that is millions of years old.:smokin:

It would have required a very loud beep from the detector to tempt me to dislodge that boulder :flipoff2:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC00474.jpg

is that the same boulder from last time wasnt it mostly dug in.

Nice pics but your not wearing a black t-shirt......Hardly recognized you.

So, I've been asking our buddy Camo to teach me how to prospect, and I mean more than just taking me to the river and handing me a pan like in 4th grade. I wanted to learn how the gold got there, where it usually is found, and of course, how to pan for it.

WOW, there is sooo much more to prospecting than just throwing some dirt in a pan and finding gold.

We went to the consumnes river near my house, in El Dorado. There are many gold mines and claims near where we went, so I had this inflated idea that we were going to strike it rich our first time out! Not the case!

It was actually alot of work, digging, and carrying heavy pan loads of dirt to the river and then the chore of liquifying the dirt and sifting through rocks and debris, also known as "washin rocks". Once you get down to just dirt.. now comes the part that you have to seperate the dirt from the "black sand" once that is done... NOW... you get to actually start looking for the GOLD!

We were prosperous... and found some gold, little amounts, but nontheless.. it was GOLD! There is something very personal and satisfying about finding your own gold, and its something that cant be described or even explained! even the littlest find is a huge find to the person who is seeking it!

I have to admit... I now have "GOLD FEVER"! ~ Thanks Camo for the "Prospecting" lesson!

i have some shovels and *i think * a gold pan in the garage if you guys need some help

exploring cave and old mines totally rocks!!

nice write up Jen, Glad you enjoyed prospecting 101.

You have no idea how true your statement is about having alot to learn. dudes with PHD's in geology admit they have alot to still learn on the subject of finding gold. but none the less, just getting out into nature you tend to get a knack for it after some trial and error.

Looks like the next outing is gonna be the Saturday after Turkey day.

who's in for turkey nuggets ?

this looks like fun! my brother in law used to pan and found enough over the years to make his and his wife's wedding rings! :eek:

I see you are using the plastic pans... does no one use the metal ones anymore? what are the differences in features?

My son is interested in geology and a gold panning set and book would be a cool Christmas gift....

edit: he already has a nice metal detector.

Looks like the next outing is gonna be the Saturday after Turkey day.

who's in for turkey nuggets ?

I am IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :bounce::bounce2::bounce:

That's cool J, I also found my first gold on the consumnes river down at county line, when I got into panning after high school. There's good gold in that river and even if you dont find much, your out in gods country like camo said. Sometimes when prospecting you can get skunked for a long time, but the next time you find gold it just makes it that much sweeter. Dam, don't think I can make saturday Camo.

Jen,

is Ed coming ? you guys will need to bring his jeep to get where we are going.


Wes, WTF ? :(

Jen,

is Ed coming ? you guys will need to bring his jeep to get where we are going.


Wes, WTF ? :(


I am sure he will... I will just TELL him he is :p ( and then bat my eyelashes and look really cute! :laughing:)

Where exactly are we going? Yeah Wes.... WTF ?:flipoff2:

this looks like fun! my brother in law used to pan and found enough over the years to make his and his wife's wedding rings! :eek:

I see you are using the plastic pans... does no one use the metal ones anymore? what are the differences in features?

My son is interested in geology and a gold panning set and book would be a cool Christmas gift....

edit: he already has a nice metal detector.


metal pans are not very popular for several reasons.
1. they are heavy and prospecting requires carry loads of equipment around.
2. plastic pans have "traps" making the process easier


I agree, a geology or gold book, some topo maps, pan , sieve, scoop, sniffer bottle and a few vials would make a cool christmas gift

I am sure he will... I will just TELL him he is :p ( and then bat my eyelashes and look really cute! :laughing:)

Where exactly are we going? Yeah Wes.... WTF ?:flipoff2:


our secret spot. :D

not far from my house, but I will not reveal the actual location on the internet.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8560230&postcount=11

i have some shovels and *i think * a gold pan in the garage if you guys need some help

exploring cave and old mines totally rocks!!

if you are up for an adventure join us the sat after turkey day.

plan on being in volcanoville by 9:30 ( 12 miles east of georgetown off of wentworth springs )

I have plenty of shovels and pans if you don't have any.

you will need.

a strong back
lunch
warm/cold weather gear
transportation- 4wd road so a quad,bike or wheeler ( rear locker minimum )

Doh!
I wish...I have been missing the dirt...or mud I should say...:(

Edit: Iffy 4wd and no locker

::D Room for one more??:)

::D Room for one more??:)

Or Two? The misses says get outta the house :D

How far is it from Volcano Ville to the spot your thinking of?
I may get as far as I can and hike in the rest!

if you are up for an adventure join us the sat after turkey day.

plan on being in volcanoville by 9:30 ( 12 miles east of georgetown off of wentworth springs )

I have plenty of shovels and pans if you don't have any.

you will need.

a strong back
lunch
warm/cold weather gear
transportation- 4wd road so a quad,bike or wheeler ( rear locker minimum )
right on, ill see what i can do

I can go Friday or Sunday but not sat :(

I can go Friday or Sunday but not sat :(

I will go friday as well. :D

Get it! :D

I took my 6yo daughter panning at a new to me spot on weber creek today. Lots of bedrock to scour the cracks, and some color too but not enough to keep her interested.

I took my 6yo daughter panning at a new to me spot on weber creek today. Lots of bedrock to scour the cracks, and some color too but not enough to keep her interested.

Did you go to that GPAA claim on weber ? we almost went there 2 weeks ago but hit newtown instead. I want to go check out weber soon

pretty cool stuff and a fun way to spend a weekend!!

I got so much gold today you could hear it go into the snuffer. Going to dinner now, will clean out my pan when I get home.
edit: finally panned out the tertiary riverbed stuff we/I hauled home and it had 2 pieces of very fine color.
The bucket with all the gold was un labeled... :mad:

Right on Aggro :smokin:I got out sunday too, looking for some old mines at a place I have spent about 6 days already with not a trace of color. Got poked in the eye by a pine needle, almost fell down a hidden shaft that was camouflaged under dead branches, and hiked about 3 steep miles. But near the end of the day I finally put a little yellow color in the poke and all my troubles were forgotten.

It sounds like the gold recovery is on the uptrend and I'm stoked to try that new highbanker out.

Wes, what detector do you use?



Forcast for Saturday:

Saturday
Mostly Clear
Hi: 60°
Lo: 42°
Mostly clear. Highs 55 to 65. Lows 37 to 47. =

Bryan, I have an older minelab.

Bryan, I have an older minelab.

come awn fawker...post a pic of the glory nugget :flipoff2:

Posting for Wes,

last weeks find using the "older minelab " :flipoff2:

16 grams of crystalline gold.

fucking get it.

Fawking nice specimen...way to go Wes:smokin:

This post is great!

I've learned a lot about prospecting and gathered enough pics of camo's fingerprints to place him at a crime scene! :laughing:

Holy shit! Wes, you Fing Corkhole! Why didn't you tell me about this?

Thanks guys, I don't know why I deserved finding that nugg, but I did and I aint complaining. Had a gold high all week:D Hope you guys also find some good color this weekend!

wes, nice nugget. its a like art work from mother nature.... now you got me thinking of getting my gear back out and use it this weekend...lol

all this talk of gold has me wanting to go out. i wish i lived closer

all this talk of gold has me wanting to go out. i wish i lived closer

don't be dumb...plenty of gold up in your neck of the woods

oh i know. ill be goin out soon once school is out, and hopefully before winter hits.

oh i know. ill be goin out soon once school is out, and hopefully before winter hits.

Come down to my house and bring my shit too :flipoff2:

A few pics from the Turkey Nugget expedition :smokin:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC08369.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC08371.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC08377.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC08375.jpg

oh and I was attacked by a swarm of killer ladybugs :laughing:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC08379.jpg

always the ladies man, even while prospecting :grinpimp: Find much color?

always the ladies man, even while prospecting :grinpimp: Find much color?

enough to keep me interested :smokin:

hey, is there a place to go down here in san diego?

can i just google it?

I went out prospecting today at a couple places along hwy 49 near jackson and got some color but also found a diamond 3/8" across the top in my classifier. With a 10 power loupe I can see imperfections inside, so I think it's real. It dwarfs my wifes 2ct.
edit... here it is after ultrasonic cleaning inside my ring for size reference. it's big.

damn thats big
pics?

I went out prospecting today at a couple places along hwy 49 near jackson and got some color but also found a diamond 3/8" across the top in my classifier. With a 10 power loupe I can see imperfections inside, so I think it's real. It dwarfs my wifes 2ct.
edit... here it is after ultrasonic cleaning inside my ring for size reference. it's big.

Nice find Agro...your thoroughness with that classifier pays off big time :D

wow crazy :D

The more I read on this topic the more I realize I need to dust off all of my old panning stuff. Only been about 15 years since i used it. Gives me some more fun stuff to introduce the kids to.

Of course, everyone knows there is no gold in Idaho.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

subscribed, thanks

No gold in over a month??

The enviro's are at it again trying to shut down our suction dredging...including the Middle Fork from the confluence to Hell Hole

From http://www.plp2.org/index.html

Karuk 's petition Ca. DFG
Provided by Jim Foley
Karuk Tribe and others petition Ca. DFG Rule Making Process for suction Dredging in California

http://www.goldgold.com/legal/karuk-petition-to-DFG.pdf

:mad3::mad3::flipoff2:

I have started my 2009 poke. Went thru 4 5 gallon buckets of gravel harvested from various sites, been so long I don't remember where they are from except 1 in particular which I acquired when we were out last and it has more color the the rest. 1/2 of it to go and another bucket (from somewhere else) and I'll have to brave the elements again. I eyeballed a spot "down there" that I really want to go check out but we have to use your highbanker as its far from the water.
Im also trying to sort details and get a couple claims going.

I have started my 2009 poke. Went thru 4 5 gallon buckets of gravel harvested from various sites, been so long I don't remember where they are from except 1 in particular which I acquired when we were out last and it has more color the the rest. 1/2 of it to go and another bucket (from somewhere else) and I'll have to brave the elements again. I eyeballed a spot "down there" that I really want to go check out but we have to use your highbanker as its far from the water.
Im also trying to sort details and get a couple claims going.

Nice that you brought something home to work with. I haven't been up for about a month and could use some dirt to play with in the flatlands.
I'm hoping to get up soon...I'd really like to see what the water flow looks like down there in a big storm and get the highbanker back out

Let me know if you need any help with checking out some areas open to claim. I've got some links I can send you that can help narrow it down. I just had a great one declared Null/Void and it took many calls to the BLM to make sure they were correct and we didn't have grounds for appeal.

I recently found a quartz vein with some pretty big crystals that were just crumbling out of a hill. Cant tell from the pic but they are quite clear like glass. Thought it was worthy of a post.
http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/2975/2cry800x600sb2.th.jpg (http://img159.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2cry800x600sb2.jpg)
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3370/quartz800x600kb7.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=quartz800x600kb7.jpg)

Definately worth a post. The wifes been wanting me to take her out crystal hunting up there. I find the occasional one out prospecting but usually only partial.
I've been told of a few places to go and hunt but haven't made it. One of them is past a gate with a troll but the payoff is supposed to be big...

70's all week :eek: good time to go out.

Ya gotta love the weather this week. Bryan, One of the local boys told me about some 1-2 foot clear crystals they were finding :eek: Very cool and worth some bucks I'm sure.

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/crime/archives/018556.html

Claim Jumpers... Get A Rope!

From my secret spot last week...
http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/700/12052/270663.jpg
http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/700/12052/270664.jpg
http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/700/12052/271723.jpg
Just two buckets full of material, sun went down behind the hills and it was getting cold.

From my secret spot last week...


GPS coordinates please :D

I'm glad someone else has been out lately...December was my last and I'm not going to make it this month

Yeah i went out with my dad when it was nice and warm up here.
I got a White GMT metal detector for xmas but i haven't found anything with it yet :(

Nice score! On the topic of "other" finds... I commonly find pink, purple, red, green etc stones. Any way to tell what they are?

It would have required a very loud beep from the detector to tempt me to dislodge that boulder :flipoff2:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC00470.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC00474.jpg

did you guys ever find anything in there?

damn i am super jealous looking at this thread. i wish i could find a nugget. Hopefully with my GMT i can, i want to find an old mine riverbed and do what you guys are doing.

Thats A LOT of color for one pan. Very Nice

Thats A LOT of color for one pan. Very Nice

yeah i got a lot of gold with just two buckets of material i wanted to run 4 but with my dad's age, the temperature dropping quick from the sun going behind the mountain, and how slick the hike in was i thought it was best we hike out before it got cold enough to refreeze the rocks.
I really want to find some bigger gold though, i've only gotten lucky a couple of times with finding big flake/pickers.

went out the other day with my gm2 and found a pick axe head that the placerville historical society said was made before 1860 first time out with it had alot of fun have yet to find a nugget but still trying. also have a place in grass valley i want to try off of wolf creek

went out the other day with my gm2 and found a pick axe head that the placerville historical society said was made before 1860 first time out with it had alot of fun have yet to find a nugget but still trying. also have a place in grass valley i want to try off of wolf creek

thats a cool find, did you find it along a river or in the hills?

found it along the river .

I can not wait for the rivers to go down and the temp to come up around my place i have the fever burning me up.:hot::smokin:

I can not wait for the rivers to go down and the temp to come up around my place i have the fever burning me up.:hot::smokin:

Go out and scope out those rivers and streams during high flow. Take pictures. It can help a lot to find the paystreaks later in the season:D

Cobra, two buckets and a little bit of color. With the current price of gold, how much money are you looking at in that pan?

Go out and scope out those rivers and streams during high flow. Take pictures. It can help a lot to find the paystreaks later in the season:D

Dang good idea will do this weekend.

Cobra, two buckets and a little bit of color. With the current price of gold, how much money are you looking at in that pan?

LOl i don't know, i don't think of it as money. Its just something i collect.

I'm having a hard time finding any info on finding places to pan in Northern Utah/Southern Idaho. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I'm having a hard time finding any info on finding places to pan in Northern Utah/Southern Idaho. Can anyone point me in the right direction?


Depending how far north into Idaho you feel like going, there is quite a bit of good panning areas around the Palisades reservoir area and all of its little creeks and tributaries. No mining is allowed in a large portion of the area, some areas limit the amount of and size of equipment you can have and use, but if just basic panning is all you are going for there are hundreds of miles of waterways you can go to for that. Even the Snake River as it flows through southern Idaho has a history of giving up pay dirt.

Just pick up a $20 set of the DeLorme topo maps and start looking

I'm having a hard time finding any info on finding places to pan in Northern Utah/Southern Idaho. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Take a look here...the links have a list of counties

Although Utah is seldom mentioned as a major gold producer it is rated sixth in the United States. Most of the production came as a by product of copper mining. Utah's gold concentrations generally line in the central part of the state in a north to south zone. Most of the gold areas are within an easy drive from Salt Lake City. On the western side of the Oquirrh Range is the world's largest copper mine. It is located in Bingham Canyon and gold has been produced in the same Canyon since 1863. Mining is important to Utah's economy. Commercial placer operations in Utah have been mostly considered unsuccessful, however, in many parts of the state there are large areas of stream and bench gravel that have not been tested. Lack of water in many areas has hampered prospecting efforts.
http://www.49ermike.com/ut.shtml


A considerable amount of gold has been recovered from placer and lode deposits in Idaho. Idaho gold was first discovered on a sandbar in the Pend Oreille River in 1852. In 1860, Captain E. D. Pierce found gold near the town of Pierce in Clearwater County. Other rich placer deposits soon were being mined in the nearby areas. Placer were the major source of gold prior to 1900. Idaho is a dredgers paradise. The communist (Democrats) haven't got there liberal asses in there yet, but believe me, soon they will have it in there sights. Idaho is a beautiful state and that is surprising considering the environmental Nazis think that the only way something can look nice, is if they got some stupid endangered species in there to flaunt (and raise money for there communistic motives). It is my estimate that over 10,000,000 ounces of gold has came from that state.
http://www.49ermike.com/id.shtml

I'm having a hard time finding any info on finding places to pan in Northern Utah/Southern Idaho. Can anyone point me in the right direction?


You could always join the GPAA and get there claims guide it is a very usefull tool.

Take a look here...the links have a list of counties

Although Utah is seldom mentioned as a major gold producer it is rated sixth in the United States. Most of the production came as a by product of copper mining. Utah's gold concentrations generally line in the central part of the state in a north to south zone. Most of the gold areas are within an easy drive from Salt Lake City. On the western side of the Oquirrh Range is the world's largest copper mine. It is located in Bingham Canyon and gold has been produced in the same Canyon since 1863. Mining is important to Utah's economy. Commercial placer operations in Utah have been mostly considered unsuccessful, however, in many parts of the state there are large areas of stream and bench gravel that have not been tested. Lack of water in many areas has hampered prospecting efforts.
http://www.49ermike.com/ut.shtml


A considerable amount of gold has been recovered from placer and lode deposits in Idaho. Idaho gold was first discovered on a sandbar in the Pend Oreille River in 1852. In 1860, Captain E. D. Pierce found gold near the town of Pierce in Clearwater County. Other rich placer deposits soon were being mined in the nearby areas. Placer were the major source of gold prior to 1900. Idaho is a dredgers paradise. The communist (Democrats) haven't got there liberal asses in there yet, but believe me, soon they will have it in there sights. Idaho is a beautiful state and that is surprising considering the environmental Nazis think that the only way something can look nice, is if they got some stupid endangered species in there to flaunt (and raise money for there communistic motives). It is my estimate that over 10,000,000 ounces of gold has came from that state.
http://www.49ermike.com/id.shtml

Lots of good info there, thanks for the link. So in an area where gold was mined chances are some could be found in creeks or rivers nearby?

definitely!

any one going out any time soon ? :flipoff2:

God yes, The feaver is getting to me, Time to go dig some dirt!!! :D

I just went to my first GPAA gold show and man that was just awesome soooo much to learn.Also I got to meet Tom Massie from Gold Fever what a great guy.:smokin:

Scouted a new to me creek last weekend. The entire creek is claimed except where I went which is private property. Long steep hike in and out. The waters have already receded.

Since I scouted it last weekend and the waters were already down I went back this weekend to prospect. I attached backpack straps to my sluice, loaded my backpack onto my sluice and hiked in. There are a few narrow spots in the creek perfect for sluicing so I set up in one and and found what I thought to be gold catches, dug and sluiced. No classifier today- already had too much gear for the hike. I had other stuff to do today so I called it after 3 five gallon buckets thru the sluice. When I panned out my fines I found a little color and a small arrow head shaped nugget that made it all worthwhile. The hike out sucked but whatever!!

ETA pics

I went out prospecting today at a couple places along hwy 49 near jackson and got some color but also found a diamond 3/8" across the top in my classifier. With a 10 power loupe I can see imperfections inside, so I think it's real. It dwarfs my wifes 2ct.
edit... here it is after ultrasonic cleaning inside my ring for size reference. it's big.

you ever find out fo that was real?
thats like 15-20K if it is.:eek:

oh and I was attacked by a swarm of killer ladybugs :laughing:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa153/camo_p4x4/Volcanoville/DSC08379.jpg


I had that happen to me at the top of the Sonora Pass one time. Them fawkers bite !

you ever find out fo that was real?
thats like 15-20K if it is.:eek:
67k

67k
so it was real?
that's pimptastic:grinpimp:

anyone been out lately? i found a mine shaft near my parents property, i went inside it a little bit and i can't see anything in the walls that would make someone dig there. No river rock and its dug through decomposed granite. Near the back as far as i can see the walls turns grayish white. no idea what it is.

anyone been out lately? i found a mine shaft near my parents property, i went inside it a little bit and i can't see anything in the walls that would make someone dig there. No river rock and its dug through decomposed granite. Near the back as far as i can see the walls turns grayish white. no idea what it is.

Could be a lava cap over antient river bed. You may want to investigate more if it's safe. The pictures a few pages back of the river bed have a thick lava cap over it.
Do you know the history of the area?

anyone been out lately? i found a mine shaft near my parents property, i went inside it a little bit and i can't see anything in the walls that would make someone dig there. No river rock and its dug through decomposed granite. Near the back as far as i can see the walls turns grayish white. no idea what it is.


I prospected my new spot last weekend and got 3 nuggets and a "sticker" (push your finger tip against it and it sticks to your finger, just smaller than a picker)

Went and checked out a 80' mine today- some crystal but no yelps.

Heres a pic of some gold dust I got sampling a few quartz veins. Probably about $5 worth of pocket gold. Aint getting rich but its fun anyways.
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/4828/dust800x600.th.jpg (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dust800x600.jpg)

Could be a lava cap over antient river bed. You may want to investigate more if it's safe. The pictures a few pages back of the river bed have a thick lava cap over it.
Do you know the history of the area?

yeah i know the history, they did a lot of hydromining in the area. Not near where i found the shaft though, i want to go back in, doesn't look like its lava above me when i am inside, let me upload a pic and you guys can discuss what you think the white walls are.

the reflection on the ground is water, i didn't have the right foot wear on to go any farther than this point, it looks like it ends but it also looks like it takes a sharp left turn too so when i have proper shoes on i will see if it goes any farther than that point
http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/700/12052/284056.jpg