OK guys I was wondering if any body has ever panned for gold or used a dredge or a high banker or any of that stuff,, Now since I am among the ranks of the old and unemployable I thought it might be fun to go poke around in the creeks getting bite up by skeeters and black flies and the such. But I know nothing about that stuff,, you tube has me more confused than I was before,, Sooooo anybody??
Gold
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Lil Foot
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1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
No panning or washing. Years ago I did some nugget hunting with a metal detector, but the detector wasn't a gold machine & I was still working at the time. Not much joy. I still detect, but not for nuggets. (coins, jewelry, artifacts, etc.) When I'm a little less busy, I plan on getting a gold machine & spend a lot more time hunting. Worked with a guy who got laid off in the late '80s, and he spent 8 months on/off in the mountains of Nevada, where he & a buddy found just short of $60K in nuggets, two about the size of your hand. And that was at '80s prices!
I like the documentation on TV. Beringsee gold dredging or much better burning money in porcupine creek.
On my next trip to the states, I will also go onetwo days at a tourist gold washing spot. Will be fun.
But back to the question: If you want to see a lot of mistakes and problems at the beginning of gold mining, watch the docu soap "Gold Rush Alaska". They really burned a lot of money. I know, for a guy sitting infront of the TV it is always easy to say... But most of the time it's better to start by learning at someone who does a good job, than doing all mistakes again others did befor.
So my suggestion is to start as a "trainee" at a "bearded old guy knows all the tricks". Even if it is for fun, it would be more fun, if you find something...
carl
On my next trip to the states, I will also go onetwo days at a tourist gold washing spot. Will be fun.
But back to the question: If you want to see a lot of mistakes and problems at the beginning of gold mining, watch the docu soap "Gold Rush Alaska". They really burned a lot of money. I know, for a guy sitting infront of the TV it is always easy to say... But most of the time it's better to start by learning at someone who does a good job, than doing all mistakes again others did befor.
So my suggestion is to start as a "trainee" at a "bearded old guy knows all the tricks". Even if it is for fun, it would be more fun, if you find something...
carl
Poke around on Google and see if there is a local gold prospecting club you could join. I know here in Virginia we have the Central Virginia Gold Prospectors. That would be a start and if nothing else you get out and meet new people.
http://www.cvgp.net/
http://www.cvgp.net/