Community Forums

Webster · 06-11-2005, 10:14 AM

Are there any gold prospectors out there? I haven't done it in a few years, but am looking forward to it all across the country when we start fulltiming very soon. I live in the Gold Country of California and have had some experience finding the elusive stuff. Anxious to go to AZ this winter to do a bit of prospecting.

Webster · 06-11-2005, 10:14 AM

Are there any gold prospectors out there? I haven't done it in a few years, but am looking forward to it all across the country when we start fulltiming very soon. I live in the Gold Country of California and have had some experience finding the elusive stuff. Anxious to go to AZ this winter to do a bit of prospecting.

WaveMaker · 06-11-2005, 03:37 PM

Im not a miner, or even a searcher of gold but my brother in law bruce, had come out a few years ago to go up to Black Canyon City for for this prospector group he paid to be in, they had i believe Druged the area and the found some gold.. but the biggest piece he was given by the accosiation they picked him he was all excited hes from Pennsylvania far from any gold
when ya come to arizona let me know...

Webster · 06-11-2005, 04:41 PM

Well now, I shore will let yer know when we'uns are in Arizony...Teach ya how to pan fer the gold stuff.

It sounds like your brother belonged to the Gold Prospectors of America Association located in Temecula, CA. I knew the founder, George Massey. He died a few years ago, but his sons carry on. They started the Outdoor Channel and periodically there is a Gold Show on it. Just watched it this a.m.

Most people don't know it, but there's gold in nearly every state. The first gold rush was NOT in CA, but in Georgia in 1828 and they even found gold before that in Virginia (part of the same lode).

Now you know why I have the gold prospector icon. If you see a National with a small prospector in the window, that'll be us. He even sings a Christmas song. My wife got him for me to cheer me up when I had carotid surgery in February.

Doggie · 08-04-2005, 04:25 PM

I'm a dedicated beginning prospector. I bought a Gold Bug 2 late last fall and spent some time prospecting in AZ, CA & NV last winter. All I found was bullets, shell casings and trash, but I am determined to find a few nuggets. Who knows, maybe even the grandaddy-of-them-all or a huge hard rock deposit.
I know I have been close. There are a couple spots I'll hit again this winter and there are a lot of spots I'll know to stay away from.

FatDog · 08-05-2005, 10:21 AM

There was a guy who posted in the ToyHaulers area here last year who was a gold guy. His screen name was "Gold Dredger Don" (or something like that) and he talked a few times about what he was up to. i think he got a toyhauler to transport a dredger or sluicer or something. maybe a burro for all i remember.

You could look his name up and send him a PM or an email. I think he came from Oregon or NorCal.

The best thing that the Goldrush brought CA was the Barbary Coast.

Mike

TheProspector · 09-15-2005, 06:42 AM

Don't miss the superstition moutains. You may be the one to find the lost dutchman mine!

Opa · 10-15-2005, 01:38 PM

We alway go up to Durango, Co in late Spring each year and for the last three years I always make it a point to spend at least a part of a day panning for gold. In three years all I've got to show for my efforts is 5 little specs. I just know that, next Spring, I'm going to hit the mother load.

Opa

Rich & Zara · 10-18-2005, 10:43 AM

Yes, there is gold in thar hills and I'll tell you exactly where ...ALASKA! For those of you with future plans to be going that direction and if part of your plan route will take you on State Route 3, the George Parks Hwy, which is the main route passing by Denali National Park ...our gold panning spot is within sight of that highway near town of Willow and about a mile from Mat-Su RV Park. There is a pull-off (public property) right next to the small river bridge ...that pull-off will not accomodate an RV of any size. In that public area along the creeks edge, you will find and see gold flakes but your take will not probably be above the minimum hourly wage. Watch out if you go too far on either side of that bridge, you could put you in trouble for infringing on another prospectors gold claim. If you go in there without the proper equipment, it will be difficult to hold and save the gold you find.

Mat-Su RV Park is 21 miles north of Willow on State Route 3. The gold panning area I speak of is about 1 mile before reaching the RV park.

Rich

Our RV trip to Alaska

FatDog · 10-18-2005, 04:11 PM

shoot, just as a related point, ... how about silver ??
I have always preferred the color of silver (or platinum i guess) over gold. Have had a silver cross around my neck for a long time and wouldn't trade it for gold.
Are there any silver mining places that the weekend hobbiest can go to?

Rich & Zara · 10-18-2005, 07:40 PM

I have found all the mines I have come across (including coal mines) to be secured as tight as Fort Knox. I tried to get permission to go into a couple but was met with a flat 'No' and their top reason was 'insurance'. Therefore, I find panning for gold to be easier and of course much safer.

Oh! I do find plenty of silver with my Garrett GTI-1500 metal detector

...silver coins and about 1/3 as many silver rings as those of 14 to 18k gold ...over the years, only one 24k gold coin was found

Rich

Dona and Elvin · 10-25-2005, 01:47 PM

Hi Rick and Zara, we became snowbirds last winter and my hubby found 3/4 oz of gold in the desert outside Quartzsite AZ. What a thrill..we are heading back there on Nov 14th, we are not done with the desert yet!LOL. We have metal detectors, he found it with a minelab gpextreme, then we used my tesoro to locate each small piece, about 45 small nuggets!! what fun!
Dona

Alarmguy · 10-31-2005, 07:56 PM

About 33 years ago 3 friends and I spent a couple of weeks on the Yuba river with some scuba gear and a portable sloosh. Used buckets with rope attached to bring up loads from below a small waterfall. We ended up with 6.5 oz. of nuggets. Was a lot of work and the spot is only accessable by back packing in about 4 miles.

Kept intending to go back there some day, never have, maybe some day I will. I won't say exactly where it was, just near Downyville off highway 49.

GraciesMom · 09-14-2008, 02:07 PM

I know this is an old topic, but one I'm very interested in. I'm planning to buy a metal detector and I've got all the gold panning equipment. It would be great if there were RV groups that were treasure hunters! Would love to hear from any others that are into treasure hunting - finding jade and agates on the beach, gold panning, visiting different kinds of mines and quarries looking for treasures.