Hobbies And Interests
Where to Start, What to Have
Alluvial gold is typically found in smooth water courses, such as rivers, creeks, gullies, and ravines, as well as in creeks. Payable goal is typically found along the center of the watercourse and on the bottom (remember that one of the most important axioms of prospecting is that gold is the most dense and heavy thing around). Certain rocks are associated with gold country, like slate, granite and quartz, so look for these in nearby mountains and hills. Once you find a suitable spot, get to work. For an alluvial miner, all of the following are necessary items: tent, axe, pick, shovels, prospecting dish, cooking utensils and tools to construct prospecting equipment like sluices.
Dishing, the Simplest Form of Prospecting
For the amateur prospector, dishing is the most common method. Scoop up a bunch of rocks and sediment with your dish, and immerse it in the water fully. 'Puddle' the dirt with your fingers, squashing the harder clods and dissolving the hardest lumps of clay. Swirl the dish around in a circular fashion, and then dip out some of the water so that the water takes out about an inch of the top gravel. Repeat the process. With each washing of the sediment in the pan, the gold will sink further into the pan. Once there is only a handful of sediment left in the pan, spread the sediment across the pan and keep your eyes peeled for the sparkle of gold.
Sluicing: the Power of Water on your Side
Water power is the prospector's friend, as there are not many other sources of power in the wilderness where prospecting occurs. A sluice-box is made of heavy boards, and is a trough that water is forced through, to wash away light sediment. Because gold is the heaviest thing in the water, gold-rich ore will sink to the bottom of the sluice. Some prospectors use a long sluice rigged to a turnable wheel, or draw a water current from a nearby creek when prospecting a dry ravine. Break up chunks of heavy rock with your hands, and stand so that the sun will shine on the gold and make it twinkle in your eye. Persistence is the name of the game, but remember: prospecting where there isn't any gold isn't going to yield results. Periodically you may want to reevaluate the terrain.