Gold prospecting
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,010
Likes: 0
From: SW Arizona
My husband and I lived on a Gold Placer Mine up in the Arizona desert mountains between Ehrenberg and Quartzsite. Our place was on a rocky shelf that overlooked a wash that wandered around to the old Goodman/Scotts Mine a few miles back. A Placer claim consisted of 20 acres that was yours to do with and as long as you filled the required yearly mining assessment work. Back then it about $400 worth....this being about 1972.
Gold was not the only metal you could find and other minerals could be found too. When we did do any mining, basically it was digging a hole or sand and running it through a dry cradle.
There was another claim in front of us that did have a an actual mine dug in the side of the wash. At some point it was abandoned decades ago. By the time I came, someone else had it and would occasionally go through the taillings to find some small pieces.
The whole area had mining done dating from before the American Civil War and beyond. Up the wash from us, you could still find traces where people had setup canvas tents, back in the 20s and 30s, to live in while looking for gold. Found one place where a miner made a small rock cistern to catch any rainwater. There was a rock cabin built further back in the wash where someone was also mining for turquoise and chrysocolla as well as gold.
The boundary markers were piles of rocks where copies of claim papers were put. Occasionally, you would still find Prince Albert cans stashed in these with their papers. The rocky shelf I lived on had a small hill behind us that rose up to a higher one. One day, while walking up it, I found a stashed Prince Albert can with a tattered claim paper dating from before Arizona was a state in 1912.
You always had to watch yourself while looking any old mine, though...the wood holding up the ceilings could be rotten. Or while walking around any claim in general, never know when you might fall into an uncovered hole.
Gold was not the only metal you could find and other minerals could be found too. When we did do any mining, basically it was digging a hole or sand and running it through a dry cradle.
There was another claim in front of us that did have a an actual mine dug in the side of the wash. At some point it was abandoned decades ago. By the time I came, someone else had it and would occasionally go through the taillings to find some small pieces.
The whole area had mining done dating from before the American Civil War and beyond. Up the wash from us, you could still find traces where people had setup canvas tents, back in the 20s and 30s, to live in while looking for gold. Found one place where a miner made a small rock cistern to catch any rainwater. There was a rock cabin built further back in the wash where someone was also mining for turquoise and chrysocolla as well as gold.
The boundary markers were piles of rocks where copies of claim papers were put. Occasionally, you would still find Prince Albert cans stashed in these with their papers. The rocky shelf I lived on had a small hill behind us that rose up to a higher one. One day, while walking up it, I found a stashed Prince Albert can with a tattered claim paper dating from before Arizona was a state in 1912.
You always had to watch yourself while looking any old mine, though...the wood holding up the ceilings could be rotten. Or while walking around any claim in general, never know when you might fall into an uncovered hole.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,564
Likes: 4
From: Tucson
IMO, all you need is the gold pan. When we were kids.... we used to go up the Back side of the Santa Catalinas around Pepper Sause canyon There is still alot of gold in that region, Actually all over southern AZ wwhen we could we would bring back 5 gal buckets of dirt from the wash areas and pan at the house, Loads of fun! and when you find a little Gold it's worth all the time you spend. My friend Built a sluse box Very easy to do and we could go through 5 buckets of dirt in about 2 hours, well this reminds me.... I'm gonna go see if I can reach My old friend Richard, Thanks Alot!
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,888
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From: Fallon, NV
Originally Posted by scrapyardking
Not doing it for money just fun.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco, Ca.
Originally Posted by SteveBricks
It's there! (If you find it, can you please tell me where?)
They're also worth their weight in.................................gold.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco, Ca.
Originally Posted by Bill W
I think that only works for water Ben. 
May I should get a dowsing stick made for finding gold.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco, Ca.
Originally Posted by Bill W
I'm gona go find one of them things!!!!!! I thought they were for water.
I also thought it was for water only.
I'm going to look funny walking around Fort Knox with a crooked stick.
