This is topic Anyone here into gold mining/prospecting? in forum General Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by Rinna90 (Member # 6850) on :
 
My dad has caught gold fever at his old age and wants me to tag along with him. Anyone into this and know of any good places to go?
 

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Posted by Greasy (Member # 5258) on :
 
Up in the Klondike with the Hoffman's or you can man up and take on the Bering sea....
 

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Posted by fstryde3 (Member # 8436) on :
 
If you're really into it check out the Outdoor Network, once a week they have a gold prospecting show and the guy always goes to places around here. Can't remember the time or day but I'm sure you can search your satellite.
 

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Posted by RONIN (Member # 9987) on :
 
There is gold all throughout northern California, Nevada and Arizona. Although many people think that there is no more gold here in California, geologists have proved otherwise. The best places to pan is old streams and creeks that haven't been already ravaged in the past 150 years. The largest gold nugget that was ever found in Ca was 54 lbs. And was found in magalia Ca. In the 1850's. If you were to find a nugget that size, just in weight value alone it would be worth 1.2 million in todays market. However because of the rarity of such a find the value could easily double in price. You might also look into gold/metal detectors, there is also underwater versions available if you plan to dive.

[ March 19, 2012, 06:40 PM: Message edited by: RONIN ]
 

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Posted by Slowback67 (Member # 6348) on :
 
I have panned for gold before and it's a fun pastime..... Once while I was camping with my parents we met some locals who were retired and panned everyday. One of the guys gave us some real small nuggets they found. Not too often you find people like that.
 

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Posted by sinisterblk (Member # 8425) on :
 
I have a lot buddies that are into it. I go with from time to time, it's fun but you would have to put in a lot of hours to get any weight or get lucky and find a decent size nugget. There are a ton of creeks with placer deposits up my way, my backyard is actually a collapsed mine.
 

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Posted by sinisterblk (Member # 8425) on :
 
This was pulled out of a mine up in my area, it is on display at a local vineyard.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironstone's_Crown_Jewel
 

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Posted by RONIN (Member # 9987) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by sinisterblk:
This was pulled out of a mine up in my area, it is on display at a local vineyard.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironstone's_Crown_Jewel

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Wow !!! Yea that's a dream find, I also have family in Sonora. There is alot of unexploited land there and creeks to pan. I live on the outskirts of Chico and mining/panning is big around here. I believe the 54 Troy lb. nugget I was talking about above was the largest in ca at the time, the nugget you described is larger so I guess that would take the title. I plan to start using a metal/gold detector to start searching the shores of the feather river and lake oro, a good pastime and means of exercise.
 

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Posted by Rinna90 (Member # 6850) on :
 
I could only imagine! I have friends in sanora also and was thinking that would be a good place to try.
 

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Posted by WildFire532FB (Member # 1482) on :
 
I got goldpanning every summer, its fun. I probably have an ounce of gold. I have a nugget the size of a dime. If i spent 8 hours doing it instead of just a couple of hours i would get some good gold but i just do it when i go swimming at the river.
I have everything, an expensive metal detector only for gold, sluice box, etc. Its fun
 

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Posted by 68dustin (Member # 5388) on :
 
I use to gold dredge off the n fork of the American river for about 2 summers. Sucked at the time gold was only 300 an ounce . We got alot of color but moved alot of shit to get gold. I was thinking about pickin up another 4" dredge but I was reading a few months ago gas powered dredges were outlawed in California. Anyone know if it's true? Gold minning is fun work cause there is such a thing called gold fever. After u hold a 2 ounce nugget in ur had things change lol
 

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Posted by WildFire532FB (Member # 1482) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by 68dustin:
I use to gold dredge off the n fork of the American river for about 2 summers. Sucked at the time gold was only 300 an ounce . We got alot of color but moved alot of shit to get gold. I was thinking about pickin up another 4" dredge but I was reading a few months ago gas powered dredges were outlawed in California. Anyone know if it's true? Gold minning is fun work cause there is such a thing called gold fever. After u hold a 2 ounce nugget in ur had things change lol

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quote:

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Originally posted by Rinna90:
Yea all gas powered dredges are but there are hand type pumps you can use. Wildfire where do you pan at? Trying to find some good places to visit.

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