Metal Detecting discussions and finds

114° at Bullhead city...

 

I live up in gold country, big nuggets are still found up here every 5 years or so. I do some panning, and am thinking about picking up detecting. Would a equinox 800 be a good choice for gold detecting in stream beds? Or should I be looking at something else? I would like to stay under $1k.

 

@Whitebutler

 

An 800 sounds like a great choice for you, waterproof, sensitive to gold, etc. Get a small coil to go with it (if it’s waterproof) so you can more easily check between and under stream boulders. Also get some sniping equipment- bulb syringe, crevicing tools and a pinpointer...

 

Yuck.

 

Thanks for the advice. Can you point me towards some resources on staking claims in Ca and checking on current claims in certain locations? I dont want to be poaching and anytime I have seen markers they are usually so weather worn and vandalized that I cant get much info from them. All the spots I have been planning on detecting are on FS land.

 

Start here- but to be sure you also have to check with the local BLM office or county recorder.
http://mylandmatters.org/Maps/Mining.html

“The only way to determine an actual claim location is to obtain the County Recorder Location Notice and amendments for the claim in question, study the mapped location and then find the location marker on the ground. Members of the public and other prospectors do not have the right to determine whether an existing claim location is valid, only a court of record can make that determination.”

And for how to stake a claim, read this:
https://www.blm.gov/or/programs/minerals/files/claims-pamphlet.pdf

 

BLM NewsBytes – a weekly publication - http://www.blm.gov/ca/caso/getnewsbytes.html

Western Mining Alliance – www.westernminingalliance.org

Public Lands for the People (PLP) - http://www.publiclandsforthepeople.org/

American Mining Rights Association (AMRA) – http://americanminingrights.com/

Minerals and Mining Advisory Council (MMAC) - http://www.mineralsandminingadvisorycouncil.org/

Camp Fire Permits - http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/communications_firesafety_camping_campfirepermits

G.P.A.A. - http://www.goldprospectors.org/

My Land Matters - http://www.mylandmatters.org/Maps/ClaimsCa/GetMap

Mining Laws: USFS/FSM (Forest Service Manual) 2800 – Minerals and Geology, Chapter 2810 – Mining Laws:
http://www.publiclandsforthepeople.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2810_MINING-CLAIMS.pdf

 

perfect, thanks.

 

Oh, there’s more...

also see if there are clubs in your area- they have claims for member use also.

 

You make a great Thread Ambassador!

 

I wouldn't!
Wont say publicly where your photo is but I've been there. Looks like PI Country to me.

 

I'll say this in public, dont ever buy a claim that isn't paid through BLM. Dont ever buy a claim from Advantced Geologic, or Charles Watson. This guy is a paper filer. It's only done for major profit. Paper filling is where you only do the county paper work and not the federal. This blocks anyone for 90 days from Filling on that spot. On the 89thday you go move the location monuments and refile. Its a total dick move in my opinion!

 

do you have a sub $1k PI that you would recommend?

Edit: looking around it seems that I will have to wait and save some more $ up, or buy used as I could only find a couple under $1k.

 

Since you’re out in this area you should check out this thread. There might be a few others that might want to join you and pan around if you’re interested.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gold-diggin.636163/

 

I couldn't agree more! A company out of Utah, GRE (?) files paper on all kinds of claims (CA, NV, UT...) and puts them up for sale on their site, E-Bay, and perhaps other places.
They filed/paid a $10 "intent to hold" paper on a claim in Nevada in an area I frequent and sold it to some dude via E-Bay for $6,000.

I met the buyer while driving by the claim (he was proudly putting up shiny new claim markers) and he asked me (and my buddy) if we thought he got a reasonable deal. I didn't have the heart to tell him he got taken. If the buyer had known how the system works, he could have legally filed right on top of the "Intent" for maybe $200.

It's a total game and it is BS IMO.

 

Got a out for a few hours today at an old logging area. Not much but was nice to get out of the house.

Put a new rifle / detector rack on the sxs. Worked great.



Here is an old can dump I found



And a few of the "finds" of course

 

cool!
https://www.sweet-orr.com//a-stitch-in-time-sweet-orr-since-1871/

 

wow, completely out of the US market now.

 

A good deal on a Nox 800, comes with the nice little 6” coil too:
https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/13493-minelab-equinox-800/