Metal Detecting Paradise 2010

[AlphaWolf]

I'm sure you've all heard the ol' saying that "Gold is where you find it."

One way of finding out where it's been found in the past is to check out the Bureau of Land Management website to see where claims have been made.
Obviously you can't look where current claims are but there are tons of expired or past claims around the US.

In order to strike a gold claim, be it a lode (veins of gold) claim or placer (surface gold or gold which has migrated from it's origin), gold must be found in this location. So unless the person who made that claim got it all (which I can assure you they did not) then gold can be found on and around those old claims.

Expired claims are a great resource for finding more gold.

The nice thing is that placer gold keeps replenishing itself. Erosion which is constant keeps bringing it out of it's hiding places and concentrating it in gullies, streams, rivers and low areas. Water and wind play a large role in freeing this gold.

If you check out the history via the BLM claim maps you will find that a lot of these old claims are quite old and are from the time before (good) metal detectors. Any claims in the 1970's, for example are prime locations to go nugget shooting or panning. The areas have surely replenished the placer which has since been freed from mother earth by now, in fact, every year it tends to accumulate from fall, winter and spring flooding and harsh weather.

So find gold where it's been found before, do your research, just as you would for other metal detecting, the more you know the more likely you are to find gold. Old, expired claims are a great place to start.

Good Luck to you, once you get the fever it's all over ... you'll never get rid of it.

AW
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Happy Huntin' Y'all,

AW

"Mustang", Land Ranger
"Tried and True", QDII
"Alpha Wizard", Modified Little Wizard II
Pick, Pan & Poke

[Ben]

Do you have a link to the BLM site? I've searched Google and the BLM home page and so far can't find a list of the old claims. Of course I'm in KY and it may not be the best place to look!

Ben
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Hi!

[AlphaWolf]

Ah Ha! ... I've peaked your interest at least ...
... that's my job ...

Here ya go Ben, I tried the link and it was slow loading but maybe it's just my computer acting up. It's a great resource and covers the whole US I think.
I did a little research on gold in Kentucky and there's not a lot but what is there has been brought down from Canada by glaciers millions of years ago. Ohio has some gold, I guess, so the closer to the Ohio border is probably more likely. I guess the Massey brothers did a show getting some gold from the Green River but who knows how staged their show (Gold Fever) is.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if you found some fine "flour gold" in tributaries to the Ohio River. Give it a try in anycreek nearby. It's going to be at the very bottom so it's probably easier to find in tributaries (creeks) rather than larger rivers.
Find a place where you can get down to the bedrock and dig out any cracks and crevices with a sharp tool and put that in your pan. Find some black sand and you're going to find some gold in it sooner or later.

You can get a cheap pan with riffles on ebay, that's what I use. I don't find much but I sure have a great time. Bring the fishin' pole and detector along as well.

BLM Geocommunicator Website

The link above is to the Geocommunator, why it's called that I haven't a clue.
If you pick on an area of the map you can keep zooming in.
Select "Mining Claims" in the little box on the upper right.
Under the "Layers" tab, select what you want to show.
I usually select "Closed Mining Claims"

If you look along the top navigation bar, you can enter the place (start by entering your County.
Or just keep clicking to zoom in (be patient, it takes a while to load the map)

Using the Geocommunicator is an excellent to find gold where gold has been found before.

I know I've posted this link before, but it's such a useful tool if you take the time to get to the area you want, turn on the layers that you want and turn off the layers that you don't want.

Just make sure that you select "Mining Claims" instead of Gas & Oil in the little box in the upper right.

I didn't see any old claims at first glance but you have to zoom way in and change the map type and other options on the right panel if it helps.

Good luck and enjoy!!!

Dave
AW
_________________
Happy Huntin' Y'all,

AW

"Mustang", Land Ranger
"Tried and True", QDII
"Alpha Wizard", Modified Little Wizard II
Pick, Pan & Poke

[Dick from IA]

Darn, AW, ya piqued my interest, too. Was going to try this several years ago, but didn't....and now my back wouldn't handle it very well.

Guess I'll just enjoy reading about Gold prospecting

Dick
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Dick from IA

The Best Things In Life Are Not Things!!

[Greengo]

I think the closest I will come to find gold, is to go back to the pawn shop that I sold my collection of gold rings too last month.

Iv'e seen a few decals on cars around here with GPAA stickers on them. I'll have to contact one of those guys and find out where they go around here.

Who knows, maybe I can find some gold other than looking at the gold tooth my neighbor has!!!
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Greengo
Terry
**************
Garrett ACE 250
Killer B's Stinger Headphone
Vibra-Probe 560
"Dalyn" Multi-Use Utility Digger

[AlphaWolf]

Thanks for posting here, Ben, Dick and Greengo, I appreciate all posts ... so Thanks!

Makes me so I don't feel quite so much like some crazy ol' gray haired geezer with gold fever, just jabberin' away to himself ... even though it's mostly true.

Dave
_________________
Happy Huntin' Y'all,

AW

"Mustang", Land Ranger
"Tried and True", QDII
"Alpha Wizard", Modified Little Wizard II
Pick, Pan & Poke