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Posted: 12/27/2002 11:47:58 AM EDT
 I am looking into a new hobby, metal detecting for gold.  I saw a segment on the Outdoor channel and then started researching a little online and I think I want to get a detector (not cheap at about 650.00 for the ones that I am interested in) and start tinkering in the hills (and in some of the  ghost towns on the other side of the state).
 Anyone else ever venture into such a hobby? Am I off of my rocker?
  Thanks in advance
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 11:53:14 AM EDT
[#1]
I love Gooooohhhhhhhld.  Da schmell of it, da tashste of it, da texshture....
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 11:53:21 AM EDT
[#2]
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 11:55:14 AM EDT
[#3]
Last year someone on here posted photos of their "gold machine".  It was something which floated or was mounted in the middle of a stream.  It went down to the bottom and curned up stuff and processed the rocks.  Out came the gold.  

Or something to that effect.   It was pretty cool looking.

Link Posted: 12/27/2002 11:57:53 AM EDT
[#4]
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 12:00:15 PM EDT
[#5]
[img]http://home.worldonline.dk/ckbogner/007/villains/grafik/goldfinger.jpg[/img]
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 12:05:03 PM EDT
[#6]
I got it figured out.  Its you Sylvan. You know where the hotspots are and your trying to discourage me from finding the motherlode. I dont expect to get rich or hit it big, I just want to get out and have fun trying.
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 12:08:53 PM EDT
[#7]
Go to the range if you want to have fun. Lead is much more valuable than gold.
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 12:27:58 PM EDT
[#8]
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 12:30:17 PM EDT
[#9]
 Gomer,
The way I look at this I am saving money by getting into this new hobby.  If I was to put the 650.00 towards another AR or any kind of firearm this would also mean that I would have to buy another safe.  You see, mine is packed full right now.  I can hardly fit all of my firearms in there.  This is the approach that I am using to get my Girlfriend to accept the cost of the detector.
   Take care
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 12:34:27 PM EDT
[#10]
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 12:38:26 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
...when I opened both door there were about 10 bags of blasting powder behind each door, wet and very unstable I assume, it still sits there, I'll post some pics of the mine someday.
View Quote


Suggestion: Don't use a flash.
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 12:40:50 PM EDT
[#12]
I admit it, I watch "Gold Fever" Sunday nights on the Outdoor channel. We have gold here in NC, going to take the family up to the mine in the spring and do some pannin'. This can be an inexpensive hobby, yeah right! ROTFLMAO!

Link Posted: 12/27/2002 12:45:00 PM EDT
[#13]
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 12:51:30 PM EDT
[#14]
This kind of gold...en hair?
[img]http://www.sportshooter.com/events/images/sbt_group_prematch2.jpg[/img]

BigDozer66
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 1:06:58 PM EDT
[#15]
Nice nuggets!
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 1:16:38 PM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
You are off your rocker.
You want Gold, grab a pan.
Lots of flakes in dem dar rivers out west.
It isn't easy work.  One ounce is a couple days pay.  [red]Ain't no more nuggets out there.[/red]
View Quote


[sarcaustic mode on]
Yes, there are no more nuggets in the west. Most states out there have made natural erosion an illegal thing.

Besides, all of the moountains have been flattened and there is absolutely nothing left to erode.
[sarcaustic mode off]

There are LOTS of nuggets left, they just need to be found. Go to Alaska, big nuggets turn-up every day!
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 1:18:05 PM EDT
[#17]
I'd hit 'em all!
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 1:21:27 PM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
This kind of gold...en hair?
[url]http://www.sportshooter.com/events/images/sbt_group_prematch2.jpg[/url]

BigDozer66
View Quote


No, Dozer, those look like golddiggers.
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 1:33:16 PM EDT
[#19]
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 1:42:54 PM EDT
[#20]
 How is this for one helluva lucky find [url]http://www.treasurenet.com/forum/prospecting/messages/1020980.shtml[/url] I would have to clean my shorts out after finding something like that!


Link Posted: 12/27/2002 1:48:03 PM EDT
[#21]
Quoted:
Last year someone on here posted photos of their "gold machine".  It was something which floated or was mounted in the middle of a stream.  It went down to the bottom and curned up stuff and processed the rocks.  Out came the gold.  

Or something to that effect.   It was pretty cool looking.

View Quote


That was Aviator... With his "Dredge"  He'll be along shortly with that title.  We went a few times together summer before last.  It is a great hobby but, not something you're really gonna get rich on.  I really enjoy it.

AVIATOR!!!
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 6:35:39 PM EDT
[#22]
Quoted:
You are off your rocker.
You want Gold, grab a pan.
Lots of flakes in dem dar rivers out west.
It isn't easy work.  One ounce is a couple days pay.  Ain't no more nuggets out there.
View Quote


BS....well partly.  Yes lots of work.  Lots of flakes.  But there ARE nuggets out there.  I know of a 20+ ounce nugget found with a metal detector a couple of years ago.

SRM
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 6:59:26 PM EDT
[#23]
I have a couple of spots where I pan a lot of flakes here in New Mexico. Have been looking at the "Rotapan" http://rotapan.com/  Don't know if it's worth the money. But it is fun to pan just for the hell of it. Plus, if I get bored; I just fish for some Browns and Rainbows
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 9:09:34 PM EDT
[#24]
Yep, that was me. I do Dredging, Slucing, and panning. Its a lot of fun. You can make some money at it, but have to be out for more than a few days.

For some good info, go to [url]www.tomashworth.com[/url] The discussion forums there are great and the people helpful (I am a moderator there). Tom has a club (the Mulinnium Diggers) and they have some real good claims in S oregon. The fees are like $20 a year and includes use of the claims.

Your best bet to to hook up with a club like that and go on some outings with a bunch of others and use thier equipment first to see how you like it, and decide what equipment is best for you.

Panning is fun, and good for sampling. For production you depending on how accesable the area is, you can sluice, highbank, or dredge. All are decent ways of getting gold.

For you tin foil hat crowd, gold is going up, and if the SHTF gold will be a means of buying things, possibly one of the only ways. Gold was up to $350 and ounce last week and is expected to climb.
[img]http://www.kitconet.com/charts/metals/gold/t24_au_en_usoz_6.gif[/img]
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 9:17:02 PM EDT
[#25]
^ I knew he'd be here. ^
Link Posted: 12/27/2002 9:22:11 PM EDT
[#26]
Here are some pics. First, is a bunch of dredges

[img]http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/IG_LoadImage.asp?iImageUnq=3085[/img]

for more info on dredging, go to [url]http://www.keeneengineering.com/pamphlets/howdredge.html[/url]

Here is a cleanup of a  fair day dredging

[img]http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/IG_LoadImage.asp?iImageUnq=3086[/img]



Aviator
Link Posted: 12/28/2002 6:50:01 AM EDT
[#27]
I just wanted to throw out a big Thank You to Aviator for the link to that site.  It will be a huge help for me.  I knew that someone here on AR15.com would be able to help me out, you guys are the best.  I am off to tomashworth.com now to start researching.
  Thanks to all
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