|
Spring Diggin’ 2006
By Jack Duggins
 I
was recently checking out my favorite haunts on the web, when I
got an email from an old fishing friend asking about
prospecting. His questions were a little tenuous, obviously not
wanting me to think he was nuts! He also included the names of
two other old friends and former customers of my sporting goods
store. They wanted to know about prospecting for gold!
Now I’m thinking, can we start another club here in Maine and
maybe get some real fun going? This might work out!
Anyway, I emailed him back with a plan to meet over our favorite
beverages, and figure out sometime in the near future when we
could all get together and I can show them some dredging! I also
emailed him a few pictures of some of our gold and one of my
dredge in the river. These are some pretty rugged boys and that
is always a good thing when big rocks need to be moved!
|
Spring is here and it is time to get out the equipment and dust
it off. It’s time to take stock in what needs to be replaced and
what needs to be repaired. It is also time to figure out where
you will go one the first trip out, Memorial weekend and Fourth
of July. Don’t forget to get out some of last years gold & gems
to remind you of what is out there just waiting to be picked up!
Where to look? Usually my first few trips are “discovery” trips.
I hike up & down streams where gold has been found before, by me
or others and try to see where the water has washed around
things like tree roots and large rocks. Always keep your eyes
peeled for exposed bedrock (ledge) as these are the places to
get very good samples of the area.
Layered bedrock turned upright by
tectonic movement leave crevices open to the elements like
freeze and thaw, boulders smashing downstream during a spring
flood, etc.
|
|
|
These crevices, also called books, should be scraped clean and
panned out. A couple
different sized pry-bars will help you open the cracks and pull
some pieces out.
Look for black sand deposits behind large boulders and
sample-pan a few times before moving on to the next place. Some
folks like to sample the moss or roots of bank- vegetation to
get an idea of whether gold is present but in some places this
is frowned upon, especially if it is supporting a stable stream
bank. If the moss or roots are part of a ‘slide’ or natural
erosion, have at it!
It helps if you carry an enlarged TOPO map of the area with you
while prospecting. I carry and use an older model GPS while I’m
in the field, then transfer this info to my computer when I get
home. I am still using the older MAPTECH Terrain Navigator
system. I haven’t had a chance yet to check out their newer
programming. Delorme also has a cool 3-D TOPO system. I haven’t
used their newer version either but I’m sure it is better now
then a few years ago. Just remember to always carry a good
compass. No one wants to have the Maine Warden Service come in
to find you.
I am hoping to do more prospecting this summer than in the past.
My favorite method is dredging but it can be one of the toughest
because of the amount of large rock that needs to be moved.
Anything that can’t go through the nozzle has to be moved by
hand. Panning and sluicing usually involve a #2 shovel and I
don’t get along with shovels very well!
Until next time, stay safe.
Jack Duggins
|
