Tahoegold

Just now I'm thinking, maybe there should have been a look out by now. Too bad someone like Sarge isn't on the look out. Those guys would have been toast. I hope you are ready!

What I've read is that Serpentine contains microscopic Gold. And, when the hot liquid that forms quarts came up through the Serpentine, it allowed the gold to drop out and form on the bottom of the crack in the liquid. 

   Of course this is overly simplified. However, that's how geologists have explained gold being around Serpentine and in the quarts.

To me it looks like it has green on it as well. It could be Serpentine, the California State Rock, with sections of magnetite. Or, it could be California blue green Jade. I would definitely get it checked out. If it's Jade it would be another interesting find. However, my money is on the chance that it's Serpentine.

Jade

Serpentine with magnitite

I understand that using the term Outlaw sounds pretty cool. However, sometimes I think that term has been romanticised by the media as it actually refered to bad guys commiting crimes. You both were, in your localized way, helping keep the peace.

    A less romantic term, however, and a more correct term for you and Jacob would be Vigilante. The american West was made safe by these American Heros.

A vigilante (borrowed from Spanish "vigilante", which means "sentinel" or "watcher", from Latin vigilāns) is a person who practices or partakes in vigilantism, or undertakes public safety and retributive justice without commission.

I know, it was implied. However, I'm just sayin' sometimes time heals and in a little while maybe you won't feel so sore about it all after all. Anyways, that's what I'm hoping for. A break and a little 4th of July BBQ may soften things. I hope 100 people click the Like button! 

I can clearly remember, in a time long ago when things were quite different. I used to get into scraps often and as early as kindergarten. I remember the principal would pull out a leather strap about 8" long. He would have us BOTH put our hands out palm up. And smack our palms. Once. It hurt pretty bad. Then he would look us square in the eye and say we couldn't go back to class until we shook hands and made up. That was pretty hard to do, however, it was something that actually worked. When you shake and make up it's like some kind of social agreement. Guys would say things like yeah we shook hands and that was the end of it. How times have changed...

1 hour ago, blackjack said:

If this question has been covered before, apologies, but I'm wondering were the water from the trommel goes. I presume it cant go back to the creek, do you have closed system from a dam and if so what rehabilitation work is required when you finish. Riparian zones are protected over here, unless you are RioTinto or BHP, then I think some concessions apply.

Hi Black jack,

   So, GM has had this operation permitted. This permitting process covers all aspects of a mining operation and expressly describes every aspect according to California and Federal Law. Each time a permit is applied for, government entities approve each action the mining operation will take. 

    The question you ask seems to allude to something nefarious occuring outside of the law. Think about that, here you have men trying to do the right thing by permitting this claim through government channels. It appears that these men have every intention of adhering to all applicable laws. They want to work their claim and live the American dream of hard work = rewards. 

   Are insinuating these hard working American Miners are breaking the law? Do you have actual knowledge or eye witness account of any statement you have made? 

   The kind of questions you asked seem pretty unfair given the facts of the operation. I'm not trying to be mean. If you didn't understand the process I hope now you can now see these are hard working law abiding Americans trying to make a business work and to provide for their families.

So, Whiskey Jack was a miner from the 1800's in season 1. Did you create that character from the old cabin or did Jacob tell you about him?

Gotta be locals. Who would drive miles, hike in, and start shooting miners. It's someone who thinks it's their back yard and someone's messing with it. There's not enough paying material to hire security. So, like Jacob said, it's best to handle it themselves. Maybe get creative with scare tactics. That's what the locals are doing as they have the home advantage. They aren't trying to steal the gold. They are just causing problems. Maybe follow one of them home. Take a picture of their house and post it on the water pump. See how they like it then...

    Them, "Hey, that's my house.. oh oh..."

No he didn't. But, what I mean is, time to hire a pro.

Maybe it's time to hire Sarge... 🪖

3 shots is the SOS signal. If you fired into a safe spot, it would have scared most modern folks who never have guns shooting near them when they are in the act of sabotage. They would probably have to change their pants. And, the camp would be alerted. No one would be hurt and the hooligans would spread the news. I think Jacob did that a few times too. 

   However, I can understand that shooting at night not seeing where you're aiming could be dangerous. Maybe set up a designated tree or something. 

At any rate, you have a problem with rats and something needs to be done for sure! When are we to hear the next things? 🍻

7 hours ago, GhostMiner said:

  May 27   2002     Part One

 

   The entire crew was up early and we did our cleanup right after breakfast and saw a whopping 1.4 ounces of gold. What a great way to start the day and we all headed up to the digsite. We had quite a large trench going but still nothing to even remotely compare to the crew of 1936. That area is amazing to see but Jacob is confident we can achieve the same results. If we get our permit approved I know we will make a larger dig site but by hand I can’t imagine digging that much gravel in one season.

   We were fired up but Jacob reminded us to pace ourselves. He said it’s a long season and a long way to the finish line. So we worked a nice and steady pace and even Jacob got in the trench and chopped away at the gravel. I always worry when I see him in there working hard but he won’t have it any other way and he knows when to stop.

   That’s exactly what Jacob did around lunch time. Before we went back down to camp for our break he showed us one of his test pans brimming with coarse gold. He gave the crew a wink and a smile. That is always a good sign.

   TO BE CONTINUED .............

Now that had to be a good sight after so much searching! But, I know there's all levels of mining. This is just a few guys with a shovel and a sluice. An oz and a quarter for this kind of mining is kinda good! I guess you can really call it prospect mining. Because once you find the concentration, now a days, you can bring out the heavy equipment and really risk big money, or get a big payday. At least you can spend less like you are trying to find the right spot.

   At any rate, that day reminds me of the beginning days of the '36 crew. You must have had a hard time sleeping just thinking of what could be! Livin' the dream!

Camping, getting gold, working hard and staying in shape. Getting gold stories from one of the guys from the 30s. Who wouldn't jump at the chance and bust butt to get a chance to hit it big? Heck, if you found enough and didn't loose out on too much, I'd still be happy with that!

On 3/28/2023 at 3:22 PM, GhostMiner said:

 

 

That is one nice small package of firepower. That looks totally packable. It actually looks better with the straight magazine in my opinion. 

Man, a judge too. Suddenly disappearing. Soon, a US Marshall will be called in. This is looking like a tough situation...

My heart was pounding reading this one. Just thinking about taking out a sheriff... He's a bad guy, but, now they really have their necks in a noose. Pretty gutsy!

Big boulders for sure! I haven't been there yet. It looks great!

It would take some huge volume of water to move those boulders. Look how high they are sitting. They've gotta be on bedrock. That would be pretty fun to work that! 

Nice place to set up a sluice! Or, detect the high banks for chunky! The Feather is legendary big gold country!

That better be a flat rate and no extras ever. That's a steep price. But, look how much attorneys cost. I suppose this way you have the Judge and the sheriff's Dept on your side. That's if they can do their job. A lotta good they've been so far. 

   Having the option to jail anyone is pretty nice though!

Yeah, you have the claim info which is true. That's what is different than just making up a story that isn't connected to any real find or claim. Just because the action is made up. It's based around an actual find and actual people. It makes the story more fun for me at least. It's because, the numbers are real and that makes it exciting. I am unclear as to the treasure find. Is that real or made up? It does add to the adventure. Just curious.

Hey GhostMiner,

I know this is a story. I am reading it every time you post. I have a hectic schedule and I use the story as an excuse to take a short break and imagine myself being there watching this whole thing go down. Who cares if it is made up. There's also a little connection to an actual site that helps me to imagine this as real.

I have an artistic streak as well and like to enjoy art in all it's forms. Writing is an art which springs from the imagination. The difference here is I get a paragraph to read now and then. I don't read books much because it takes too much of my time. I happen to like a little to read here and there about one of my favorite hobbies, mining for gold. It keeps me motivated and planning my next outing.  There's other topics here on this site to talk actual shop that I can easily click onto for serious learning. This is just pure entertainment.

I think it's a nice addition to the site for purely motivational and entertainment purposes. It's hard to get motivated solely on specs and figures about mining. It's the raw glory of a magnificent find that we ALL are in search of. This somehow puts me right into that glory along with Jed and his crew. It's not so much the actual facts of this story that makes it good to read. It's how it makes me feel when I read about how successful these guys are. It's the find I would like to have!

   There are finds and claims that truly have magnificent strikes. This strike has a record of actually happening. Even if the characters actions are made up, the story of what happened during the find is really fun because I know you are using data from records of the gold pulled out and some factual persons. One never hears the story of what happened. This is just a fun and motivating escape and I for one am enjoying it. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into this and most of all it's free. That is a really nice gift. I thank you GM. TG

1 hour ago, Bedrocker said:

I admit that I don't know much about core drilling. But isn't the drilling through gravel and not solid rock? And you are talking about drilling down 20' to possibly 50' or so? I guess it takes a big enough truck that can climb those hills and set up a tower with the drilling rig on it. Sounds like an expensive truck but the drilling part of it would be kinda easy compared to solid rock?

I used to rent equipment. Diamond blades only cut with the tip. It is necessary to remove the debris so the metal arount the tip doesn't get worn away and the tip flies off. 

   Solid rock stays away from the shaft. Gravel will fall against it and ruin it. Let alone the fact that gravel moves. Bits only cut by wearing away the material. Gravel moves too much. 

Yep, If they had killed them, someone would eventually find out. Placerville CA is called Hangtown. They didn't take to kindly to those types back then.