HardPack

The recent post on "Lode Claims" discuss a interesting and important subject on involving lode & placer mining claims and access. Beside the good information it demonstrates just how serious miners are about their claims holdings. So make sure you get "express written permission" from the mining claim owner(s) before entering onto their claims to prospect and/or detect. A word of advice leave your pets and firearms at home and take your trash out with you. If you agree to share a portion of your finds with the owner(s) keep your word. Don't close the door for the next person. So how do you contact a claim owner(s) to get permission to prospect/detect on a open active mining claim. There are several members far more update on these BLM websites than me and will fill in most of my mistakes and omissions. This should at least get us headed down the road. Using Foxfire as the browser ( these websites are not user friendly so use the BLM Tutorial and type in information exactly as indicated per the LR2000 samples; use all Caps. For overall claim filing information and location description (lode & placer); Booklet http://www.BLM.gov On the left margin click on "What we do" then hit "more"; scroll down to the following two topics: Mining and Mineral; Mining Claims and Sites on Federal Lands. https://navigator.blm.gov/home Click on the "Inactive map" located in the upper center of the page; you will see a tool bar along the top of the map for zooming in & out and panning. On the right margin click the "PLSS" button for bring up meridian, township, range, section grid on the inactive map; click on the +zoom in then click on the ma to move to the area (state) you want; write down the "median, township, range and section" numbers. http://www.BLM.gov/lr2000 Located on the left margin click through and read “Tutorial”, “Help Guides”, “Reference Codes” Click on “Run Reports”. Scroll down to “Public Mining Claims Reports” Click on “Pub MC Geo Index” Click the “Meridian Township Range Section *” and ” County” buttons; Click “Select Criteria” at the bottom The “Mandatory Criteria” window will pop up. Click on the “Set” button for each criteria then the “Close” after selecting or entering the information requested. “Admin State” select a state from the scroll down window; Close In “Case Disposition” select “Active”; Close The “Meridian Town Range Section” (MTRS) window has a MTRS Format sample located on the upper left; use all Caps; enter the information in the box just below “Clear Above Valves” then hit the check button. You can run more the MTRS at a time; click the “Select All” button; Close “County” select a county from the scroll down window; Close click “Run Report” Confirm your selections then click” OK” The report will include claim names, number, location by MTRS down to the NW, NE, SW, SE corner of the section per page# 10 of the BLM booklet “Mining Claims & Site on Federal Lands”. Clicking a “claim number” of any individual claims will bring the claim document; the claim owner(s) are listed by name, address and zip code; including the claim size in acres. The county “Recorders Office” of the county where the claim is located will have copy on file of the claim owner(s), address, claim size, type, and specific location in the section (booklet page#10 sample: 20 acre Placer Claim E 1/2 NE 1/4 NE 1/4 per section, township, range, meridian.) or you can just join a prospecting and/or detecting club in your area of interest. Good Luck

Will do...thanks

Chris, I assume this would also applied to tertiary stream deposits. A discovery on a placer claim cannot be used to confirm a tertiary lode deposit even though both deposit were originally placer. In such a case can a lode claim be filed within the boundary of a valid placer claim?

I agree with AU, the TDI Sl is light and easy to swing. For me the "S" shape handles weight distribution just fine. I like the concept of the dual field coil. The problem I have with the 12" DF is not the coil but the steep brushy terrain. It is too large to maneuver in thick brush without lifting and tilting the coil resulting false signals. I would like to hear comments from member who have experience using the 12" dual field coil.

And from what I hear worth ever cent. Both are on the way to my mail box.. Have a Merry Christmas

Well there you have it, the TDI Sl's market share ( equipped with a 5.5x10 DD coil with longer battery life; priced under $1,000 ) is located on a narrow serpentine ledge winding north from Coarse Gold along what is left of the California Mother Lode on ground too hot for a VLF. I my case, a great holiday bonus package would include a good quality snake bite kit and a sturdy pair of pruning shears. A quallity MD but requires after market modifications for actual field conditions.

In the mid 60's had the opportunity to explore the Tonopah area. Times were a lot less restrictive access wise. We setup base south of Tonopah spending a couple of weeks investigating the lmines in the area. (Word of Caution: Stay Out, Stay Alive !). From what I remember Tonopah was noted for silver and Goldfield for gold. I believe the journal you reference indicates some placers in the Goldfield area (at the time pop 24). On a trip into Goldfield happened onto an older lady who had came to Goldfield as a 16 year old newlywed in the early 1900's. As I recall the main mining activity and mills were located NE of town. She explained recent core drilling to the SW of town had revealed substantial deposits. Back at base camp we explored several what was then called coyote holes across the basin to the NW of camp. The major lode mines were located in and on the range between camp the highway 95. The coyote holes were vertical shafts down approximately 50 to 100 feet with a ladder platform setup. If the miners were chasing ore deposits or if there were enough placers in the sediments to warrant the cost and effort I don 'think know. Another area that has held my attention over the years is the stretch from Austin (silver ?) out to Eureka. I have a couple more weeks of clean up here then research & attention are shifting towards the east. (Thanks but I only join clubs if theres a need to relocate a channel or thirsty. Gold is where someone else has not found it.) Perhaps a member familiar with mining history and deposits can expand. Maybe not. HB

Steve, You don't have to lead the charge just show up and share. Or limited the group to people you're comfortable with. The rest of us will stay out beyond the glow of the meeting fire... There's only two of us so far and we'll pack out what we pack in. If we are left out there in all that open space by ourselves no telling what we might make up. No pressure your call, I'll set something up with Gerry. Have you been back to Sulphur lately, what is the current status of the area? HB

Roustabout, Both books are due in Monday, also ICMJ should be starting up next month. I' m sure others will be interested! Low key, no pressure, evening campfire mind picking sessions and those wishing to can stay in more comfortable conditions..do. Just need to get Steve and Chris on board. We'll see who responds... See Digger Bob is posting; wonder if Gerry McMullen & Ray Miller have any plans for the spring. ran da voo HD

Bob, The TDL SL is my favorite "dig it all" foothill brush busting MD for the Mother Lode. Simple to set up and operate; runs over serpentine, in burned over areas and in shallow water. Picked up a few nuggets from 1 gram to 5 grams with the 7.5 dual field coil. When the coil developed a water leak White Electronics replaced the coil ...no problem. I added a Miner John Designs 5.5x10 TDI folded mono coil and a RNB Innovations HP3100 Li-ion battery. Rubbing up against the threshold nob keeps me on alert for snakes. Haven't found an opening in the brush on this side of the mountains clear enough to swing the larger 12 dual field. White Electronics may want to offer an upgrade or optional Li-ion battery & charger including a car charger; a lockable or tighter threshold nob and little longer lower shaft. HB

Steve, I have already type "Nevada" into the forum search engine and started the read. I plan to re-read a couple of books over the winter ( Rough- Hewn Land by Meldahl; Geology of the Great Basin by Fiero; Advanced Prospecting & Detecting by Straight ) and anything else I can get into my hands. Do you and Chris have any interest in putting together a training session for perhaps next spring onsite in Nevada? I spend a a few weeks between Tonopah and Goldfield exploring the mines; some exploring around Dayton Valley on the Carson River; last fall I made a run up to Star Peak/Unionville, only glancing in the direction Rye Patch, then back down to Lovelock out Seven Troughs to Fernley . That is the full extend of my knowledge of Nevada other than the batch plant at Bunny Hill. That is a whole different lay & geology over there than what I' m used to, "pediment" was something my daddy used to call my smarter sibling. There may be enough of us on the forum interested to make it worth while. We ain't going to make the two of you rich but may we may find ourselves in good company. I was thinking something low stress basic: camp onsite, bring your food, water & equipment, etc. Lay of the land type stuff: local geology, gold deposits, what to look for, open & closed prospecting areas, detecting, prospecting. Not a requirement but I for one would like to actually hear the threshold tone break as someone passes their coil over a deep nugget, I know I'm doing something wrong. Either way I'm headed our way come spring educated or not. Think it over and let us know. HB

GB, You mentioned the XT705 "99" tone setting. I don't recall if you said you were actually running at "99" tones. I read in another post that running at 2 or 3 tones may lessen the wrap around issue. I normally run 4 tones but next time out I am going to step down to 3 tones and give it a try. I want that mid tone just in case. Good thing about the XT705 it is easy to toggle around to investigate a target. Recently I've been hitting a few can dumps looking for the silver. I'll run in Disc Notch to reduce the iron signals listening for a good hit. If I think I have one I toggle over to Disc AM. l then hit the target from different angles listening for a good repeatable signal. I dig can lids all day long. When prospecting I'll run AM without any iron mask at 4 tones then if I think I'm over an iron or brass target I'll toggle over to Disc to take a look at the TID and circling the target. Steve & Scoop are right, it took while to let my ears do the deciding .

Yes sir, it does for me, Appears we have completed the full circle on the benefits of a MD to display Discr TID while in true all metal mode and fast target separation. After reading your review and posts on the Makro Gold Racer apparently it has those features. Great write up Steve, I’m going with the Gold Racer to fill out my hand. GB, With the XT705 in Coin/Relic mode I detect in Discr AM and shift between AM and notch prior to deciding to dig or not.

Steve, GB, Scoop, Attempted to post this earlier but was sign-out twice (failure to launch or pink slipped ?) If I understand correctly several posts explain this issue as a “transient high tone blip”. I have experienced the same TID jump from -8 to +48 with the XT705 when over larger pieces of sheet metal buried deep enough not to over-load the MD. From what I have read the coil transmit signal creates a magnetic field around the metal objects that pass through the transmit field (in my case an 18.75 kHz 5.5x10 DD). The return signal to is analysis-ed by the MD based on size, shape, thickness, orientation, texture, conductivity, etc yielding a TID and tonal response. If the metal target is larger than the coil transmit field the metal target is not fully enclosed by the coil transmit field creating a tonal “blip” as the signal pulses over the target surface ( perhaps a failure to wrap?). When over these flat thin larger iron targets my ears pick up a slight sparky background noise while the TID is shifting from -8 to +48 often settling on +48. Often when detecting in heavy iron trash, after a few confirming digs, I notch out -8 through -4 and +48. I hear a cleaner tonal response on the smaller thicker silver coins that lock between TID +44 and +46. Others have recommended using a lower frequency concentric coil. I don’t have enough experience to agree or disagree with Horton’s wrap around compass theory but I have my misgivings. Perhaps someone with more experience, such as Steve, can help clarify. (never mind) HP

GB, I'll check out the iron/silver wrap around- page 78. I was retired on the 4th of July. Retirement is like being a kid again, it is worth the wait. I just wanted to let you know we have a winter freeze warning until Wednesday but no snow until Thursday. Texas only thinks they have the most cows and Alaska still believes it has the most snow. Google: Tamarack, California 1911, I got place up there with an old log mill, lumber camp & several cow camps nearby just waiting for to be detected in the Spring. If you're interested in trading one your MD's for a pair snowshoes let me know. Thanks for the follow up, I'll give it a read tonight by the fire. Oh, forgot to mention the toll roads & immigrant trails... Later short timer.

The Garrett system looks good, already. Thanks for the links.

I agree Scoop, me and my 705. The ear is apparently easier to train than eye. Thanks Forgot to expand on short timer GB's nearing retirement. Congrats GB. I best get back to work before the boss discovers he left his laptop in my company truck and I accidentally turned off his spell check. Just remember " a good hammer worth a thousand nails". What did Mr Fix It put is this thermos... Good luck and even better detecting.

GB, Thanks for the reply, I am still gathering information. The reason I use the notch feature is the generations of discarded iron trash plus on the weekends target shooters spray the area with jacked lead and fail to police their brass. Notching out the lower range of iron leave only the brass jacketed lead to deal with. When using the notch feature on either the AT Pro or Xterra, iron targets still create enough chatter when notched out to indicate their presence. With a thumb click to either the AT iron audio or the XT disc AM allows for further investigation. When in less trashing hot ground the TDI is my favorite dig everything MD. Used it last week to chase a quartz stringer over an mountain recently cleared by a wildfire...no problem. Like I said before The AT Pro has cleaned up more than a few coin spills plus some old silver. After Reading Steve's response got me to thinking about what I was really looking for in a new detector. Steve is correct, you can use a pin pointer if you put over a target at the correct height on good ground. In short I am looking for a MD that will fill out what I already have and not to duplicate. Prior to the ban on motorized mining in CA, I felt it was more productive to sluice for gold flakesand pickers than detecting for them with a dictated high frequency MD. Then last night I ran across Ray Mills and Steve's reviews of the Makro Gold Racer. Oh, Oh! Was I wrong, may have drawn the fourth ace. If you get a change can you expand on the iron silver wrap around you mentioned. Thanks again for the input

Any recent review updates on the Makro 2.4 gHz wireless headphones paired with the Gold Racer?

Steve, Thanks for the honest response. Going sleep on this a couple more nights. With all inventory offers can't but think Fisher is going to be hitting the market with something new. The AT Pro has impressed me from the start as a coin getter. Picked a trade token laying under piece of sheet metal then a flatten can. No complaints on either the TDI Sl or Xterra 705 both good machines for this area. Maybe a trip to Goldfield NV would be money better expended. Thanks again

Been using both the White TDI Sl and ML Xterra 705 with 5x9 coils here in the California Mother Lode and along the Klamath and Trinity Rivers. Between the two detectors been able to handle the ground conditions. Lots of magnetite. Use the TDI Sl over the serpentine. Heavy thick brush, steep terrain, occasional old cabin and tent sites from 1850 through the Depression Era into 1950's. The smaller coils are a must, just can't sweep the larger coils on the steep brushy slopes. Been looking at the Fisher F19 and F75 which both seem comparable to the Xterra 705. Like the option of searching for coins & relics while detecting for gold when an old camp site is discovered. After reading several of Steve's articles on the Fisher Series and Xterra, here is what I think I have learned: The F19 at 19 kHz and Xterra 705 are very close except the Xterra multi-frequency coils selection ( 3, 7.5 & 18.75 kHz); the only waterproof Xterra coils is the 6"; all Fisher coils are waterproof. Not sure if the F19 displays discrim target id in true all metal mode; the Xterra 705 does not. The F19 is a little pricey compared to the Xterra 705. The F75 at 15 KHz 13 kHz in true all metal mode will indicate discrim target id. The Xterra 705 does not display target Id in the prospecting true all metal mode; requires you to toggle over to Coin/Relic Discrim mode for target id resulting in a loss of detecting depth. The F75 Discrim notching is limited compared to the Xterra 705. The F75 apparently has a history of EMI problems; the Xterra does not. The Xterra with a 18.75 KHZ coil runs a little hot for coins and relics but works. The F75 apparent ability to separate out good targets in trashy areas may be a big plus over the Xterra. The F75 stock coil ( 8x11?) may work in the brush. The current base F75 and Xterra 705 price are the same; the F75 Limited Editions $ 250 plus higher. Often switch from Prospecting mode and use the Discrim notching feature on the Xterra 705 then toggle between the notch and all metal to weed out the iron using target id when in trashy old mining camps. ( Use the Garrett AT Pro in pro mode when strictly coin/relic hunting; great target separation; iron audio; but no true all metal mode for prospecting.) Do not know enough about the F75 Limited Edition Boost/ Cache features to decide if they will be useful. Use the TDI Sl detecting for nuggets under a gram so the Fisher F75 15kHz is not an issue. Really like the F75 feature of displaying discrim target id in the true all metal mode; current pricing on the base F75 with two coils at $599 is hard to pass up. Have drop the F19 from the list. Any opinions and experience with the Fisher F75 compared to the Minelab Xterra 705 are welcomed. Keep in mind on the west coast during the gold rush US coins were in short supply; some military buckles from the war with Mexico were exchanged for trade goods. Let me know what you think and keep Santa out of this; on the wrong list. Good prospecting & detecting To all you devil dogs out there, have a Merry Christmas where ever you may be. Semper Fi

Beatup, Not to get off subject but it appears you are in Wyoming. - A few years way back between Rawlings and Bags, came across an old log cabin with a shaker table setup. The cabin was along north side of a dirt road with a small stream to the south, a stand of black timber beyond on the NW side of Medicine Bow Mountain. We picked up the road from the east near the closure gate on on main road from Rawlings to Medicine Bow then headed west northwest on the dirt road around the NW side of the mountain. The cabin and shaker table had not seen use in some time. At the time I was in pursue of food, gold and silver were not on my mind. Might be worth a look. .

That is because the photo was taken before the rocker was mudded up. After using it you realize what the old timers had a partner. A lot like rubbing your head while patting your stomach and blowing your nose at the same time. Processes material faster than I can chisel. I posted the plans on the Gold Hog forum under prospecting equipment. Thanks for the read.

Yes, two 12 volt bilge pumps, Johnson SPX 2200 GPH with 1 1/4" outlets, lift approx. 5 feet, 7.5 amp each. Work great with classifier screens to filter out organics. Purchased online from boating supply approx. $80 each two years back. You should be able to find on Amazon, try Iboat.com. In the field operate off 12 volt deep cycle marine battery. Have a solar panel to recharge the battery. At shop off 120 vac to 12vdc convertor. Setup with Gold Hog mini excavator HB modified with two spray heads (1 1/4 reduced to 3/4 ), punch plate behind a reverse riffle to help break up clay. Approx. 25 gallons of recir water. Waiting for your book to arrive in the mail. Looks like it is packed with good info.

Here's a few solutions to deal with the ban on non-motorized mining near any California stream. The first is to process "select" material off site with a 12 volt pump driven recirculating high banker. The second is to process material on site with a coffee can driven recirculating rocker. The rocker requires 5 gallons of recirculating water. After getting the hang of feeding, scooping and rocking, the amount of material the rocker processed was surprising. The pay material is hammered and chiseled from an old cemented bench above Big Jackass Creek. The pay sets on a feldspar clay deposit 4 feet above bedrock (black slate). Soaking the material prior to processing helps break up the heavy clay. The third option is a battery driven metal detector. The claim sets right in the Melones Fault Zone. The workings date back to the 1850's with signs of ground sluicing, hydraulic and a few small pocket mines. The placer deposits appear to be from a contact between feldspar porphyry and diabase located upstream on a lode claim. The only cabin site discovered is of 1950/60's, found some depression era trash. Metal detecting to date has only produced recent poker change- pennies and dimes. Several exposed quartz stringers in heavy thick brush but no gold detected. Been using both the TDI Sl and Xterra 705 with 5x9 coils, both detectors handle the ground conditions. Lots of magnetite. Use the TDI Sl over the serpentine. The smaller coils are a must, just can't sweep the larger coils in the brush while unwrapping the headset cable. Been looking at the Fisher F19 and F75 ($599 Xmas version) which both seem comparable to the Xterra 705 and AT Pro. Like the option of searching for coins when hung up in the brush detecting for gold. Any opinions on either the F19 or F75 compared to the X705?