Gerry in Idaho

Chris Ben - Heck yea those are really nice ones.  I really like your last pick with the 8 grams of solid nuggets and their character.  You and Dave are going to start a mini gold rush down there and heck, I might even grab a couple of my guys and head that way this winter, just to get out out of the cold/into the gold.  I usually head to MX and jump into the water for some ring/jewelry salvage, but not sure it will happen this winter with the CV-19. Thanks for sharing and you Dave for adding some southern NV comfort eye candy to my thread.  Well done my friend.

FlakMagnet - I'm hoping he does as well and will let him know there is more than me who wants him down there. 

 

 

DolanDave,  It is amazing to see bigger gold coming from Southern NV.  So many people tell me there is no big gold and I tell them I have heard of bigger pieces coming from some of the ore dumps.  Your pics prove there is good gold across most of Nevada.  

What so many people don't understand is when you should put down a big machine and grab a smaller VLF.  It is one of the things my staff and I share and preach during the training we offer.

Thanks for sharing your success and adding to the NV Gold thread.

On 9/1/2020 at 6:32 PM, okara gold said:

The only one I knew really well was Jim Malone. He has since passed away. We were partners along with another guy for two winter seasons in Arizona. We had a track hoe and a recirculating wash plant and metal detectors. Biggest nugget we found was the “bow tie” nugget. A 3 ounce beauty! After that venture I went back to gold hunting with a dirt bike and a metal detector in Arizona and Jim ended up in Nevada where he did really well. 

That is certainly a world class nugget for US standards.  I do remember another guy (if my memory is right) who was a Tesoro Dealer back East who I think retired and moved out West.  His name was Arizona Al.  

Jim's place was known for lunkers as you probably recall "Lunker Hill".?

Thanks for contributing.

 

On 8/31/2020 at 10:19 AM, flakmagnet said:

Gerry if you can get Largo down to RP will you please let me know? 
I have been trying to meet him for years. He seems like a great gent.

I'll try to get him to reach out to you.  It has been a few yrs since he has been down there and as you know, he used to be a regular on a couple forums including this one.  Are you going to be down there around then?

On 8/31/2020 at 12:54 PM, jasong said:

I have a big 4'x6' metal sign sitting on my land out there from the old truck stop coffee shop when it was called something other than T&A. Sapp Bros maybe? I believe it was taken there by an old detectorist called "8lb Dick"  and/or his buddies who mostly worked that area in VLF days.

 

 

Burns Brothers was the name of the Truck Stop.  2 pound Dick (Dick Bailey) used to enjoy introducing himself to the traveling gals coming through.  He told me he was slapped in the face one time, but it was worth it.  The stories those early electronic prospectors could tell.

Where is your piece of heaven at down there?

Sorry to hear of his loss.  It's so sad to see the names of folks who have been in the detecting realm for such a long time, finally have to leave us.  Hopefully his son follows in his footsteps, but the times have changed and so many of todays generation don't see/dream like we do.  I hope the family shares his adventures/dreams/passion and they all should be proud of his accomplishments.  Wishing them well during these difficult times.

Thanks for the update.

Peg -  In 2012 when you hit your 1st RP patch, it had to be a phone call...I'm just in the last year learning the cell phone does more than make a call.  Texting is new to me, but I'm learning.   The 2nd pic of your 1+ ozt nuggets is amazing and you better have a blown up pic of them hanging on the wall somewhere, maybe in your FL home to keep you smiling every day.  Thanks for adding.

jrbeatty -  Us Yanks dream of that red dirt stained gold of higher purity.  Guess the old saying still holds true.  "Most everyone thinks the gold is better on the other side of the hills/world".  Fact is, we get used to finding one type and so it is quite interesting to see something golden that is different.  We all want to put different kids of gold in our collection.  Thanks for adding.

GB - Glad you enjoyed it so much.  As for the Elevation, I feel it has to do more with the region you are in and the elevation most others are finding gold.  Yes the NNW part of NV is a lot alike, but I do know of exceptions too.  Jason mentioned in an earlier post for North NV and I would have to agree for the most part. Relative to the area is what I prefer.  As for % of claimed and open land.  Don't take this wrong, but I feel big mining companies claimed land is still open to the guy and his dog walking around with a metal detector.  I have yet in all my years been chased of of big mining company claims as they are chasing a different kind of gold.  So if I take them out of the equation, I feel there is at least 50% of open land to swing a detector.  Thanks for adding.

 

On 8/29/2020 at 1:10 PM, jasong said:

Epic post Gerry!

Is that massive quartz chunk in front of Spencer shot through with gold??

It was not all through it but if I remember right, I think over a pound of the yellow stuff was in it.  Close to a 100 pound boulder and that there is a 25" round coil to give everyone an idea of the size of hole he had to dig.  Thanks for all your great posts as well.

Nevada has always been one of my most enjoyable treasure states to visit. 

Part of why I wanted to make this post (and why I'd like to see others give their input) , is to help guide some of the newer gold prospectors that has joined on with the rise in Au prices around $2000 an ounce.

A little history about Nevada and I.  I first started detecting Nevada for natural gold in the mid 90's with a local guy from Boise who goes by the name of Largo.  He's had some health issues the last few years and not been to RP but promised I'd try to get him down there one more time this Fall. 

Some of the Gold Experts at the time, I was able to cross paths with and learn a bit or two (if they slipped the tongue- were usually pretty quiet) are names like Smokey Baird, Dog Water, T-Bone, Duffey, Jim Malone, Jim Straight, Gordon Zahara, 7 Up Jerry, Chuck Graff, Digger Bob, Jim Williams and of course Ed Spears...and probably a half dozen other names I can't think of at this moment.  If any of you old timers on DP know where some of these folks are, I'd sure like an update.  Yes I realize a good part of them have pasted to more golden patches, but I think some are still around and talking the stories of old.

These were the guys you needed to watch, listen and listen even more.  You paid attention to what they drove and where they traveled.  You'd better be at the T & A (for many yrs I thought it was tits & ass) truck stop in Imlay, early in morning to sit a booth down and listen to their stories of the recent hunts and or finds.  Eventually after quite some time of seeing the same dusty faces, they might give you time of day.  Some of the others never hung there much (guess the T & A wasn't that good), but you might spot the dust cloud of their rig heading to a new patch.  Many a times, I would run into 1 or 2 of them out Sawtooth or Jungo way, and they would occasionally toss a bone of knowledge my way.  After all I was still pretty new to Nevada and learning the gold detector ropes.  Heck in fact, I was still on the VLF band wagon and since I was finding gold every day, thought I was hot shit.  Little did I know at the time, those high dollar Minelab PI's were the real deal.

My 1st Minelab Gold was with a borrowed SD-2100 (the green one) and it took me about 3 days straight of hunting before I flipped my 1st gold.  It was at that depth and time I realized their true power.  I've been tethered to one almost ever since.  Yes I go back to the VLF's on occasion (actually more than most would think), but I have earned many yrs of detector knowledge and skills, so knowing when to grab the VLF speedster is a must.

Still plenty of gold to be found in Northern Nevada, but you need to do your homework.  After all, it's not easy to find and that's why some of us on DP who post/comment, we know how hard it is and rewarding at the same time.

So here's some help to the newer generation of gold hunters who wants to work hard, walk plenty and do research.

I don't have it in stock right now, so it's not about me making a sale...  Get this book.  Placer Deposits of Nevada by Maureen Johnson.  Study the recorded gold recoveries and realize some of the smaller sites will not get the attention they deserve.  Lack or water in NV was one of the reasons those sites were so short lived.

Google Earth - Using the computer on Google Earth and look for old mining areas, ore dumps and even recent years scrapes.  These tip offs will almost always provided a few missed pieces of gold.  What I like about G.E. is the ability to see on the other sides of mountains, hills and or areas that I could never get my truck.

Elevation - Most of the placer nuggets seem to be in the same elevation zone within a few hundred feet anyway.  If you are a follower on DP, then you recently seen this info was spoken and posted.  Do your do diligence and read.

Indicators - Learn the terminology of Desert Asphalt, Dry Wash Piles, Pushes, Scraps, Iron Cubes and some other terms others might add to this post.

Detector Knowledge - Know your detector and then some.  Au is around $2000 an ounce.  If you have not found gold with it or are going home skunked more than you go home with gold, it might be of wisdom to take some genuine in the field training.  Yes it will cost you money, but your learning curve and chances of golden dreams of Success are drastically improved.

Location - Go and hunt were gold has been found before.  DO NOT try to be the 1st at finding gold in a region, mountain drainage that has never produced and or doesn't show any signs.  Just because you were hiking a mountain ridge while chasing Chucker and seen a quarts blowout.  Once you have become proficient at finding gold and building up your patience, then you might do an occasional "prospecting" trip.  Best advice is stay in the areas that has already produced.  Todays never detectors and their technologies still finds a few the old machines missed.

Patience - If you can't handle detecting for hours with no gold, please stick to coin/relic hunting as their rewards are much easier and faster.  As I mentioned earlier in the post, those of us who have passed the patience test are the same ones who get that tickle in the tummy, giggle of the grin and joy of doing what so many can't, finding a piece of gold with the detector.

Prepared - Know your body and its limitations.  No metal boots is a MUST if you swing a powerful PI, ZED or bigger coil on a VLF.  Rare Earth Super Magnet on the end of a good quality pick.  Super Bungee, Harness, Swing Arm, Hip Stick are all designed to allow for more comfort that allows for longer/easier time in the field swinging a detector.  Non Metal Plastic Nugget Cup or Trowel to help speed up the recovery of targets.

Common Courtesy - Pack out your trash and even some of those who don't.  Never toss a dug up piece of trash back on the ground, please put it in your pouch.  Fill your holes as the ranches cows and those of us who hunts nights hate stepping in a hole.  Respect Private Property and or Claims.

Wildlife - Northern Nevada has an abundance of wild horses and some burros, deer elk, mountain lions, bears, big horn sheep and plenty of moo cows.  A variety of reptiles, some poisonous and most not, even a few tortoise, tarantulas.  As I get older more mature and wise, I learn to appreciate each of the species I might be fortunate to cross paths with and now let them all live.  Yes on occasion a rattlesnake in camp might need to be exterminated, but for the most part, this is their land and they are not trying to hurt us.

Now for some pics (I do hope others who have had success will take the time to share their pics) of Nevada gold.

 

HooverRover.bmp

Nice solid nuggets.  Good to know I am not the only one  that has to work hard for gold at times.  10+ minutes of sweat, dust and sometimes bugs....when it is all said and done, "well worth it".

 

Outstanding pics and even better looking gold.  You are one of the hardest working lady diggers I know of Peg and your efforts have certainly produced for you.  Chet is also one of those hard to the core MD'ing guy's that make the average guy just walk away in wonder.  I hope to be like him at his age.

Keep at it Peg as your pics and stories are a great asset to DP.  Well done my friend.

22 hours ago, Ridge Runner said:

Gerry 

 I’ll do you one better being I got a Simplex holding up a wall . It has a vibrating handle and I’ll loan it to you. I’ll even ship it to you free.That would put a feather as one would say for Nokta/Makro in ones cap to find it .

You can’t beat that with a stick .haha

 Chuck 

I have one, just need to start using it.  Thanks for the generous offer though, very kind of you.

13 hours ago, mn90403 said:

Gerry, well done of course.

But my point is ... "Rye Patch ... what have you done for me lately?"  haha  I mean this summer.

June is as close to "lately" as I can report.  

I'll try to get down there in October and beat Lucky Lundy to it, but last I heard, he moved so close he could use his spotting scope to see if I was swinging the new GPX-6000.

On 7/13/2019 at 4:18 PM, strick said:

I'm gonna try and drown mine as I'm getting close to the end of my warranty 

strick

Send it back to your friendly dealer and trade it in for a new one.  Now you get 3 more years of worry-free.

I recently tried to find a platinum wedding band with a $1000 reward.  I used my NOX with Minelab Waterproof headphones and was not happy at all.   The volume Setting at MAX and I could barely hear the signals over the sounds of me breathing underwater and the bubbles from my regulator. 

I know others have complained in times past, but wanted to get an updated response.

What are the best underwater sounding (100% waterproof) headphones for the EQ-800 and that actually stay on your head.  That was another problem I had, as the Minelab ones would easily slide off if I made any sudden movement.

Sorry to say, I did not cash in on the $1000 reward, but will tell you all it is still offered.

Thanks for your input everyone.

My customer was there earlier this year with his 7000 and his goal was 100 pieces.  He hit 97 and #98 while we were training in June.  I think he spent about 3 to 4 weeks out there. 

My last trip of 2019 I pulled 35 grams and hit my 1 ounce goal.

 

7 minutes ago, Gold Catcher said:

That would assume the 5000 would remain in the fleet. With a new 6000 and the 7000 as the flag ship, it would be tough to see the value proposition for the 5000 to remain. The 6000 could just take over and then be the only gold-PI with an iron meter, next to other improvements that you mentioned. We shall see...

Realize the GPX-5000 was $5800 at one time and then they dropped them to $4000.  We dealers have been wanting another detector in the $5000 to $7000 range as there is now a big gap (GPX-5000 for $4000  through GPZ-7000 at $8K).  They just fazed out the GPX-4500's so I (don't know shit) would hope the GPX-5000 at $4K would stay around a while.  

14 minutes ago, Gold Catcher said:

With the X-coils being the Generals..:)

Only problem with the X-coils is they will not run on a GPX, at least not at this time, maybe you on to something?

I'm thinking the GPX-6000 will come in the CTX/GPZ housing and have GPS technology.  I'm thinking the old coils will work, but they will also come out with the newer flat winding style coils.  The last thing they'll probably do is allow for better Iron Discrimination than the standard GPX-5000.

What would really take the cake for me on this new high dollar detector.  Pulse Induction detector that has a switch or mode that allows it to run like a VLF machine and find all the other kinds of gold the PI's miss. 

German Shepherds are most loyal and extremely smart.  

I learned something new about you Doc.  I did not realize how seriously involved you were with them.  Glad to know you are a Shepherd fan too.

25 minutes ago, mn90403 said:

That will do it.  A German Shepard is the only dog that ever bit me.  I was a kid and it was a relatives dog but he got me on the arm and he was on a chain.  I know they can be great but I pay them great respect.  (I mostly avoid them but don't fear them.)

Sorry to hear you were bit as a kid, I was never bitten, but I was with my younger brother when we were kids and I remember a big dog ran after us.  We took off running and the big dog got ahold of my brother pretty bad on the back of his leg.  Poor kid had to get quite a few stitches.  I respect all dogs, even the little yappers.  My Hero is very good with most people, but when given the command, he turns into a body guard faster than most people can blink.

Part of the reason to have Hero, is the amount of strangers who show up at my place.  1st off, he lets them know he is here as soon as they pull up.  Then he really gets excited when they step onto the porch.  I command him to stand down as they come in.  Most folks are fine, but on occasion I get a few people who decide it is not safe.  If they are not comfortable, I can then put Hero in the back.

The other reason for Hero, is the times I'm on the road.  He keeps mama safe and watches over the place.

9 hours ago, Dances With Doves said:

 all those specimens take up a lot of room. Where do you store them, Fort Gerry?

Once a month I have to go into the backyard and dig up the old grave.  I add a few offerings to keep the gods happy.  Idaho is an open carry state and I don't mind trading lead with someone stupid enough to jump my fence.  They need to get past my security first.

This young fur ball grew up into serious fury, when riled up.

9 hours ago, flakmagnet said:

Gerry, did you have a lot of mineralization? Or…?

(beautiful finds…the Nox does rock in the right circumstances)

Not as much mineralized soils in the areas I like to use the NOX, as the original material was already mined and many times the dirt is washed away.  This particular area has more dirt than some of my normal sites, but since it is not in its natural state, the mineral content is not concentrated and or as dense.  I would say light to almost medium.  Now there are sites there on the hillsides they did not channel water, so those are virgin ground and there the ground conditions becomes worse.

12 hours ago, oneguy said:

I did go out on the 4th for a different kind of gold...firewood!!!!!  Nice gold you saved from the grave!!!!

Gold at different times of the year comes in many forms.  In the winter in MT, a stack of wood will keep you warm and stack of gold will let you freeze with a shitty grin on your face.  Smart move to get the wood.

12 hours ago, Hardtimehermit said:

 i hope my Nox can get over one of those beautiful specimens some day, way to go bro!  

You got me to thinking if I lived in or around Reno, I'd be NOX'in out on some serious ore dump piles.  So many people pass on them and there is good gold be to found in a few.  Usually crystalline or wire type gold, but those are some serious money makers.