BMc

Good on ya buddy, well done! You're a glutton for punishment and too bad you couldn't make the Wy trip in July/Aug, it was a lot warmer, even at 8000 ft! 😄

Must be a true story GC, that's the way I remember you telling it back in Aug when we met up in RP. I just hope I can remember it the next time it happens to me!

I am on my second Fisher Gemini 3 Two Box detector and have used them off and on since the 1990s. I carry one whenever I am out prospecting around old Ghost towns and mining camps to search for buried trash/bottle dumps and filled in privy locations. Over the years, I have found lots of relics and old medicine bottles etc (amongst rusty metal objects), with it. The Gemini 3 is simple to set up and easy to use. It may not be called "ground balance", but the detector has a turning knob adjustment, (part of the set up), that acts similar to a ground balance feature on a VLF detector. Once set up properly, I rarely had to tweak it any further since it ran smooth and quiet. One of its best features, IMO, is that it ignores, (doesn't react), to small surface metal items. Refer to manual for detector depth and size of objects capabilities. www.fisherlab.com Based on the information in the manual and my own personal experience, I do not believe the Fisher Gemini 3 Two Box capable of finding a single gold bar of the size indicated. I have detected oil cans and 1 lb coffee can sized metal objects at about 12" deep, and 2 lb cans/buckets at around 24" (or a little more) But if the bars were in a larger metal container or were spread out in a wider target configuration, 3 to 4 ft depth might be possible, IMO.

Esther Hobart Morris Esther Hobart Morris Died April 2, 1902 (aged 87) Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S. Nationality American Occupation Justice of the peace Known for being the first female judge in the United States of America.

Hi, In case you don't have a copy, below is a link to the owners manual. I don't remember seeing any direct answer to your questions, but I haven't read the manual in awhile. It does say that the Gemini 3 is not suitable to search/trace faults (voids), but no mention of using in a cave, as I recall. I have used it for wall searches, but never found anything, and no reaction/non-positive response from the machine, of course couldn't be considered a success. The size of the items/depth of search are described in the manual. Example:("quart jar of coins) at about 1 ft') It might work if the item is large enough, but might false on you as well. You could try posing the questions in an email to the factory. They did respond to an email I sent to them a few months ago. Good luck! https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwivnLSNnJr5AhV0IX0KHX9OBd0QFnoECAUQAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fisherlab.com%2Fhobby%2Fmanuals%2FGemini-3-07.24.14-Reader.pdf&usg=AOvVaw26qVCBwrw6om4YL7LiUjGr

Equinox 800 is considered to be an excellent "all purpose" detector. If you haven't already done so check out Steve's review.

Just hope they can hold the line on subscription costs . . .

549 Australian Dollar equals 385.10 United States Dollars (Google format) insert amounts) Due to supply and demand, all the traffic will bear, etc etc, I would expect the price to be at least slightly higher in the US. (presently advertised on internet at $401.00 (MSRP: $439.00)

What a novel idea! (tongue in cheek), That sounds a bit like that old fashioned, outdated notion of Quality Assurance!

Yeah, it was called, "Jed's Place"!

Sure looks like glacier gold . . any large boulders? Glad you got there first

Please forgive the intrusion: "Animal control in, (a few states}, in the US uses coyote baits with cyanide" U.S. NEWS DEC. 6, 2019 EPA approves coyote-killing 'cyanide bombs' for five states, South Dakota, Texas, Montana, Wyoming and New Mexico. I grew up on a cattle ranch in the state of New Mexico, and at the age of 12, my dad and I hunted and trapped coyotes in a very rural desert, and mountainous environment. In order to protect the newborn calves from increasing coyote populations, ( as cruel as it may seem), we used lengths of barbed wire to insert into coyote dens, and "twist out" the coyote puppies in the spring. At that time, the use of poison to kill coyotes was illegal, and steel traps were not a perceived threat to pets, although they can be, especially near urban environments. For an incentive, there was also a $5.00 dollar state bounty on coyotes, (plus the value of the pelt) (Yes, they will chew their leg off to get out of a trap, but not if you run the trapline in 24 hrs, and if you use a "Drag" ( heavy, metal hook shaped anchor), so that the coyote can drag the trap, thinking that he/she is getting away; then you are able to track and find the trap/coyote in short order by following the drag trail to to the bush that the drag is hung up on. Eventually, "coyote calling" became a popular sport and a more effective and humane method of controlling the proliferation of predators, without threat of harm to people's dogs. Later in life, after I moved to sheep country, It also provided a great opportunity to approach sheep ranch owners for permission to hunt/call coyotes on their land, which then opened the door to return to hunt during deer season. Coyote calling contests became popular for predator control, which seemed to be quite effective until public sensitivities brought that to a halt, and now, alas, it's back to the extreme danger of poisoning ☠.

Thank you Sir! You are a brave soul indeed, I am hoping for the best!

6 Month Bump: Issues with the GPX-6000. "The reality is there are issues with many companies and products right now. I would expect this to go on for another 6 months" I am wondering if there has been any noticeable change for the better regarding the aforementioned quality control issues of the GPX-6000? Thanks!

Good Stuff you got there Mr Toad Sir! Nice to see that park keep producing for you!

https://www.havasugoldseekers.com/ If you haven't already, take a look at their website and see for yourself if you like. Explore the categories; activities, gold found and club record, a 41 oz speci with about twenty oz of gold. They have quite a few good claims and the surrounding area produces good gold also. Much of the larger gold is being found near the claims but not actually on the claims, at least as of the last couple of years, (based on intel from club mgt) I am currently a member.

Not scary. A bit jarring but it happened fast and was over. No apology necessary Anthony. I knew you were joking and I was joking back at you. I usually don't get up there until after May 15th to let it dry out a little. If you get a chance, drop by the BLM office in Winnemucca and check out their Gold/Mineral specimen collection, especially the Chevron Gold nuggets. On second thought, Gerry probably carries a few with him!

Don't know if you understood that there was no opening or hole in the road. Not even a depression! The water flowed from uphill, (sagebrush area), and eroded the ground structure beneath the surface of the road, giving no indication of its weakness. Glad you located the gold for me though. Lol! How much did you recover? Mr GotGold, with all due respect, I have hunted this general area (Northern NV), for (going on 30), years and know several very accomplished nugget hunters who have done the same. I have photos and GPS coordinates of large multi-oz nuggets that were found, as often as not in places where you would not suspect, nor anyone at the time might have predicted, until they actually tried it. Based on your pictorial gold pointer, I suspect you haven't hunted for gold anywhere near that general area, (which can apply to both Humboldt and Pershing counties) The upshot is, In that area, Gold can be anywhere! ( A lot of gold found way out in the sagebrush flats) Let me know when you are going to be up that way again (Rye Patch, Eugene Mts), maybe we can get together and swing a coil!

As you may have discovered from internet research, and/or member comments there is considerable source material on the subject matter. I reviewed several print news publications in researching the story. Thanks for reading.

Why did you want to take them apart? Kid stuff I'm guessing. I'm not criticizing, I played with a lot of dangerous stuff when I was younger. Thanks for the good advice!

What shoring?? Lol! There was not so much as a toothpick of shoring that I could see down into the hole beneath my truck's dangling wheels. It reminded me of a "coyote hole" type of adit. At one time, it might have been a stope, (position of ladder beside the collapsed hole), but there was nothing to indicate that from the top while driving slowly along, and it was certainly no "Glory Hole"

While prospecting in the Jackson Mountains of Northern Nevada, I drove up onto a dirt jeep trail which covered an old abandoned mine beneath the trail that I was unaware had been severely eroded and undermined by water from a creek that flowed just beneath the surface of the ground. As I was driving over the top of the mine, the roof collapsed and the rear wheels of my pickup truck fell through, slamming down hard onto the axle. Fortunately, I was towing a backup vehicle and after winching my truck/camper out to a secure spot, I carefully looked down about 10’ into the gaping hole, where I could see an old rickety wooden ladder leaning against a wall. I proceeded to detect the area and dug the usual mining trash but didn’t find any gold. Farther downstream, I found several old expended .50 Cal brass casings and a partial belt of live ammo. Apparently the mountain range had been used for military exercises at one time. Although, It was a good looking area to prospect which I had planned to go back to, unfortunately, it became a wilderness designated area. ☹️ The Jackson Mountains are located in Humboldt County, 56 miles west of Winnemucca, Nevada. Access can be reached from Winnemucca by taking the Jungo Road west for 35 miles to Bottle Creek Road. There are 2 Wilderness Protected areas in the Jackson Mts. North and South Wilderness, divided by Trout Creek Road.

I don't know if anyone has seen this this or not, but I believe it speaks well of the MD community and tends to offer some insight and enlightenment on a variety of interesting subjects. "In 1540 Spanish Conquistador Don Francisco Vasquez de Coronado arrived (in what is now NM) from Mexico in search of the fabled Cibola, or Seven Cities of Gold. He claimed the area as the “Kingdom of New Mexico,” a part of the larger empire known as New Spain" Coronado also wandered through the Panhandle area of Texas and into Kansas searching for the mythical land of Quivira, also (reportedly), a city of gold" "Coronado’s exact route has long been a matter of debate (and dispute) among Historians and Archaeologist Experts" The following summary taken from news articles, describes the discovery and pinpointing of the exact location of a Coronado campsite in Texas by a metal detector hobbyist and "establishes that the previous estimations of Coronado's route of travel, was off by about 100 miles or more! "A campsite of Francisco Vazquez de Coronado, the first European explorer to wander through West Texas, has been located south of Floydada, Texas in Blanco Canyon. (N/E of Lubbock) An archaeological dig under the direction of Dr. Donald Blakeslee, Professor of Anthropology at Wichita State University in Kansas, is in progress. Dr. Blakeslee believes the site, located on privately owned property, is where Coronado camped for 2 weeks in 1541 before leading a small detachment in search of Quivira, in northeast Kansas" "An encampment of 300 soldiers, 1,500 Indians and servants, 1,000 horses and thousands of other animals should have left a lot of detritus in two weeks" Dr. Blakeslee reminds us, though, that the Indian trail through the canyon has seen use for 11,000 years. His own dig has found metallic items linked to Indians, Comancheros, Ranald Mackenzie’s army, and pioneer settlers. Thus, a Spanish chainmail gauntlet plowed up in the 1960s in a Floyd County pasture, though persuasive, is not definitive proof of Coronado’s presence; other expeditions could have passed through the region. However, Dr. Blakeslee states that certain finds are uniquely indicative of the Coronado expedition. The most important are metal points from crossbow bolts. Coronado’s campaign is the only one known to have carried crossbows. The site in Blanco Canyon is called the Jimmy Owens site, to honor the Floydada municipal employee who discovered the site and spent much of his spare time exploring it with a metal detector. Of the 40 bolt points that have been recovered, Owens found most of them in only one afternoon, and many of those were found near the surface. Dr. Blakeslee had given a talk in the Panhandle region, stressing the search for Coronado and the idea that crossbow bolt points might be found. Jimmie Owens in Floydada, influenced by the talk, began his metal detector forays into Blanco Canyon and began turning up unusual copper and iron points. Owens, an avid metal-detector buff who first reported the metal points, described the canyon in his laconic style: "It's like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates down there. You never know what you're going to get." Owens came forward with his points and Dr. Blakeslee confirmed that the points fit the general pattern of those from a confirmed Coronado encampment in Albuquerque. Unlike many collectors, Owens had the courage to come forward and show his material to archaeologists, which led to the recognition of the site. Owens died a few years after the discovery, but was hailed as the key player, a metal-detector buff credited with being the first person to have located evidence, (crossbow points) resulting in positive confirmation of an additional Coronado camp site, and significantly altering the previously accepted Coronado exploration route. As a result, the site was was named for him. At the beginning of the dig, the archaeologists were being informed that the crossbow points had been coming from about 10 inches down in the soil. In other words, If there was a site there, it was buried under sediment that had accumulated on the canyon floor. The problem was, NO artifacts were being found by the so called experts, the archaeologists! “Astonishingly, the metal artifacts were only being found by the talented metal detector buffs (Owens and fellow Artiste)’’ At lunch, the concerned archaeologists pointed out that not a single archaeologist had witnessed a cross bow bolt head come out of the ground. Could the whole thing be a fraud? About that time Jimmy Owens came by with his metal detector, and went over an area where he had found a concentration of metal objects from various periods, and while we were standing there, he detected and dug up an iron awl of a type made in Europe and traded in the area, probably in the early 1800s. No doubt, there was a native village site in the canyon, and it clearly seemed to have been a gathering spot in ancient times. And, after another day or so, all suspicion was removed when the metal detector artistes starting turning up a few more copper crossbow bolt heads in the presence of the archaeologists. The experts were forced to admit that "Artiste" was no exaggeration. Amidst the many signals of ranch debris in the valley, Jimmy Owens could guess with accuracy whether he had a bolt head, whether it was copper or iron, and how far down it was! All of the recovered artifacts have been donated to the Floyd County Historical Museum. Date(s) of discovery 1993-1995.

Thanks Rob! Appreciate all your help over the years as well!

While nugget hunting in the Bradshaw Mountains of central Arizona, I met a Polish gentleman from New York who was a Gem dealer/vendor who had been attending the Gem and Mineral show in Tucson. He said he had recently found out that it was possible to find gold with a metal detector, and was now out trying to detect for nuggets using a Garrett Ace 250 coin machine. Not surprisingly, he had become highly frustrated with his detector due to the hot, mineralized ground where he was trying to detect. He came up to me and, (in broken English), politely asked what he was doing wrong, since all he could hear was static and popping sounds in his earphones. I said, "Welcome to the Bradshaw's", and gave him a brief explanation about mineralization in the soil, ground noise etc. He had neglected to eat anything in his haste to rush off and find gold, so while he was eating a sandwich I'd made for him, I put away my Minelab, got my GB-2 fired up and proceeded to give him a crash course in gold detecting and let him use it awhile to prove to himself that he could find small pieces of lead, bird shot etc. He was so thrilled, he went into Phoenix, bought a GB-2, came back out and after I helped him set it up, he presented me with a large, beautiful (3 long point), Herkimer Diamond Crystal, and a can of lunch meat! I thanked him and encouraged him to keep trying, then headed back into Prescott Valley to see Kevin Hoagland who, at the time, was managing JW's Prospecting Supplies. Since I was away from home and traveling on the road, I gave the Crystal to Kevin to put in his safe, along with some outdated camera equipment I didn't have room to carry around. Some time later, he casually mentioned that a lady friend of his had admired it, so in the same spirit of appreciation that it had been given to me in, I passed the Crystal on to him for all the prospecting advice and guidance he had provided since the day I first walked into his shop carrying a Fisher CZ6a coin machine, complaining that all I could hear in my earphones was static and popping sounds. He had just smiled and said,"Welcome To The Bradshaw's"!