Jump to content

Jim Hemmingway

Full Member
  • Posts

    251
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

 Content Type 

Forums

Detector Prospector Home

Detector Database

Downloads

Everything posted by Jim Hemmingway

  1. WTG Mitchel... those results look awfully good to me... congratulations!! Jim.
  2. Good thought Chuck. Time spent alone while prospecting isn't an issue here, but concern about what might be happening back at camp is a big worry in the autumn. There is nobody around at that time of year, but there are plenty of bears snooping about for food. I never get back to camp... usually well after dark... without a sigh of relief that everything is the way I left it. Jim.
  3. Four or five days at a time and frequently over several decades of autumn prospecting trips. I don't mind at all, and do far better hunting alone. My wife joins me in the north country at least once each prospecting season for a week, usually the last full week... I've always suspected this is to ensure I do pack-up and head home before real winter weather sets in. Either way it's all good. Jim.
  4. Just a beautiful piece Chris, I love the look of gold against creamy white quartz. Congratulations and WTG!! Jim.
  5. GoldEn... beautiful material you've been posting here. Thankyou for sharing them with us, and we'll look forward to seeing more in the future! All the very best! Jim.
  6. Bird of prey sitting on a stump (or boulder). Jim. PS: I have a similar-looking specie comprised of silver / calcite that I think of as my "eagle" as shown below.
  7. Thanks for sharing those great photos Lunk and congratulations on the gold finds. Fantastic... I was especially interested in the critter... never seen a desert tortoise or does it go by another description? Give your Mom our best regards and WTG from Ontario. Jim.
  8. Hello Argyle…. I have not used the Falcon for checking rock samples, but do have a basic understanding of how it is supposed to work. Would you kindly explain why the Falcon wouldn’t be good for spot checking small quartz samples? For example, is it the lack of penetration of the 300 kHz frequency (if memory serves) that disqualifies it in your view… or do you have other reasons? Thankyou... Jim.
  9. My quote of the day is commonplace and simple. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Jim.
  10. Great find AU_Solitude, hope it cleans up really nicely for you, and it should. Congratulations, and maybe you could post more pics when it is cleaned. Thankyou for sharing your story with us. Jim.
  11. I think that's a beautiful find DDancer, we don't see that much quartz in my areas. Thanks for a real nice story and the detailed information about it. And of course... congratulations... definitely a keeper!!! Jim.
  12. Your Minelab native silver article was an enjoyable read Chris, as was your instructive native silver thread started here a short while ago. Frankly I've never paid much attention to pricing, but yes it is shocking to me to learn what even dealers will pay for material that I can't be bothered bringing home. I recently posted an article to TreasureNet entitled Recreational Prospecting in the Silverfields of Northeastern Ontario at http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/metal-detecting-gold/525046-recreational-prospecting-silverfields-northeastern-ontario.html should you have any interest or spare time. Emphasis is placed on effectively searching abandoned minesite tailings disposal areas characterized by an overabundance of iron and other miscellaneous modern waste materials while employing VLF units. References to F75 and the White's MXT are frequent in regard to discussions about features and their usages in such environs. That's it for now, your ideas interest me... good luck with your tentative plans. Jim.
  13. Hello Rod… the attached links describe a bit of my experience scanning for native silver with this unit. The primarily diabase substrates here are inundated with an endless variety of large and small iron debris, conductive pyrrhotitic rocks that produce a wonderful PI signal, and of course miscellaneous modern trash. The Infinium is not deepseeking compared to the Minelab offerings, but does offer an advantage with larger coils over VLF units in these ferromagnetic minerals. It possesses some iron handling capability, an important attribute in northeastern Ontario’s silverfields, and that is described in detail in both reports linked below. In the TDI report, bypass the TDI information and go to the section pertinent to Infinium for a quick, definitive summary. The Infinium report will give you my assessment of the DD coils with respect to depth / sensitivity, and relative iron handling ability. Our silver is generally much larger than the gold posted to forums, and either the 14” mono or 8” mono are quite serviceable. If searching for gold, utilize the 8” mono for improved depth / sensitivity to smaller targets compared to the 14” coils… as detailed in the Infinium report. http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/canada/223207-garrett-infinium-ls-silverfields-ontario-revised-february-2011-a.html http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/canada/223432-whites-tdi-pro-silver-rock-country-infinium-comparison-february-2011-a.html Jim.
  14. Thanks Steve. I also enjoyed his relic hunt presentation... very well done. Jim.
  15. Glad everything worked out well for you and that you got in a short hunt with LuckyLundy. Congratulations on the gold and thankyou for posting the beautiful scenery photos. It's so nice to see those wide-open spaces. Jim.
  16. Jim… very sorry to learn about you losing your mining equipment to theft. Years ago someone took the liberty of removing a brand new prospecting detector from my truck. I should have locked it, but have always been more concerned about misplacing or inadvertently losing the ignition keys… and locking myself out while in the middle of nowhere. So I do understand how you must feel. I’d been thinking about caching some equipment in the field this autumn because of the long hike into where I’ll be working. Perhaps stick a note on it asking anyone to please leave it in place, but now that doesn’t seem to be such a good idea. Let’s hope you either get it back or can do something with Chuck’s engine replacement. All the very best with everything… Jim.
  17. Terry… thanks ever for a comprehensive description of your lengthy trip out west… in fact it would be a lifetime experience for the wife and me. You certainly covered a lot of territory and were involved in a number of activities over a fairly short timespan…quite remarkable really… and the way you related everything was the next best thing to actually having been there with you. I think those Sunstones are uniquely alluring even in an uncut state, and your helpful information about the collecting sites will definitely bolster our future plans to visit those areas. Congratulations on a successful and enjoyable trip, and again, thankyou for sharing your thoughts and illustrative photos with us. Jim & Joanne
  18. Tom… congratulations on finding gold flakes in that stream. I was not aware that Indiana’s geology would produce gold lode deposits, but rather that its gold was placer deposited from north of the great lakes via glacial action. The eagles are at that location as a food source. Doubtless the open fields sustain sufficient rodent populations, for example field mice, and other prey species to satisfy their energy requirements. Jim.
  19. Hi Tom… eagles and other predatory birds’ eyes are positioned to the front of their heads, although their eyes are angled slightly towards the side of their heads, allowing them almost but not quite complete peripheral vision. They see both near and far much better than we and other mammals do, but with similar binocular vision that permits good depth perception, and the ability to gauge movement. Nearly all birds have superior vision to us in a number of ways, for example they see colors more clearly, and see ultraviolet light. This ability helps predators to identify prey species at great distances by urine trails or deposits that reflect ultraviolet light, and we think it helps many songbirds to identify male from female of the species by reflected UV light. Nightbirds such as owls see visible light much better than they see ultraviolet light. Owls have binocular vision as well. Songbirds’ eyes are positioned at the side of their head for greatly improved peripheral vision that helps to see predators from above and behind them. Birds cannot roll their eyes like humans but rather they move their heads around almost fully. When landing their legs are extended in front and they look down to see their landing perch. Rabbit eyes are located higher and on the sides of the head, they don’t see directly in front very well or at all, but do have very good peripheral vision. They are sufficiently farsighted to see a high-flying bird of prey that we humans might fail to see. but I don’t believe they possess binocular vision in any direction. I’m not sure about that last statement, so you may wish to check it. Lack of good vision directly in front is compensated to some extent by their sensitive nose and elongated, highly sensitive ears. They have limited color vision, but we know for example that they can discriminate between green and blue. They have high visual sensitivity in low light conditions, but with relatively low resolution… meaning it is probably a rather grainy view. And finally, different mineralizations are sometimes very specifically associated with indigenous flora and fauna resulting from eons of natural selection processes. But there are countless more diverse examples, as your photo illustrates, that may or not represent evolutionary adaptations depending on the species and circumstances. For example the bald eagle is capable of flourishing in a variety of habitats ranging from Indiana’s farmfields to mountain terrain to healthy populations in the big cities. In fact a widespread population exists as a part of Ontario’s Precambrian Shield boreal forest ecosystem. Below is a link where you get a good close-up look at a hawk's eye placement... Jim. https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiFrseYpojOAhXH5oMKHXhvDeAQtwIIPDAH&url=https%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F111070343&usg=AFQjCNHASAHPH398Cwop7v9mBE4i45aVNA&bvm=bv.127984354,d.amc
  20. I enjoy viewing the natural gold, silver, or other minerals that forum members find. I doubt with most photo contributors that it has much or anything to do with boasting, but rather it is the fun and enjoyment of sharing your recoveries and experience with everyone. Natural specimen photos and scenery shots are a great way to illustrate posts, provide encouragement to fellow hobbyists… especially the newcomers, and photos doubtless enhance overall readership interest. It seems to me that the circumstances surrounding this fellows demise has little or no relationship to what we do on this forum. If you can’t share your discoveries here with similarly interested hobbyists, then where can you? Jim.
  21. Hello Tom… I hope but doubt you’ll remember some of our exchanges on this subject back on Steve’s AMDS Adventure Forum. I asked you then and do so again… do you understand the source of power that moves your gadgetry when you are map dowsing for minerals? It doesn’t move itself, and is certainly not moved by you. When you dabble in the supernatural, there could be possible risks or consequences, but I doubt that you really care. I also doubt that is the case in this instance. I’d prefer to assure you that you saw some local young woman taking her dog for a walk. Her attire is irrelevant, shorty shorts don’t suggest that she’s either a ghost or a loosey goosey dancehall floozy. It implies that she prefers to be comfortable in the warm weather. That three-inch square case that was pointed at you may have contained a derringer or small container of pepper spray, and these possibilities certainly repudiate any notion that you were dealing with anything but mortal flesh. Moreover, the sounds of the tumbling brook would help to sufficiently mask her arrival behind you or in leaving, especially if she remained on a pathway. Be glad that she wasn't a pack of feral dogs on the hunt. On several occasions I’ve experienced the power that moves dowsing rods. Most recently in my work life, we asked about the location of a landfill site discharge pipe. The engineer produced two aluminum dowsing rods and promptly located the pipe. I asked to try the rods, and sure enough they both turned to the outside to line up perfectly over the buried pipe. I’ve dowsed for graphite and felt the wood twigs arch so strongly down that they could have easily snapped. It is easy to imagine how dowsing could be intriguing and addictive. Incidentally, I have those aluminum rods as a gift to this day but only use them for bottle probing at old cabin sites when out prospecting silver in northern Ontario. Regardless of your religious beliefs or otherwise, as a resource on the subject, certainly references are made to spirits throughout the pages of the Bible. Those references are not terribly flattering. A knowledgeable, rational individual would not willingly invite them into the house for any reason. Unless your map dowsing technique has encouraged you in the hobby and resulted in some satisfactory mineral finds, why not at least supplement them with some basic research? Perhaps arrive at the research area and then go to dowsing for specific places to investigate. This modus operandi might save you any further questionable experiences when alone in the bush. Jim. PS: You described that blue crystal years ago on the AMDS forum, and I mentioned the hexagonal crystal structure could indicate tourmaline… a commonplace occurrence in Maine.
  22. A finely detailed fossil Tom, thankyou for the photos and the interesting rocks as well ... Jim.
  23. John... this is a practical, sensible insight into testing units over lead targets in test gardens. I've enjoyed it and many other threads you've initiated here. I understand what you are saying and it is my view that you are correct insofar as structure or shape notwithstanding, since lead has a significantly lower specific gravity, a larger piece is necessary to match gold weight. Hence depth results over lead are not necessarily accurate indicators of what might be expected over gold. But in the field there are other factors to consider. In natural environs where we are detecting undisturbed ground, and where EMI is normally considerably less, if those same lead nuggets had naturally occurred, they ought to be detectable at greater depths than can be had in the backyard disturbed ground test garden. The same can be anticipated for naturally occurring gold or other metals. Hence your hypothesis isn't quite as exacting as one might initially think. Test gardens are quite useful for relative detector depth evaluations within the above noted constraints. Testing naturally occurring nuggets in undisturbed ground is certainly an ideal scenario, but unfortunately as you point out... this is not always convenient or even possible. I enjoy your posts a good deal. Sometimes I don't agree with your ideas but you are fully entitled to your opinions as are all other forum members. And sometimes readers don't understand the relevance of what you are suggesting. As an active participant here, you have to expect such reactions as par for the course. The important consideration for me is that you are so obviously a kindred spirit in this hobby, you consistently display a fascination for learning more about it, and you are quite willing to step up to the plate and share your ideas. No more chatter about closing out your account here, and please continue with your current level of participation... it is all good as far as I'm concerned. Jim.
  24. Chris… has it occurred to you that we could apply your above statement to many of the questions asked on these forums. Have you considered that some forum members admire or even trust you as an unequivocal knowledge source whose advice is their first preference? Sure, we can simply Google such questions and dismiss any effort at forum discussion. But without questions, these forums would pretty much cease to function or even exist. Tom didn’t ask 1000 questions but rather a simple few questions that require no study or work from you. The answers are equally simple, and I’ve answered them below. You might anticipate that initiating a “show and tell” thread where you present information is likely to generate questions. If you are not prepared to responsibly deal with that possibility, then perhaps you should reserve your presentations for the magazine fraternity, where no questions need be answered. Tom… Muriatic acid is a generic term for various strengths of Hydrochloric (HCl) acid. In Ontario over the years, HCl acid strength has varied from 19% up to 37%, is priced accordingly, and is available at pool supply shops, Canadian Tire, Home Depot and other hardware related outlets. At times I use it extensively for treating naturally occurring silver ores, as exemplified in the photo below. Muriatic acid will help loosen and certainly doesn’t hurt with cleaning dirt from our silver specimens. Gold shouldn’t be any different. The soil here is primarily a brown clay loam pretty much dominated by brown goethite iron mineralization, and is very reactive to even light concentrations of muriatic acid. Whether that holds true for the more oxidized red soils you refer to is beyond my experience. I’d also suggest looking into an ultrasonic cleaner, and variety of suitable dental type picks as an option. Muriatic acid can be used as it comes straight from the bottle, but I prefer to dilute initially to one part acid added to two or three parts water to clean dirt and calcite residues from natural silver. More fragile specimens call for much weaker acid concentrations, on rare occasions I’ve even used vinegar… a weak acetic acid. More water dilution slows down the reaction, and permits more control over the procedure. Ensure your personal safety and wear protective gloves, and face splash-guard (or at least approved safety glasses) as a minimum when handling acid solutions. Jim.
  25. Hello Merton... thankyou for sharing your experience and insights... this is a very good, sensible report that I can understand. Your non-technical or philosophical remarks place a perspective on your findings that I enjoyed, and certainly appreciate where you are coming from... many thanks and good luck with everything. Jim.
×
×
  • Create New...