caprock

That Henry Clay piece is AWESOME, way better than a coin in my opinion. Henry Clay presidential face pipes also turn up on occasion in foothill gold camps, they were in manufacture from 1850-55

Art, that is AWESOME thank you so much!!

Art,

can you translate this banner, it is from a circa 1852 store in Michigan Flat Ca, run by the Stanfords. Would be greatly appreciated. It is the only photographic evidence that at least in this case, white miners catered to the local Chinese needs.

Dog i edited my previous post, with dates.

Great research Dog! Keep up the good work!

Here's another version from a California gold camp

Dog, just curios what period are most of the finds from your house site.

The California sites are 1850s-80s, but hold older items as well>

I found similar button in California. Some believe it is related to the Odd Fellows, not sure. Have seen a match safe with same pattern also.

Hi Goldpick,

ran your buckle past a group of experts that hunt the California goldfields and hunt primarily for tongue  and wreath buckles. No one is familiar with this one, but the concensus is that it is not American, but most likely Mexican, notice what appears to be cactus below the eagle. In addition, this style of buckle, as do most tongue and wreath buckles, pre-date the American Civil War, and in our goldfields in California are most commonly associated with pre 1860 sites. Perhaps that buckle has some association with the late 1840s Mexican-American War. If I learn more, I'll let you know.

Yerks and Plumb Company 1869-87

Gold Seeker by Jean-Nicolas Perlot

The Gold Rush Diary of Ramon Gil Navarro

John Doble's Journal & Letters From the Mines

The Journal Of Alfred Doten 1849-1903

Gold: History & Genesis Of Deposits by Boyle

Here  is a little taste of California.

British made Sportsman's Jacket from 1850s,, sometimes found in goldfields of California and Australia

A single jacket had wide variety of animals.

 No problem Chris, thanks for clarification.

Chris,

My info comes from an exploration guide written by Charles Clifton and Larry Buchanan in 1982 (photo 15). Clifton's caption reads "Resistant ledge, hanging wall, Comstock lode, Virginia City,Nevada."

Don't think he was implying it was the hanging wall, but in the hanging wall.

Either way I've never been in a room with more than one geologist (me included) that interpreted things the same way. lol

Get a good geologic map of your area.

In the field look for changes in rock type, color changes can be reddish or bleached white, look for vein material, breccias, or shattered rock, also springs and seeps are good indicators, oxidation in some cases

Depending on conditions they can form a topographic high if silicified and resistant to erosion, or a low if dominated by crushed rock that is easily eroded.

Here's a couple from Nevada, where all the geology is easily observed.

third photo is silicified  rock in the hanging wall of Comstock fault zone Virginia City

Here's mine in action circa 1977, still have it too, sentimental value, first vehicle. Doesn't run...maybe someday...

Mokelumne River at Big Bar on the Amador/Calaveras County Line

North Fork of Cosumnes River, El Dorado County 2 hrs. ago

1 pic at Gold Beach

2nd Pic Sand Ridge Bridge

Brass Apothicary scale weight, also used to weigh gold

Great gold rush find!

Don't clean it

Staying with the can theme, here are some circa 1855-65 French sardine cans from California gold rush camps, similar cans also turn up on Civil War sites, notice soldered-on brass labels and jagged knife opened tops.

Congrats Wanderer,

excellent find!

1850-55 center piece to tongue and wreath buckle

civilian issue