Hard Prospector

Fishing, hunting or prospecting, there's nothing sweeter than access to private property

Know of a prospector/miner who placer mined using a trommel in Northern California in the 70's $ 80's. Then he moved to Jackpot NV nearly 30 years ago and really took up nugget shooting at Rye Patch. Through the 90's, several ounces of nuggets in a day was not that unusual he once told me. As detector technology improved, he would immediately upgrade machines and go back over his many (by then) old patches, and they would always produce at least some BUT....... In his opinion, the SDC2300 and the GPZ (which he bought at first chance) finally "killed off" most all of the known nugget patches beyond whatever new technology may enter the market. To him, the few crumbs left at such places, or even an exceptionally rare larger piece, are not worth his time. In 2017, he sold his GPX, SDC and GPZ. This year he's in the process of starting up a new trommel operation.

I've got one and it works. Just don't let it "boil" and it won't loose gold. Installing an in line ball valve will regulate flow. A mini sluice concentrator is more effective and practical though as you can run 1/4" as well as 1/8" material.

The easy (detecting) gold is pretty much gone except for private property. All my nuggets past couple years have come from dry wash piles. Can't bring back the 80's and 90's on public land. Time to move dirt just like the good o'l days! Only exception is maybe hit a beach for rings and jewelry that doesn't need 100 million years to replenish! Sometimes the truth really hurts!

Thats what I'm trying to decide; the Garrett Pro Pointer AT or White's TRX. Looking like a 50/50 split so far. Lets keep this discussion rolling !

Looking to get a new pin pointer (to assist in nugget shooting) as mine is 7 years old. There must be better more sensitive ones available these days. Input would be much appreciated......Thanks!

Was a loyal Whites guy for a long time and finally had it. Loved the TDI SL but they refused to make the factory modifications to the unit that eventually I (with an electrician friend of mine) found a way to "scab in" myself. Talked with Tom about it for over a year and he said just be patient; "improvements to the SL are coming soon"...........nada. Most every time I would call up there wanting to just talk, I would get nothing but attitude. One particular lady in customer service was exceptionally aloof and abrasive . I'd had about enough of these people. Then earlier this year an event took place that made it easy for me to say good by to Sweet Home forever. New coils came out for the Minlab SDC 2300, a unit I'd been wanting to buy for a long time but kept putting it off in my long patient wait for the Whites "promised" TDI upgrades. Thats it.......I'm out! Bought the SDC and loving it, spent the last 6 months selling off all my Whites detectors. Done all I could do to stay with this American detector company but eventually felt abandon by it, suppose I'm a Minlab guy now. Decided to keep my Sierra Gold Trac though in honor of Jimmy Sierra. He and I had many conversations.......great guy and another loss to this company. My hunch is Tom B began to feel the ship he was sailing on is headed for the reef. Time to get the hell off and move on. Innovate or evaporate the old saying goes, Tesoro may have some company soon. Hope I'm wrong but I think I hear the death rattle.

Couple years back, a buddy of mine who lives in the desert had his shed broken into and a lot of expensive stuff sacked. Recently he bought a 40' steel shipping container for outside storage. Being a engineer and fabricator, he made a number of "custom & unique" modifications to it in addition to windows a door, etc. One particular window was somewhat larger and you might say could be "enticing" to the wrong kind of sort. One night he and his wife were awakened to this terrible screaming and banging coming from outside their home. Glock in hand, he walked out to find the noise coming from inside the shipping container. You see this one custom window was built so that once someone broke in, a trip mechanism engaged a heavy tension spring slamming down a steel cover over the window trapping the crook inside........just like a rat. Tom never gave the dirt bag any indication what was going on and after calling the sheriff, would occasionally strike the steel siding with a hammer. This loud echoing "BANG" coupled with the pitch blackness and uncertainty of his fate would cause the crook to wail in fear. Well eventually the deputies arrived and took the guy into custody. Coming out of the container hand cuffed; he was sweating profusely, crying , shaking and had blood running down his face. Oh, and it was obvious he'd shit his pants.

The direction of the show (and the drama) has its roots in the producer, thats the biz and no getting around it. Still this "little guy" marine placer mining I find very interesting and dynamic. I'm out on Gold Rush though, just can't handle seeing one more rock truck or that punk running his mouth anymore.

A very well read and to the point letter. Was a dedicated Whites customer for over 20 years but finally had it and ran out of patience. Sold off all my Whites detectors last year.They seem to be stuck in the past and I fear too far behind to catch up to the competition. A solid example; the GM 24k should have come out 10 years go if you ask me. Sure would hate to see Whites go the way of Tesoro and would like to see them prove us wrong. I believe a new multi frequency MXT would do just this. Anyone in Sweet Home listening?

Nice pieces and vid. Time to bring in the crack vac & 141 and really scrape up whats left.

Agreed, my Sand Shark is a PI . For above the waterline I use a Equinox 800.

Well my Sand Shark is about finished so time to shop for a new dedicated (salt water ) beach detector. This machine will be dedicated to wet sand and/or surf only environment. Currently considering the ATX and TDIBH,, any suggestions / input would be appreciated.............Thanks! Rob

Considering their obvious performance, it would appear these X Coils are; "From Russia with Love' Go figure.........

I'll co- sign all that, done some biz with him as well. Knows his stuff, likes to talk shop and seems to have a out going people personality.

Detecting at the beach, I drag around a divers mesh bag attached to my belt. I keep all the garbage I detect (within reason) and it goes in that bag. I'm usually done detecting about the time the life guards come on duty in the morning. I purposefully empty that mesh bag in the trash can at the main lifeguard headquarters so they can see all the crap I've pulled out of the sand. There's an old saying; " Nothing wrong with keeping the bread buttered."

I was out detecting in the desert some years ago when a BLM/LEO approached me and struck up a "friendly" conservation. He then went on to ask if I had found any interesting relics. I just said; "Nope, I'm prospecting and this detector is tuned only to find gold." He seemed more than a little disappointed that I didn't bite and quickly drove off.

RIP to the miner/vet

Any pics of this mod would be much appreciated..............

Thats what I thought, bought a TDI and a SGT from you at past gold shows in Vegas. Speaking of Vegas, what the hell was GPAA thinking by skipping that venue this year? The best prospecting party of the year........too bad

Which detectors do you sell Jim?

Sit in on as many seminars (classes) as possible, talk to the venders (as most are real prospectors) and listen to those asking their questions to the venders. Most people at the panning troughs are new b's

Looks like the SDC just got a vitamin B energy shot. Gonna be a fun year watching the reviews come in concerning these new loops.

The Las Vegas GPAA Gold and Treasure show was always the "big event" of the year for this organization, and something I looked forward too attending as well. Yeh I know there are show dates in other places but there's no place like Vegas! What's up with this organization anyways.......any idea? I haven't been a member in a long time.

Been going to Baja for several decades, caught lots of big fish and got some good gold too. For those considering a trip to MX without much experience here's something to always keep in mind; don't take anything down there you can't afford to loose.