desertpilot

Very cool Dave! Last time I detected the Jonnie area I found a wagon brake handle, pick, and some boots. Cool to see some gold from there. DP

Greaterville has some open ground plus GPAA and Desert Gold Diggers claims. Do your research and you can find some good areas. DP

To research an area I start with the claim maps on mylandmatters.org then go to the county recorders office to get copies of the location notices to get the claim maps. That's the easiest way I have found to research an area. Also some recorders offices let you research claim notices online so you might be lucky where you live.

Good advice Clay, arguing may lead to a rusty pick.

Chris, If your able to get out in the Tombstone area there is some nice silver specimens that can be found underground. I'm still searching for silver in the Sierrita's and Arivaca area. Would be awesome to find something like the silver dog.

Ash is all claimed up and every time I hike thru there I run into illegals so I stay out of there. I've been hitting the mines on the west side outside of the wilderness to see if anything was left behind in the tails. I've also been slowly sampling creeks on the west side for color.

Spent the day beeping the Huachucas. Just hit a few mines on the west side. Grass is still pretty tall in greaterville so it's tough detecting in spots. Plan on maybe being out greaterville way next Saturday.

Never had any problems in the 50/50 land either. Lately I've been detecting Ophir and Louisiana gulches. Been sticking to the hillsides because the wash bottoms are pretty hammered. Only area I've been told by others to avoid is the fenced area around Kentucky camp. Most gulches still produce gold drywashing, lots of clay in some areas though.

Ivan, Yep box canyon is the pass over to I-19. I've sampled a little bit there and a little found gold. There is also a old arraster along the canyon as well. Its cool you hunt the Santa Ritas I only live 45 minutes from the mountains so I spend allot of time between Greaterville and Patagonia area. With the rain we have been getting I was finally able to run a stream sluice down west of Melendez pass. I have a C-172 I keep at KFHU and use it to hunt down old mining sites away from roads. Its suprising whats still out there if your willing to hike. DP

Ivan, I too spend allot of time in Greaterville. I haven't been able to crack the code detecting a nugget but I can always pull gold dry washing. Im guessing your waypoints are spots you found stuff. Im surprised you found gold as far south a cave of the bells. I have a book from the early 1900's that talks of a stamp mill near onyx cave so Im guessing there may be gold down there as well. I agree about detecting weekdays I sometimes take time off from work to detect and its nice being the only one out there. Have you ever tried box canyon area?