Question About Tailings Piles

[Jim McCulloch]

Case in point: Woody drywashed in the El Paso Mountains during the Depression. In 1977, when the first VLF's came out, he returned to his old workings. Detecting a wash, the first banging signal was a 30's era can. "Probably one I discarded" he mused. So were the next 5. Target signal number 7 was like the previous, and he was tempted to ignore it. But he dug it anyway. A nice 3 oz slug of the Most Happy Yellow Metal. Lesson learned: dig it all. Even at trashy sites. Especially at known productive sites. During his auriferous career, "Friend Woody" likely filled several dumpster loads with trash, but he also filled several gallon buckets with nuggets. 

[flakmagnet]

To be honest, I don't dig everything…and I sometimes have incredible second thoughts about it. But I do dig most targets, especially the unusual sounding ones as well as the 'good sounding' ones and the ear-busters.

As I mentioned in another thread, the almost two ounce piece I found at 14" could have been found with a Radio Shack detector and it almost blew my headphones off.

[Gold Catcher]

I think Steve had it spot on. Start with VLF/iron meter and then move to PI/ZVT. I always dig everything, that's my point. If you start with the Zed right upfront you will get frustrated. I am in the El Pasos often. Many of these piles don't even have one clean spot where I can rest the Zed on the ground without my ears blowing out.

[nugget hunter nz]

Sorry I'm abit late to throw my 2 cents in I've hunted old tailings simalar to your pictures here in nz. Like mentioned big stones means you loose the depth of the stones but big nuggets can end up there so ounce plus nuggets will sing at good depth the smaller piles you can rake down if you want. As for trash these can be really trashy. When I've hunted them I went over the area with gpx and placed we builders flags at every target then when I was done I went over each one with my monster 1000 dug the good targets left the bad and anything I was unsure off I took top layer off to get Beter signal. This alowes you to search with the more powerful pi but saves you digging 50 holes for nothing.. Just an idea but flags can be your friend even in creeks they work a charm 

[Gold Catcher]

I like that! Just the other way around then (pi then vlf). Need to buy little marker flags.

[nugget hunter nz]

1 hour ago, Gold Catcher said:

I like that! Just the other way around then (pi then vlf). Need to buy little marker flags.

I got mine from a building supply store cheap or you can make your own.. It's defanitly an effective method in trashy areas 

[GB_Amateur]

Concerning these flags, could you guys be more specific?  Metal poles or plastic, etc.  It's not that hard to post a link to a retail site.  A lot of us have done it many times, and it sure helps the readers.  Thanks.

 

 

[2Valen]

5 hours ago, GB_Amateur said:

Concerning these flags, could you guys be more specific? 

I use these flags when I am hunting a good area.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Presco-100-Pack-18-in-Orange-PVC-Marking-Flag/50066715

 

[nugget hunter nz]

8 hours ago, GB_Amateur said:

Concerning these flags, could you guys be more specific?  Metal poles or plastic, etc.  It's not that hard to post a link to a retail site.  A lot of us have done it many times, and it sure helps the readers.  Thanks.

 

 

Sorry I'm here in New Zealand so got mine there mitre 10 think you can get them on ebay if you search builders flags