A Short Season Gold Summary

[jasong]

My winter season has officially ended. A total of 39 detecting days, 88 grams (argh, just short of 3 oz I was trying for) minus a couple grams traded for supplies along the way. Definitely no great bonanza this year, but by the looks of it I have almost paid for a new 6000 if I decide to get one.

Anyone looking to buy nuggets let me know. 10% under spot if bought in 1/2 oz+ lots and I have another half lb or so at home slated for the refiner soon too if anyone wants bulk. I know it's not the prettiest gold, but it's cheap. 😄

About half this came from reworking older patches. The other half come from exploring but I wasn't able to find anything except scattered small patches this season so never quite hit the jackpot as in previous seasons.

Thank you to X Coils for giving me a new 8" coil to play with, it was responsible for many of the smaller nuggets in the photo, as well as a couple of the bigger ones including the speci. It was nice to swing the GPZ with no bungee when using it and to feel truly mobile for the first time with any "big gun" detector. My field report on that coil is elsewhere on this site, no need to go into it here.

For anyone who visited me at my land - I am packed up and leaving and this place is officially sold to a new owner as of tomorrow. So, don't come a knockin' cause he might have a shotgun 😄 Best of luck to the new owner.

I have some plans in store for the spring/summer and next winter, thanks in large part to people who have generously offered knowledge and assistance. So, one chapter ends and I will be moving along to the next now. For now it's time to go home and finish the construction work I left behind this fall, get some money for an RV again to pursue this prospecting thing again when the ground thaws up North. Good luck to everyone I met and spoke with for the rest of this winter season, and to everyone else!

Jason

 

 

 

[hawkeye]

As he rides off in the sunset.  Happy Trails.

[Steve Herschbach]

Great job Jason, and you managed to come in just over my 2 gram a day cutoff point. I'll detect forever for 2 grams a day average, and anything more is a bonus. But it is getting hard to do even that. To think not long ago I had a 1/4 oz a day cutoff, but was expecting like a 1/2 ounce a day. My, times have changed.

Good job, well earned I am sure!

[beatup]

Well Done Jason Looks Like a nice return on the days you were out.

[jasong]

I try for 2 grams/day overall average generally too, or 3 grams when gold is a bit lower. If I start falling behind on a weekly basis I get nagging in the back of my head and start scrubbing old areas as meticulously as possible, try to imagine some new nuggets into existence, just to get back over that number then go exploring again. It's definitely getting harder in a lot of places! It was a good trip and got a lot done and new land explored to build from next winter too.

It always clears my mind and puts me in a good mood when I spend some time away from town and out in the wilderness. 

Got some new coils to field test this Spring now, starting to lean heavily towards getting a 6000 now too. This upcoming year should be pretty fun! Haven't a had feeling like this in the air since the 7000 first came out and new possibilities abounded.

[Steve Herschbach]

Yup, same here. If I start getting ahead of the average, I am building days I can go blue sky detecting. Every day counts, even if it is a day of driving, so my day count starts when I leave home, and does not stop until I get home. The 2 gram a day average has to carry across all of those days, so there have to be better days to fill in the empty days.

I used to chuckle at dredgers in Alaska who would brag they got three ounces of gold in three days. While neglecting to mention the week of hiking, staging gear, and setup involved. If you are doing it for bucks, it all has to figure in.

Thankfully, I have finally got off that horse, and am out just enjoying myself. I can take time to go kick rocks, or take pictures, or just sit and watch the horses. I guess I really am retired now, as making a buck off the gold is no longer job one. 

In over 40 years of running a side business prospecting, I only ever lost money in a couple years. That would be a year I'd have to buy a 6" dredge or something, and maybe not much mining, so in theory I was in the hole. The extra has been nice, and back when my girls were school age, I swear it kept me from going broke. 

[flakmagnet]

Good, smart work Jason. Hope the off-season goes well and look forward to hearing of your new adventures. 

[Gerry in Idaho]

You did better than most Jason, but I know you worked for it.

Don't be so hard on the new GPX-6000 this time, like you did in the 7000.  What I like about you, even though you were not happy at 1st, you came back around and purchased another one, realizing the 7000 is a serious gold detector.  Yes I too enjoy the old GP's, but for the majority of my hunts in non trash areas the 7000 is king...(but might be dethroned soon) - GPX-6000.

We'll see you this next coming winter on here, unless you get a 6000 and need a quick fix.

[mn90403]

Well done Jason.  I won't be rolling up on that land any time soon.  Someone should let the club (GSSN) and Dave know you are out of there.  Good luck with the construction and hope the final price gets you a nice RV.

I'll be very interested in knowing if you think the 6000 is better than the 7000X.  I hope you keep the 7000 to compare.

Mitchel

[Lunk]

Nice haul, Jason!