Research On Detectable Gold

[Gold Dozer]

I'm starting into my 5th year as a prospector but it hasn't been much more than a year that I've started leaning heavy into detecting.  Here in Utah I've found gold in quite a few places using a pan and sluice but the overwhelming large majority has been flour gold.  I've heard many times "Do your research before exploring an area".  I have taken this serious and have improved on my ability to do research and learn more about places I have gone before physically exploring the area. 

I've found USGS as a very useful tool for finding new places, takes some persistence to know how to get the information out of there as that isn't the most intuitive tool but I have found some really interesting data in there.  I don't struggle with finding areas where gold has been found anymore but what I do struggle with is finding information on weather the gold found in that area was large enough to be detectable.

I am continuing to learn and am beginning to understand that associated rocks can be clues on potential size of the gold that could be found, but I can't think of any instance I've seen any information on the size of the gold found.  Maybe this is just a Utah thing? 

 

Any hints or clues on how I could find this information would be appreciated.

[Swegin]

 Placer Gold Deposits of Utah___________ GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1357   All of the gold that I saw mentioned was fine.   https://www.detectorprospector.com/files/file/131-placer-gold-deposits-of-utah/

I didn't read the whole report I just skimmed thru it.

 

 

[Gold Dozer]

I actually have that book.  😂

[Swegin]

That was the first one that popped up.   I don't know much about Utah other than I can't wait to retire and visit the southern part of the state.

 

[oldmancoyote1]

Finding big gold:  The simplest method that comes to mind is to explore placer areas close to lode mines.  It's not going to be easy to find what you want, but persevere, and you might succeed.  You may already know all this, but perhaps it will be of use.

Ways to do this:

1)  Examine modern gold claims as reported in places like https://thediggings.com.  Open a map of a county that interest you.  There are two kinds of claims shown:  placer claims and lode claims. Poke around in this data looking for placers near lode deposits or something else that intrigues you.  Use  Google Earth and https://apps.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ to further refine your decision as to which area to explore in person.

2)  Learn to download location data for historic mining areas from the USGS MRDS website:  https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/  You can overlay this information onto Google Earth.  You can even use it to automatically mark locations on Google Earth so that when you click on these locations you can see more information about each mineral occurrence.  Of course you can look for mentions of big nuggets (It's not that common but this actually worked for me once), or you can just look for areas with large placer gold production near lode deposits.

3)  Mareen Johnson ( sometimes she uses her maiden name Sherlock) from the USGS has published a detailed description of placer gold deposits in Arizona and one for Nevada.  Pay attention to where she got her info.  It's in these publications somewhere.  Last time I looked Mareen had not published a report for Utah.  However, sources similar to those Mareen used may be available for Utah.  Again, you are looking for mention of big nuggets or proximity of placer and lode deposits.

4)  Recently, there have been several Detector/Prospector discussion of metal detecting dredging spoils.  If you find something that the dredge discarded, it's going to be big.  Of course you are going to prefer dredge fields near well known lode deposits.

This is serious detective work.  It's hard but may be profitable.

Good luck!

[Steve Herschbach]

Read this....

From https://www.detectorprospector.com/magazine/steves-guides/metal-detecting-and-prospecting-library/

• Determining Where To Prospect For Nuggets 2017 Detector Prospector Forum article by Steve Herschbach
• How To Find Gold Metal Detecting & Panning by Charles Garrett. The basics of gold panning and metal detecting for gold nuggets. The author designed and built his own metal detectors, and Garrett Electronics was established in 1964 to manufacture and market his inventions.
• Handbook of Geophysical Prospecting Methods for the Alaskan Prospector A dated but still realistic summary of electronic devices used in the prospecting industry, aimed at the individual prospector.
• Geophysics For Mineral Exploration - A Manual For Prospectors A more recent publication that updates the one above, read both.
• Principal Gold Producing Districts of the United States 1968 USGS Professional Paper 610 by A. H. Koschmann and M. H. Bergendahl - A description of the geology, mining history, and production of the major gold-mining districts in 21 states.
• Placer Deposits of Alaska 1973 USGS Bulletin 1374 by Edward H. Cobb - An inventory of the placer mines and prospects of Alaska, their history and geologic setting.
• Metalliferous Lode Deposits of Alaska 1967 USGS Bulletin 1246 by Henry C. Berg and Edward H. Cobb - An inventory of the mines and prospects of Alaska and their geologic settings.
• Gold Prospecting Research Material for Alaska - Detailed prospecting resources for Alaska.
• Placer Gold Deposits of Arizona 1972 USGS Bulletin 1355 by Maureen G. Johnson - A catalog of location, geology, and production with lists of annotated references pertaining to the placer districts.
• Gold Placers and Placering in Arizona 1961 Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology Bulletin 168 by Eldred D. Wilson
• Gold Districts of California 1970 California Division of Mines and Geology Bulletin 193 by William B. Clark. A relatively up-to-date and comprehensive guide to the gold deposits of California.
• The Tertiary Gravels of the Sierra Nevada of California 1911 USGS Professional Paper 73 by Waldemar Lindgren. A California geology classic. An account of the Tertiary formations of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the origin and distribution of the gold-bearing (auriferous) gravels.
• Placer Gold in Southwestern Colorado 1960 by Ben H. Parker, Jr. - Excerpted from The Geology of the Gold Placers of Colorado, an unpublished doctoral dissertation of the Colorado School of Mines.
• Placer Gold Deposits of Nevada 1973 USGS Bulletin 1356 by Maureen G. Johnson - A catalog of location, geology, and production with lists of annotated references pertaining to the placer districts.
• Placer Gold Deposits of New Mexico 1972 USGS Bulletin 1348 by Maureen G. Johnson - A catalog of location, geology, and production with lists of annotated references pertaining to the placer districts.
• Placer Gold Deposits of Utah 1973 USGS Bulletin 1357 by Maureen G. Johnson - A catalog of location, geology, and production with lists of annotated references pertaining to the placer districts.
• Placer Examination Principles And Practice - 1969 BLM Technical Bulletin 4 by John H. Wells - The classic work on evaluating precious metal placer deposits.

and....

 

[Rob Allison]

Hi Gold Dozer,

    The key in my honest opinion for detectable gold is to search for "Free Milling, Pocket type deposits."  There isn't a ton of info on this, some USGS stuff and some random stuff you will find.  You have to understand how gold nuggets are formed in the veins and search for those type of deposits.  Also, like other mentioned, the placer info on these areas will also help, letting you know if nuggets or sizeable gold has been found in the past.  

I used to love talking on the phone and emailing Jim Straight.  Jim loved to talk about true geology behind where gold comes from.  Many of his book, hard to find now, were a good research.  I believe I still have a few copies of his books, but not the NuggetShooter Bible, which was one, if not the best books written.  

Out here in the Southwest, I have found some great nugget patches in unknown, not documented areas.  These are normally on the outskirts of known gold mining districts.  

Like anything, research, exploring (boots on the ground), persistence and a bit of luck all help.  Keep in mind, a good gold detector, VLF or PI will be a big help.  

[Swegin]

23 minutes ago, Rob Allison said:

NuggetShooter Bible, which was one, if not the best books written.

100%.........

 

[WesD]

Probably wouldnt be a bad idea to follow the old saying, go west young man...  Nevada territory is proven big gold country!

[mcjtom]

Where would one start looking for information on past or potential gold deposits but in countries other than the US, for example in Thailand or elsewhere in SE Asia?