A Beer Can that Wasn't One

[Gold Catcher]

I went back to my place in the high Sierras from last week, encouraged by the two chunky pieces that I found. However, this time I did not see a black bear crossing the street when I drove up, so for sure I thought I wouldn't have the luck from last weekend. Since I found the pieces last week rather on the surface, I decided to do some digging to see what is hiding deeper.

 

After about 5 hours work, I recovered 6 small pieces. That of course made me happy (I take any size gold!), but I was somewhat disappointed because I had hoped bigger pieces to find.

 

 

 

Then, I thought to have a quick scan at an adjacent site, perhaps 50 feet away. I got a screaming signal right away and thought it would be for sure a beer can or iron trash. I paused for a moment and wondered whether I should dig it or not. I am usually a "dig it all guy" but haven't we all been in situations where we dismissed these sorts of signals as trash? Well, I decided to dig regardless, just for being faithful to my dig it all mantra. I immediately recognized the weight of the target that I unearthed, but I initially thought it would perhaps just be a big blob of lead.

 

It was all dirty, but upon rubbing a bit a very different picture started to emerge....

 

After a quick water sprinkle there was no doubt what it was 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

I don't know how many beer cans, big square nails and other iron trash I have dug in all my years. But there is a reason I keep digging them, to not miss nuggets like these.

GC

[mn90403]

I wouldn't pass up a sound like that in a known patch area!

That is a beauty.  How long has it been since you got one that size?

[Gold Catcher]

Thanks Mitchel. It has been a while for sure...and my last big one was just a bit over 1 oz.

GC

 

[phrunt]

Outstanding, congratulations Gold Catcher! Well-deserved too.   That's a massive lump, here was me thinking your other bits were big until I got to that part of your story.  

[Gold Catcher]

6 minutes ago, phrunt said:

Outstanding, congratulations Gold Catcher! Well-deserved too.   That's a massive lump, here was me thinking your other bits were big until I got to that part of your story.  

Thanks, Phrunt. And yes, it is all relative. Usually, 1g-2g is already bigger for me too, compared to what I normally find!

GC

[Norvic]

I read beer can in the title and had scrolled down to the "beer can" photo than back and read the post, it was calling you just wanted to see you sweat a bit........ 😉

[Tony]

Beautiful piece of gold (is there any other kind).......and that's how you pay for your detector in one hit 🫡

[Gold Catcher]

Thanks Tony. I wish I could pay like that for my detectors all the time...:) But unfortunately, these kinds of nuggets are rare to find in the US.

GC

[Valens Legacy]

2 hours ago, Gold Catcher said:

I got a screaming signal right away and thought it would be for sure a beer can

Just to make you happy I will send you 6 beer cans for what you dug up just to make you happy.

Nice piece of gold and you can count on several more in that area if you go just a little deeper.

Good luck and stay safe out there.