Indicators

[normmcq]

Do you ever question yourself, am I in an area that even has gold? It isn't always true, but if you see these indicators together you are probably not far from gold.

[1515Art]

Nice indicator in the middle?.

[desertpilot]

I’ve learned on the areas I hunt the most the bigger the crystals the bigger the gold. 

[Jim Hemmingway]

Hi Norm… both these minerals are fairly common in the areas that I explore, but there is normally no gold associated with them. That aside, I did like viewing your photo layout, particularly the doubly-terminated, stubby little quartz crystal located at the bottom edge. Commonplace quartz in its various color schemes is my overall favorite mineral, in part because specimen grade samples are fairly easy to find and quite durable.

The cubes presumably are iron pyrite. Iron pyrite abundantly occurs in quite a variety of environments because it forms under a wide range of conditions from high temperature ore veins to coldwater sediments. Interesting to see that a couple of your examples are transitioning to an iron oxide, nature's rust generically called limonite but that possibly may include maghemite. I’d like to find something similar for my mineral collection. 

As mentioned above Norm, that little yellow nugget in the middle of your display is the best indicator of where to search for gold. Hobbyists should look for gold where gold has previously been found, preferably in quantity and detectable size. I consider that to be the first principle of metal detecting for precious metals and put it into practice to search for native silver in northeastern Ontario.

Jim.

[dgatleyDP]

Norm,

That's a nice collection of "indicators".  Your collection mirrors my 'finds" during the many visits to the foothills of Rye Patch, including the gold. 

Optically clear, fully terminated quartz crystals, plus the Iron Pyrite (AKA Fool's Gold) in their cubic form of, are both prevalent minerals to be found in gold baring areas.  They are just some of the indicators in new areas, much as Norm has indicated.

Happy hunting out there!

[beatup]

good stuff Norm i like it when i see Limonite on the ground be it in quartz or single crystals like those you are showing.

[fredmason]

stop teasing me, Norm...I can't take anymore...VERY PRETTY!

fred

[normmcq]

Jim, I am posting another picture of  Limonite after pyrite. I think it is my best specimen and one more of gold in quartz with crystals. The picture doesn't show the crystals very good, but they are all over it

                                                                            Norm

[normmcq]

 I found that nice specimen on a hillside that quite a bit of nice gold was found on. I was on a club claim and it had seen numerous detectors. After the first two summers the claim didn't give up much gold. Then the GPZ 7000 came out and I was right back to that claim. The area was covered with snow and was only able to hunt a small bit of it, but I did manage that specimen, It was the first of many nice pieces that were found with the ZED by many users.

 For more pictures of some of the gold from that hillside go to  ICMJ'S Prospecting and Mining Journal Volume 83                 Number 1 September 2013 page 60 and 61

 

                                                   Norm

[beatup]

nice finds Norm