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Lost Dutchman Gold Mine

Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Discovered

*Actually they seem to have “Discovered” the legend, but not the mine.

The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine is the most famous lost mine in American history. It was supposedly discovered and kept secret by a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz in the 19th century.

There is very documented evidence the Dutchman existed, was a hired miner and had a large amount of gold in the mountains but the real question is was it a mine he located or had he been stealing the gold from the mines he was hired to work. Either way there still appears to be a large amount of gold in the mountains that he was bringing down but is it just what’s left of his stolen stash or a very rich mine. Finding the ore location is the key as it can be compared to known samples and confirmed to be similar. (more…)

By Bob711, ago

Large Arizona Gold Nugget

Large Arizona Gold Nugget –

2nd Largest Nugget Ever Found in AZ

This impressive gold nugget that was discovered in a placer mine in the Huachuca mountains of Arizona.  The nugget appears in its original form, just as it did when it was pulled out of the ground.

 

The Huachuca Mountains are part of the Sierra Vista Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest in Cochise County in southeastern Arizona, approximately 70 miles south-southeast of Tucson and southwest of the city of Sierra Vista. Wikipedia. (more…)

By Bob711, ago

California Gold Mining History

California Gold Mining History

Very good video of the history of California Gold Mining in Kern county’s Sierra Nevada!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

At the beginning of the Gold Rush, there was no law regarding property rights in the goldfields and a system of “staking claims” was developed. Prospectors retrieved the gold from streams and riverbeds using simple techniques, such as panning. Although the mining caused environmental harm, more sophisticated methods of gold recovery were developed and later adopted around the world. New methods of transportation developed as steamships came into regular service. By 1869, railroads were built from California to the eastern United States. At its peak, technological advances reached a point where significant financing was required, increasing the proportion of gold companies to individual miners. Gold worth tens of billions of today’s US dollars was recovered, which led to great wealth for a few, though many who participated in the California Gold Rush earned little more than they had started with. (more…)

By Bob711, ago

Minelab Detectors and Search Coils

Minelab Detectors and Search Coils

Thinking about upgrading your search coil? Are you unsure of whether to buy the 15″ round or the 17×13″ elliptical. They are both good coils, but with some very slight differences, so I decided to do a video so you can see for yourself. On the two targets tested, the 5000 with 15″ round in Fine Gold gave the best response, and a very close second was the 17×13″ in Enhance on the 4500. (more…)

By Bob711, ago

Australian Gold Nuggets

Australian Gold Nuggets – Gold Nugget Detecting

We found an area in the Pilbara that has never seen a metal detector before! We just arrived in a new spot and expected having to prospect for several days before getting to a good spot but we found it after only two kilometers of walking on the first day. Screaming targets in a remote gully revealed plenty of chunky gold nuggets (and also a few bullet casings). (more…)

By Bob711, ago

Metal Detecting Gold Nuggets

Metal Detecting Gold Nuggets

As I recall, Minelab’s Newest Gold Machine the GPZ 7000 came out in 2015 for about $10,000. Currently, this gold detector selling new for about $7,999.

This detector is the next flagship gold detector based on new ZVT technology that developed by Minelab that will dramatically improve detector performance beyond all other gold detectors. (more…)

By Bob711, ago

Arizona Gold Mine

Arizona Gold Mine

This old abandoned gold mine was just outside of Yuma Arizona not far from the Colorado River. 

It’s obvious that the old-timers were following a quartz vein that was carrying the gold. Dry washing the mine tailings show that this was a very rich mine. Even dry washing in the general area produced some very fine gold dust. From poison gas, unseen drop offs, wild animals and rattlesnakes, I would never advise anyone to go into one of these old abandoned gold mines (more…)

By Bob711, ago

California Gold Prospecting Show

California Gold Prospecting Show

A look back before the Covid-1

– Gold nugget prospecting equipment – prospecting equipment demos, gold mining hand tools, floating dredges, fine gold recovery, gold nuggets, gold nugget detectors, prospecting maps, metal detectors, California gold nuggets & Arizona gold nuggets. (more…)

By Bob711, ago

Gold Prospecting Drone

Gold Prospecting Drone

Whether you call it a drone or a UAV really doesn’t matter they are becoming increasingly popular for getting great aerial videos as well as still photos.

Today, major gold mining corporations all around the world are using drones to map out and survey their current claims as well as possible future areas that may be worthy of future close inspection.

(more…)

By Bob711, ago

Gold Panning

A lookback at GPAA show in California on gold panning with a new type of gold pan.

Panning for gold is no doubt the most popular way for finding fine gold. A well-designed gold pan, whether the currently popular plastic ones, or the original metal ones is a stable part of every gold prospectors equipment. The proper gold panning technique is not hard to master and when properly done, can extract a very high percentage of the fine gold. (more…)

By Bob711, ago

Gold Prospecting in Wickenburg Arizona

Gold Prospecting Arizona

Did you know gold is 19 times heavier than water? Well, that’s part of the science behind how Wickenburg prospectors search for gold.

Arizona has produced more than 16 million troy ounces (498 tonnes) of gold.

Gold mining in Arizona reportedly began in 1774 when Spanish priest Manuel Lopez directed Papago Indians to wash gold from gravel on the flanks of the Quijotoa Mountains, Pima County. Gold mining continued there until 1849, when the Mexican miners were lured away by the California Gold Rush. Other gold mining under Spanish and Mexican rule took place in the Oro Blanco district of Santa Cruz County, and the Arivaca district, Pima County.

(more…)

By Bob711, ago

Monster Gold Nugget

Monster Gold Nugget Found Metal Detecting

Victorian golden triangle dream gold nugget find. 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:.

The first gold rush in Australia began in May 1851 after prospector Edward Hargraves claimed to have discovered payable gold near Orange, at a site he called Ophir. Hargraves had been to the Californian goldfields and had learned new gold prospecting techniques such as panning and cradling. Hargraves was offered rewards by the Colony of New South Wales and the Colony of Victoria. Before the end of the year, the gold rush had spread to many other parts of the state where gold had been found, not just to the west, but also to the south and north of Sydney. (more…)

By Bob711, ago

Arizona Drone Prospecting

Arizona Drone Prospecting

March 2020 Yuma Arizona gold prospecting trip.

Using a high tech GPS drone to save time on gold prospecting trips.

This video was made in early March around Yuma Arizona. This weekend the daytime temperatures were in the upper 70s and dropping down to about 50° in the evening. It’s really a great time to get out to the desert and prospect for gold. (more…)

By Bob711, ago

Gold Nugget Hunting

Gold Nugget Hunting Tools

When gold prospecting, you need good equipment to save time & help in finding gold nuggets by removing trash.

Many of the areas that we go to to prospect for gold are very remote. Actually, once we leave a paved road it could take some time before we reach our intended campsite. Most of the time, we are out of reach of cellular service. (more…)

By Bob711, ago