with regard to your small-scale gold mining operations in the National Forest
The following information is intended to give a general reference for those who are new to this rewarding activity...
Just a few tips and guidelines to assist with streamlining your gold prospecting operation in our National Forests.
An ever growing number of people enjoy small-scale gold mining as a unique and exciting diversion...
a place to escape the 'everyday.'
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SURFACE MINING TIPS & GUIDELINES:
There are literally, billions of ounces of ancient alluvial gold out there, just waiting to be found. In many places, there is more gold up on the banks than you will find in the river.
If you want to find alluvial gold in large quantities, it will be found the ancient tertiary river channels. They are often well hidden, but exist throughout all of the Americas, from Alaska to Chile, where the vast majority of these deposits are still virgin and unexplored.
Geologists have argued that most of the gold in today's river systems is not gold that has eroded more recently from lode deposits, but gold that was eroded out of the old ancient riverbeds where they have been crossed by the present river systems.
The ancient channels, where they have been discovered and mined, have often proven to be extremely rich in gold deposits. In fact, many of the richest bonanzas that have been found in today's river systems have been discovered directly downstream from where they have crossed the rich ancient streambed gravels.
BENCH DEPOSITS: During an extended period of time, a stream of water will to cut deeper into the earth. This leaves portions of the older sections of streambed high and dry. Old streambeds which now rest above the present streams of water are referred to as "benches." Accumulations of gold and other valuable minerals contained in an old, high streambed are called "bench deposits."
Many benches are lying close to the present streams of water, and are actually the remains of the present stream as it ran a very long time ago.
Some dry streambeds (benches) are situated far away from any present stream of water. These are sometimes the remains of ancient rivers which ran before the present river systems were formed. Ancient stream benches are sometimes on top of mountains, far out into the deserts, or can be found near some of today's streams and rivers. Ancient streambeds, wherever found, can contain rich deposits of gold.
Most surface placer gold mining operations today direct their activities at bench deposits. The reason for this is that the presence of an old streambed is evidence that it has never been mined before. Any gold once deposited there will still be in place.
Along with using highbankers, many pick & shovel miners are using metal detectors in their prospecting activities. Some of the new gold metal detectors will sound out on pieces of gold as small as the head of a pin. In gravel deposits, metal detectors can also be used quite well to locate the concentrations of magnetic black sand. Black sand tends to concentrate in pay-streaks, just like gold. Therefore, locations sounding out heavy concentrations of magnetic sand on metal detectors are excellent places to follow up with more concerned work / sampling.
GRAVEL BAR PLACERS: Gravel bars located in streambeds flowing through gold country, especially the ones located towards the inside of bends, tend to collect a lot of flood gold, typically in paying quantities even for the smaller-sized operations. The flood gold in bar placers can consistently be distributed throughout the entire gravel bar. Sometimes the lower-end of a gravel bar is not as rich as the head of the bar, but the gold there can be more uniformly dispersed throughout the material.
Just like in any other type of gold mining activity, the key to doing well is in digging sample holes to first find a high-grade gold deposit. Sluicing for gold is the next productive step up from gold panning. Sometimes this activity is also referred to as "high-banking".
The nice thing about using a highbanker with a dredge attachment on a gravel bar in California is that the activity does not normally require a dredging permit. But you must make certain there is no discharge of water or other material off the stream bank, to flow into the active waterway.
POCKET GOLD - It is possible to pick up a trace, no larger than a pinhead, that could lead to a pocket containing millions of dollars worth of gold at today's prices.
The least known, but perhaps the largest potential of all the different kinds of prospecting and hunting for gold, is the search for pocket gold. Only a few of the old-time prospectors knew about pocket gold, and it is safe to say that eight out of ten never heard of it. Their main interest was in placer gold. Their concerns were in the creeks, the high-bars, the meandering streams, the obstructions to their flow, and the many conditions affecting the eventual resting place of the yellow metal.
Pocket gold is found in the place of its origin, untouched by the relentless grinding, smoothing action of sand, rock and turbulent water. There is no question that literally hundreds of these pockets still exist wherever placer gold is found in the entire gold belt, ranging in size from approximately one to six and seven foot square in mass.
There is a tradition or theory held by the old-time pocket hunters that the pockets occurred in a series of three. That under the first, or original pocket, is a second one down a depth approximately equal to the depth between the surface and first pocket. Below the second pocket would be a third one, generally a little deeper than the distance between the first and second pocket - the third being the largest of the three.
Many shallow pockets have been found, and many have not, but even when the shallower pockets have been found, few prospectors knew to dig deeper for the second and third.
One thing about pocket gold, when you get it out of one of those pockets, it's different. It's jagged. It has little rough places all over it. It isn't smooth like you find in the creeks. It's found in all different shapes. It may be shaped like a tree, an animal, a bird - all are different and original, no two are alike. When you clean these up with Clorox , you have what are called specimens. The specimen value of some of these pockets may be five or ten times the market price of the gold content in them.
FINDING GOLD IN A RIVER...
Gold is found in lode deposits, residual deposits, alluvial deposits, bench deposits, streambed deposits, ancient rivers, and flood layers. A lode deposit is a crack or fissure in hardrock that's full of gold. This is the original source of placer deposits.
Residual deposits are pieces of ore that have eroded away from a lode. They are usually directly under the lode that they broke away from.
Alluvial deposits are pieces of ore that have eroded away from a lode, but haven't been deposited in a stream. The hill that they came from may no longer exist, or may even be further downhill.
Bench deposits are found on the banks of a stream, and streambed deposits are found under the water. You can start your exploration in the streambed. If you don't see any signs there, chances are that the entire basin is bare.
Look for cracks or crevices in the rock at the bottom of the stream. Gold will settle into them. Any rough or irregular bedrock surface will act as a gold trap. Potholes in the bedrock will trap gold, so dig until you find the hard edges of the hole. Smooth and polished surfaces don't trap gold well.
Boulders in the stream may trap gold on the downstream side. Of course, if they are in the shortest path, they are even more likely to do so.
During the Tertiary period, about 2 million years ago, the mountains underwent a lot of twisting and faulting. Many streams were formed, most of which ran in a South-East direction. The benches of these ancient rivers and streams are well known for the rich deposits they contain. These deposits often have a deep blue color, and are called 'Blue lead', which turns a rusty reddish brown after being dug up and exposed to the air. They are often very hard and compacted.
Flood gold can be found at the bottom of flood layers where heavy storms with enough force to move large amounts of gold will produce concentrations. Watch for layers of differing color, hardness and consistency. Some hard layers may masquerade as bedrock, so don't give up if the going gets a little hard. The shortest route idea applies here, also. Sharp bends may show good return in the inside edges quite far from the normal water line.
SEASONAL WATER LEVELS AND FEROCITY CHANGE... River levels fluctuate due to snow melt or rainfall within river systems. To help you plan your trip pay close attention to the time of year when you decide to visit your mining claim. While the river may be deep, wide, and intimidatingly roaring during winter months through to the spring... rivers do get shallower, more clear and inviting, as the summer progresses. If you're trying to plan that perfect river gold prospecting vacation in extreme northern parts of California, we'd like to suggest you plan your getaway sometime between the months of very late June through to the end of September. If you're not a dredger/water-person and rather enjoy highbanking, panning & metal-detecting instead, this is an area that will provide year-round gold prospecting opportunity, adventure, and excitement.
HOW TO READ A RIVER FOR GOLD DEPOSITS...
Rule #1: Let Mother Nature do the work for you whenever possible. Over thousands of years, rivers have meandered, flooded, and concentrated its heavier contents into what prospectors call "paystreaks".
Gold is heavy and it takes a lot of water and time to move it a significant distance from its source or resting place.
WHEN DREDGING: A permit is required for dredging. You can obtain a suction dredging permit from any California office of the Department of Fish and Game. Cost currently runs in the neighborhood of about $42.50 (non-resident $167.25). The exact cost of the permit changes slightly each year.
The California Department of Fish & Game can be contacted directly for current rates and an application form by calling (530) 225-2300.
Dredging is permitted on the Salmon River from July 1 through September 15. Only those persons actually operating the nozzle of a suction dredge within an active waterway in California are required to have a dredging permit. When dredging, it's always a good idea to have a copy of your permit handy (along with
another form of identification, such as a driver's license). Dredge permit sample/example
The Ranger Station may require you file an NOI (Notice of Intent) and/or a PoO (Plan of Operation). On June 6, 2005 the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) published its Final Rule on Section 228.4 in the Federal Register. Section 228.4 regards when it is necessary for a miner or prospector to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) or Plan
of Operation (PoO) with the USFS.
When dredging, sample holes should not be excessive in size. The hole should be filled in with cobbles and tailings as it is moved in any direction to avoid allowing the hole to become excessive in size.
Please be careful not to block the passage of fish. Your recreational dredging permit allows you to move boulders within the existing stream, as long as you do not remove it out of the river or creeks-and as long as you do not obstruct the passage of fish in the river or creeks, or deflect water into the bank.
Many recreational rivers offer great rafting and kayaking in the spring. Please do not mine or dredge in any location where your holes or tailings will block or interfere with river rafters.
Ropes and cables across the river must be of a brightly colored line (yellow and/or white rope are preferred) and they must be no less than ten feet above the water at all times to eliminate the danger to rafters. You might even want to flag your lines to make them easier to see.
YOUR EQUIPMENT / MINING OPERATION:
REGARDING FIRE PERMITS... Campfires or outside use of charcoal, fuel or gas stoves may require a campfire permit. Campfire permits are required in the Klamath National Forest between the dates of October 30 - May 30. Campfires are not allowed in this region between the dates; May 30 - October 30. The District Ranger may be contacted directly for more information re campfire permits in this region; 11263 N State Highway 3, Fort Jones - (530) 468-5351
FIRE SAFETY: Please adhere to all Forestry fire regulations. Stay informed! Fire danger levels can change daily during the summer months. Fire of any kind may be prohibited in some camping areas during high-fire danger periods. This includes the use of charcoal, fuel, or gas stoves.
No-one wants to be responsible for starting a forest fire -- Here are a few simple rules to make your National Forest visit safe and enjoyable:
CAMPING AND PARKING... should not be done where any access roads will be blocked. Forestry campgrounds and other places in the National Forest have a two-week limitation. Parking along the road must be done as far off the road as possible, and always with the flow of traffic. Please
do not park so as to block someone else in.
When driving on dirt roads drive slow and easy. Some of our National Forest roads are narrow. Watch for traffic coming from the other direction. Dust control is a Forestry concern so please drive slowly on roads that are unpaved.
Motor vehicles must remain on established roadways.ATV's must be kept upon established roads and trails, according to USFS regulations. Always use existing roads and trails.
Permanent or semi-permanent structures of any kind are prohibited unless approved in advance by the USFS.
The principle of "PACK IT IN - PACK IT OUT" should be observed in all areas of the National Forest.
When camping near rivers and streams - Tread lightly. The land bordering rivers and streams, known as the riparian area, is vitally important to many species of wildlife. If possible, camp outside of the riparian area.
All campers MUST come prepared with some type of acceptable sewage disposal plan if they intend to camp in the National Forest where toilet facilities are not available.
SANITATION: All sewage and gray water must be disposed of in enclosed containers and dumped in towns at approved dump stations (RV parks usually provide this service).
Latrines and holes used for sewage of any kind are not allowed.
Please do not dump your own port-potties or storage tanks or any garbage into chemical toilets as they plug the sewer hose on the pumping trucks. YYYYUCK!
PERSONAL CONDUCT:
Children should be supervised at all times in the wilderness.
All dogs are to be kept supervised at all times when visiting the National Forest. Fish and Game regulations prohibit any dog from chasing any mammal in the National Forest.
Follow the law and create good will through mutual respect.
TIPS YOU MIGHT FIND HELPFUL
WINTER PROSPECTING - SALMON RIVER REGION
In California, dredging permits are only required when dredges are operated inside of the active waterway. Therefore, dry-land dredgers (vack-miners / highbanking ops) up on the land are not required to have a dredging permit and can run year-round.
Dry mining activities are allowed to the high water line. This is where the line of permanent vegetation (trees) begins.
Undermining of trees and banks is strictly prohibited without prior approval from the USFS.
Cutting any trees on unpatented claims is strictly prohibited without prior approval from the USFS.
No hose larger than 3/4 of an inch (garden hose) should be used to clean bedrock cracks outside of the active waterway.
When using water up on the bank, you must prevent water runoff to erode the bank away. If you are not sure if you are operating within acceptable guidelines, ask for assistance from the local Fish and Game.
No amounts of sand, silt, gravel or other materials may be washed from the bank into an active waterway.
No surface mining activity is allowed that will erode or damage the existing bank of the waterway or cause a widening of the existing waterline.
Vegetation, which creates shade on the edge of the waterway, cannot be removed to facilitate mining activities without prior approval from the USFS.
Always refil any holes that you dig...
All holes must be filled in when you have completed your prospecting activity.
To avoid washing sand, silt or gravel into the active waterway, natural contours of the area out of the water can be used to slow or contain the water to allow sediment to drop out.
Never mine within 10 feet of any road or established trail.
Never refuel power equipment where oil or gas might enter any waterway. (If your motorized equipment might possibly leak any oil while you are prospecting, use a drip pan under the motor to catch any drops.)
Drainage hoses or pipes leading to or emptying into the river are prohibited. Water from high-bankers must be discharged into a dug settlement pool or other area away from the stream so that this water does not directly re-enter the stream.
Use of explosives, tractors, dozers, and backhoes is prohibited without prior approval from the USFS.
1st pocket could be on the surface to 20 ft. down
There could be no trace on ground level
2nd pocket will be found down directly underneath the 1st - within a foot or two to the right or left - at a depth approximately equal to the depth between the surface and first pocket.
3rd / final pocket generally found a little deeper than the distance between the first and second pocket - the third being the largest pocket of gold of the three.
Decomposed quartz vein.
The formation could pinch out immediately below the 1st pocket - this is where most would assume that's the end of it. But it isn't! Keep digging straight down until the quartz starts to show up again - maybe another 10 ft. when you will run into a little thin vein that will get wider and wider. To ensure that you're on track, keep sampling along the sides as you go, until you reach the next pocket.
Basically, the way pockets are found, is by going up a ravine that shows color, taking samples every hundred feet. As long as you keep finding color, keep going up the hillside. Eventually you will come to a place where there are no more colors in your samples. At this point you can predict that you are above the source of gold. By returning back to where you last found color, you know the gold was coming from some higher point on the hill. All that's left now is to locate the exact source.
End of quartz vein
Pinch out
Dikes in bedrock will trap gold in different ways. When bedrock is rough and irregular, it allows for many, many gold traps along the way. Hairline cracks in bedrock often contain surprising amounts of gold as well. Sometimes you can take out pieces of gold that seem to be too large to have fit in the cracks that you find them in, and it leaves you wondering how the gold got in there. Many times a hairline crack will open up into a space which holds a nice little pocket of gold.
Any sudden drop-off into a deeper and larger volume of water is a good place to look. Boulders at the base of a waterfall will protect gold deposits from being boiled away by the falling water. Sometimes the gold will settle out just beyond the boilout point. If the slope of the streambed lessens and smoothes out, there may be a good sized deposit there. Look on topographical maps for places where the grade levels off and check it out.
flow
Because of its weight, gold tends to travel down along a streambed taking the path of least resistance, taking the shortest route between bends in a river. These are the areas where you might want to sample / concentrate your efforts first.
flow
Tip: When the weather is bad and rain is pouring down, go out to your claim and watch the water action. Make notes on where the water runs fast and where it slows. Draw a simple map. Note obstacles like tree stumps, large boulders, or other obstructions in the path of the high water. Places where the river is slowed are the most likely places for gold to deposit. Why make a map? Simple! When the water recedes the landscape will look far different than in its high water or flood stage.
Remember, gold moves most during fast water events and during flood stages. That stump area up the hill a bit out of the water may actually contain far more gold than the one in the current path of the river.
Areas to focus on: Look for transition zones - areas where the water changes speed from fast to slow. The inside bend of rivers - the area just after and around a bend in a river or creek.
Locate those areas where the water slowed during a flood or high water time and prospect there. These are the likely drop out spots for gold and other potentially valuable heavy minerals and gem stones. Remember, sometimes the paystreak is not where you might expect. Let mother nature be your guide.
When anchoring a cable to a tree, protect the tree by wrapping it with an old inner tube, or by covering the cable with a piece of old hose.
Be sure to remove all cables, ropes, and inner tubes when dredging is completed.
You must be extra careful not to spill any fuel into the active waterway from your gasoline engines when you are refueling them. Please do not bring any more fuel to your worksite than you need to use on any day of mining. Once your engine is refueled, you must secure the seal firmly on your fuel container, and place it well away from the waterway on a level area where there is no chance that the container can be knocked over. Please do not leave your fuel containers down along the edge of the waterway!
All fuel should be packed around any set of river rapids, rather than floated through on a dredge, boat or raft.
Use existing pathways and trails wherever possible. Creation of any new trail that requires the cutting of brush also requires your filing a Notice of Intent (NOI) with the local Forest Service.
Please do not rope or winch mining equipment up or down a hillside in anyway that will create erosion problems later.
Keep your operation looking neat and professional! It's best to keep it orderly and free of excessive equipment or other materials at all times.
- Never hang a lantern against a tree. The heat generated by the lantern damages the bark and may cause the tree to die. Read all instructions provided with the appliance before operating.
- Parking in tall grass or shrubs can start fires because the hot catalytic converter comes into contact with dry plant materials. Don't park where vegetation is touching the underside of your vehicle. Motorcycles and ATVs should have spark arresters. All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) produce an enormous amount of heat and can ignite brush from their exhaust systems. Don't park your car, truck, or recreational vehicle on dry grass or brush even for a minute. The exhaust system on a vehicle can reach a temperature of more than 1,000 degrees. It only takes 500 degrees to start a wildfire in the fire season.
- Smoking is wise to be done only in established campgrounds, in vehicles, on roads, on the river, or in the forest only if there is a 3 ft. area cleaned all around. AND PLEASE keep all cigarette butts picked up!
- Any and all gasoline engines being run in the forest must have a Forestry-approved spark arrestor. This includes chain saws, electric generators, and dredging and mining equipment.
- Keep your gasoline in a safe place where fire or cigarettes have no chance of setting it off.
- It is wise that you do not store an excessive amount of gasoline at your claimsite.
Our Forest Lands are vulnerable to forest fires.
Please, always use extreme care with fire.
Only we can prevent Forest Fires.
FISHING: Always obtain a fishing license prior to doing any fishing.
NOISE: Being respectful of all of the wilderness inhabitants means keeping our noise down before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m.. All engines being run in the forest should have proper noise suppression mufflers to prevent excessive noise in these pristine environments.
PRESERVING CULTURAL RESOURCES: You should be aware that there are numerous laws that prevent people from disturbing or taking items from Native American burial grounds, or other sites where significant cultural or historical resources are located. You must be very careful when digging or excavating in any area to avoid disturbing ancient human remains, or old items, which may be of historical significance.
It is legal to excavate and use electronic detectors in a prospecting operation while looking for precious metals. It may not be legal to excavate and use electronic equipment to find old items (junk or treasure) in the National Forest. Please keep your focus to prospecting. If your focus becomes distracted by other valuable items (like old bottles), know that you are treading in a gray area, which is covered by antiquities laws that are not nearly as forgiving as the mining law. If in doubt, please talk with the U.S. Forest Service.
PRESERVING WATER SUPPLIES: Please do not bathe in the forests creeks and rivers with soap or shampoo. Do not urinate in any active waterways while dredging as many creeks are domestic water supplies for people downstream. Pets should be kept out of the creeks, as well.
PRIVATE PROPERTY: Some claims are located adjacent to private property (or other pre-existing unpatented mining claims). Be careful not to trespass!
Whether a novice to gold prospecting or an "old sourdough miner"... have fun out there everybody!
Enjoy spending time on your gold property.
- Keep fires away from overhanging branches.
- Use an existing fire ring if possible.
- Clear a 5-foot area around the fire ring, removing all burnable debris down to the mineral soil.
- Avoid building campfires on dry, windy days.
- Keep a bucket of water and a shovel nearby in case of an emergency.
- Stack your firewood upwind and well away from the campfire.
- NEVER leave a campfire unattended. When you leave, make sure the fire is completely out by drowning the fire and surrounding area with water; stirring the fire with a shovel or stick and drowning again; continue stirring until the fire is cold to the touch.
- DO NOT bury coals. They can smolder for hours, even days, and surface again to start a forest fire
- Gasoline lanterns, stoves, and heaters should be allowed to cool prior to refueling. The appliance should be refueled on the ground, in an area cleared for that purpose. If fuel is spilled, move appliance to a new location before lighting. Close fuel container and store in a safe place.
- Do not light lanterns or stoves inside your tent, trailer, or camper. Be sure to provide adequate ventilation when using these appliances in a confined space.
Respect and Protect our Public Lands...
What we do as recreational prospectors has nothing to do with what our forefathers did 150 years ago when they thought the west was a disposable land never to be used for anything but gathering riches in gold, and then left to ruin. Many of today's gold prospectors spend lot's of their time cleaning up messes that the old timers discarded with no regard... Today's miners are armed with better information and technology, trying hard to be better stewards of the environment and preserving their land to ensure it will still be available for recreational pleasure for future generations to enjoy.
Celebrating over 30 years in the industry - Specializing in the Salmon River Region
Call on the market knowledge leaders, The Claim Post, representing the finest in gold property listings.
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Pocket Gold - Not to be confused with "pockets of gold"
for those who are thinkers ~ analytical detectives ~ who enjoy seeking clues, traces & signs.
When the term pocket gold is mentioned, the casual placer miner or prospector quite often assumes the term refers to an accumulation of course gold and nuggets in a stream or creek. Pocket gold is a distinctly different type of deposit, neither placer gold or hardrock, and is entirely different in terms of prospecting for;
