Admin nuggethunting Posted September 7, 2015 Admin Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 Hello All, Here is a picture of two small batches of nuggets I found on my last two short trips with the GPZ 7000. As much as I want to see their true character under the dirt, I have always hated cleaning my nuggets. I guess once you clean them, you can't put the dirt back on ..... haha ....What are you thoughts, clean them? 28.1 Grams for two short hunts is not too bad. Minelab GPZ 7000 Metal Detector in "BEAST MODE!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NvDoug Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 Hey Rob. . . Personally, I like clean / semi clean nuggets. I like to look the charactor of the nugget. If you still want some dirty ones.. only clean half of them :-)Have a good one. . .Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlakMagnet Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 Rob,how 'bout using a very soft tooth brush, then you can control the amount of dirt you take off… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 Just clean the dang nuggets Rob.....geeezzzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nugget108 Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 I like seeing what's under the dirt. But at the end of the day, they are yours so to clean or not to clean is your call haha. We all just like seeing the eye candy. Awesome finds.Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldies1955 Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 I would rather look at gold then a dirt clod. I can find dirt clods anywhere CLEAN Them!Tom H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Relichunter2 Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 I only use water and an extrmeely soft tooth brush. It cleans it pretty good to see the detail, but under a glass you can see some dirt..gives it that dug look...and adds to the character.... I also like Ilike Dougs opinion too....half n half .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortuga Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 Like I said on Facebook, leave them dirty!I don't know anybody else that leaves them like that, it's kinda cool. Everytime you look back at them you can get that "just dug" feeling again.I'm sure part of it also has to do with the sheer amount of nuggets you have in your collection and how long you've been nuggetshooting for. Don't have time to clean them all, especially the little dinks!Just pop them out of the ground, take a quick peek "ok it's gold" and drop them in your poke.With lots of nuggets being recovered in places like California and Alaska using water in dredges and sluices and getting beat up making their way through the equipment, I think nuggets with "desert patina" is unique to detecting and our area.Personally if I was a collector I'd like to purchase "virgin" nuggets like that, not ones dipped in acid or polished up to look nicer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOC Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 I am the same as you Rob. Always battle with that question. I have finally come to the conclusion, that I throw them in WINK, or CLR, or in the heated ultra-sonic cleaner with that green cleaner stuff.However they come out, is the way I am happy with them. Nothing extra, never use a brush. This cleaning is enough to get the dirt off, maybe a little of the rust. But by and large, it keeps all the rust in the crevices, and cracks, cleans the quartz up a little, so it still looks like a natural nugget. Maybe a little brighter and cleaner, but basically still looks like it came from Mother Earth.I have some larger pieces, 1 ounce and 2 ounce that have been treated with hydroflouric acid. They are absolutely beautiful and pristine, and somehow, even with all of that, they have lost their charm. There are no little bits of quartz, no little cracks with iron staining, I don't know, they just sort of leave me dry.With a nugget all cleaned like this, I look at it and go, wow, cool. Put it back in the pouch and back in the safe. With a nugget that has just undergone superficial cleaning, I will get the loupe out, and look at the little pieces of quartz, the nooks and crannies, the little place where it looks like the nugget formed up against a crystal of pyrite. Substantially more interesting to me.Take care!Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathray Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 What a delima to have,lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wes Posted September 8, 2015 Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 Live dangerous... clean em! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alchemist Posted September 8, 2015 Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 Nice going Rob, they look like the stuff the ZED really loves.I'd pop em in the ultrasonic cleaner with warm water and a dash of detergent and buzz em for 5-10 minutes, no brushing.Sometimes uncovers real nice crystalline structures in the cavities, that usually stay filled with grime.I'm like Doc, I enjoy sitting in the sun with a loop and looking at them up real close, real eye candy, but only if they're clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin nuggethunting Posted September 8, 2015 Author Admin Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 Hey Guys, Ok, here you go. They really turned out beautifully. You think these traveled far from the source?? Minelab GPZ 7000, two short trips. Almost an ounce of gold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtodd Posted September 8, 2015 Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 Very nice........clean or dirty..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alchemist Posted September 9, 2015 Report Share Posted September 9, 2015 Beautiful Hokey Pokey gold.I hope you find the mother Rob, she may have a few pudding plate sized pieces, that would be nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfrandy Posted September 10, 2015 Report Share Posted September 10, 2015 Hey Rob,What did you soak them in and for how long?Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin nuggethunting Posted September 11, 2015 Author Admin Report Share Posted September 11, 2015 Hey Guys, Thanks for the comments. I just used an old toothbrush and dish soap. Just a light scrubbing with the soap and brush and they come pretty clean. I have a nice Ultra-sonic cleaner with a Gold & Silver solution, but I didn't want to dig it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridge Runner Posted September 11, 2015 Report Share Posted September 11, 2015 Rob I've found that if you put nuggets in white vinegar and turn them every so often will make them shine.When you see a nugget shining like a diamond that's what most have done. I wish you could plant them to grow more but that's not the case.Chuck Anders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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