FlakMagnet Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 (edited) I live in southern California. The nearest desert area that is open for detecting is a 285 mile round trip and I have gone there for almost 15 years on and off. It’s not a place where big gold is found, in fact it’s known for very small gold. What it also has is tons of hot rocks and weird mineralization so it's a great area for sharpening your skills if you are interested in that sort of thing, and I am. During this insane time we are all sharing I am occasionally able to get out and spend a day detecting while honing my social distancing skills. I never see anyone except the quad riders who never notice me standing on the hillside in plain sight. It’s kind of funny. The specific area I go to has been literally hunted to death and now it has become a shooting range for guys who like to just open up with AR’s into the hillsides. I’ve picked up a fortune in lead. Originally the old timers built a small town there and over the last few decades various clubs have staked claims and hundreds of people with all manner of detectors have combed the hillsides. These days if you find a flake or two and don’t go mad being fooled by tiny shards of lead you are on your game. One evening I was goofing around on Google Maps and I started looking at the ground around this place. I had been reading how extending the area where gold has been found sometimes leads to more finds. When I spotted a near-by similar looking area I thought ‘what the heck’ and the next time I went out I tried it. Imagine my surprise when I almost immediately starting finding the same kind of small gold. I have gone out 7 or 8 times now and each time I have found enough to keep me going back. Now, because I have flogged the first new area, a couple of days ago I spotted another near-by area and again I thought ‘what the heck.’ My third signal was gold. Who knows how long these little areas will last but it’s been a fun experiment and it pays for gas. The largest flake is 1.08 dwt (sorry can’t think in grams). The total amount is 11.25 dwt. This is obviously not trying to impress anyone, but sharing experiences especially when so many of us are not able to get out, is fun, and besides, you have a captive audience. Be well and stay positive. Edited May 15, 2020 by FlakMagnet 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
way2cool Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 And you didn't need an X coil. 😁 Congrats on the gold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatup Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 Well done , expanding your detecting areas has played out nicely for you . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 Good thinking bro. Old Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldies1955 Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 Thats a great story! Congrats on finding a new area. Tom H. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin nuggethunting Posted May 16, 2020 Admin Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 Hey Flak, What a great story and how to branch out and find other areas potentially nearby with similar geology. Congrats on the gold found and wishing you many more hillsides out there with gold on them. Rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendo Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 Attaboy David! Hendo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuWanderer Posted May 18, 2020 Report Share Posted May 18, 2020 Way to go........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Ron Posted May 19, 2020 Report Share Posted May 19, 2020 Nice, Martin...About 10 years ago I hit nice wash with nuggets 1 dwt. or less...I followed the lead and over the years I've found about a pound of gold, strung out over about a mile in several connected washes...Largest was 1.1 ozt....Last one was 1/2 ozt...Fun exploration because 90% of the time I found nuggets, nice ones and only a little trash...Cheers, Unc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlakMagnet Posted May 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2020 Dear Uncle Roy, my name is not Martin lol…hope all is well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Ron Posted May 25, 2020 Report Share Posted May 25, 2020 Hey Martin...I did not want to expose your ID...Lurkers abound! 🤠😛😛Cheers, Unc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlakMagnet Posted May 25, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2020 Your online stealth is much appreciated, thanks for looking out for me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.