My first gold finds in Alaska... Hey im learning :)

Tdec1000

There is probably around $50 worth here.... this is from two outings. I used a small back pack sluice, garrett gravity pan and classified all the material down to 1/4". I will be using a bigger sluice box this weekend when my mom and dad comes up to visit. This was a lot of work and I was very sore for a couple days after. Especially in the fingers and hands. The water is icy cold and is glacier fed.

Hopefully I didn't offend anyone by a non coin related post but....gold is made into coins.

AUandAG

Yes, the search for gold is not easy. Back breaking, but the rewards are worth every ounce of sweat and toil.

Those finds look great!

I don't know where you are looking but you gold looks pretty course for it's size. Perhaps the lode is nearby?

I'd be doing a methodical search upstream from where you are looking and paying particular attention to the
finds looking for rough and sharp edges. IF you find sharp edges you will be on top of the source. So, get
going young man and pan, pan, and pan!

Good Luck,

bob

edix2001

Dick Hanscom of Fairbanks Rare Coins can prolly strike those up for you into coin-like medals.

MsMorrisine

Tdec1000

These finds are from Crow Creek Mine outside of Anchorage. It cost me $15 for the day. It was at one time a very thriving gold producing mine. There is a ton of tailing piles in the area from days past. There was a few guys next to me that were a bit more expierenced that were getting a lot more. They probably had close to an ounce by the end of the day. I was digging in the old creek bed next to the creek about 3 feet deep...the guys next to me were closer to 5 feet deep.

So I will be digging a bit deeper this weekend and hopefully will result in more color.

Swampboy

Looks like great fun!

Batman23

<< <i>Looks like great fun!



>>





Looks like a fun hobby to have. If I was closer to Anchorage I would be there digging next to ya

Tdec1000

<< <i>Looks like great fun!



>>



Thanks!! It is a lot of fun but really a lot of work. The area is just gorgeous. The mine is tucked back in between the mountains and the creek is very fast flowing from glacial melt waters.

SkyMan

Congratulations on the finds!

darktone

There is a TV show where these guys brought in all kinds of heavy equipment and hardly got anything. So ibthink you dud pretty well. The guy's next to you getting an ounce a day are making darn good money!! I wish I was there to try it too.

joebb21

If you found an ounce a day as you claimed the guys next to you did, that would be a heck of a good paying job!
6 figures +++

Lakesammman

I had a close friend that got into gold mining in Alaska. He never found much but sure gave it the old college try. Bought a place called Placerville and using steam would dig deep vertical shafts through the permafrost. It was amazing how far down you could find frozen moose turds.

19Lyds

I couldn't pan gold to save my life but my oldest son had a real knack for it.

Banemorth

AWESOME!

I've ALWAYS wanted to pan for gold I metal detect now so I'm halfway there!

pennyannie

That is cool, my 19 year old son is working by Healy ( close to Denali National park) this summer. He spent 10 minutes looking for gold and decided it was easier to use our debit card instead. LOL

Hope you find the mother load!!

Swampboy

<< <i>He spent 10 minutes looking for gold and decided it was easier to use our debit card instead >>

golfer72

Great story Tdec! Good luck with it.

Tdec1000

I will get you guys some photos this weekend of journey!

AuroraBorealis

Very cool Tdec and congrats...Look forward to seeing pics of the journey...

AB

CarlWohlforth

I've always wanted to pan for gold. My cousin and uncle live in Anchorage. Next time I visit I will take a few days off to camp and look for gold. In the meantime I will hit the hills around here and practice.

edited to add: Thanks for posting and looking forward to seeing more photos!

robkool

CONGRATS !!! A very kool find indeed... I've found a few of these in Cali a few years ago myself.

Meltdown

Looks like a great start to an awesome hobby! I recently panned some gold myself... found a few flakes from a stream out of Liberty. WA.
I brought home about half a 5 gallon bucket of concentrated dirt so I can do some garage panning!

Tdec1000

Carl, go to crow creek mine on the Internet. You can also do some research on Alaska mining and diving forums. A lot of good research stuff with pics too.

SaorAlba

I have panned for gold in ice cold rivers in N. California - and yeah, there is a reason that gold is valuable. It is a butt breaking job, in cold water but when you see that yellow your icy heart melts.

ambro51

Makes you wonder whats left down there near Dahlonega. At least...its warmer.

ricko

Panning gold is indeed a lot of work... but it can pay off. I have panned in four states and New Zealand.... never hit the mother lode, but had some luck, couple of nuggets and of course the usual accumulation of flakes.... Cheers, RickO

DrBuster

<< <i>Makes you wonder whats left down there near Dahlonega. At least...its warmer. >>



A few months ago me and the wife went to Helen for a weekend and did one of those gem/panning things there. Got some nice raw stones. There was a guy next to us that was doing the gold panning and he got a few nice flakes out of his dirt bucket, about a gram total, in an hour. There's stuff there for sure.

OP - nice work!

MadMarty

<< <i>Panning gold is indeed a lot of work... but it can pay off. I have panned in four states and New Zealand.... never hit the mother lode, but had some luck, couple of nuggets and of course the usual accumulation of flakes.... Cheers, RickO >>



Kinda like the forum here, lotsa flakes!!!

BBQnBLUES

When I was a little booger eater I panned for gold at "Knotts Barry Farm"

bigtonydallas

If you have a metal detector you could look for coins dropped by the previous miners. In the river and around at their camp sites. You could also use the metal detector to possibly find larger gold nuggets.

Windycity

Cool post... let us know how you do on future trips.

66Tbird

Good job for a first time and one afternoon.

Yes, it can be addicting, memorable, back breaking fun. I no longer hang with my gold hound friends do to a disability, but they are still into it after thirty years. Most have nice dredges and hydraulic lifts to move the big boulders. Sometimes they score a profit, but its the good times they really chase.

Tdec1000

Nice nuggets! I am impressed!!

Nysoto

Some nice coarse placer gold for your first try! The deeper you go towards the bedrock, the more you will find. I have panned quite a bit in Washington State, there is a lot of gold left to be found. I don't have much time now, but when I retire I would like to chase gold again, with the help of a dredge.

Here are some of my diggins'

Tdec1000

Awesome!!

Zoins

Sweetness. Sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing!

PerryHall

Neat hobby---lots of fresh air and exercise and you can make some money too. Once you get a few ounces of gold it would be neat to have a refiner melt it into a gold bar and have the refiner mark it with his logo and fineness like the old bars from the days of the gold rush.

RGJohn

That's pretty stuff you found! I love the color. Ours here in my part of Colorado is a bit darker and smoother. As Bob pointed out, yours seems to be closer to the source.
There sure is a lot of interest in gold mining these days, more I'd say than in buying in selling bullion and coins. I've been innundated with inquiries regarding my mine for sale. Maybe just because it's summer and we all want to get out and fill a vial or two ourselves.
Happy Independence Day to all.
John