Hey guys

I have read, while looking at placer areas to, Sample, Sample , Sample.
What is the proper way to Sample ? How did the Old Timers do it without water?

Thanks

Tom

Hello Mondo good question the truth is the old timers had a hard time with locating the placers in the deserts unless it was monsoon season from what ive read doing research they tried many different methods from dry panning to a very crude way of dry washing 2 guys would hold a blanket and toss the material into the air gently i would assume and let the wind blow the light material away hopefuly leaving gold in the blanket. What i would suggest for you is what jeff and I did grab yourself a bunch of grocery bags get a small sample from the area's your intrested in take them home and pan it, we would write down where each bag came from if we hit many spots, Try to find the best looking spots in each tributary or gully just like you would if you were panning in a creek with water, find some bed rock clean out some cracks break it apart if you can try to get some good test dirt, You can always do some research on old placer claims and cut down on some time looking but if your looking for new ground I dont know of any other way than getting out there and testing some soil wether that be with a dry washer a metal detector or like I said gather the best looking stuff you can and take it home, Also dont take one sample and assume there's no gold get a few small samples from different pieces of exposed bed rock I found the claim I have now from finding 1 tiny flake years ago and it wasnt the first sample I took its turned out to be a pretty good little claim and alot of fun. I hope this helps you I dont know alot but I think this is sound advice - Ronnie

Ronnie

Thanks, really good information. Thanks

Tom