New to Prospecting (1 weekend in) advice appreciated

[PeterJ]

Hi all,

Well I have just started my gold prospecting career, last weekend my budding apprentice (11 year old son) and I took ourselves off to Enfield State Park, we had a hard time finding any running water to pan in and even harder time finding even the smallest grain of the yellow stuff!
We are both eager to head off somewhere this weekend and I was wondering if anybody has any ideas where to start.
Another question, can we use my son's home made sluice box in any river we come across?
I have checked out the offerings of various sluice boxes on ebay and was wondering if they are worth the investment, any clues on make and model would be great.

Cheers

Peter

 

[Diggerdude]

The ez sluice is a good one, portable and cheap. I know a spot in the Enfield forest that has a dam to pan in with good dirt nearby. PM your email and I can send you a map, might even be in that area on the weekend to show you.

DD

 

[Ramjet]

Hi Peter.
Welcome to PA. You will find it is an adictive hobby.
Choosing a sluice depends on a few things. Water flow, how far you want to carry it etc. You don't want to lug a 40 kilo monster four an hour or more to find there is not enough water to run it.
The EZ sluice and Angus Mackirk grubsteak are small, light, easy to carry sluices which require little water flow. I prefer the grubsteak.
Have a read around the forum to get a better idea of what others are using.

Diggerdude, Peter can't PM until he has ten posts. However if you look under his avatar the little envelope is a link to his email address.

The ez sluice is a good one, portable and cheap. I know a spot in the Enfield forest that has a dam to pan in with good dirt nearby. PM your email and I can send you a map, might even be in that area on the weekend to show you.

DD

Cheers

Ramjet