@ Mick, Pics coming soon, just have to post some when I get home. I currently work in Afghanistan as a contractor, so I do my prospecting when I'm at home.
@ Peter, My current method of finding gold is a home made sluice I made out of some old fence board, panning and this contraption I made on a whim. I run my cons through the sluice into a bucket that I tilted at a angle that let it cascade water out of it like a water fall onto a contraption that I made. I'll post a pic of it when I get home.
I took a chase lounge that had a tight weave on it, as my base, laid a large window screen on it, laid a military brown tee shirt on that window screen, and put another screen on the tee shirt.
I then run my cons after I had shifted them down into different sizes and removed the black sand with a 16 pound draw magnet. similar to the one you buy the hardware store to pick up nut and bolts, etc. Between the sluice, panning and this contraption, I've manage to find about 4 oz.
The tee shirt helps recovers flour gold pretty well. Just rinse it in different clean bucket after your done running. While I'm running, I stir up the catch bucket, it helps, but I try not to do that too often. It's not on a very sturdy platform. This method uses a lot of water, so it is not good for someone who lives in the desert.
@ Col, sounds good, just remember to pack a bear rifle, lots of critters up there.
@ Wally, First, bring some clothes to bundle up. The high desert gets pretty chilly during that time of year during the mornings and evenings. Second, a good GPS. Most sites are off the main roads. Like going to the bush or outback. But there are plenty of good spots to stop. Lots of info on the web, and have them check out the BLM website for locations and to read up on local and federal laws. BLM.gov. or Google BLM California and BLM Nevada. Make sure you read the BLM page thoroughly, especially dealing with National Forest.
There are plenty of public places to pan gold. Since they are heading into the high desert, bring a metal detector, most washes have decent amounts of gold. Check out Bill and Linda's Prospecting.com. I can't include their link yet. Read the tips on Bill and Linda's page, especially the snake and critter sections. I've never met Bill, but he is a desert miner from Arizona, and I would take his word like it is the gospel.
One word of advice. National Parks, bad places to find gold, it's there, not worth getting arrested. National Forest and certain State Parks, good places to find gold, may require permits or none at all.
Open public lands, very good places to find gold, check websites. When in Nevada, be mindful that silver is there also, much more than gold. Still puts a little jingle in the pocket. Google public land for gold mining and you'll pop up a lot of good hits.
