Seperating black sand and fine gold from small stones.

[spd_dmn]

Hey all,

Introduce myself, I'm John from se vic. Been lurking these forums for a bit after I recently started panning again for the first time since i was about 10 years old. Just been going to Andersons creek to hone my skills as it's only 5min from home. Anyway, the reason I'm posting is I keep getting down to these little stones, pieces of lead, and what i think is pyrite, and the black sands and fine gold seem to be washing out from under them before they even move. Is this just technique? Is there a trick to removing these or is this as good as it gets without a sluice? Any help would be much appreciated, thanks.

Also added a photo of my takings today. As you can see I'm not getting any of the fine stuff, just these smaller bits. (which are the biggest I've ever found )

Extra note: is the silver mercury or lead attatched to the gold?

Cheers.

 

[Greglz86]

I had a similar problem. Mine was with concentrates from my highbanker that had alot of very fine gold.
https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...ormation-and-questions.2975/page-3#post-52557follow this thread down until you see a video posted up by Golddig. I found it very helpful.
Greg

Nice gold by the way Great way to get back into it after 10 years

 

[Ramjet]

Hi John.
Firstly welcome to PA. I'm glad you stopped lurking and decided to join in the forum's conversations.
I am no expert but if you have black sand and gold in that pan then you should be able to pan off that blonde sand fairly easily.
The small pebbles should also pan out. ( sometimes I just pick most of them out).
Some NICE looking gold in those pics. If only I had creeks like that near home.
Best of luck for your future prospecting.

Cheers

Ramjet

 

[spd_dmn]

Thanks greg, good video will give that a try.

ramjet maybe it's technique but for starters there is not much black sand at all to begin with, but if i swirl the pan i can see the tiniest of grains of gold in with it, but as i try to pan down to just black sand i find before i get there all ive got left are these pebbles and the gold and black sands have washed away.

haha and yeah i'm happy, not bad for just a shovel and a pan, especially since the place has been worked to death, but feel like im losing heaps in fine stuff :/still it's more the peace and quiet, being alone in the creek away from everything that i enjoy, and seeing the gold in the pan puts a smile on my face everytime

 

[Beagleboy]

G'day mate. I don't live very far from Anderson's creek. I can meet you down there and we can have a look at what you doing. I have found nice gold in that creek also.

 

[spd_dmn]

Hey beagleboy. When do you think you'll be out there next? I was gonna go back either tuesday school hours or next weekend. Would be good to meet you and hopefully can get a few pointers

 

[Beagleboy]

Next weekend sounds good. Maybe Saturday afternoon. I Finnish work about 3 pm so anytime after that.

 

[Beagleboy]

BTW we are talking Anderson's creek in Warrandyte, right?

 

[spd_dmn]

Yeah mate, in warrandyte. Ok no worries saturday arvo it is, shall we say 4pm in the gmr carpark? Will only be able to do an hour or 2 as got a birthday that night, but if that's cool I'll see you then

 

[Beagleboy]

Done. See you at 4 pm at the car park. I drive a silver Audi. Bring your pan.

 

[Ramjet]

Nice work guys. Great to see new and experienced members hooking up for a play date.
We need tales and pics of your adventure.

Cheers

Ramjet

 

[Beagleboy]

Hmmm ramjet. Don't know about date but I know there is gold in that creek.

 

[spd_dmn]

Keen to get my gold fix for the week hopefully the rain holds off.

 

[Beagleboy]

There is not much water in the creek but not bad for an hour of panning. It was nice to catch up mate.

 

[Ramjet]

Oh if only I had such creeks close to home

 

[spd_dmn]

Was good fun mate, good to meet ya.

 

[Diggerdom]

The 'silvery' gold is most likely mercury coated - not uncommon to find it like this due to the common use of mercury to trap and amalgamate gold during the 1800's and early 1900's.

 

[Westaus]

Would a magnet help ? Also could the attached silver pieces actually be Silver ? I know that it is a by product of Gold mining in WA so may be mixed in as well ?

 

[Beagleboy]

There are lots of bullets in the creek so some of it could be lead. Some of the gold does have mercury on it though.

 

[user 1769]

I've quite a few pieces of silver-coloured gold from NE Tassie. One of my spots near Lisle produces nearly 1/4 silver-coloured pieces and two-coloured pieces. I suspect mercury as well.