PROSPECTING DURING THE PLAGUE - 2020

[stagman]

Howdy all !!! Figured I would show ya all my finds during these times I never
thought I would see inn my life time, Covid-19 Plague 2020...
actually started back in november 2019, but been going out twice a week since we been locked down..
only saw 2 or say passed 2 other people on a ORV trail all the times I been out...
the fine gold and the pickers you see came from 2 spots,, one spot of one of them a big 7-8 ft pipe
that go under a dirt road, they got them ripples in them and after a big rain of 1-2 inches that dry wash
runs like a torrent, i go in and clean out all the ripples then bring the buckets of material back home to pan out, slow process.
Other spot is in a huge wash way back in Superstition Mtns. Takes better than a hour in 4 wheel drive to get to it.
There is a bout 25 ft 8 inch deep crack in solid bedrock that must run 125 ft in the wash, solid rock like it was paved, spotted it on Goggle earth
which I use a lot to check for old tailings of old mines and terrain in general..I have been back to that crack 4 times in last
6 months and pulled 1-2 grams of gold out every time after a major storm and then once it dries up, real honey hole there...
At a big Quartz outcrop,( recon you Aussie boys would call it a Reef) was picking around and found the Amethyst points, can't see in pic but they come to points, really nice find !!!
Also found that what looks like silver thick on the quartz rock at old mine dump,, bout 15 miles out of Globe, AZ so I am guessing silver with a gold tint, don't have any of my test soloutions right now to see app. gold or silver content in it...
As most of ya know I lost my 50 year prospecting partner, my wife, 27 months ago...I am afraid to run my dry washer out there cause it hooks to a Stihl leaf blower running full bore and she used to clear bigger rocks and tailings and constantly do a 360 to make sure no one was sneaking up on us, call it paranoid or whatever but that is now a thing of the past being by myself with as loud as it is...
So in pan ya got fine, bout 3 grams, pickers, 3-4 grams, Amethyst points and cluster, and quartz rock loaded up with silver/gold
Like the commercial on TV says: Keep Digging America !!!
Stag

[Gone2Three]

Thanks for sharing your story and treasures with us here, very interesting hobby!

[eveled]

My old bones are aching just thinking about prospecting. But it does look like fun. I hope you find a new partner. Being alone in the wilderness is asking for trouble.

[Quick Steel]

Ditto what eveled said. At least let someone know where you are going and when you will return. Sorry to be a worrywart , but Arizona can be harsh.

[Doc B]

Nice finds, Stag!

[stagman]

I always tell my daughter in Michigan day before, and she has been out here 3 times
and on 4x4 trails with me....
plus I have OnStar, they could locate my truck in a second...
you guys have to realize..one, I been backpacking in every western state,,except California,, since the 1960's, spent more time in mountains than a dozen Americans put together, I do not go ill prepared either, duh.... plus with Homeland Security, Border Patrol, National Headquarters here in Florence, they got towers all across desert and my cell phone comes in everywhere, less I am in a cave.
two, you just don't replace a partner you been with for 50 years since you were 15 years old, that Does Not Work for me !!!

[ea42]

Stag, the Superstitions, now that brings back some great memories! I spent a good deal of time plodding around out there myself, along with the Moab area, Capitol Reef and Escalante. It's magical country, you can just feel those old spirits in the air out there. Spending time out there in the solitude with the fond memories of your times together is far better than trying to find a new partner brother. I'll bet you can even feel her there with you. It seems like you're managing just fine too, that pan is a thing of beauty!!

Eric

[KleenCut61]

I Have all the CD's on the lost Dutchman , Nice piece of white quartz there Stag K.C.

[stagman]

Yepper,, you get it it Eric...I even talk to her out there and been more than once when
I got a good find talking with her I set down and had a good cry...
Them Soups are amazing !!! There is just so many prime evil looking places out there,
ready to see a Tyrannosaurs Rex or a war party of Apache in some spots....
That Escalante is a massive area, Moab, Arches, just blow away country,
one thing you best watch the weather before your trip up there cause if comes a big rain
and you are way back in on 4x4 trail, you ain't getting out till it dries up with that Gumbo dirt up there
Thanks KC, biggest piece I ever found that had goodies on it

Will