Golden Legends Tales of Buried Treasure

The Blue Bowl Concentrator, known for its durability due to having no moving parts, is a favorite tool among prospectors. Separating the Fines The phrase "separating the wheat from the chaff" aptly describes the challenge of gold prospecting: extracting gold from iron or black sand concentrates can be tedious. The Blue Bowl makes this process more manageable. Chester once quoted Robert Service, saying, "It isn’t the gold that I’m wanting so much as just finding the gold." This sentiment captures the essence of prospecting. Waterpower is Precious, Like Gold Water pumped into the Blue Bowl creates a swirling action that separates lighter material, allowing gold to settle at the bottom. The bowl, similar to a bundt cake pan, sits on a bucket to collect drained water and black sand. To ensure the bowl is level, I use a concrete paver and adjust as needed. A recirculating pump, powered by a 12-volt battery, can be handy in the field, particularly in dry areas. The Physic...

1. Culverts: One of my favorite places to find gold is in culverts. In case you are not familiar, a culvert is a metal tube running under the road or used to divert water. I try to select culverts that may contain placer gold by considering their location. A good spot would be a place near the mountains, especially rocky mineralized mountains containing iron oxide and quartz. Iron oxide is just rust, and it shows up in rock as reddish. Why this combination? Iron and quartz have a similar melting point. It's ironic that when looking for gold, you may also be looking for something usually considered less than worthless. Culverts typically have ripples inside, which help to slow down water. These ripples are similar to riffles on a sluice. The valleys are where heavier materials like gold will settle. To properly search a culvert, I outfit myself with a brush (in my case, a car-wash brush), a bucket, and a narrow trowel. Don't forget to bring water. And while I'm at it, be car...

 Amidst the harshness of the Great Depression, circa 1935, Travis embarked on a desperate quest in the arid expanse of the desert, searching for brass shell casings. The few pennies earned from recycling these finds would be a lifeline for his struggling mother, Clara. A gentle rain the night before had left the sandy desert floor dotted with tiny dimples. Travis relished these moments; the rain washed the dust off the brass, making it a strong juxtaposition to the sand. In one of these dimples, a greenish-blue object with a hint of brass caught his eye. Excitement surged through him as he brushed the earth away. The blue-grey stain over the cylindrical shape revealed striations of golden brass beneath. Hand-digging for about three feet, Travis uncovered what appeared to be an artillery shell, its oxidized brass unmistakable. Standing to stretch, he admired the cottonwoods lining a nearby arroyo, their leaves shimmering like coins in the sunlight. The desert, with its hidden treasu...