Hello All,

    I'm headed down to Arizona (from Colorado) for my first attempt at desert gold prospecting. I am thinking of Gold Basin for dry washing (as well as some meteorite hunting) and was hoping to glean some tips as to what to look for in that area regarding the gold bearing gravels. I've been reading (and watching) whatever I can about it, and know that the gold is found in the gravels on top of the caliche false bedrock, which typically is 1-5' thick. Ive read that some areas much of the auriferous gravels have eroded away and or are thin, leaving a thinner mantle of gravels which are good for detecting and that the gold is more locally concentrated, vs in all the gravels. Would my best bet be to start somewhere someone else has dug a pit, then sample around if I want to move? I'm primarily thinking White Elephant Wash, (BAHADE #10-14) as it seems closer to the source rock and back in the 1930's a large dry wash operation was located nearby. I understand general rules for prospecting but am more used to stream prospecting, not alluvial fan etc, am really after specifics to the area.

Any tips or specific details about looking for gold there would be much appreciated, as well as your past experiences and finds

 Jim