Last Post 19 Oct 2020 06:49 PM by  William Hall
New to prospecting
 5 Replies
Author Messages
MICHAEL WEIDEMAN
Greenhorn
Greenhorn
Posts:5



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18 Oct 2020 05:30 PM
    Hi, I'm new to prospecting and have some equipment (purchased the Gold Rush Nugget Bucket kit) and have some other tools that I've used for gem and mineral collecting. I've also purchased several bags of "pay dirt" from a couple of vendors, both gotten from Gold Prospectors Ass. magazines that I plan on practicing with my gold pan and the bucket kit. I'm currently working in the Bay area of CA, but my residence is in CO, both good gold producing states. I'm thinking of purchasing either a high banker or a concentrator to "practice" with on the gold pay dirt bags as well as use in future prospecting adventures. One website has a Keene 3-in-1 Mini-high banker/sluice/concentrator that would seem to meet my needs.
    Christopher Caszatt
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:14



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    18 Oct 2020 06:15 PM
    I'd recommend not getting a mini. Yeah they are small and they are light but they also don't allow you to move much material. A 10 inch sluice would be my recommendation. I have a mini and am not happy with it when it comes to volume but is nice for when I have a bucket of or two of cons to run At home. I also like to move as much dirt (about a five gallon bucket of coms) while on site then filling all my buckets with 1/4-1/8 classified material for home. that classified material is what i run my high banker mini for and its nice. had i had the choice to start fresh id just get a regular high-banker and a mini sluice with header instead of the mini high-banker and a full-sized one. also check out green mountain gold trap. its a fluid bed sluice thats great and its clear so you can see it work and adjust it for optimal use. most other fluid bed designs are not visible so its a set it and hope its working well enough to get a good recovery percentage. i have both the 3' and the 23" versions and they catch big and little gold amazingly. i live in michigan so we have super fine flower gold i use it to collect. both work very well.


    hope some of this helped
    Kenneth Swineford
    New Member
    New Member
    Posts:33



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    19 Oct 2020 09:16 AM
    Think about this, We all want as much gold as we can find, common sense right? Are you like a lot of folks and in it for a hobby and happy with whatever a days outing produces or do you expect to somehow make a living or supplement an income? Depending on how you respond, size matters. Seems most of us start out with a sluice, because we all look at price $$ first and maybe only. The folding style are nice for transport and that's a big plus. The down side to a sluice box is water flow, water flow, water flow. Either not enough water too much or neither issue just not convenient to where you want to mine/prospect. Now factor in carrying those buckets, distance equals time not processing material. A High banker can recirculate right? Now think about getting it along with a 35lb mini pump or battery to your spot. Are you assessing your health and making that part of the equation? For my point of view the unit you are looking at is a nice unit, 3 in 1 right, who could go wrong? I'm not saying don't spend your money but before spending the cash more importantly look at where and a how you intend to use it. Does that spot become a puddle in June? I have a 6 inch unit that's great for me as a casual prospector, and I love the portability of it and its usefulness for clean ups with a change of matts. I too purchased a sluice box and and a multitude of other items over time so in some ways your purchase makes sense as you've already looked at that potential. I think there's a potential for all of us to choose to go too big right off the bat when we see others doing it without assessing our needs geography plays a big part.
    Christopher Caszatt
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:14



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    19 Oct 2020 10:11 AM
    That's well said. For me in Michigan my setup is good for me because I do a lot of gravel pits and beaches. And creeks that I can drive within a 1/10 a mile or less with my equipment usually. This is not ideal for everyone in every area. I know when I was in Vermont working creeks I wouldn't want my full highbanker with the battery and pump on the hikes I took. But I also didn't use my mini either. There are many factors and as you pointed out not everyone needs the same equipment.
    DAVE MARLOW
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:7



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    19 Oct 2020 11:43 AM
    Yeah but half the fun is playing with your toys! I have, Slucies, (portable and large) High Banker, Rocker box, Blue Wheel, Royal manf. concentration table and of course several pans including Flow Pan. My trailer is full when I prospect but I have a lot of fun. The sign of a man is who dies with the most toys.
    Gold Cube next!
    I could never find enough Gold to pay for all my equipment, but I have a very good wife that lets me purchase stuff.
    Enjoy, the days you get are limited.
    William Hall
    Buzzard
    Buzzard
    Posts:648



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    19 Oct 2020 06:49 PM
    Michael,

    I would recommend not spending big until you know the type of your intended operations
    High banker wont do any good in water, sluice wont do any good in the desert
    No longer dredge in California, Cant do motorized equipments in water (pumps)
    what I do see in Col. is high and dry mostly

    Sure you need the hand tools and clean up stuff no matter
    Join a chapter, do an outing if possible, see what works
    Keep practicing panning and get out there

    Bill


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