Afriscot Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Since I don't normally don't post and finding out that it's really not hard as I learned with the Black Nugget post, I thought I would now post what happened last year nuggethunting. There is a secret place in Arizona, east of the Colorado River along a non-discreet mountain range that rises out of the unforgiving desert floor. I have hunted this area with Rob many times over the past six years and it just so happened that he missed out on this find by having to go to work. So while the weather was still good I went out alone during the week and I began to explore an area that the old timers had hand stacked one side of a very decomposed granite flat area. To get to this area it took a bumpy quad ride then a hike to get to as it was 800 feet above the valley floor and below the mountain top by about 1000 feet. As I began to move some of the grass that had grown in this wash that was really just a flat area I got a signal and dug the first nugget. Where there is one there has to be more was my thought as the old timers knew what they were doing and they didn't ride their donkeys this high in an area that has no springs or natural water without it holding something good enough pay for their beans and bacon. So as cleared more grass and moved the decomposed granite to expose a blue gray clay I began to pick up more nuggets. I ended up clearing an area that is 40'x40' and while finding nuggets in the clay was becoming common what I didn't expect was to find nuggets in the actual granite itself. Sounds crazy but it happened. The one picture shows a nugget in the granite next to a shaft of quartz stick out. Now we shift to day four and this day I brought my wife out as she loves to find nuggets but hates digging around in the dirt "hoping" to find nuggets. There was one point that final morning we couldn't put the coil down without it going off on another nugget as there were nuggets in the granite in areas that were 12" apart in every direction. The excitement was unbearable as we picked up in total 19.6 ounces of gold. After 5 hours on the fourth day we decided to eat lunch and when we returned we didn't find another nugget. No matter which direction we dug all it was was digging in the dirt. I have gone back to that spot a few more times and only found one more that under the old timers most northerly stacked rocks. We all dream of a place like this and whether it's a small patch or a patch like this....it's what keeps us going out over and over in search of that next spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim P. Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Damn Afriscot! Congrats! Sounds like many a daydream I've had over the years. Thanks for sharing. Later...Jim P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuWanderer Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Amazing four days!! Yes days like that happen, you hit a jack pot many in there lifetime don't get to experience a thrill like that. I can tell you its a memory you will never forget...Congrats to you and your wife for finding the end of the rainbow...thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPX Power Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Now thats something worth posting-Very nice indeed Mike C... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin nuggethunting Posted February 19, 2016 Admin Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Hey Afriscot, That was an amazing hit, too bad I wasn't able to join in. I know with enough research and footwork like before, many more patches like that will be found. I think we need to plan a few more 2-3 day camping trips and explore the region a bit more. Funny, the area isn't know much for Lode Mining, but the amount of undocumented placer workings is amazing. Thanks for sharing the photos. Until the next patch discovery, keep the searchcoils swinging! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boulder dash Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Dude!!! Woweee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortuga Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Wow that's an incredible weekend. Over $40,000 worth of gold if you're selling it for double spot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 What a fantastic find and congrats! Thank you for sharing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 All I can say is, Wow! If I ever ran into that much gold in one patch I think that I would give up after that. Have a great time on the proceeds of that venture and I wish you more luck in the future. Thanks for posting, I loved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 That`s amazing !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredm Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 wonderful!!! is there any chance of a photo of the ground? That would a photo without a view of the area...not seeking clues to the area just the surrounding ground... almost 20 oz is a dream come true patch! fred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afriscot Posted February 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 I wish now I had a picture of the ground Fred but I don't. Never thought about that but it's a good thing to have for records later on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afriscot Posted February 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Maybe now Rob can change me from Rookie Gold Hunter to Amateur Gold Hunter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boulder dash Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 I'll second that motion... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIAMONDBACKDAVE Posted February 20, 2016 Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 Truly AMAZING Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlakMagnet Posted February 20, 2016 Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 That is one of the best stories of finding gold I have seen. Nice going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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