Hi to all the members from a new member

[golddigger1]

Just want to say hi, as I am a new member. I live in the Mariposa area and I am interested in buying a detector. I am trying to decide about a Minelab gp 3000, but do not know if it is worth about $3000 from Kellyco or a Whites GMT, or a Goldbug 2,. I think i might buy the Goldbug2 and after finding enough gold buy a minelab. Amy ideas are appreciated. The rest of the day I will probably be on the Merced at Briceburg with my Sluice. Anyway have a great day.

[goldhart]

Welcome digger! You live in a great area for gold. As to which detector to buy...you have to find over 8 ounces to pay for the MInelab...but if you can afford it...

Personally I like the GMT better than the goldbug but both do a very good job on the little stuff and there is a lot more of the little stuff out there.

Here are some July finds in Alaska:

bb.bbboy.net/alaskagoldforum-viewthread?forum=2&thread=531
Dan3

[1960vw- Manuel]

Welcome Goldigger1! You're going to love this site! Everyones helpful and way ! Be sure to read old posts, it helped me temendously! See ya, Manuel

[LodiTom]

Welcome the forum Golddigger!!HH,Tom

[Rudy]

Welcome aboard Golddigger.

[OT]

Welcome golddigger1,

You live in a wonderful old historical gold town and you should find lots of old artifacts, coins, and of course the gold nuggets. My wife was in the class of 64' at Mariposa High School.

I spent a lot of time exploring the old towns of Mariposa,
Bear Valley, Mt. Bullion, Bagbe, General Fremont's Pine Tree mine, Coulterville, Dog Town, Cat Town, and the many Texas Hill mines. This was all before "MD" metal detecting years for me. I did a lot of digging, panning, and chipping gold ore from the old lode mines and pounded them up using the old assayers mortar and pestle and panning the ground dust and gold out. I've panned gold for many months along the Merced River, Bean Creek, and Smith Creek. Those were the "good ole days," but I'm sure that it would have even been better if I had a metal detector back then. One of the old timers that took me out to these places was Walter McLean and he owned many mines and land in those area's above and he showed me lots of his mines. We would go to his mines and sit on the tailing and pick through them picking up ore and finding gold in them. Just think what a detector could have done back then. We would walk back to some of the old mines and he would point out different old historical buildings, saying things like, "that was old Samuel Funks house back in the 1860's," or "a large pocket of very rich gold ore was found over there." I've tried to find these places after 40 years have gone by but time has taken its toll on the land, buildings, and my body. Heck it was hard to climb some of those mountains and hills back then when I was 17-18 years old.

I sure wish I was young again and old Walter was still around and having his permission to search his lands. I didn't find a lot of wealth in Gold but I did find lots of wealth in friendship with my ole hunting partner Walter.

Here is some gold that I panned from those creeks that I mentioned, and the arrowhead was found above Greeley Hill and south of Smith Station Road.



:)T

[Vern2sjc]

Welcome aboard Golddigger. Not to familar with the gold detectors, but the future could bring one into my hands. HH Vern2sjc

[golddigger1]

Good Morning and thanks for the warm reception.
I have not bought a detector yet, but soon I will have one. So much to learn before making a decision. The operating frequency is hanging me up right now,that is why I lean to the Minelab because they operate on multiple frequency automatically. Special note to, OT,thanks for the long post, the photo of the gold gives me great inspiration. I cherish hearing the stories of the old days in Mariposa. Ot ,if you would like, go into my profile and check out my homepage,I think you might like it. Okay all have a great day and maybe one day I will see some of you in the area swinging your detectors.

[OT]

Thanks golddigger1,

I read your webpage with much interest and can relate to your first sluice set up. LOL!

There is a person that lives in Mariposa that wrote a very nice Treasure Hunting story and it was published in the Western & Eastern Treasure Magazine in the September or October 2003 issue. He writes about walking along one of the rivers, (Merced? I forget now,) and locating several area's that looked like old mining camp cabin indentations in the ground with slate foundations falling in. He had found numerous old coins dating back to the Gold Rush era. If you get a chance to find his article and name he might be a good person to hook up with. I'll see if I can find that magazine and article and if I can I'll scan it and send it to you by email.

The last time I was in Mariposa was on labor day last year and me and the family had a blast at the County fair. The State of California Mother Lode museum is a must to see for those that like history and gold.

After the fair we drove north on Highway 49 towards Coulterville and I was surprised to see that the Pine Tree Mine building's were all gone. Back in 1963 I toured the old stamp mill with my old friend Walter McLean. I even climbed inside of the old "Ball Mill" and sat there wondering how much gold was crushed and processed out of the quartz rock inside of this hughed massive thick iron mill.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that old Coulterville hasn't change much over the 40 years, it's still a sleepy old ghost town with folks trying to keep the building upright and it looks like some are still in operation as antique stores and such.

Good luck with your Gold prospecting and you might want to read about the Whites MXT metal detector, it's a good coin, jewelry, and nugget shooter.

The below photo was taken in 1963 at Smith Creek just above Greeley Hill near the historical "Dudley Ranch" Walters' property. In the photo is my old friend Walter McLean, mother-in-law Stella Kelley, my girlfriend and now my wife for 38 years Suz, me panning for gold, and the last person was Suzy's girlfriend Linda. Yes, we did pan out some color that day.



;)T

[Purplepenny]

Hey Goldigger,Just sold my gmt due to lack of time. the Gmt will find the gold considering you have tremendous patience. I would consider the recommedations of others as well and checkout the new Mxt for a more all round detector that gets gold as well as jewelry and coins. It wouldnt be a bad idea to try to Field test a Minelab before you drop the cash. Good Luck!

[golddigger1]

Thanks for the info Purplepenny about a field test first.
Guess what, since I am a member of the Mariposa Gem and Mineral Club, they have invited a dealer for Minelab and Fisher to attend our August 20th meeting to talk about the different detectors. And then on the following day(Saturday) we will go on a field trip to the Merced River for a full day of learning these Detectors. Maybe by the night of the 21st I will be an owner of one of these.Makes me feel like a kid at Christmas again, waiting for the 20th to arrrive. I am sure all of the members here must remember that first day of opening that box full of things to read and maybe assemble and heading outside for treasure. Okay all, have a great Sunday.