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The time I was throwing gold away

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2018 10:43 pm
by New49'er
Well, it all started with a trip to Spokane, Wash. from socal, to check out the area. I had put together a sluice box that consisted of an 8' board and two 4" side boards, and nothing but black matting on the bottom. No riffles or carpet or anything else. Talk about a real greenhorn!
On the way back home we decided to stop and camp in Coloma. We were going to leave the next morning but I decided to stay one more day to try out my box. Camp Coloma has four levels, top two are for camping which includes a large pond. The third level has an old mine adit that looks like it was at least 100yrs old or maybe older and boarded up. The fourth level has cabins and then goes down to the river. I took my trusty sluice box down to the river and went over to the property line where there was a tiny stream coming off the pond. I stuck the box under the stream which worked very well.
There was a large rock sitting on the ground, which I rolled over and started digging. After one shovelful I noticed there was some silver wire looking samples sitting in the box and not moving. There were a few pieces which, not knowing I tossed them out into the river because they were silver colored and not gold. I did decide to keep some of that wire gold which I took home and realized that they were covered in mercury. I put them in a metal con. pan and in the hot sun they turned gold. I figured I tossed away at least a quarter of an ounce and kept maybe half of that.
I think that was probably the tailings from that old mine up above. Well, that's my story that took place 45 yrs ago.
I am now 77 and have learned a lot since, and yes I still have gold fever!!!

Re: The time I was throwing gold away

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 5:01 am
by Jim_Alaska
Great story, thanks for posting it.

Re: The time I was throwing gold away

Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2018 7:12 am
by smwon
That was a good story... thanks!