There are 9 or more types of alluvial deposits which are formed by the action of running water.  Placer deposits are formed by the mechanical concentration of mineral particles from weathered debris called corrasion, also known as mechanical erosion and includes running water, wind, glaciers, gravity, or waves that move material along.

     So what does this have to do with finding gold ?  Not a thing, but it does give us a good idea how gold, once it is freed-up from the host rock is moved about.  The trick is to find where the gold has been deposited by this movement, providing your in an area that has gold in it.  Also if the area has quartz, iron, and is faulted, this is a good indicator, but is not a guarantee of gold.

     As far as finding gold it boils down to exploring, patience, sampling, investing time, situational awareness, experience, that gut feeling, and knowing that gold does not know the rules as to where it should be found.  With more and more practice you will get better and better at finding gold.          AZ Ron

  Try looking at locations pictured in the history books as rich Gold mining areas. Some guys dry wash the tailings at abandoned old mines.

Posted By ARTHUR WAUGH on 17 Jan 2017 12:24 PM



Probably the best place to start is where the water starts to spread out and slow down.  That is where the heavies are going to drop first.  Look for anything such as boulders, big rocks, ledges, logs, etc., that break the natural flow.  I would suspect the further down in the fan, the finer the gold, and the harder it is to recover.

 

Art, Is he talking about  "dry" alluvial fans (bajadas).... or did I miss something?  I believe he is talking about high desert alluvial fans where the sand/gravel forms large areas at the base of mountain ranges. The gold there is concentrated into streaks/patches in situ because the sand is blown away by winds. Good places to use detectors.  TTC

He could be, no indication of where he has been looking in his post, but by normal defininition, alluvial fans are generally created by water action, so that is the basis for my reply.

While I can agree that in that type of country, yes some gold will be moved by wind (usually the super fine stuff), most will remain where dropped and buried by the original action that created the fan, that being  high fast water as it slows and spreads, flash flood,  or otherwise.

Have never done any desert prospecting or mining, so not familiar with that type of fan, ours are all wet types in the Pacific Northwet.

Posted By Terrance Cieszki on 23 Mar 2017 04:10 PM

Posted By ARTHUR WAUGH on 17 Jan 2017 12:24 PM







Probably the best place to start is where the water starts to spread out and slow down.  That is where the heavies are going to drop first.  Look for anything such as boulders, big rocks, ledges, logs, etc., that break the natural flow.  I would suspect the further down in the fan, the finer the gold, and the harder it is to recover.

 

Art, Is he talking about  "dry" alluvial fans (bajadas).... or did I miss something?  I believe he is talking about high desert alluvial fans where the sand/gravel forms large areas at the base of mountain ranges. The gold there is concentrated into streaks/patches in situ because the sand is blown away by winds. Good places to use detectors.  TTC

 

Thanks for the INSTANT reply Art. I'm sure we will talk again.  TTC