The excitement you have for minerals and the like is astonishing. You're one of the good ones. If everyone was as enthusiastic about what they do for a living I truly believe humanity would have no obstacles. Thank you for what you do
@@ChrisRalphcan you help me find a trustworthy place to test a small sample of ore? It is potentially platinum and here in my state, i am unable to find a place that can test it for me. I brought some to the college to be tested, and that sample got "lost". Please help if possible. I have a potentially life changing amount of this ore. Maybe i can send a small sample to you?
@@experimentalprogramming1758split a sample in half with a diamond saw, send half to a commercial assay lab. Get them to pulverize it and if the sample size is big enough get it tested specifically for the Platinum Group Elements and if possible get a Multi Element acid digestion (Aqua Regia) Induced Coupled Plasm-Mass Spectrometry assay. It won't be cheap, couple hundred after shipping. I'm in Canada so I'm not familiar with the who's who of Assay labs available in the USA.
Thank you for another great video Chris. The more you explain these epithermal deposits the more I am certain it may be exactly what I found where I am staking this new claim in NV. Now I just need to get my COL paperwork to BLM because the NOL is not enough.... then I'll use the company you recommended in Reno for a fire assay of some of this ore. It has all the characteristics you've described so far in the video, & I'm not even halfway through the video..... I should probably crush & pan some of the ore but I got a feeling after inspecting it with a loop there may be little to no visible gold, it certainly has an extremely large amount of Limonite pseudomorph crystals after pyrite, some of which may have more value as specimen pieces. A fellow member of the gold Club, tells me his brother has seen very similar ore and it looks like silver ore to him. The quartz veins in the area with massive vugs, the bands of clay throughout the stockwork of veins, the bands of bright, red and black and blue and green clearly visible surface stones/ dirt in circular patterns all throughout the area. I think are all signs telling me I'm in an area that was once very active with these epithermal viens and hydrothermal activity. At least it sure looks that way too an extreme amateur like myself. My acquaintance from the club tells me he believes that the area is rich in Cobalt, agrees the area was highly volcanically active at one point, & showed me which rocks had obvious mercury in them, warning me not to touch those to often with bare hands. He agreed further exploration of the area is worth pursuing. Stay safe, and God bless. Mike P.S. I purchased your book, and have begun studying it already. Heading to Amazon to give it five stars right after I finish this video 🙂..... I'm even more excited now that I finished the video I need to go look up alunite, you're brief description sounds eerily similar to some material in a vein near the one with the Limonite crystal's
Just wanted to say I appreciate you boss I found quite a few things just from the information I've learned from listening to you keep the good work up please not many teachers as good as you and it's a delightful thing to see your passion
I remember the day Mt St Helens Blew. My sister was being Royalty as May Queen (Grade 6?) and riding in an Open Horse & Carriage. It was Snowing Ash even though the day was fine minutes earlier. Slight Sulfur smell with it as well. We were near Penticton, Okanagan, BC Canada, about 125 Miles away. That made for a nice backdrop for the day as we all breathed Carcinogenic Glass Shards out of the May Air. Refreshing and Crunchy. The World used to be much Funner before Safety was invented.
Hey Chris, I bought your book on Amazon. I'm a almost 30yr veteran to gold detecting. But I read alot of books and do alot of research. Always learning stuff. I'm not a geologist like you, but I've been studying. Will you be making any videos in the future about more extensive tips on finding Virgin patches of gold outside of a creek bed. I'm really interested in this subject. I've found a few small patches and 1 small pocket gold deposit by looking for new deposits. The old timer diggings here in far northern California are getting exhausted from detecting. Thank you again God bless!
found junk with my gm1000. ,was drywashing. showing a new guy. got a few specs. gave him the specs. made him happy. was a good day cool but a fun day. have a good day.
Sweeeet video! Thank you. I am in the cripple creek epithermal belt near SilverCliff Colorado. Been seeing alot of "pyrite" mineralization and close to the surface. Suspecting these values. Lotta sulfer amd sulfides. Sending some out for assay soon. So that hot water eventually hardens to quartz!? Also I will buy your book soon buddy :) u been my Professor. Thanks again
I was researching the area and came across a paper titled New Discovery of a violent Caldera about the SilverCliff and Rosita Hills area, talking about here being a large porphyry system and an Obsidian dome.
Hot water does not harden and turn into quartz. the quartz is dissolved in the hot water and as the water cools the quartz comes out of solution and forms veins. Calderas can give rise to both high and low sulfidation deposits.
Thank you so much for sharing all of your wisdom! I've progressed so much this year and have recently begun to have some real success prospecting my area despite its challenges lol. If love to get your book soon and pick your brain with some questions lol. Not sure how much you know about old workings in the southeast us but they're kind of lesser discussed. Thank you again!
Chris could you make a video about what steps to take once you find a gold vein! Because of your. Videos i realized i live on alot of gold but not sure what to do now!
What I would do and what you would want to do might not be exactly the same. Also, some deposits need to be worked on a large scale by a mining company. Other sites would be best handled by an individual or a few folks working together. You might want to take a look at this video on prospecting hard rock sites. See: th-cam.com/video/fdJui39JvR8/w-d-xo.html
As I learn about gold each time I watch one of your videos, Chris amazingly it’s a topic that I’m currently contemplating. Thank you so much for this video because I’ve been wondering about the formation of mineralize zones, particularly when the hot ash sweeps over a land and what it does to the animals and trees, does it fossilize these things at times and as it fossilizes does one find deposits of gold, and what not left behind in the fossil. Thanks again, Chris.
Where would I look around Pahrump, I'm near congress mine,what type of rocks should I be looking for in that district? Thanks for sharing 🍸. Excellent videos, taught us alot.
The Johnnie district has good gold, but all the ground is well claimed. I'd join one of the Vegas prospecting clubs to get access to their claims around the Johnnie area.
Hi Chris, wondering where the mineralized faults are, in relation to the caldera. Radial fracturing due to doming, or concentric faults. Thanks for another educational video.
Thank you, Chris. learned some new things today. BTW, got a contact with a line on 300T of about 10 OPT material in Alaska looking for a processor, any ideas?
That was my thought also. I asked my contact what the particle size is. A small gravity mill shouldn't be too hard to make happen. Waiting for a reply. Mt Baker is close to the ocean.
So much great information, I’m just above Jenny Lind Ca , 100,000 ounces of gold taken out of the ground. Trailings everywhere, I have been very lucky, but the don’t know what to do next .
Hey Chris. I love the book. Thankful for all your knowledge. I wonder if I could ask. As an Ohio prospector we chase the tiny gold. It stands to reason some the the glacial material will hold ores that were shoved down here from canada. Could you help me understand what types of ore have been reported north, north west of our region? We have a fair amount of quarts in granite, some is quite mineralized. Would I be wasting my efforts crushing some of these samples?
Yes there would be ore, but its the concentrating process of erosion working on the glacial material that makes the placers of the Midwest. if you were working the glaciers directly you'd be getting 1/1000th the gold. The concentration process does not work on the ores. You can try crushing some quartz just to see. Remember quartz is the most common mineral on earth's surface, while gold is among the rarest of elements.
@@ChrisRalph yes sir, I understand the process of our standard deposits, part in thanks to your videos. I wouldn’t I’d actively look for ore though as a rock hound I’m always looking, having a sense of primary ores north of me it would just ad another stone to keep my eyes pealed for. Thank you for your time Chris.
Hey Mr. Ralph love your channel. Would it be possible to chat one on one about a property that’s been in my family for about 60 years? You’ve inspired me to do some research on the geo maps of the area and could really use some guidance. I’m in Pasadena California, thanks!
I appreciate your interest, but I do not offer any services for personal training, consulting or advisement. I get many such requests and simply do not have time to help all who ask. I have many business and family commitments and simply don't have the time available. I do wish you the best of luck, but I am sorry that I cannot offer any help on that level.
Hey Chris! Thanks for another great video! I have a question that may sound a little ''dumb''. I know that porphyry deposits generally has pretty small specks of gold. But can they also contain some chunkier gold? Like 0.2-1g flakes/pickers? The reason why I'm asking is because I'm going on a trip in a couple of days to a country that has a lot of porphyry deposits and I'm planning to do some sniping in a creek that's located just below a known deposit. I know there's gold in this creek after reading some geology reports but I'm curious if I can find gold that's a little chunkier and not just -200 mesh. The paper i read didn't mention anything about the size of the gold. Now I know that there isn't one answer to this question but just generally. Thanks!
Right in the porphyry there is usually not gold more than dust size. However associated with porphyries on the outer parts can be areas with good nuggets. No guarantees, but its fairly common to be that way.
Chris what about vault line with small pond in top that has had a Placer claim in past years.i metal detect and only found a lava rock setting off detector. What's your opinion
Just because there was once a placer claim does not not necessarily mean there is gold. But lava rocks can be nasty hot rocks and make it difficult to find any gold that is there. There are lots more faults than valuable veins. maybe take a sample, crush it and pan it out to see if you get any gold.
Hello Mr Chris and to anyone that watches ur vids first of all you have very good and and helpful information I have found many rocks that are very interesting I have always wondered why they offer my mother money f her house it will be bunch of papers in the mail offering her money f her house and I came to a conclusion that it might be f the minerals at her hous like recently I found different colored rocks and also f this weird gray looking rock that is way to heavy for it size neways I would love to send some pictures and get ur honest opinion I really don't have years of experience but have always been intrigued with gem collecting thank you so much f the teaching u give us and always look forward to seeing ur vids
I found it .Chris is there an email address connected to your website? I would like to give you a couple of ideas but not through this public comment thread. Or do you offer lectures at the college? Is it possible to send you mail through them ?
I forgot to put in the link. Here it is: th-cam.com/video/Cd3w3KZyX3E/w-d-xo.html There is an email in the about me for this TH-cam channel. However, I get a huge number of requests for individual help like consulting, advisement, mineral ID, etc. I don't offer those personal services - I just have too many other commitments.
How about the indicator mineral signs, epidote in granite, calcite crossing through quartz, quartz vein with chlorite and epidote, what are the base rocks associated with the samples you show, most of the books and videos only show museum grade specimens, these are rare, micro environments and a more profitable rock type.
Indicator signs are more complex than you expect. There is not one or two indicators that work at all gold sites. Different mining districts have different indicators. Epidote in granite and quartz veins with chlorite and epidote are more indicators of contact metamorphic environments. Perhaps giving rise to polymetallic veins, or scarn deposits and replacement in limestone. They may work great as indicators in your area, but for lots of places, they don't work at all. I did mention a number of rock types associated with Epithermal deposits and even showed a good view of common Rhyolite.
I purchased your book about ten years ago I think, it's an excellent reference, I have also used multiple other references but as I stated, almost everyone of the rock and minerals books always show the museum grade specimens, yes it is nice to see beautiful pictures but when you get a chance to go into the field those pictures don't do anything for the exploration of minerals , sure white quartz float is everywhere, some oxide stains, but for the first timers that's all they look for and for most of the time it's a let down, because the museum quality stuff is few and far away from the surface.
Why is there no mention of the many epithermal mines of Appalachia and the foothills of Appalachia?? It’s sometimes seems that the east is sadly completely forgotten.
The land was settled andprivately owned b4 any gold was found here. Andnso farmers and ranchers where the landowners to deal with and that was next to impossible in a time when striking it rich out west was open and free to be claimed and searched long story short.its unturned due to private ownership dating back to the settlers.these dats permission is much more likely if askedbut still that turns alot of proapectors around.whyndig it if it can never be theres?
Well, I didn't mention specific epithermal deposits in AZ, NM, UT, ID, OR or WA. I wasn't trying to list every epithermal deposit in the US or even every state with such deposits. That wasn't the point of the video. So no, I wasn't trying to ignore deposits in Appalachia just as I was not ignoring AZ, NM, UT, ID, OR or WA.
@@ChrisRalph oh no I meant no criticism of you. But for some reason there is these maps that have been circulating in geology circles for some time of the majority of gold deposits which are associated with the ring of fire of the pacific, but there are so many orogenic and epithermal deposits that stretch all over the globe. It can be a prospector’s delight or a curse/ depending. It’s a bit both for myself, prospecting in the foothills of Appalachia. Though sometimes I wish things was simpler here as the desert, we got all this soil, vegetation, millions and millions of years of weathering and leaching. I find your videos very useful and helpful, keep up the good work Chris.
There is certainly lots of gold in Ontario. However I've never been to eastern Canada (only been to BC). Do some research on Google, you will be surprised at the amount of information.
@@ChrisRalph thank you I live in a place called eldorado ontario it was the fist place gold was found in the province in 1886 there I alot the old timers left behind they say lol 😆 👍 thanks 😊
Not really a rock knowable guy yet. But was hopeful for some visuals, with land formation, rock out cropping, so I can look for those type of things when out detecting. Nor cal.
I have videos for you to watch - First, Where to find gold in northern California: th-cam.com/video/0MUaiI-vea8/w-d-xo.html Second, basic rocks and minerals for the prospector: th-cam.com/video/Tqd0VRmBqYk/w-d-xo.html
Yes, gold, silver, platinum, copper and rare earth metals are so hard to find. I have been learning in my spare time for years Chris Ralph, your tips are good as gold! Your videos are so professional and truly first rate! How did you get a 4.7 out of 5? Mom would ask, "What did you miss?". I think when it comes to this subject, you cannot tell all, not because you are withholding information but because as C V Chorey, of the Colorado College of Mines says, "Nature does not like to be pigeonholed."! I have gotten to the point where I ask my rock hounding friends what my new rock is and they don't know. I got started with Eyewitness Books, Rocks and Minerals. Now it's time to graduate to the grown up books like "Fists Full of Gold" and Jeff Williams new book. Those dudes go on trips together - Jason of Mount Baker Mining and Metals, Pioneer Pauly, Dan Hurd and Jeff and his new bride... Do you do trips? Who do you recommend for a mining adventure? Or is it better to get out first and practice? Do I need a metal detector? What is a good, durable and functional metal detector for an older, tough, fit, mountain climbing miner woman? I used to carry 60 lbs. I have to be able to lift 50 lbs for work. Call it weight bearing exercise. I like the idea of a ski patrol sled full of gold in the late spring or early summer... Whoosh!!! If I travel to TX to visit, where shall I stop along the way to prospect and look for claims? Northern NM looks good and CO near Pikes Peak. AZ, NV, TX?!? Panhandle, Dallas area? May go to NC. Grandaddy used to carve stone there - Kitty Hawk Memorial, Reflecting Pool in DC Mom said there are no stone carvers there anymore. But the first gold 🪙 mine in the US is in NC and fairy stones!
Mary - you have so many questions, I would need to write another book to answer them all! Do you do trips? I don't take people out on trips - of the guys you mentioned, only Jeff does that - and its far from free. Who do you recommend for a mining adventure? Join a prospecting club in your area and go with them. Or is it better to get out first and practice? I recommend you join a prospecting club in your area and go with them. Do I need a metal detector? Not at first. What is a good, durable and functional metal detector for an older, tough, fit, mountain climbing miner woman? Again, don't start out with a detector - watch my video: th-cam.com/video/EF4oFvSHbJo/w-d-xo.html If I travel to TX to visit, where shall I stop along the way to prospect and look for claims? Northern NM looks good and CO near Pikes Peak. AZ, NV, TX?!? Panhandle, Dallas area? There is lots of info out there. what can be found depends on the route you take. Do some research on Google, there is lots of information.
the relation to deep water gold mining .... volcanic activity.... and bigger nuggies... closer to the gravity point. or has been eroded from ocean floor. hmmm... i wonder....
Chris im sorry but you need to stop putting these videos out. Lol Everytime you do cause me 2-3 months of research to help my cause. But thankyou for sharing your knowledge i truly does help explain tons of aspects of what us micro miners do. Thx again
Bro Professor, sir I love all your videos, but there’s just too many damn commercials in this one anyhow Mr. Ralph I do have a question in regards to the formation of nuggets now as I understand gold manifest itself in different forms but what I’m getting at is when it’s bonanza gold and let’s see you have old just 100 pound boulder of quartz and inside it you have Several pounds of gold but it’s distributed like a fine wire going throughout the boulder now here’s my question and road goes down in the river now that gold is malleable and what not will the currents and the forces of nature smash this “”bonanza gold from the boulder into a nugget is that some nuggets form it makes sense to me I’m curious as to what you have to say about that. Also, I’m just very appreciative of what you’ve done for us people explaining giving all your time of the decades of work hard work that you’ve put into this is obvious that you are a prospectors prospector!
No. the river environment does not pound tiny gold into big nuggets. Gold gets rolled up and smoothed, but it only gets smaller. Take a look at this video I did on the formation of large gold nuggets. See: th-cam.com/video/fhIJdj6NbBY/w-d-xo.html
@@ChrisRalph thank you Chris for your reply. I think my question was a little bit misunderstood. I understand what you’re saying but what I don’t understand is when you have let’s say a piece of bonanza gold as I understand it can manifest in the form of a wire, thin millimeter thick wire, running throughout the courts piece part the spelling error. I’m using voice recognition so anyway, I was just wondering if when that piece of quartz that has all that gold in it once the courts weathers away, the gold is still there and there could be a pound of it, but in the form of wire, running throughout the former piece of quartz ,but it’s like a jumbled up tangled piece of fishing string. Would that not get smashed and and crushed by the elements. Thanks again, Chris for your time and effort. I cannot tell you how much you’ve helped my life and how you continue to help my life. There’s not many experts. There’s not many professionals these days there’s not many people that even take me seriously I have a college degree. I have a science mind And just God bless you for doing what you do because it’s such a breath of fresh air also Chris I just want to send you some pictures. I do not want to or desire to get your analysis on them. I don’t want you to identify them for me or anything I just want to send you some pictures of these cool pieces that I found.
The excitement you have for minerals and the like is astonishing. You're one of the good ones. If everyone was as enthusiastic about what they do for a living I truly believe humanity would have no obstacles. Thank you for what you do
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it.
@@ChrisRalphcan you help me find a trustworthy place to test a small sample of ore? It is potentially platinum and here in my state, i am unable to find a place that can test it for me. I brought some to the college to be tested, and that sample got "lost". Please help if possible. I have a potentially life changing amount of this ore. Maybe i can send a small sample to you?
@@experimentalprogramming1758split a sample in half with a diamond saw, send half to a commercial assay lab. Get them to pulverize it and if the sample size is big enough get it tested specifically for the Platinum Group Elements and if possible get a Multi Element acid digestion (Aqua Regia) Induced Coupled Plasm-Mass Spectrometry assay.
It won't be cheap, couple hundred after shipping.
I'm in Canada so I'm not familiar with the who's who of Assay labs available in the USA.
I wish I could be so enthusiastic about TPS reports and mandatory monthly diversity trainings.
picked up my first nugget thanks to your videos i have basic understanding of geology and hunting the fringes here in africa
Glad to hear I could be of help.
I watch your videos more than any other ones on You Tube thanks for always sharing the cool stuff!
Awesome! Thank you! I'm glad you like them.
Thanks for your recent review of epithermal silver & gold deposits, Chris...
glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for the video! I'm not an aspiring prospector, I just find ore geology so fascinating.
Glad you enjoyed it! I just released on today on Orogenic gold deposits.
Thank you for another great video Chris. The more you explain these epithermal deposits the more I am certain it may be exactly what I found where I am staking this new claim in NV. Now I just need to get my COL paperwork to BLM because the NOL is not enough.... then I'll use the company you recommended in Reno for a fire assay of some of this ore. It has all the characteristics you've described so far in the video, & I'm not even halfway through the video..... I should probably crush & pan some of the ore but I got a feeling after inspecting it with a loop there may be little to no visible gold, it certainly has an extremely large amount of Limonite pseudomorph crystals after pyrite, some of which may have more value as specimen pieces. A fellow member of the gold Club, tells me his brother has seen very similar ore and it looks like silver ore to him. The quartz veins in the area with massive vugs, the bands of clay throughout the stockwork of veins, the bands of bright, red and black and blue and green clearly visible surface stones/ dirt in circular patterns all throughout the area. I think are all signs telling me I'm in an area that was once very active with these epithermal viens and hydrothermal activity. At least it sure looks that way too an extreme amateur like myself. My acquaintance from the club tells me he believes that the area is rich in Cobalt, agrees the area was highly volcanically active at one point, & showed me which rocks had obvious mercury in them, warning me not to touch those to often with bare hands. He agreed further exploration of the area is worth pursuing. Stay safe, and God bless.
Mike
P.S. I purchased your book, and have begun studying it already. Heading to Amazon to give it five stars right after I finish this video 🙂..... I'm even more excited now that I finished the video I need to go look up alunite, you're brief description sounds eerily similar to some material in a vein near the one with the Limonite crystal's
Sounds really great and best of luck to you with your prospecting!
Great information again Chris, keep the videos coming!
Thanks, will do!
Just wanted to say I appreciate you boss I found quite a few things just from the information I've learned from listening to you keep the good work up please not many teachers as good as you and it's a delightful thing to see your passion
Glad to hear it and that you found it helpful.
I remember the day Mt St Helens Blew. My sister was being Royalty as May Queen (Grade 6?) and riding in an Open Horse & Carriage.
It was Snowing Ash even though the day was fine minutes earlier. Slight Sulfur smell with it as well. We were near Penticton, Okanagan, BC Canada, about 125 Miles away.
That made for a nice backdrop for the day as we all breathed Carcinogenic Glass Shards out of the May Air. Refreshing and Crunchy.
The World used to be much Funner before Safety was invented.
interesting.
Hey Chris, I bought your book on Amazon. I'm a almost 30yr veteran to gold detecting. But I read alot of books and do alot of research. Always learning stuff. I'm not a geologist like you, but I've been studying. Will you be making any videos in the future about more extensive tips on finding Virgin patches of gold outside of a creek bed. I'm really interested in this subject. I've found a few small patches and 1 small pocket gold deposit by looking for new deposits. The old timer diggings here in far northern California are getting exhausted from detecting. Thank you again
God bless!
Sounds like you are already doing pretty well with your nugget detecting.
Very cool and inspiring... God Bless You 🇮🇩😍💗🙏👍👍
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent Display of wisdom Chris ! Wish I could absorb all the information ☺⛏⛏
Sometimes I have to read a passage in a book twice to see the point. Same thing with videos.
Enjoy all your informative videos,we go to Colorado every year, haven't been finding gold yet, get me a monster 1000 before we go next time
Sounds great and Good luck to you!
found junk with my gm1000. ,was drywashing. showing a new guy. got a few specs. gave him the specs. made him happy. was a good day cool but a fun day. have a good day.
Sorry to hear that, maybe better luck dry washing next time.
@@ChrisRalph club claim. ,was a bit cool to wonder. next time ,always good to talk to you. have a good day.
Sweeeet video! Thank you.
I am in the cripple creek epithermal belt near SilverCliff Colorado. Been seeing alot of "pyrite" mineralization and close to the surface. Suspecting these values. Lotta sulfer amd sulfides. Sending some out for assay soon. So that hot water eventually hardens to quartz!? Also I will buy your book soon buddy :) u been my Professor. Thanks again
I was researching the area and came across a paper titled New Discovery of a violent Caldera about the SilverCliff and Rosita Hills area, talking about here being a large porphyry system and an Obsidian dome.
Hot water does not harden and turn into quartz. the quartz is dissolved in the hot water and as the water cools the quartz comes out of solution and forms veins. Calderas can give rise to both high and low sulfidation deposits.
I enjoy listening to you share your immense knowledge.
I appreciate that! Keep an eye out for next week's video - that will be my gospel video for 2023 (yes, I am a little late).
Thank you so much for sharing all of your wisdom! I've progressed so much this year and have recently begun to have some real success prospecting my area despite its challenges lol. If love to get your book soon and pick your brain with some questions lol. Not sure how much you know about old workings in the southeast us but they're kind of lesser discussed. Thank you again!
Unfortunelately I do not know every mine working in the USA - there are more than 100,000 of them.
Hi.I learned a lot thanks ❤ your teachings.I pray we meet and get more practically.Thks
glad it was helpful!
Chris could you make a video about what steps to take once you find a gold vein! Because of your. Videos i realized i live on alot of gold but not sure what to do now!
What I would do and what you would want to do might not be exactly the same. Also, some deposits need to be worked on a large scale by a mining company. Other sites would be best handled by an individual or a few folks working together. You might want to take a look at this video on prospecting hard rock sites. See: th-cam.com/video/fdJui39JvR8/w-d-xo.html
Inspiring! I dont have those kinds of rocks here but will watch for the knowledge!
Sounds great. Glad to hear you liked it.
As I learn about gold each time I watch one of your videos, Chris amazingly it’s a topic that I’m currently contemplating. Thank you so much for this video because I’ve been wondering about the formation of mineralize zones, particularly when the hot ash sweeps over a land and what it does to the animals and trees, does it fossilize these things at times and as it fossilizes does one find deposits of gold, and what not left behind in the fossil. Thanks again, Chris.
Glad the video was interesting and helpful for you.
Thank You! Has Any Gold Ever Been Found In Or Near The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Of AZ?
Depends on how far a distance is "near". Check out my video on where to find gold in Arizona. See: th-cam.com/video/3TRvKAF4vpI/w-d-xo.html
Where would I look around Pahrump, I'm near congress mine,what type of rocks should I be looking for in that district? Thanks for sharing 🍸. Excellent videos, taught us alot.
The Johnnie district has good gold, but all the ground is well claimed. I'd join one of the Vegas prospecting clubs to get access to their claims around the Johnnie area.
Let's go to Yellowstone anyway. It's one of my favorite places! If you find gold, i won't tell! 😊
It in a national park, but its also down a half mile or more into the earth.
@@ChrisRalph To deep for a pick & shovel!
What is the difference between breccias and conglomerates? I really enjoyed your presentation!❤
Good question! Conglomerates are made of rounded gravels that get cemented and Brescia are broken, jagged rocks that have been cemented.
Well in Wyoming maybe Yellowstone will have a big deposit someday! Thanks again Chris.
It likely will but it will be in a National Park, so no prospecting!
Yeah, and outside of the park to the east, we have lots of grizzly bears to deal with as well.
Hi Chris, wondering where the mineralized faults are, in relation to the caldera. Radial fracturing due to doming, or concentric faults. Thanks for another educational video.
It is commonly the radial fracturing of the ring fault but can also be doming or other extensional faults. Its not one answer for all.
Thank you, Chris. learned some new things today. BTW, got a contact with a line on 300T of about 10 OPT material in Alaska looking for a processor, any ideas?
I don't know anyone reliable who does custom ores. For the price of transporting it to the lower 48, they could process it themselves in AK.
That was my thought also. I asked my contact what the particle size is. A small gravity mill shouldn't be too hard to make happen. Waiting for a reply. Mt Baker is close to the ocean.
So much great information, I’m just above Jenny Lind Ca , 100,000 ounces of gold taken out of the ground. Trailings everywhere, I have been very lucky, but the don’t know what to do next .
I tell ya Chris and Hard Rock University have some great videos about your next steps. Other then that I can only say test test test
sounds great, thanks for sharing.
Hey Chris. I love the book. Thankful for all your knowledge.
I wonder if I could ask. As an Ohio prospector we chase the tiny gold. It stands to reason some the the glacial material will hold ores that were shoved down here from canada.
Could you help me understand what types of ore have been reported north, north west of our region?
We have a fair amount of quarts in granite, some is quite mineralized. Would I be wasting my efforts crushing some of these samples?
Yes there would be ore, but its the concentrating process of erosion working on the glacial material that makes the placers of the Midwest. if you were working the glaciers directly you'd be getting 1/1000th the gold. The concentration process does not work on the ores. You can try crushing some quartz just to see. Remember quartz is the most common mineral on earth's surface, while gold is among the rarest of elements.
@@ChrisRalph yes sir, I understand the process of our standard deposits, part in thanks to your videos. I wouldn’t I’d actively look for ore though as a rock hound I’m always looking, having a sense of primary ores north of me it would just ad another stone to keep my eyes pealed for.
Thank you for your time Chris.
Thanks for answering my question. Are conglomerates always composed of small, or smaller rounded rocks, etc. than breccia?
Conglomerates are rounded, Brescia are broken angular.
i been thinking about this for a while now!
Glad it was helpful.
Hey Mr. Ralph love your channel. Would it be possible to chat one on one about a property that’s been in my family for about 60 years? You’ve inspired me to do some research on the geo maps of the area and could really use some guidance. I’m in Pasadena California, thanks!
I appreciate your interest, but I do not offer any services for personal training, consulting or advisement. I get many such requests and simply do not have time to help all who ask. I have many business and family commitments and simply don't have the time available. I do wish you the best of luck, but I am sorry that I cannot offer any help on that level.
Thank you so much for your time and keep up the great work!
Tocpa Springs. They have topaz around there, I assume because of the high salt content.
Tecopa Springs? Topaz forms deep in the ground. Any topaz existed long before nearly salt flats.
can minerals be percipitaed from geothermal sulfer springs? Wish
ihad professors like you.. Thanks for your good work.
Yes, absolutely, but it's a process that can take thousands of years.
Hey Chris! Thanks for another great video! I have a question that may sound a little ''dumb''. I know that porphyry deposits generally has pretty small specks of gold. But can they also contain some chunkier gold? Like 0.2-1g flakes/pickers?
The reason why I'm asking is because I'm going on a trip in a couple of days to a country that has a lot of porphyry deposits and I'm planning to do some sniping in a creek that's located just below a known deposit. I know there's gold in this creek after reading some geology reports but I'm curious if I can find gold that's a little chunkier and not just -200 mesh. The paper i read didn't mention anything about the size of the gold.
Now I know that there isn't one answer to this question but just generally.
Thanks!
Right in the porphyry there is usually not gold more than dust size. However associated with porphyries on the outer parts can be areas with good nuggets. No guarantees, but its fairly common to be that way.
@@ChrisRalph Thank you :)
Chris what about vault line with small pond in top that has had a Placer claim in past years.i metal detect and only found a lava rock setting off detector. What's your opinion
Just because there was once a placer claim does not not necessarily mean there is gold. But lava rocks can be nasty hot rocks and make it difficult to find any gold that is there. There are lots more faults than valuable veins. maybe take a sample, crush it and pan it out to see if you get any gold.
Hello Mr Chris and to anyone that watches ur vids first of all you have very good and and helpful information I have found many rocks that are very interesting I have always wondered why they offer my mother money f her house it will be bunch of papers in the mail offering her money f her house and I came to a conclusion that it might be f the minerals at her hous like recently I found different colored rocks and also f this weird gray looking rock that is way to heavy for it size neways I would love to send some pictures and get ur honest opinion I really don't have years of experience but have always been intrigued with gem collecting thank you so much f the teaching u give us and always look forward to seeing ur vids
I have not the slightest idea why someone my be interested in buying her property. There are many possible reasons.
Hello there Chris ❤🎉,
where is the link to your video on shield volcanos or what is the title of that video ? Thank you and God bless
I found it .Chris is there an email address connected to your website? I would like to give you a couple of ideas but not through this public comment thread. Or do you offer lectures at the college? Is it possible to send you mail through them ?
I forgot to put in the link. Here it is: th-cam.com/video/Cd3w3KZyX3E/w-d-xo.html
There is an email in the about me for this TH-cam channel. However, I get a huge number of requests for individual help like consulting, advisement, mineral ID, etc. I don't offer those personal services - I just have too many other commitments.
Hi Chris when caldera volcanoes explode and leave several feet of ash, is the ash responsible for fossilizing plants and animals?
sometimes there are fossils.
How about the indicator mineral signs, epidote in granite, calcite crossing through quartz, quartz vein with chlorite and epidote, what are the base rocks associated with the samples you show, most of the books and videos only show museum grade specimens, these are rare, micro environments and a more profitable rock type.
Indicator signs are more complex than you expect. There is not one or two indicators that work at all gold sites. Different mining districts have different indicators. Epidote in granite and quartz veins with chlorite and epidote are more indicators of contact metamorphic environments. Perhaps giving rise to polymetallic veins, or scarn deposits and replacement in limestone. They may work great as indicators in your area, but for lots of places, they don't work at all. I did mention a number of rock types associated with Epithermal deposits and even showed a good view of common Rhyolite.
@@ChrisRalph in
I purchased your book about ten years ago I think, it's an excellent reference, I have also used multiple other references but as I stated, almost everyone of the rock and minerals books always show the
museum grade specimens, yes it is nice to see beautiful pictures but when you get a chance to go into the field those pictures don't do anything for the exploration of minerals , sure white quartz float is everywhere, some oxide stains, but for the first timers that's all they look for and for most of the time it's a let down, because the museum quality stuff is few and far away from the surface.
Why is there no mention of the many epithermal mines of Appalachia and the foothills of Appalachia?? It’s sometimes seems that the east is sadly completely forgotten.
The land was settled andprivately owned b4 any gold was found here. Andnso farmers and ranchers where the landowners to deal with and that was next to impossible in a time when striking it rich out west was open and free to be claimed and searched long story short.its unturned due to private ownership dating back to the settlers.these dats permission is much more likely if askedbut still that turns alot of proapectors around.whyndig it if it can never be theres?
Well, I didn't mention specific epithermal deposits in AZ, NM, UT, ID, OR or WA. I wasn't trying to list every epithermal deposit in the US or even every state with such deposits. That wasn't the point of the video. So no, I wasn't trying to ignore deposits in Appalachia just as I was not ignoring AZ, NM, UT, ID, OR or WA.
@@ChrisRalph oh no I meant no criticism of you. But for some reason there is these maps that have been circulating in geology circles for some time of the majority of gold deposits which are associated with the ring of fire of the pacific, but there are so many orogenic and epithermal deposits that stretch all over the globe. It can be a prospector’s delight or a curse/ depending. It’s a bit both for myself, prospecting in the foothills of Appalachia. Though sometimes I wish things was simpler here as the desert, we got all this soil, vegetation, millions and millions of years of weathering and leaching. I find your videos very useful and helpful, keep up the good work Chris.
@@johnnysilverado3234 Check for Lidar maps, or if there has been any Lidar mapping done in your area; it maps the ground without the vegetation.
Hello from ontario chris do you have any knowledge of gold here in ontario thanks 😊
There is certainly lots of gold in Ontario. However I've never been to eastern Canada (only been to BC). Do some research on Google, you will be surprised at the amount of information.
@@ChrisRalph thank you I live in a place called eldorado ontario it was the fist place gold was found in the province in 1886 there I alot the old timers left behind they say lol 😆 👍 thanks 😊
Not really a rock knowable guy yet. But was hopeful for some visuals, with land formation, rock out cropping, so I can look for those type of things when out detecting. Nor cal.
I have videos for you to watch - First, Where to find gold in northern California: th-cam.com/video/0MUaiI-vea8/w-d-xo.html
Second, basic rocks and minerals for the prospector: th-cam.com/video/Tqd0VRmBqYk/w-d-xo.html
at 14:25 in, the bonanza ore, what is the orange/yellow coloring on the quartz near the surface on the top, bottom left, and right edge?
Just iron oxides - basically rust. It is a very thin coating deposited in cracks. It comes from the oxidation of pyrite which is iron sulfide.
Perseverance yes.
Very true.
Getting your hands on that ore . You would have to be midas
I've picked up some pretty nice examples over the years.
Thanks welcome in somaliland in hargeisa city
Thank You.
Yes, gold, silver, platinum, copper and rare earth metals are so hard to find. I have been learning in my spare time for years
Chris Ralph, your tips are good as gold! Your videos are so professional and truly first rate! How did you get a 4.7 out of 5?
Mom would ask, "What did you miss?". I think when it comes to this subject, you cannot tell all, not because you are withholding information but because as C V Chorey, of the Colorado College of Mines says, "Nature does not like to be pigeonholed."!
I have gotten to the point where I ask my rock hounding friends what my new rock is and they don't know. I got started with Eyewitness Books, Rocks and Minerals. Now it's time to graduate to the grown up books like "Fists Full of Gold" and Jeff Williams new book. Those dudes go on trips together - Jason of Mount Baker Mining and Metals, Pioneer Pauly, Dan Hurd and Jeff and his new bride...
Do you do trips?
Who do you recommend for a mining adventure?
Or is it better to get out first and practice?
Do I need a metal detector? What is a good, durable and functional metal detector for an older, tough, fit, mountain climbing miner woman? I used to carry 60 lbs. I have to be able to lift 50 lbs for work. Call it weight bearing exercise. I like the idea of a ski patrol sled full of gold in the late spring or early summer... Whoosh!!!
If I travel to TX to visit, where shall I stop along the way to prospect and look for claims? Northern NM looks good and CO near Pikes Peak. AZ, NV, TX?!? Panhandle, Dallas area? May go to NC. Grandaddy used to carve stone there - Kitty Hawk Memorial, Reflecting Pool in DC
Mom said there are no stone carvers there anymore. But the first gold 🪙 mine in the US is in NC and fairy stones!
Mary - you have so many questions, I would need to write another book to answer them all!
Do you do trips? I don't take people out on trips - of the guys you mentioned, only Jeff does that - and its far from free.
Who do you recommend for a mining adventure? Join a prospecting club in your area and go with them.
Or is it better to get out first and practice? I recommend you join a prospecting club in your area and go with them.
Do I need a metal detector? Not at first.
What is a good, durable and functional metal detector for an older, tough, fit, mountain climbing miner woman?
Again, don't start out with a detector - watch my video: th-cam.com/video/EF4oFvSHbJo/w-d-xo.html
If I travel to TX to visit, where shall I stop along the way to prospect and look for claims? Northern NM looks good and CO near Pikes Peak. AZ, NV, TX?!? Panhandle, Dallas area? There is lots of info out there. what can be found depends on the route you take. Do some research on Google, there is lots of information.
the relation to deep water gold mining .... volcanic activity.... and bigger nuggies... closer to the gravity point. or has been eroded from ocean floor. hmmm... i wonder....
Epithermal deposit formation is deep in the solid rock, not deep at the bottom of an ocean.
Chris im sorry but you need to stop putting these videos out. Lol
Everytime you do cause me 2-3 months of research to help my cause. But thankyou for sharing your knowledge i truly does help explain tons of aspects of what us micro miners do.
Thx again
Glad to hear you found the video helpful.
I can relate
Bro Professor, sir I love all your videos, but there’s just too many damn commercials in this one anyhow Mr. Ralph I do have a question in regards to the formation of nuggets now as I understand gold manifest itself in different forms but what I’m getting at is when it’s bonanza gold and let’s see you have old just 100 pound boulder of quartz and inside it you have Several pounds of gold but it’s distributed like a fine wire going throughout the boulder now here’s my question and road goes down in the river now that gold is malleable and what not will the currents and the forces of nature smash this “”bonanza gold from the boulder into a nugget is that some nuggets form it makes sense to me I’m curious as to what you have to say about that. Also, I’m just very appreciative of what you’ve done for us people explaining giving all your time of the decades of work hard work that you’ve put into this is obvious that you are a prospectors prospector!
No. the river environment does not pound tiny gold into big nuggets. Gold gets rolled up and smoothed, but it only gets smaller. Take a look at this video I did on the formation of large gold nuggets. See: th-cam.com/video/fhIJdj6NbBY/w-d-xo.html
@@ChrisRalph thank you Chris for your reply. I think my question was a little bit misunderstood. I understand what you’re saying but what I don’t understand is when you have let’s say a piece of bonanza gold as I understand it can manifest in the form of a wire, thin millimeter thick wire, running throughout the courts piece part the spelling error. I’m using voice recognition so anyway, I was just wondering if when that piece of quartz that has all that gold in it once the courts weathers away, the gold is still there and there could be a pound of it, but in the form of wire, running throughout the former piece of quartz ,but it’s like a jumbled up tangled piece of fishing string. Would that not get smashed and and crushed by the elements. Thanks again, Chris for your time and effort. I cannot tell you how much you’ve helped my life and how you continue to help my life. There’s not many experts. There’s not many professionals these days there’s not many people that even take me seriously I have a college degree. I have a science mind And just God bless you for doing what you do because it’s such a breath of fresh air also Chris I just want to send you some pictures. I do not want to or desire to get your analysis on them. I don’t want you to identify them for me or anything I just want to send you some pictures of these cool pieces that I found.
@@michaelpaul2581 Gold does form as wires in places.
So, what you are saying we need to figure out how to mine yellow stone! Without getting our face burned off by old faithful?😮
that would be one summary.
I just sent you an email, hope to hear back from you.
Since I do not know your real name, I have no idea if I got your email. I get many requests for help, advice, training, etc. every day.
Thanks from Australia have you book. have a Gpz. 7000
Sounds like you are well prepared and ready to go.