OK, I'm putting together some prospecting stuff. Idea's?

[CIJeep]

So far I've got new detectors, located by pans, picked up a new pick axe and a hand pick axe, couple scoops, a mini-detector for holes and what not, looking to get some clarifiers and perhaps a sluice box. Gonna get another shovel or two, have buckets a few pinch bars, and that's currently where I'm at.

Going to setup a way, short of taking a very small trailer, to carry the prospecting stuff and my fishing stuff, but am looking to any idea's someone may have re:packing, more stuff that is necessary or whatever.

In a sense I'd like to do it the old prospecters way, sling the pick axe, shovel, extra gas tanks on the sides of the jeep and go for it, but at this point I will put it inside, attacked to the front or rear bumpers and if need be make a prosepecting trailer.

Any idea's or picts would be greatly appreciated.

[Gravel Gertie]

Sounds like you have a good start for equipment to prospect. Much of what you need depends on where you prospect: desert, streams, rivers, open face cliffs, nugget hunting, flour gold, etc. I'm guessing, due to your location, that you will be after placer gold and/or nuggets probably in rivers and streams. You will need 1/2 inch classifier, gold pans, a catch pan, magnet for your sluice and a small pocket magnet for your concentrates, small shovel, several 4 or 5 gallon buckets, gold vials (plastic if used on site (glass for display at home), sucker bottle (also known as snifter bottle), small bucket for concentrates (I use a joint compound plastic bucket), and a GPS is helpful.

I strongly suggest you join the GPAA, LDMA, or the 49ers. They are extremely helpful. They have guide books to gold sites, access to equipment, and will help you get started so you don't spend your money on the wrong gear. Plus they have prospecting sites available only to members and hold outings a few times each year where you can learn and ask questions. Maybe even win a prize or get some gold.

Good luck! Have fun! We love prospecting and hope you do too.

[CIJeep]

Thanks GG, I am going to all the places you mentioned above, such is the advatange of living in So Cal. Picking equipment out (electronic) is not the easiest of chores. I've not experimented too much with the new detector as it is raining, but I did find a silver ring in my back yard that no one knew was there.

We have lots of dry desert streams around here and I plan on using clarifiers and buckets until I can get to water.

Thanks for your advice, and I hope to get some books for rock hounding, figured I might as well learn what I can to help me see what I'm looking at while I'm out and about. :)