Here's an article which predicts gold will go to $5000/Oz soon:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/43396080
I realize that many prospectors really AREN'T in it "for the money" However, with gold values skyrocketing, you might consider rethinking your approach.
Without too much effort, you could fine-tune your skills, techniques and (possibly) your equipment. I am NOT suggesting that you go out and blow a fortune on big, new gear. In truth, many prospectors are equipment-rich and knowledge-poor.
Here are some free (or cheap) and simple things that you can do to increase your "take."
- Bear down on researching the area that you will be working.
- Take a geology course online or at a local college.
- Study the history of gold production in the area you will be working.
- Join a local rockhound group and learn to identify basic rocks and minerals.
- Go over your basic equipment and determine the best way to package and pack it to the site.
- Practice panning until you are FLAWLESS. There's no excuse not to be.
- Get in better shape before you head to the field.
Each of these easy steps can help you earn more of the valuable gold that you're searching for.
Heavy Pans,
faaus
Replies
Very good Faaus,
I would also add that learning how to use the equipment you currently have will help out a whole lot. I see so many people working hard and end up losing more actual gold than they recover more because they simply do not understand the limitations of they equipment they are using and over feed them.
Fine tuning the equipment also helps to recover a lot of the finer gold that can be easily lost by rushing and trying to do to much at a time. I am finding this out the hard way and am getting more gold from my black sands that have been panned out twice already.
I have also tuned my gold pans with a simple coat of chalk board paint and I am able to find and recover gold I had not seen before.
Best of luck, Bill H
Chalk board paint is exactly what the name implies, this paint can turn any surface into a chalk board surface. The paint comes in a couple of colors that include black and green and I puchase it at my local Ace Hardware store for about $8.00 a spray can.
The paint leaves a slight textured surface that the smaller flour gold will sit on easier and by holding the can about twice the recommended distance you can get even more texture for the final coat. I gave mine two coats of this paint and do find and recover a lot more of the very fine flour gold now as the gold is a lot easier to see on the black surface.
I'm not selling anything .
Just waiting until China demands payback and Fort Knox is emptied (if not already).
If nothing happens and our economy improves, hell I'll still have my gold and all the memories that go with finding it.
There's no doubt that part of the reason for gold's value spike is the weak dollar. The article that I referenced explains simple old supply and demand on the world market.
The only thing we can do to help the dollar is to vote wisely in 2012.