With the unusually warm weather we've been having here in western Montana, a buddy and I are going prospecting this Friday in the Gold Creek area, east of Missoula. Got the classifiers, pans, sluice and tools ready to go!
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Will do!
One other thing I didn't mention, was the miles (literally) of tailing piles up Gold Creek... They have been there quite a few years, too. Most had 40-60 foot pine trees growing out of them. Just for kicks, we filled half a 5 gallon bucket with material that we classified... Figured it would be good practice material for when I get my recirculating sluice/highbanker. Could be a lot of fun going back with a gold detector....
When you decide to come over this way, get ahold of me.
We only went a couple miles back, Ted. We didn't have a whole lot of time, and it was rather cold and nasty. I Goggle Earth'd it today also and it does look like there is some activity going on. We decided we're going to go back this summer and do a little more prospecting on Rock Creek. I'd love to get over the east side of the divide at some point.
Matt: sounds like you did alright. I haven't been to Rock Creek, but I Google Earth it and it looks like there are quite a few gold mines in that drainage, so there should be some pretty good placer. It looks like there is a lot of private ground up the canyon, but I haven't researched it so I don't know how much is public. I haven't done much prospecting on the west side of the divide, so don't know much about it. Ted
The trip wasn't too bad, aside from the cold temp and rain. We found some flakes up in the Gold Creek area, but nothing to get too excited about. I did find a piece of quartz with gold on it, though. We went over to Rock Creek after we explored the Gold Creek area and had much better luck. We stopped at one stretch of Rock Creek where the shore was sandy. You could see black sands mixed in with the sand and small flakes of gold also. We panned there for a few minutes and then had to get going since Maurice had another commitment to go to that afternoon. You can bet we'll be going back there this summer and going further back on Rock Creek...
Should be a good time Matt
I was talking to the owner our local prospecting shop today (Two Bits Prospecting Supplies) and he said it's a pretty good area... There's even a full scale placer operation up there some where... Like you, I've driven past the off ramp many times and never stopped, so we'll see I guess.
Let us know how your trip turns out. I've driven by the Gold Creek exit off I90 many times, but always in a hurry, and never had a chance to stop. Hopefully the "old timers" left some color of what gave the creek it's name.