Metal detecting for gold has always been my favorite way to look for gold. There are days when I find nothing, and then there are days that have me scream. What do you think this day (Nov 24/2019) brings? Every time I watch this video I get chills and remember the day like it was yesterday. I hope you enjoy https://youtu.be/6DXbvux_mro

One of the things that I do at Goldbay is I will trade you a larger gold nugget for your finer gold flakes and small gold dust. If you want a gold nugget up to 1/2 half ounce in size I will trade you at a ratio of 1.15 point one five g per 1 g of larger gold. If you want a gold nugget that is bigger than a half ounce I will trade you for 1.18 g of fine gold and dust for the bigger gold nugget. Of course the trade-in and will be contingent on the inventory I have on hand. Feel free to make me an offer by texting me (or better yet use Whatsapp!) or calling me at +1-509-951-5604 https://youtu.be/nQwVA69Uq6E

**Unveiling the Splendor of Crystallized Gold: A Prized Treasure** Have you ever seen a crystallized gold specimen? The reactions from people who lay their eyes upon this magnificent mineral are unanimous: "Wow, it's beautiful!" Indeed, these gold specimens resemble a spinning triple seven jackpot from a slot machine, capturing the imagination with their marvelous, splendid, and stunning appearance. For gold enthusiasts and miners like myself, crystallized gold represents the ultimate prize. But what exactly is crystallized gold, and why is it more valuable than regular gold nuggets? Allow me to enlighten you on everything you need to know about this extraordinary form of gold. **Understanding Crystallized Gold** Crystallized gold refers to gold specimens that are typically adorned with quartz and other minerals such as pyrite, arsenopyrite, or chalcopyrite. These rare and captivating natural gold formations make up less than 5% of all gold recovered through mining. In contrast, the majority consists of dust-like particles and tiny pebbles. Beyond their scarcity, these crystalline gold specimens are delicate and exceptionally challenging to extract, adding to their elevated mining costs. However, their distinguishing feature lies in their vibrant color and crystallized shape, setting them apart from other forms of natural gold. This uniqueness has garnered high regard from gemstone collectors worldwide. California, often referred to as "The Golden State," has notably produced some of the world's finest gold specimens, particularly through lode mines that yield exquisite crystallized gold within quartz crystals. **The Formation of Crystallized Gold** Gold and quartz are frequently found together due to their complementary chemical compositions. They naturally form deep within the Earth's crust when both elements exist in a liquid state that cools and solidifies over time. The crystallized shape of gold is a result of liquid gold becoming trapped within the cracks and veins of cooler quartz formations. Hard rock mining operations unearth these quartz deposits, which are then extracted and transformed into exquisite crystallized gold specimens. While gold found with quartz requires processing to become a crystallized gold specimen, the art of properly prepping a gold-bearing quartz is known to only a select few. To address this knowledge gap, I created a video blog that explains and demonstrates the process of "How to Prep a Gold Quartz Specimen." Feel free to check out this blog titled "Preparing a Gold Quartz Specimen (Gold Continuity)." **Unraveling the Value of Crystallized Gold** Understanding the value of gold can be quite misconstrued, often leading people to believe that it has a limited supply. In reality, gold is abundant, concealed beneath rocks and soil in mountains around the world. The true costliness of this precious metal stems from the economic factors associated with its extraction. However, of all the gold ever produced, only 5% can be classified as gold nuggets, with crystallized gold constituting an even smaller fraction. While the bulk of gold prices is determined by size and weight, the value of crystallized gold lies in its shape, uniqueness, and quality. Considering the economic costs of extracting this precious metal, coupled with its rarity compared to other forms of gold, crystallized gold holds greater appeal for high-end gemstone collectors worldwide. **Crystallized Gold for Sale** We proudly present a collection of the finest, most exquisite, and rarest gold crystals extracted from various mines in California. For detailed information about each crystal gold specimen, please visit the following link: "Crystallized Gold." Uncover the allure and splendor of crystallized gold—a treasure that captivates the hearts of collectors and enthusiasts alike. The crystallized gold is now for sale as "Goldbay Private Reserve" gold and available exclusively on motherlodegold.com

Rarity of gold is misunderstood by many of us. We though that something is rare because it has a small amount of supply. That is true but not necessary can be said to gold. For example, after 22 months of working at this mine, we have finally detected a gold. Some of you will think that gold is rare because over such a long period of time of searching we only have detected it by now. Well, rarity and value of this gold are measured differently. How, let me break it down to you. https://www.tiktok.com/@mlgdave/video/7066221294148357422 Gold In Our History Gold is one of humanity's oldest treasures that has been very valuable. In early days in our history, this precious metals are used as a medium of exchange or as a currency. But gold keeps on reinventing itself with time. Now gold is not just a status symbol or used as medium of exchange, it is also a decoration, a garnish, an industrial mover and many many more. Then we always thought that gold is a rare precious metal, a rare treasure that everybody is dying to get. But that is not necessary true, because gold in real life is abundant. This metals can be found probably in all mountains around the world hiding underneath those rocks and soils. So the conception of it's rarity has been completely messed up. Let's dig down deeper into why is gold considered rare when it's found everywhere. Theories On Where Gold Came From Do you ever wonder where gold came from? Popular theories are everywhere in the internet. But there are two scientific explanation on how gold got into earth. The first one is that gold were form through cosmic explosions resulting to nuclear fusion creating atoms of gold and other minerals. The second one is the collision of neutron stars that results in a gamma-ray burst that created the atoms of gold. Both of this theories resulting into a massive shower of metal-rich meteors that may have pounded us in the past. Scientist suggest that there are asteroids lurking into the deeps of outer space and have signs of gold elements. This theories are amazingly controversial. What is commonly known to us today is that gold peppered throughout the Earth's crust and mantle. They are carried by an extremely hot liquid and semi-liquid rock hot water that dissolves gold deep underground and brings it closer to the surface. Then they are weathered away into little bits and carried downstream by rivers. Why Humans Wants Gold So Desperately The biggest single use of gold is jewelry. It accounts for almost half of all gold ever mine. Approximately 90,000 metric tons of golds are used for decorations and jewelries. Another is the industrial used were gold is manufacture for electronics. Gold is a highly efficient conductor in which it can carry tiny currents and remain noncorrodible. Even in dentistry and medicine gold is useful. Specially in finance and investment where golds are used as a medium of exchange and as a currency. Around 30% - 40% of this are use on that category. Gold’s diverse uses accumulate the increased in demand for more. Large Scale Mining vs Small Scale Mining Large scale mining involves company with many employees. They mine at one or two large sites and stays until the minerals and metals are completely excavated. Because most golds comes from hard rock mining. Large scale mining dig up and process the veins of gold while they're still in the earth using heavy machineries and tons of workers. It's difficult and dangerous work that can easily endanger the lives of its employee. Chemicals are used to locate gold. Often used are cyanide and mercury that can leak and pollute groundwaters, rivers and lake. Mining can scar the land for years to come while demand for gold keep on increasing. Small scale mining usually involves a small group of people. They search together for sites which they think will yield gold or another valuable metal or mineral. The demand for gold drives millions of people around the world to engage in smaller scale mining. People who works can be expose to mercury poisoning among other hazard things or accident that could happen. Sometimes luck can give them the equivalent of their hardship. More often after a day of digging and sifting, hundreds of pounds of earth have been moved, yet only little amount of possible gold is brought home. Worst is that they find nothing. https://youtu.be/0uAoTTUKzDc Conclusion About Rarity of Gold Generally, it's an industry with a reputation for crushing and very long odds. This are the reasons why gold is perceived to be rare metals. The difficulty to mine at any real volume in any given time. For every ton of rocks and soil processed at an average deposit, you can expect about 3 out of 100 an ounce of gold. That is far less than mining of other minerals. The truth is gold supply is often more about economics than gold volume underneath earth. Rarity of gold is defined by it's difficulty to mine and the cost of each companies mining operation. That is what gold scarcity means and that is why gold is so valuable.

Unlocking the Secrets of Gold Encased in Quartz: A Prospector's Guide Greetings! I'm Dave Varabioff, a lifelong gold enthusiast, and I've had an unwavering passion for gold since my first gold panning adventure with my father at the age of 11. Throughout my prospecting journey, I've gained valuable insights, and today I want to shed light on one crucial aspect: what to do when you encounter gold encased with quartz. Allow me to delve deeper into this fascinating topic. The Origins of Gold: A Stellar Connection Contrary to popular belief, gold was not formed or created on Earth. The conditions necessary for the nuclear fusion required to produce gold particles did not exist during the formation of our planet. Instead, gold found its way to Earth from stars that exploded in the early stages of the universe. These celestial remnants, carried by meteors, eventually impacted our planet, resulting in the presence of gold. Gold exists on Earth in various forms, but its rarity is astounding. Experts estimate that only 5% of the total gold on our planet has been discovered. Furthermore, within that 5%, only a mere 5% manifests as visible gold that can be observed with the naked eye. Extracting Gold from the Earth If you're reading this article, it's safe to assume you share a fascination with gold. Let's explore the methods by which gold is typically found. You may already be familiar with gold panning and metal detecting, which are effective techniques for recovering placer gold. This type of gold was once encased in quartz veins or other host rocks, eventually making its way to the surface through natural erosion processes. Over time, these rocks disintegrate, allowing the liberated gold to be carried by ancient and modern waterways. Through the forces of tumbling and erosion, the gold becomes smooth and rounded, making it the sought-after treasure many enthusiasts strive to find. Another type of gold found in its original host rock is known as finely disseminated gold. These large ore bodies contain microscopic particles of gold. Global mining companies employ extensive excavation and crushing processes, reducing thousands of tons of rock to a fine powder-like consistency. The gold particles, invisible to the naked eye, are then extracted chemically and transformed into gold bars used for various purposes, including jewelry and electronics. Additionally, there is coarse gold, which can be found in small veins within quartz or serpentine and other host rocks. These veins may contain larger pockets of visible gold, taking on diverse forms. One prevalent type is crystalline gold, characterized by its bright yellow color and random, non-crystalline structure. Crystalline gold, although rarer, exhibits geometric shapes and crystal structures, making it the most valuable and sought-after type of gold. Unveiling the Value of Natural Gold Now that we've explored the different types of gold and their origins, it's essential to address a common misconception. On social media platforms and various online articles, you may come across advice suggesting the crushing and panning of rocks containing gold. However, this advice can be detrimental to the value of natural collectible specimens. With over four decades of experience in gold prospecting, I've dedicated the past five years to mining the rarest and most valuable form of gold: crystallized gold. During my journey, I've also purchased gold from individuals who possess this extraordinary type of gold. Often, the true potential of rocks containing crystallized gold lies hidden, and it takes the expertise of knowledgeable individuals to maximize their value. I recently acquired a rock from a prospector for $70,000, containing 5 ounces of gold. While this may seem extravagant, the intact specimen holds significantly higher value for museums and collectors.

Gold Pan – Prepare Your Gold Pan For Its First Use How to cure a gold pan: There are several different types of gold pans, all made from different materials. Originally, gold pans were made of steel or copper; this of course refers to the modern gold pan. Perhaps ancient man used bronze, stone, or copper. These were metals that they were familiar with. There is little evidence on exactly how ancient man procured gold. In this article I will outline a few methods of curing the pans so as to increase the recovery of fine gold particles. The steel pan which was popular in the 1800, which was actually utilized much earlier perhaps even as early as the 16th century, needed to be cured as to enhance the fine gold recovery. Often the pans were oiled in order to keep them from rusting, this often was done during manufacturing. Oiling a pan will cause the fine gold to float out of the pan. This floating is a result of the surface tension created at the surface by the thin layer of oil. Often an area contained mostly fine or flour gold, so having your payday float away was cause for concern. Often the old miners would take the steel pan and heat it up over a fire of hardwood (if possible) to burn off the oils that were present. Pine could actually introduce oils, but if heated up red hot and quenched in water, would serve the same purpose. Soon the miners were using copper pans as well, and the same problem occurred. By heating them up and burning off the oils the same result. Miners also soon learned that by then coating the pan with quicksilver or mercury, as it is known today, they could capture all of the flour gold with very little effort. They didn’t know the harmful effects of mercury in those days. I am sure many a miner succumbed to the effects of Mercury poisoning. This occurred as a result of both coming into physical contact with the mercury as well as inhaling the fumes when they burned off the mercury from the gold that it captured. Mercury will adhere to gold due to the fact that mercury can have two electron valence states +1 or +2, so it readily accepts covalent mercury to mercury bond and can form oxide, halide, and sulfide bonds with other elements. Gold has an additional valence electron (negative charge) so a strong bond with mercury will occur. This bond can only be broken by either chemical means or by the addition of heat (called decomposition reactions), which changes its oxidation state. Mercury should be treated with extreme caution, so don’t try this at home kids. That brings us to the modern plastic, (or cross linked long chain carbons), gold pans. These pans are quite nice to use. Their relative light weight and innovative design is a vast improvement over steel or copper. Most of these pans are produced by injection molding equipment. The manufacturer will use either oil based or Teflon sprays to aid in removing the pan from its mold. This forms a layer on the pan that can be hard to remove, there is a way to do this easily. I start by taking some rubbing alcohol and a paper towel, cleaning the pan inside and out. I then boil some water and add a surfactant (dish soap). This mixture is poured into the pan and swirled around then dumped out. That should leave your pan ready to use. I will also use some surfactant in the panning tub until the pan is broke in from the mechanical action of the material affecting the surface of the pan. There you have it, by using some common sense and a small amount of effort you can recover more of the fine flour gold from your favorite prospecting site. Just remember that a new pan will most likely have some sort of residue left on it from the manufacturing process and should not be ignored. As a final thought, to those who love to prospect, keep our right to use the lands intact by respecting the land and support those who lobby to keep our rights intact. Happy prospecting!

I went gold panning for the first time was when I was 11 yrs old. My dad had been a prospector and hunter for as long as I could remember. So, it was the summer I was going to turn 12 that my dad said, “alright, lets go”, and I asked “where?”…….”you’ll see” was his reply. We jump into our rusty, white, 4-door, 1965 Mercury Comet heading towards Spencer Hill, out of Grand forks B.C. and at the top of the hill we turned off onto a dirt road. I was really curious. We drove for about 2 miles over a very rocky road and I was thinking dad was crazy. Finally we came to a dead end and there were three big 4X4 trucks there, and I remember thinking “we got there in a car”. I asked dad “where are we” and he told me that we were at May Creek. I was wondering what we were doing there and when he opened the trunk I knew!! There on the floor of the trunk were two REALLY old, rusty gold pans, a small wick broom and a small army shovel. We were going gold panning!! I was excited as I grabbed the gold pan that was my size and we started walking up the creek. I could hear a motor and as we got closer I could see three “really old guys” digging into the side of the hill and putting dirt in a triangular shaped, wooden box that had a sluice box attached to it. I could see all the stuff was homemade except for the pumps in the creek. I was in awe at how much stuff they had and how many huge boulders they had moved. Dad introduced me to Rudy, Al, and Jim and they were all friendly and “pleased to meet cha”. After a little chit chat they wished us luck and we went about 200 feet further along the hill before dad said “ok, this is where we will dig”. He showed me that the dirt was in layers and I was able to see what he meant and at that time I had no idea that dirt wasn’t just dirt. He explained to me that the overburden was junk and didn’t “carry”. We had to get down on top of bedrock and to the pay layer of pea gravel. I was able to see that someone had already done a lot of the overburden removal and saw exactly what dad was talking about. There was a layer of gravel about 4 inches thick on top of a layer of clay about 1 inch thick on top of the sharp shale bedrock. So dad showed my how to dig and what to put in my gold pan and I set about digging, scraping and sorting the material. Dad told me any rock over 1 inch we didn’t need to put in the pan and that I was to scrape the clay off of any of the bigger rocks and put it in the pan. I remember the shale bedrock was sharp and that we had a flat screwdriver to poke and prod and break the shale apart to get into the cracks where dad said the real pay streak could be. Finally after what seemed a long time and very hard work, I had a pan full of paydirt to take down to the creek. Down at the creek dad said “well son, your gonna get wet, so you may as well get wet” and he sat down on a rock by the creek and put his legs and feet right in the water. So I did the exact same thing. He then set about showing me that first we place the pan in the creek flat and let water flow into the pan so we can start washing rocks. The first thing I noticed was how cold the water was…brrr….but being 11 yrs old, out with my dad, and about to pan my first pan I wasn’t about to complain, and didn’t. I just kept following what dad was doing. He would pick out bigger rocks and with gravel in his other hand he would “scrub” the clay off the bigger ones, and then throw it in the creek. So wash, scrub, chuck we did until we had mostly smaller rocks in the pan. We then set about washing the clay out by keeping the gold pan in the water and carefully swirling the material around allowing the flow of the stream to wash the clay and mud away. Once that was done, dad then showed me how to shake the pan back and forth with the gold pan tilted slightly forward to allow the lighter rocks that come to the top fall of the end of the pan. Dad explained to me that I could do this pretty quickly as gold and gold nuggets being really heavy sink to the bottom of the pan as long as I keep the material loose. He showed me how after shaking the pan that the finer heavier material settles to the bottom and packs tight. I learned how to loosen the material and to continue to wash away the gravel to get down to the black sand and gold! So what seemed like a long long time dad showed me how to “finish pan” the material which was a gentler shaking of the gold pan and gentle washing of the black sand. Once I got down to where it looked like just black dirt dad swirled the pan to see what I got. Wholly cow, there I was 11 yrs old and 5 nuggets jumped right out at me!! I let out a yelp and couldn’t believe the baseball sized gold nuggets (ok, I’m 11 and it’s my first pan so they looked like baseballs when in fact they were match head sized nugget. And along with the 5 nuggets were a bunch of smaller gold flake. I was jumping up and down asking “is that gold, is that real gold?” and dad said yep and I could see the look of pride and happiness in him. I was hooked at that moment in time and have never ever lost the passion for gold, the gold fever, the gold lust or the gold adventure. I am forever grateful for my dad introducing me to this incredible hobby of gold panning and prospecting and since that first day I have traveled the world literally and will post more stories about that. That is how it all started.