Rocky Mountain Prospectors &

Treasure Hunters Newsletter

The News
v. 20, n. 04 April 2016

Going for the Gold

Visit RMPTH On The Internet At http://rmpth.com

Contents
1
2
4
8
9
10
11
12
14
16
17
18
19

Rules For Where To Find Gold

About The News
Find Of The Month
Boulder County Colorado
Silver Bar Hunt

Calendar of Events
Calendars
Map, Compass & GPS Clinic
Bill's Tips For The Beginning Detectorist
Trading Post
I Have Seen The Elephant
2016 Schedule of Events
Contact List

Rules For Where To

Find Gold
Rules for Where Find Gold & What to Look for
When U are a Newbie; Gold Prospecting in the
Best Places Using Gold Panning
John R Wilsdon
Updated on December 24, 2015

his hub will convey information that I, an amateur prospector, have learned about the location
of placer gold. Believe it or not, it took me quite
some time to figure out how to increase my odds of finding placer gold. Due to the fact that discovering gold is
an exciting prospect, people frequently delve into the
activity simply digging, most often near a bank, at a
claim where gold has been found before. Usually it is
after several trips that the neophyte realizes that there
must be more to finding gold (even at a location that has
produced gold) than simply digging. Well, the good news
is that there is more to it.

There are plenty of great articles on "how to find gold."

The emphasis here will be, as I said, the amateur prospector, but also a prospector freshly interested in finding gold, and on a budget. Let's face it, mining equipment is rather expensive. I have found that one can have
a lot of fun searching for gold with little more than a
pan, 14 gallons of water, a tub to hold water, several
buckets, a whisk brush, and a snuffer bottle. Are you
going to find as much as someone who owns a $600 dry
washer? Probably not, but there are a few people
who own such equipment who do not even know what I
have learned.

"Banking establishments are more dangerous

than standing armies."
- Thomas Jefferson

And to make the introduction a bit longer (sorry) this

information is for people who have decided to join a
prospecting club. When you join, you are able to go to
areas that the club has claimed. These areas historically
(Continued on page 3)

About The News

he News is the official newsletter of the Rocky

Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters
Club (RMPTH): our mailing address is 278
Sierra Vista Drive, Fort Collins, CO. 80524.
Opinions expressed in The News are those of the
authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the
club or its members. Publication of information in
The News constitutes no guarantee of accuracy. Use
of any information found in this publication is at the
sole risk of the user. Neither RMPTH, nor its coordinators, nor The News, nor its editors or contributors
assume any liability for damages resulting from use
of information in this publication.
Submissions

Articles, letters and short items of interest on prospecting, detecting and treasure hunting topics are
welcome and encouraged. All items submitted for
publication are subject to editing. Submittals for publication may be made in writing or, preferably, in ASCII text format on IBM-compatible disk. If you have
questions about a submission, please contact the editor for information.

Advertising
Classified advertising for topic related items is free
for non-business ads. See the Trading Post section
for donation pricing of camera-ready display ads. Donations for ad makeup from sketches, etc., are available on request.
About RMPTH
RMPTH is an independent nonprofit hobbyist social
club, open to anyone interested in prospecting, detecting or treasure hunting. Its purpose is to provide an
educational and social forum of mutual benefit for
members. RMPTH holds a monthly meeting and conducts various field outings, as well as offers special
presentations and seminars. Active participants have
voting privileges. The monthly newsletter, The News,
is readily available on the Internet. Annual dues are
$25 payable in June. Applicants joining in any month
other than June pay partial dues of $2 per month for
months remaining prior to following June plus $1.

Copyright
Unless otherwise noted, other nonprofit groups
may reprint or quote from any articles appearing in
The News without prior permission, provided that
proper author and publication credits are given and
that a copy of the publication in which the article appears is sent at no cost to RMPTH at the above mailing address. Clubs wishing to exchange newsletters
with RMPTH are invited to send a copy of their newsletter together with an exchange request.

CLUB MEMBERS TAKE NOTE

Club Hats, Shirts, Jackets, & Patches are again available.
Ask for info at the club meetings to purchase your club items!
We will be running a 50/50 Drawing at each club meeting. At the end of each
meeting Tom will split the pot 50/50 and a lucky member will go home with more
money than they came with.!
The remaining 50% goes to the club treasury.
Page 2

The News, April 2016

(Continued from page 1)

have produced placer gold. For a newbie to simply go

out into the wilderness to try to find gold is overwhelming. You need to know something about geology, you
need to make sure you aren't on someone else's claim,
you need to know how to use a GPS system or be VERY
good with a compass, and you need the experience of
an outdoorsman. Joining a club eliminates these considerations since you can go to the claims with a group, return another day with confidence that you are in the
right place, and begin to learn the steps I am going to tell
you about.
The first piece of information you
need to understand is that the
placement of gold in stream beds is
based upon the speed and volume
of water that can run in rivers,
stream beds, or creeks. Gold is 19
times heavier than an equivalent
volume of water. It is about 6 times
heavier than the solid material
flowing down from higher elevations in rapid water as a result of
melting snow pack and rain.
Realizing how heavy gold is will
lead you to the next fact about gold
depositing. When rapid moving
heavy waters pick up gold flake or
nuggets and takes them down a
watercourse, anything that slows
the current down gives the gold a
chance to settle out and sink to the
bottom. When you get to the site of
your claim, many times near a
stream bed or ancient waterway,
look upstream. Analyze the twists
and bends as water would come
toward you. One of the first things
you look for is some kind of obstruction to the flow of water. An
example that all prospectors with a
minimum of experience know of is
big boulders. If you see a big boulder in the stream, especially if it is
near a bend, it has slowed water. If you have looked at
rocks in a flowing steam, no doubt you have seen eddies
or swirling areas on the DOWNSIDE of rocks sticking up
out of the water. That is because the water has slowed.
As gold flake rounds the boulder it is heavy enough that
the current no longer keeps it afloat, and it sinks to the
bottom where it collects. Rocks under the water can act
as barriers and stop gold flake also, but for a newbie,
collecting material on the downside of an underwater
obstruction is probably a bit beyond the true beginner's
capability. So one place to start digging is the downside
of a protruding big rock. The same is true of a tree with
a sizable trunk which may be growing in a dry riverbed.
Here we run into an ethical issue. If you are digging by
The News, April 2016

the trunk you run the risk of damaging the tree. I follow
this rule (and I have found flake behind trees). I dig but
do not cut big roots. After I have removed material to
wash, I fill in the hole. The government expects you to fill
in your holes on federal claims, but not forgetting to fill a
hole near a tree is extra important. In the Southwest
where I explore, shade is an expensive commodity. As
the leader of our club has often said, "A little shade from
a healthy tree is more valuable than gold."
Next, you must realize the common course of gold down
a waterway.
Think of a steam wandering down
from a mountainous area to lower
elevations. As the water makes its
way, bends are created. When gold
flake hits an INSIDE BEND, it
slows down. Frequently you will
also find other heavy materials that
have fallen out and formed a bar.
The upside of a bar on an inside
bend is a very good place to sample. If the waterway is dry, focus on
where the water has caused a
bend. The OUTSIDE OF A BEND
would be the area not protruding
in to the stream (see drawing above
right). If you see a lot of material
like rocks and gravel on that shore,
that might also be a good place to
dig. In a previous article about
panning at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, I found one
flake and a tiny nugget (a small
piece of quartz with a flake of gold
attached to it). However, more often than not, the inside bend of a
stream bed is the primo first place
to look for gold.
The next point I want to mention
has to do with the size of gold flake
in a waterway. Since gold is heavy,
once settling out it will work its
way down through sand and gravel
until it hits bedrock, or another substance referred to as
false bedrock. In Arizona, I have found that digging in an
arroyo you frequently will hit something pretty hard. But
if you hit it with gusto with a pick or shovel, the material
will crumble.
That is composite rock (rocks that have essentially been
cemented over geologic time with calcium and other minerals to form a very hard continuous crust) forming a
false bedrock. When you get to something like this, start
digging out sideways and moving material away. The material coating the false bedrock is what you want. That is
where the gold stops its journey through the stream bed.
(Continued on page 5)
Page 3

Find of the Month

Winners
March, 2016
Most Valuable Coin:
Tom Marschall 1964 Quarter
Oldest Coin:
Betsy Emond - 1919 Buffalo
Nickel
Largest Raw Gold: No Entry
Most Raw Gold: No Entry
Best Bottle: Mike Noll - Small
Bottle
Best Jewelry:
Tom Marschall Silver/
Tanzenite Ring
Most Unique Find (Excavated):
Barb Schuldt Air Pistol
Token: Mike Noll - Wooden
Nickel
Rock, Gem, Mineral & Fossil:
Mike Noll - Quartz Specimen

Gold Glossary
Long Tom - Similar to a sluice box, but
longer and skinnier.

TREASURE HUNTERS
CODE OF ETHICS

I WILL respect private property and do no treasure

hunting without the owner's permission.
I WILL fill all excavations.
I WILL appreciate and protect our heritage of natural
resources, wildlife, and private property.

Plenty of finds this month, but

wheres the gold!

I WILL use thoughtfulness, consideration, and courtesy

at all times.
I WILL build fires in designated or safe places only.
I WILL leave gates as found.
I WILL remove and properly dispose of any trash that I
find.
I WILL NOT litter.
I WILL NOT destroy property, buildings, or what is left
of ghost towns and deserted structures.
I WILL NOT tamper with signs, structural facilities, or
equipment.

Page 4

The News, April 2016

(Continued from page 3)

Using a whisk brush and a dustpan, save that material

for panning. While whisking, notice any cracks or crevices which collect gold. Whisk them out or use a miners
pick to crack the sides and sweep out material for panning.
Now a consideration for using your time efficiently. Most
of us have a limited amount of time to prospect because
most of us have other responsibilities (even though the
thought of living the life of a prospector may seem inviting). If you dig sparingly before you bring material back
to your camp site for panning in the tub, you are using
time to wash your material in the pursuit of gold. If you
have already sampled these prime locations and found
some flake, your time is better spent gathering "dirt". I
usually bring dirt home (or concentrate I have not completely panned, ie black sand). I can do my final washing
at my home at my leisure while having more material to
pan.

Mineral Specimen Identification

As part of their community outreach, Metropolitan State
College of Denver, Dep. of Earth & Atmospheric
Science, Professional Services Division offers FREE
MINERAL SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION. Participants
will aid in the education of future Geoscientists!
Details and specimen submittal forms with instructions
can be downloaded
from:
SPECIAL OFFER FREE MINERAL SPECIMEN
http://college.earthscienceeducation.net/MINPET/
MINID.pdf

I only mention this if you really are interested in bringing

home as much gold flake as you can. In the beginning, I
couldn't wait to pan it and see the gold. Then I would
snuff it. What I brought home was a snuffer bottle of material that I panned (which isn't much).
Nevertheless, I found finding the bright yellow metal
right away was more rewarding than bringing dirt home.
Now that I have satisfied that feeling of elation on seeing
"color", I bring dirt home, which theoretically should
contain more gold!
Now for another location to find gold flake (and maybe a
nugget- it happens). I have noticed that if you are at an
inside bend and you see a good amount of grass growing
above, digging around that grass can be profitable. The
grass acts as a sift and the heavy gold falls to the roots.
Usually the flake you find there is very small (fine, sometimes referred to as oat gold), but there can be quite a
bit of it. Of course, no rule for prospecting is perfect, but
all of this gives you good places to sample and then dig
(Continued on page 6)

Refreshment Volunteers
April Fred Sugden
May Steve McNeill
June Anne & Ray
July Virgil & Linda Kapperman
August D, B & M
September Stan Koleski
October David Longmore
November Dick & Sharon French
The News, April 2016

Property Wanted
For Detector Hunt
RMPTH is looking for private property on which to hold
an organized club detector hunt. Obviously, it would be
most ideal if this property is known to have seen some
past historical activity. If you have such property or
know of someone who does, please contact Rick
Mattingly to plan a club field outing event.

Page 5

(Continued from page 5)

May all your club claims be rich with gold!

for gold at a club claim.

I have mentioned sampling a few times. When you sample you take material and pan it to definitely determine if
gold exists. Mark that spot and come back to it or
choose to dig there first. Most experienced prospectors
will take an area and sample in several odds-on places,
choosing to do their digging where they find the most
flake. Others dig enthusiastically as soon as they find a
sample with gold. When you start to prospect, I figure it
is whatever you want to do.

http://hubpages.com/education/Where-to-Find-Gold-ifYou-are-a-Newbie-Gold-Prospecting-the-Best-PlacesUsing-Gold-Panning

I think that this gives the first time amateur prospector

information that will prove important on a first outing
with a gold prospecting club.
You can obtain this level of info just by talking to the
other club members, but that can be hard since you have
not already made friends. After a couple outings you will
have made friends and shared information. Usually
there is a club leader who is also a valuable
source of information. From then on, you will be amazed
at what you learn!

Page 6

The News, April 2016

The only difference between a

tax man and a
taxidermist is that
the taxidermist
leaves the skin.
-- Mark Twain

Hidden Safe Found

Hidden Safe Found In 200 Year Old House Is

Filled With Cash and Rare records
They say every house has a story. But not all owners
are as lucky as one Reddit user who found a BIG
surprise in their home.

Door Prize Donors For March

Panning DVD - Darrell Koleber

Copper Specimen - Darrell Koleber
Camo Bag - Tom Marschall
Eagle 1OZ Copper Round - Tim
Coatman
RMPTH Mug - Tim Coatman
1937 Buffalo Nickel - Mike Noll
1937 Buffalo Nickel - Mike Noll
RMPTH Patch - RMPTH Stores

The News, April 2016

Page 7

Boulder County
Colorado
by Tom Ashworth

oulder County ranks 9th among Colorado's

gold producing counties. Boulder County has
produced more than 1,000,000 ounces of gold.
Most of that production came from lode mines.

county. The Grand Island- Caribou district had a total

production between 1932-59, of 10,006 ounces.
There are numerous area lead-silver mines that produced a by-product of gold. The Cardinal and Eldora
mines are in the area and produced lode gold.
Jamestown
Jamestown is in the Central district. Nine miles
northwest of Boulder there were many area mines.
Lefthand Creek, north of Gold Hill, Bummers Gulch,
Coon Trail, North Beaver and South Boulder Creeks,
southeast of Caribou contain placer gold. James
Creek above Jamestown contains placer gold. Central
Gulch, west of Jamestown contains placer gold. Upper Fourmile Creek, northwest of Sugarloaf contains
placer gold. It had a total production of 207,000 gold
ounces. There are many area mines that produced
gold in pyrite and telluride minerals. The
Jamestown, Gold Hill
and Ward area mines
all produced lode gold.

Boulder
Northwest of Boulder 3-8 miles is the Gold Hill
Sugarloaf district. This district is about 12 square
miles and had
a total production of 412,000
ounces 18591959. In the
area creek
beds, terraces,
Nederland
benches, etc.
North of Nederland on
you can find
Route 160 toward
placer gold
Ward, turn east onto
over 3,000
the Sugarloaf - Sunset
ounces have
road for 7 miles to the
been produced.
Oregon Mine. This
Gold Hill Mine,
mine produced gold in
largest prosulfide ores.
ducer, including several adWard
joining mines
The Ward district is 9produced lode
13 miles northwest of
gold and silver.
Boulder. It covered 12
The old camps
Boulder County Stage. Typed paper on back reads: "The Half-Way House, just
square miles in headabove Boulder Falls in Boulder Canon, about 10 miles from the town of Boulder. As waters of Lefthand and
of Sugarloaf,
the caption on the face of the photo indicates, the establishment catered to stage Fourmile Creeks. The
Rowena, Sapassengers and other wayfarers and had stable facilities for the stage teams, which old camps of Sunset
lina, and Sunwere often changed at this point. The buildings have long since been razed, and
shine are great
and Copper Rock,
only those who knew the spot would be able to point out where they once stood.
places to exmore than 50 lode
The date of the photograph is not known. The photographer, J. B. Sturtevant, of
plore. There
mines in area, had a
Boulder, was a picturesque character who wore his hair long, and often dressed in total production of
are many area
fringed buckskins. He claimed to be an intimate of Buffalo Bill, and called himself
mines that pro172,000 ounces of lode
"Rocky Mountain Joe."
duced lode gold
gold. The Niwot and
and silver.
Columbia mines were
Southwest of Boulder 4 miles to Magnolia, reached by
the largest producers of lode gold. In east part of dissteep grades, numerous high-grade mines that protrict, many mines produced gold in tellurides.
duced lode gold in tellurides. The total production of
130,000 ounces was recorded. West of Boulder 17

miles and 4 miles Northwest of Nederland, is the

Grand Island-Caribou district in southwest part of

Before You Buy That Metal Detector Handbook Check:

http://www.mdhtalk.org/articles/before-you-buy-hb/before-you-buy-handbook.pdf
Page 8

The News, April 2016

Silver Bar Hunt

RMPTH member Paul Mayhak is running another Club
Treasure Hunt! This time around the prize is Two Solid
Silver One-Ounce Bars. Paul has donated one of the
bars and the club is furnishing the other.
Each month a new clue will be provided verbally at the
club meeting. The new clues will then be added to the
next months newsletter. Meeting attendees will then be
the first to get the newest clue.
The metallic target you are looking for is buried so it will
require a metal detector to locate. This metal container
will contain instructions for claiming the Silver Bars. Put
the clues together and claim the prize!

CLUES

34 Ounce nugget recovered by a private property mining

operation in the Rock Creek Drainage at South Pass
Wyoming in the 1990s.

1. The target is buried somewhere in Fort Collin.

2. East side, west side, all about town.

** NEWS **
This Treasure Hunt is now over. The treasure
target has been recovered by RMPTH member Ray
Hettinger. That was one remarkable case of
deduction and luck. Way to go Ray!

A placer mining claim is normally 20 acres, generally measuring 660 by 1,320 feet. The long
direction of the claim is usually oriented parallel
to the stream. Remember, valid claims may exist with no visible markers. If there is an error in
the location description, the marker on the
ground rules.

You are a detectorist

if you fill your holes.
But ........
You are a vandal if you
do not!
The News, April 2016

Page 9

Calendar of Events
April Meeting
Wednesday, April6. We will meet at the Pulliam Building in downtown Loveland at 6:00PM. Refer to the
adjoining map for directions.
Meeting Agenda
6:00 - 7:00 Social Hour & Finds Program
7:00 - 7:30 Business, Announcements & Find of
the Month Program
7:30 - 7:45 Break
7:45 - 9:00 "Gold Recovery Using The Gold
Wheel By RMPTH member Darrell Koleber.

Visit RMPTH On The Internet At

http://rmpth.com

RMPTH DUES
RMPTH is an unincorporated Social Club with
no income generated. All
expenses are covered by
$25 annual dues. Members are requested to
consider minor donations
at each monthly meeting
to cover refreshments.

MAP TO THE MEETING PLACE

Pulliam Community Building
545 Cleveland Avenue, Loveland, Colorado

Directions:
The Pulliam Community Building is situated on the west side of Cleveland Avenue in Loveland,
Colorado. Park at the rear of the building (west side). Entry to the meeting room is from
the doorway on the south side of the building (not the main entrance on Cleveland Avenue!).
Page 10

The News, April 2016

April 2016
Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

1
Fort Collins Rockhounds Gem &
Mineral Show

RMPTH Finds Program

& Social 6:00P
RMPTH Meeting 7:00P

Fort Collins Rockhounds Gem &

Mineral Show

10

11

12

13

Sat

2
Fort Collins Rockhounds Gem &
Mineral Show

9
Grasslands Detector
Hunt 9:00A-2:00P

14

15

RMPTH Board Meeting

6:00P

16
Map Compass GPS
Clinic 9:00A-12:00P

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Sat

May 2016
Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

RMPTH Finds Program

& Social 6:00P
RMPTH Meeting 7:00P

10

11

7
Prospecting & Detecting Clinic at
Lions Park 9:00A12:00P

12

13

14

RMPTH Board Meeting

6:00P

Mothers Day

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

25

26

27

28

Armed Forces Day

22
29

23

24

30

31

Memorial Day

The News, April 2016

Page 11

The Kelsey Lake Diamond

Mine, located in northern
Larimer County, Colorado, was the only producing diamond mine in
North America. During
1996 and 1997 the Kelsey
Lake Mine produced hundreds of diamonds, including three of the largest gem quality diamonds
ever recovered in the
United States -- 28.3, 28.3
and 16.3 carats.

Map, Compass & GPS Clinic

On Saturday, April 16, 2016 RMPTH member Rick
Mattingly will present a clinic on the use of USGS
Topo Maps, Compass and GPS Units. Knowledge of
proper use of these items are critical to keeping
yourself located in the wild. This knowledge is also
extremely useful in completing research to find that
hidden mine, ghost town, etc. that we are all looking
for.
Please join Rick at the Allnutt Family Center in Fort
Collins, 650 W. Drake Road, from 9:00am to 12:00pm
for this clinic. The meeting room is located at the
south end of the Allnutt building nearest Drake Road.
If you have any of the items mentionedUSGS Topo
Map, Compass or GPS Unitplease bring them.
A donation of $3 will be collected at the door to pay
for room rental. Now thats cheap learnin!
Reservations are required! Sign up at the April club
meeting or Ricks contact info may be found in the
Contact List at the rear of this newsletter.
See you there - If you can
find this secret location with
your GPS!

RMPTH Field Outing Statement

NOTE: The Coordinators and participants stay in touch
and continue to review and plan upcoming presentations
and outings for the year on a monthly basis. Our editor
Rick Mattingly needs timely event information for each
issue of The News. Please get information about any particular event to him by the 15th of the month to meet the
printing deadline for the next issue.
Planned trips, outings, activities, and meeting programs
are in the newsletter and on line at the clubs website.
Planning is a work in progress and additional outings and
activities are added and sometimes deleted on an ongoing basis. Events planned in the upcoming month are
emphasized to the attendees at the monthly meetings.
Contact the Presentations Coordinators or Editor if you
have any suggestions or ideas throughout the year for
fieldtrips, outings, and programs.
The best made plans may change at the last minute due
to the illness of the Trail Boss, weather, land access, vehicles breaking down, wrong meeting sites, etc. Please
be understanding of extenuating circumstances and contact the coordinator or Trail Boss of a specific event if
there is any question of an event being cancelled or
changed at the last minute.
Page 12

The News, April 2016

Dakota Territory News

The first newspaper in the Dakotas was printed at Sioux Falls City on July 2, l859.
That paper was The Dakota Democrat. It must be distinguished that this paper technically wasn't a "territorial" however. The Dakotas didn't officially become a territory until
March 2, 1861. This paper was printed on an irregular basis and before long the name
was changed to The Independent. 1t was still in business in 1862 when the Santee
Sioux Indians raided the village. The Indians dumped the press into the river and made
off with the type metal. They melted the type down to use to make their inlaid designs
in their peace pipes.
The Discovery Channel
http://www.discovery.com

The News, April 2016

Page 13

Bill's Tips For The

Beginning Detectorist

. Study any and all equipment that you own or

wish to own. Know its limitations, not only
from the advertisements, but from people on the
forums where you have hundreds of years of knowledge and experience to draw from.
2. Once you know your equipment, learn your equipment, and your own limitations with it. I am a firm
believer that you have to trust in the equipment you
use.
3. Never believe that a given spot is hunted out. The
guy who lost that $20 gold piece in 1856 didn't think
he lost it there or he
would have came
back and got it. I
don't know how
many times I have
worked a site out,
only to have a buddy
go in and find a good
relic, or coin that I
must have came
within an inch of. On
the up side, I have
done the same thing
to my buddies
after they have gone
over a site thoroughly.
4. Research 80%,
Detect 20%. Take
every opportunity to
read about your area,
old newspapers,
magazines, and my
favorite, talking to
the old timers, they
know all of the old
tales, and some even have a measurable amount of
truth to them, and it is good for the old timers to recollect these stories, and you just might make a new
friend.
5. Dig your targets. Just because you have the 2002
model superdooper find anything anywhere anytime
hypervelocity cant dig a bit of junk detector, that
blocks out everything but rare coins and jewelry, don't
mean you shouldn't dig those targets. Recently, I
passed over a gold and diamond broach that I discriminated out as a junk target. That same broach
paid for my buddies detector when he dug it and sold
it for 700.00
6. Don't get mad at digging junk. We are in a society
that is constantly on the go and constantly producing
Page 14

trash. If you are detecting right, you will dig junk.

Remember, that old broken pistol that some soldier
shed in the 1860s was junk to him at the time.
7. If you have Kids, Involve them. It may not be a big
deal to dig up a common date wheat penny to you, but
it is a rare and very special treasure to a child, as is
the time with his Dad or Mom.
8. Research 80%, Detect 20%. I cant stress that
enough.
9. Remember, when you get all of the good finds dug
at a site, go back and get the really good stuff you left
behind.
10. Save all of the clad coinage you find, and in a
very short time you will be able to start buying more
equipment and accessories without putting
the light bill on hold.
11. Carry toilet paper. Maybe you did go before you
left the house, but I promise, if you don't carry toilet
paper, the metal detecting Gods will pull
a dirty trick, and you'll have to go home early, and
ashamed.
12.

Research 80%, Detect 20%

from The Treasure Depot News

http://www.thetreasuredepot.com

Panning Tip
Before you use that brand
new plastic gold pan be sure
to lightly rough up the inside
surface with steel wool or
fine grit sandpaper. The inside surfaces of those new
pans are very smooth and
may have an oily coating,
which can result in fine gold
"floating" out of the pan as
you work the material down.
The News, April 2016

Gold Glossary
Open Pit Mine - In search of rich veins
of quartz, open pit mines are common
today. Because of the danger associated with drifts, open pit mines are
dug from the ground down and are
never tunneled. They can be best described as, "A big hole."

Gold Facts
Symbol: AU
Atomic Number: 79
Atomic Weight: 196.967
Melting Point: 1063 (1945 F)
Specific Gravity: 19.2
MOHs Scale of Hardness:
2.5 - 3
Karat
24K = 100% Pure Gold
18K = 75% Pure Gold
14K = 58% Pure Gold
10K = 42% Pure Gold
Troy Weights
1 grain = 0.0648 grams
24 grains = 1 penny
weight (DWT) = 1.552 grams
20 DWT = 1 ounce =
480 grains = 31.10 grams

YOUR
ADVERTISEMENT
COULD BE HERE!
Call Rick Mattingly
at 970-669-1205
or rickmatt@q.com
The News, April 2016

Page 15

Trading Post
WANTED: RMPTH Member seeking to purchase used Garrett
AT Gold or AT Pro. Contact Steve at 970-556-0755. Leave
message.
FOR SALE: Jewelers propane/oxygen torch, many cabochons, beads and tools. Contact Ann at
(970) 6667-3705.
FOR SALE: A "MUST HAVE" T-Shirt for every Prospector
and Treasure Hunter. Quality 100% cotton tees. See and
order from:
http://BestBlackandGold.com.
FOR SALE: Minelab SD2200 Gold Nugget Metal Detector:
10-1/2" Mono Super Coil, 10-1/2" SD Series Super Coil, two
batteries w/wall & car charger, headphones, backpack,
waist battery pack, signal enhancer, extra lower stem, instruction booklet & video, carry case. Ready to go for the
gold. New Price: $1625. Contact Paul at (970) 482-7846.
FOR SALE: 5HP pump motor, Gold King 3" Hi-banker with
dredge attachment w/adjustable stand, Gold Grabber Hibanker, 125 feet hose, Rock net and steel cable, misc. fittings and valves & large metal bucket. Prefer to sell all together for $1,350 but negotiable. Call Eric Stickland at
(303) 833-6848 or
estick@live.com.
WANTED: Used lapidary equipment. Call Kathie 970-2211623

About Trading Post

The News runs classified ads in Trading Post
for three consecutive issues. Trading Post ads
for topic related items up to 10 lines (or 70
words) long are free. To place an ad in Trading
Post contact Rick Mattingly at (970) 613-8968
evenings
or e-mail at: rickmatt@q.com
Commercial Advertising
Specifications
(Monthly Donation Rate)
Full Page (8 1/2" X 7")
Half Page (3 1/4" X 7")
One Third Page (3" X 4")
Business Card (2 3/4" X 1 1/2")

$30
$20
$15
$ 5

Ads must be received by the 15th of the

preceding month. Contact Rick Mattingly for information on this service at
(970) 613-6968 evenings or e-mail at:
rickmatt@q.com.

WANTED: Federal or state duck stamps; mint or used. Contact John Hart at (307) 778-3993.

NOTE:
Purchase arrangements are between the buyer and
seller only and involves no financial benefit to RMPTH.

All mistakes and

misspellings were
intentionally made so
that you could have the
pleasure of finding them.

Colorado School of Mines

Geology Museum
Golden, Colorado
Contact us: 303-273-3815 or
geomuseum@mines.edu
Identification of specimens is performed
between 10 a.m. and noon, Tuesdays and
Thursdays.
Page 16

The News, April 2016

WEEKEND & SMALL-SCALE

MINERS CODE OF ETHICS
I WILL respect other prospectors claims and not work
those claims without the owners permission
I WILL have on-site all necessary permits and licenses
I WILL build fires in designated or safe places only, and
in accordance with current State and Federal guidelines
I WILL be careful with fuels and motor oils and be cognizant of their potential destructive effect on the environment
I WILL remove and properly dispose of all trash and
debris that I find - I will not litter

I Have Seen The

Elephant

n the middle of the 19th century, the popular

phrase "I have seen the elephant" referred to overcoming the adversities and hardships in one's life.
A fable revolved around a farmer who heard that the
circus was coming to town. He had never seen an elephant, and headed to town with his produce to see
the elephant. On the road, he encountered the elephant. Unfortunately, the farmer's horse had never
seen an elephant, either. The horse spooked, upset
the cart, and ran off, destroying the farmer's produce.
Even so, the farmer declared "I don't care, for I have
seen the elephant."

I WILL be thoughtful, considerate and courteous to

those around me at all time

Most immigrants rushing to California by land or by

sea had seen the elephant, "from the tip of his trunk
to the end of his tail" by the time they arrived in California. For any who hadn't, two or three weeks in
California were certain to bring on the vision.

I WILL appreciate and protect our heritage of natural

resources, wildlife, fisheries and private property, and
respect all laws or ordinances governing prospecting
and mining

Seeing the Elephant, Collection of California Historical Society

I WILL NOT remove stream bank material, destroy

natural vegetation or woody debris dams, nor discharge
excess silt into the waterways
I WILL NOT refuel motorized equipment in the stream
I WILL NOT allow oil from motorized
equipment to drip onto the ground or into the water
I WILL NOT prospect in areas closed to prospecting
and mining

I Have Seen The Elephant

Offer Your Assistance To Any

Of Our Program Coordinators
The News, April 2016

Page 17

Rocky Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters Club

2016 Schedule of Events
Month

Meeting Program

Trip/Activity

January

Artifact Hunting
By Bryan Morgan

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

February

Demo of RMPTH Prospecting/Detecting

DVD
A Wyoming Treasure Hunt Story

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

March

Packing a Metal Detecting Kit Bag

By RMPTH Members

Tour of Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne

April

Gold Wheels
By RMPTH Members

Local Detector Hunt

Map, Compass & GPS Clinic

May

Mining Camps Speak

Bill & Beth Sagstetter

Prospecting & Detecting Clinic at Lions Park

Lets Go Gold Panning On The Arkansas Event GPOC

June

Privy Hunting
By RMPTH Members

Clear Creek Gold Outing

Denver GPAA Show
State Annual Gold Panning Championships

July

Metal Detecting
By RMPTH Members
Boy Scouts Invited

Galeton Metal Detecting Outing

Phoenix Gold Mine Tour

August

Gold & Platinum in Wyoming

By Wayne Sutherland, WSGS

Vics Gold PanningBlackhawk

Galeton Metal Detecting Outing

September

Loveland Archeology Society and Stone

Age Fair
By Bryan Morgan

Annual Coin & Prize Hunt

Stone Age Fair
School of Mines Museum Tour

October

Map & Internet Research

By Rick Mattingly

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

November

Annual Show & Tell &

Silent Auction

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

December

Annual Find of the Year Awards &

Christmas Party

Flatirons Mineral Club & Model Train Show

Good Hunting in 2016!

Page 18

The News, April 2016

Rocky Mountain
Prospectors & Treasure Hunters
Contact List
RMPTH Coordinators

Home

E-Mail

President

Tom Warne

1-970-635-0773

goldigger48@msn.com

Interim Vice President

Tim Coatman

1-970-353-1919

old37chev@aol.com

Treasurer

Dick & Sharon French

1-970-482-2110

dickyf99@centurylink.net

Secretary

Rick Mattingly

1-970-669-1205

rickmatt@q.com

Rick Mattingly

1-970-669-1205

rickmatt@q.com

Rick Mattingly

1-970-669-1205

rickmatt@q.com

Finds Program

Dave Landes
Betsy Emond
Joe Johnston

1-720-985-4186
1-970-218-0290
1-303-696-6950

midnightoil45@aol.com
bemond@fcgov.com
cjoej1@peoplepc.com

Presentations

Rick Mattingly

1-970-669-1205

rickmatt@q.com

Club Historian

Steve McNeill

1-970-556-0755

pawfullo@yahoo.com

Club Meeting Greeter

Barbara Schuldt

1-970-407-1336

Club Librarian

Joe Johnston

1-303-696-6950

cjoej1@peoplepc.com

Club Photo Librarian

Tom Warne

1-970-635-0773

goldigger48@msn.com

Meeting Setup

Jim Friedricks

1-720-270-8895

Door Prize

Tim Coatman

1-970-353-1919

old37chev@aol.com

Zinc Penny Project

Tom Marschall

1-970-396-0133

tmarschall47@gmail.com

50/50 Drawing

Woody Hogdon

1-970-217-8124

ftcolwoody@juno.com

Coin Raffle

Woody Hogdon

1-970-217-8124

ftcolwoody@juno.com

The News Staff

Editor-in-Chief
Internet Web Site
Web Master
Volunteers/Coordinators

General Information Contact: Rick Mattingly at 1-970-669-1205 or rickmatt@q.com

Visit RMPTH on the Internet at: http://rmpth.com

Lets Go For The Gold !

The News, April 2016

Page 19

The News
Rocky Mountain Prospectors &
Treasure Hunters Club
278 Sierra Vista Drive
Fort Collins, CO. 80524

APRIL, 2016 ISSUE