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When you are gold prospecting and choose to sample for hard rock gold deposits a good place to start is a know gold bearing placer gold location. You'll need some good quality but basic hand tools. Here is an over view combined with my personal lode gold experience plus information from hard rock miner Dave Wiseman. Hard Rock sampling tools, an Estwing Rock Pick, a 3 lb. hammer (mini sledge), a few gold pans, plastic brush or old toothbrush, a few good chisels from 6 - 24 inches in length. Your sample containers for storing your lode gold material can be anything from old feed bags, to plastic tubs, a good hydro pack, a mortar and pedestal or some type of rock crusher, a loupe and eye protection. The basic method of sampling for hard rock gold is described below.
If possible locate quartz stringers near or in a wash that has known gold placer deposits or has been mined for hard rock gold in the past. Carefully take your samples of possible lode gold quartz and or schistose material and mark each sample of material separately, often a good idea is to sample and use your digital camera to help record exact locations. Remember to visit any digs or prospects in the area to see what the old timers were mining and if possible do some research on the area. A good idea is to use a classifying screen and wash your lode gold samples over another gold pan so any loose material drops into the pan below as you wash and scrub any samples. Carefully inspect the samples and keep your eyes open for any sign of gold in them. A good idea is go over any suspect but small areas with a loupe to see if they are gold after cleaning. With the material that falls into the pan carefully pan it out, coarse gold in small rocks can be panned out. Even if you see the smallest amount of gold take more samples.
When you return to sample, carefully re sample the hard rock gold deposit and this time try to follow the gold, mark your samples if needed. Gold in veins often resembles paint splashed on a wall and can come and go in an area. If the gold keep coming as you sample you might be onto a pocket. Go slow, be careful and work the material and even if the gold bearing material stops go a little further. As with all gold prospecting time, patience and persistence are important. This article may be expanded in the future to contain more information regarding basic lode gold sampling techniques.
Photographs below used with permission by Dave Wiseman, copyright Dave Wiseman. If you wish to use the photographs please contact Dave Wiseman for copies and permission.
