I have been prospecting in Colorado and here in the Black Hills, SD since about 2010. I also do metal detecting, so maybe it is a treasure-hunting thing. I mostly use metal detectors as a means to find gold. If you are interested in gold prospecting, I have several articles I have written as "How-Tos" as well as a photo album on my personal website. You can find that link in my profile.

In the process of shoveling gravel in a creek, I find some interesting rocks that I bring home with me. I love Rose Quartz. It is the South Dakota State Mineral, and it's PINK! I also hunt for the rare Fairburn Agate, which is the South Dakota State Gemstone. Maybe I have those two backward.

In the winter when creeks are frozen over or the water is about 33 degrees F, I stay indoors and do research. In the summer I am out mining gold or picking up rocks.

I just ordered my second 2-barrel rock tumbler for polishing rocks and I am learning how to do wire wrap jewelry with them. I have found that I enjoy doing this and I can do it indoors with no heavy lifting involved... until I "need" another bucket of rocks.

Here is an example of what I am doing:

Rough Stones to Jewelry

@LoriDee
Dear Lori:
Thank you for posting and sharing your experiences with Gold Prospecting and
Rock Hounding. 
The description of your endeavors in those task is very interesting
for sure.  I am looking forward to your future postings regarding these subjects.

I followed the picture link that you had posted....  beautiful work that you
have done turning rocks (rough stones) into very pretty jewelry.
          Click Link-->  Rough Stones to Jewelry

Again, thank you for sharing.
HUGS, Danielle

My grandfather taught me lapidary when I was a child and still have a trim saw, a cabbing wheel, and hand tools. My grandfather was a rock hound specializing in fire agate back when the desert was largely open. Unfortunately, where I live today, all the good sites have either been claimed by commercial developers or otherwise closed off to the public. I did have an Afghan supplier of lapis lazuli, but that source is no longer available to me. I've since lost interest in pursuing it anymore.

Wow, very nice work, Lori. I was going to say I really like .... but they are all so beautiful.
Gina

It appears the largest gold pan is in Quesnel, British Columbia.

Chrissy

I think I found Lori's prospecting rig. 

Quote from: Devlyn on Yesterday at 12:02:39 PMI think I found Lori's prospecting rig. 

I love it! 

Heavy duty machinery.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Yesterday at 06:49:20 PMHeavy duty machinery.

And is fully capable of dispatching claim-jumpers!

Quote from: Lori Dee on Yesterday at 07:05:14 PMAnd is fully capable of dispatching claim-jumpers!

You bet!

Lori,


Have you looked for any gold in the past few weeks?


Chrissy

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Yesterday at 10:25:18 PMLori,


Have you looked for any gold in the past few weeks?


Chrissy

No, I have been unpacking. I am almost settled in. I have a repair tech coming tomorrow to do a warranty repair on my new loveseat. I almost have my workroom finished, but I will need to get some supplies.

Right now, we are under a heat wave. Temps 100 - 103+ this week and could break a record. So I stay indoors as much as possible.

When the weather cools down, I plan to do some scouting. I have four locations that I have researched, but I need to put boots on the ground and look at the river to see how the water is flowing. If it looks good, I will do some sample panning and figure out where to go from there.

I'm from Northern Colorado, so I am not very familiar with the geology down here in the south of the state. There are some places that I want to go back to up north, but that may not happen until next summer. In the meantime, I spend my winters reading geology maps, old mining journals, newspapers, and researching abandoned gold claims. Then I can form a plan for the following summer.

Gosh, brand new furniture with a flaw.  Ugh!  I am glad they are fixing it.

Perhaps an extended warranty may be worth the money on some of your furniture, esp. if an item's price was significant. 

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Yesterday at 11:02:05 PMGosh, brand new furniture with a flaw.  Ugh!  I am glad they are fixing it.

Perhaps an extended warranty may be worth the money on some of your furniture, esp. if an item's price was significant. 

LaZboy came with a one-year warranty. I noticed the problem on Day Two.

I had bought a two-year extended warranty and a five-year protection plan that covers the fabric. That covers rips or tears, seam separations, unusual wear, and even stains. I like that if I spill my coffee and stain the fabric, they will send someone out to clean it.

They gave me a free gift as part of the Extended Warranty. It has a general-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, upholstery cleaner, and fabric protection spray. When I run out, anytime in the next two years, I just go back to the store with the empty bottle and they will give me a full one to replace it. I think that's a fair deal.

Quote from: Lori Dee on Yesterday at 11:10:44 PMLaZboy came with a one-year warranty. I noticed the problem on Day Two.

I had bought a two-year extended warranty and a five-year protection plan that covers the fabric. That covers rips or tears, seam separations, unusual wear, and even stains. I like that if I spill my coffee and stain the fabric, they will send someone out to clean it.

They gave me a free gift as part of the Extended Warranty. It has a general-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, upholstery cleaner, and fabric protection spray. When I run out, anytime in the next two years, I just go back to the store with the empty bottle and they will give me a full one to replace it. I think that's a fair deal.

Sounds like a practical plan for your furniture.  Better than a free oil changes when you buy a car from a dealer as each time you take it in they seem to find some service related thing they try to sell you.  I datestamp most of my filters and know whenever any expendable was replaced.  I keep my service records in an organized fashion and a spreadsheet.

This woman does not want to be taken advantage of.