The Story of Lori, Chapter 2

[Lori Dee ✅]

Lori,
The gold I think I'm seeing in the 2 pics on this latest page looks like a good bit to me, roughy what will the value be.
You found gold isn't that good or was it more work than the value

I won't know until I get it all cleaned up, dried, and weighed. I'll show a pic of the weigh-in when I get done. Right now, gold is worth $132.15 per gram. What I have shown so far is far less than a gram. It is very small. Each flake is slightly larger than 1/50 of an inch.

Yes, it is very hard work, and many people find that it isn't worth it. As I wrote in my Field Guide (insert shameless plug - https://www.lori-dee.com/gold-prospecting-field-guide 🔗), that is why it has value. But I don't do it to get rich. I enjoy treasure hunting in general, so it is the thrill of the hunt. If I find gold, great. If not, then I get some exercise out in Nature and see some beautiful country.

My brother doesn't understand it. I asked him if he enjoys fishing. He does. I asked, what if you spend the entire day fishing and never catch a fish? Did you still have fun? Yes.

Same thing. Except I don't Catch and Release.

😁

[Stottie Girl]

I won't know until I get it all cleaned up, dried, and weighed. I'll show a pic of the weigh-in when I get done. Right now, gold is worth $132.15 per gram. What I have shown so far is far less than a gram. It is very small. Each flake is slightly larger than 1/50 of an inch.

Yes, it is very hard work, and many people find that it isn't worth it. As I wrote in my Field Guide (insert shameless plug - https://www.lori-dee.com/gold-prospecting-field-guide 🔗), that is why it has value. But I don't do it to get rich. I enjoy treasure hunting in general, so it is the thrill of the hunt. If I find gold, great. If not, then I get some exercise out in Nature and see some beautiful country.

My brother doesn't understand it. I asked him if he enjoys fishing. He does. I asked, what if you spend the entire day fishing and never catch a fish? Did you still have fun? Yes.

Same thing. Except I don't Catch and Release.

😁

I can see the appeal of it Lori. It's theraputic but with the bonus of gold! You only have to find one big find to make a killing though I guess. Do you smelt it yourself? I know you said you make jewelry out of some of the interesting stones do you ever try to do the metalwork out of the gold you find?

[Lori Dee ✅]

Do you smelt it yourself? I know you said you make jewelry out of some of the interesting stones do you ever try to do the metalwork out of the gold you find?

I don't have a furnace to smelt it with, and as a renter, I am more fire-conscious now. I have purified gold using acids and mercury, but those are dangerous, and I prefer not to mess with it.

I met a prospector in South Dakota who found a really nice nugget and had a jeweler set it into a ring.

Most of what I find is smaller nuggets and flakes, so I just fill up glass vials and keep them for decoration. I love the way the flakes sparkle in sunlight, and every flake is unique like a snowflake. I don't want to melt that. And it is a lot easier and cheaper to buy gold wire for jewelry. It is plated because pure gold is too soft to be durable.

Most daily-wear jewelry uses 18K gold, which is 75% gold and 25% alloy. For pieces that are more commemorative or for display and not daily wear, 24K gold is used. That is 99.9% pure gold, but it scratches easily.

[Kristy7]

I won't know until I get it all cleaned up, dried, and weighed. I'll show a pic of the weigh-in when I get done. Right now, gold is worth $132.15 per gram. What I have shown so far is far less than a gram. It is very small. Each flake is slightly larger than 1/50 of an inch.

Yes, it is very hard work, and many people find that it isn't worth it. As I wrote in my Field Guide (insert shameless plug - https://www.lori-dee.com/gold-prospecting-field-guide 🔗), that is why it has value. But I don't do it to get rich. I enjoy treasure hunting in general, so it is the thrill of the hunt. If I find gold, great. If not, then I get some exercise out in Nature and see some beautiful country.

My brother doesn't understand it. I asked him if he enjoys fishing. He does. I asked, what if you spend the entire day fishing and never catch a fish? Did you still have fun? Yes.

Same thing. Except I don't Catch and Release.

😁

I get it, it's a hobby. From the pic it looks like a decent amount. There is actually gold You found not all dirt.

[Gina P]

Such a beautiful place, Lori. There is something about the rugged country of the west so nice. Sorry, just getting caught up on your July 5 pic's. 

[Stottie Girl]

I was so busy with my own issues I didn't spot your "Lori in the wild" pics! Wow that's some beautiful rugged terrain there. Do you not have to worry about snakes and other nasties?

I love your jeep! That's uber cool and in a great colour too.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Such a beautiful place, Lori. There is something about the rugged country of the west so nice. Sorry, just getting caught up on your July 5 pic's.

No apology needed. I posted them to enjoy now and years from now.

😁

[Lori Dee ✅]

Do you not have to worry about snakes and other nasties?

Yes, snakes and mountain lions are our biggest threat. I grew up in the California desert as a kid, so I learned early to be aware, and what to do and what not to do to stay safe. I have had some close encounters, but it's all good.

It's important to remember that it's their home. They live there; I am just a visitor.

[Finally Anna]

Snakes as in rattlers?

[Lori Dee ✅]

Snakes as in rattlers?

Yes, both poisonous and nonpoisonous snakes.

I was climbing a very steep hill once. It was more like a cliff, almost vertical, with my gear in my backpack. As I pulled myself up, I was face to face with a baby rattlesnake. It was less than a foot away from my nose. I think I startled it as much as it startled me. I leaned backward to get my face out of its striking distance, shifted to the side, and waited. I think I said something like, We aren't going to hurt each other, are we?

With a little more distance between us, it took the opportunity to escape under some rocks, and I continued climbing up to the old mine I was going to investigate. That was a wake-up call to watch where I put my hands while climbing.

😁

[Finally Anna]

Do you carry a vial of rattler antivenom, when out and about?

[Stottie Girl]

I'm lucky in the UK all I need to worry about are adders and midgies. Adders, while they are much more common in Northumberland, Their bite wouldn't kill you. They just make you a bit ill. Midgies are bloody horrible though!

[ChrissyRyan]

I'm lucky in the UK all I need to worry about are adders and midgies. Adders, while they are much more common in Northumberland, Their bite wouldn't kill you. They just make you a bit ill. Midgies are bloody horrible though!

Oooh.  Adders can survive in really cold places.  They do not lay eggs, if remember correctly.

[Stottie Girl]

Oooh.  Adders can survive in really cold places.  They do not lay eggs, if remember correctly.

I had to google that one Chrissy! You are right they give birth to loads of squiriming little baby snakes! They are pretty elusive creatures though. I do a lot of hiking and I'm out with my camera in nature quite often but I've only seen 5 adders in my 50 years.

[ChrissyRyan]

I had to google that one Chrissy! You are right they give birth to loads of squiriming little baby snakes! They are pretty elusive creatures though. I do a lot of hiking and I'm out with my camera in nature quite often but I've only seen 5 adders in my 50 years.

You look like you are around 35.  50?  Wow.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Do you carry a vial of rattler antivenom, when out and about?

No, antivenom is quite expensive, and I think it is reserved for hospitals where it is most needed.

I used to be scared to death of snakes as a kid. Our class took a field trip to a desert research station full of snakes, lizards, and such. One of the workers there sensed my extreme uneasiness (borderline panic!) and explained that my fear stemmed from not understanding them. He took me aside and began to teach me how to tell a poisonous snake from a non-poisonous one. How to tell if one is ready to strike and how far they can strike, so I would know how much distance I needed to give them. After that, I volunteered to help out there for that summer. I learned a lot.

After that, my brothers and I would go hunting for them. They paid us $5 per snake, and they milked them for their venom. That is what they use to make anti-venom. The money they made by selling the venom helped pay for the research station operations, so it worked out for everyone.

I never had nightmares about snakes after that, and I have no fear of them at all. I just respect that they are defending themselves, so I avoid being threatening to them.

[Stottie Girl]

You look like you are around 35.  50?  Wow.

Child of '76 baby yeah! ha ha! Thanks Chrissy, you've made my night!!

[Lori Dee ✅]

Child of '76 baby yeah! ha ha! Thanks Chrissy, you've made my night!!

OMG. In 1975, I had finished high school and had joined the Army. I was at my first duty station when you were born.

I tell people I am older than dirt. I'm 68, and you look great for 50.

Hormones for the win!