mt_vertcaver Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Probably a dumb question/idea.....but here goes.My family owns farmland that is loaded with magnetite/hematite. I know, because I used to think that every piece was a meteorite. I can easily pick up 10-20 lbs of it in an afternoon...not to mention all the "black sand" if I drag my magnet on the ground.It's basically all glacial gravel which came from....Canada?...or from the surrounding mountain ranges(I live in the center of Montana). I was wondering if it would be worth it to try and pan for gold. I got to thinking about it, because you all talk about 'hot rocks' and 'black sand'.What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Gilmore Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Probably a dumb question/idea.....but here goes.My family owns farmland that is loaded with magnetite/hematite. I know, because I used to think that every piece was a meteorite. I can easily pick up 10-20 lbs of it in an afternoon...not to mention all the "black sand" if I drag my magnet on the ground.It's basically all glacial gravel which came from....Canada?...or from the surrounding mountain ranges(I live in the center of Montana). I was wondering if it would be worth it to try and pan for gold. I got to thinking about it, because you all talk about 'hot rocks' and 'black sand'.What do you think?Be my guest and pan... Without panning you will not know.Sometimes you find gold and no magnetite and sometimes you find magnetite and no gold.But unless you try you will never know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nugget Shooter Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Be my guest and pan... Without panning you will not know.Sometimes you find gold and no magnetite and sometimes you find magnetite and no gold.But unless you try you will never know...Dang sure never hurts to have a look, go for it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Dorado Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 You might just have iron ore to mine also! 'course it might be difficult to farm an open pit mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim straight Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Possibly your part of Montana was not within the boundary of the Continental Ice sheet. However, the higher mountain ranges were locally glaciated. Glaciation in some of thenorthern Cordillera destroyed any hard rock goldconcentrations to form localized "how did the placer get here" hit and miss placers. Black (Magnetic) sand can follow any gold andgold can follow black sand... so ya' neverknow... Central Montana?... Fergus, Cascade, the southern tip of Phillips counties are knownto carry some gold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mt_vertcaver Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 Thanks guys!Once it warms up, I think I'll go to the gravel pit and try to find a 'hot' layer with my detector...then pan that. If nothing else, it will be good practice for panning in the mountains this summer.jim straight Posted Today, 07:03 PMPossibly your part of Montana was not within the boundary of the Continental Ice sheet. However, the higher mountain ranges were locally glaciated. Glaciation in some of thenorthern Cordillera destroyed any hard rock goldconcentrations to form localized "how did the placer get here" hit and miss placers. Black (Magnetic) sand can follow any gold andgold can follow black sand... so ya' neverknow... Central Montana?... Fergus, Cascade, the southern tip of Phillips counties are knownto carry some gold.Yep...Judith Basin County has gold too. It never had a major gold mine though. What Judith Basin DOES have...is Yogo Sapphires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim straight Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 :twocents: Well Cascade just to the west and Fergus to the east... :shrug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvervortek Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 :twocents: Well Cascade just to the west and Fergus to the east... :shrug:how about polverising some of the magnecite maybe it haS FINE GOLD IN IT JUST CURIOUS AND GUESSING Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilaoro Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 A lot of companies buy it, check the ICMJ wanted section, I know of a local buyer in Az If he agrees I,ll post his phone #. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mt_vertcaver Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 how about polverising some of the magnecite maybe it haS FINE GOLD IN IT JUST CURIOUS AND GUESSINGI've cut and polished several pieces to compare to my meteorites. The only metal flecks in them are silver colored.A lot of companies buy it, check the ICMJ wanted section, I know of a local buyer in Az If he agrees I,ll post his phone #.Thanks! I'll look into that. Last summer there was a guy selling magnetite specimens on eBay. I think he called it Tucson Mountain magnetite. Looked just like mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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