Nuggets of News Blog 

Thirteen years ago, Park City, Utah was the place Olympic athletes and thousands of spectators visited to “go for the gold” during the 2002 Winter Games. More than 145 years ago, however, an even larger group of people rushed to Park City seeking a different precious metal— silver. The first mining claim was filed in December 1868, and for over a century, the abundant veins found in the Wasatch Mountains surrounding the small town produced about $400 million in silver. When the mining industry slowed down in the 1920s and 30s, Park City's winter sports ramped up. Good money continues to be made today— with snow and tourism.  Silver mining, though, is the town’s legacy, and still very much honored around town.

Although not well known, Park City’s 300 silver mines were among America’s most productive and longest lasting. Even during the financial panic of 1893 when the bottom fell out of the silver market, Park City weathered the crash because the mines had been doing so well. Thirteen ounces was the average yield of silver per ton of ore from all Park City mines in their 100 years of production. But there was more than silver in them thar' hills. Heavy deposits of lead and zinc also were found around Park City, and in combination with copper and gold, the mining industry generated a total of a half billion dollars in precious metals from the 1870s through 1970s.

Park City Museum

The best place to learn about the mines, men, machinery, working conditions, town history, and prominent citizens of the day, is at the Park City Museum in the heart of Old Town. The 12,000 square foot museum provides a wealth of knowledge, and has both permanent and traveling exhibits. Its location is actually the former City Hall (built in 1885) that also served as the territorial jail. Stroll through the multi-level museum on your own, or take a docent-led tour. The world-class collection of information and memorabilia acquaints you with every phase of silver mining, in addition to explaining how the equipment was used. The fabulous two-story Mega Mine display allows you to see the intricate underground workings of a typical mine. There’s also an original Park City fire truck, a Kimball Stagecoach,  railcars turned into a skier subway, and much more. After spending an hour or two here, you’re sure to come away with an even greater appreciation for modern day mining methods!

Mines and Men

Park City turned out 23 mining millionaires during its boom years; their photos and biographies are among the museum’s displays. George Hearst, father of newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, was one of those fortunate individuals who became tremendously wealthy. Hearst bought the Ontario Mine in 1872 for $27,000 and turned it into a complex underground operation. Sinking six shafts and hundreds of drifts nearly 3,000 feet below the surface required a huge workforce, tons of dynamite, and piles of money, but it was well worth his investment. The Ontario went on to produce more than fifty million dollars, forming the basis for the Hearst fortune. The Ontario was the last silver mine in Park City to close in 1982.

In February 1880, the Daly Mining Company was established. The Daly West Mine was one of several owned by John Daly. In 1881, he bought land next to the rich Ontario Mine and sunk a shaft 2,100 feet to reach the ore that extended underground. The Ontario was a silent partner in the enterprise. Within the next year or two,  more mines were established. Some of the larger ones included the Crescent, Anchor, and the Mayflower.

In 1892, Thomas Kerns, David Keith, Windsor Rice, Albion Emery, and John Judge organized Park City’s most productive mining company by consolidating mines and claims— the largest being the Silver King Mine. For almost 60 years, the company employed the latest technology, following veins to find new and greater ore bodies. The Silver King continued to grow over the years by purchasing neighboring mines and claims. Kearns and Keith were both born in eastern Canada but made their fortunes in Park City. They also became partners in other businesses, including the Salt Lake Tribune, which they purchased in 1901. They died within six months of each other in 1918.

Although business at the time was mostly a man’s world, Susanna “Susie” Bransford was known as Utah’s Silver Queen. She married the local postmaster Albion Emery in 1884 , and the couple invested $8,000 in the Mayflower Mine. They really struck it rich when it merged with the Silver King. Susie outlived four husbands, including a Russian prince. By 1894, it was rumored that she was earning $1,000 a day from her interest in the Silver King. With her fortune and flamboyant lifestyle, she was a darling of the nation’s magazines and newspapers for much of her adult life. Most single women back in the day were not so lucky and made their living as “ladies of the night.” Prostitution was a source of income for Park City. Court records show that prostitutes and their “business managers” were regularly arrested, fined, and released.  Sadly, suicide by arsenic was a common means to retire from the red light district.

Life of a Miner

Most early hard rock miners worked for wages,  earning $2.75 to $3.50 per day, depending on the job. Many of the miners in Park City in the late 1800s and early 1900s lived in tents. Because times were rough and tough, they usually carried guns and often had cause to use them. Although some men saved enough money to start their own venture such as a butcher store or blacksmith shop, it was mostly the mine owners and investors who got rich.

Although a 19^th century hard rock miner’s pay wasn’t bad for the time, it meant long hours working in wet, dark, loud, and often dangerous conditions. Very few safety measures were in place. Miners were below ground their entire shift so they brought all their meals with them and ate in the “doghouse” which was a warm, dry room within the tunnels. Some of the early machinery was impressive, but it was basically human and animal muscle that was responsible for the mines’ success. Some beasts of burden spent years underground. Horses were affectionately called “hay burners” by the miners. Horses were treated well because, unlike miners, it was expensive to buy and train another horse. Oilskin slickers and pants were supposed to keep out moisture, but could do only so much. Even mules wore slickers to stay dry in the Ontario drain tunnel. Cats lived underground, too, keeping the mouse population under control.

Electricity arrived in Park City in the 1880s but it was a luxury many could not afford. In 1889, it took almost half a day’s mine wages to pay the monthly power bill for a single light. Light bulbs were very expensive and in short supply. To discourage theft, the Silver King Mine stamped their bulbs “Stolen from the Silver King Mine.”Another interesting tidbit you’ll learn at the Park City Museum includes how to clean up with pig fat. A large mercantile at the time, Smith & Brim sold 50 and 100 pound buckets of rendered pig fat (lard). It could be used for cooking or combined with lye to make soap. Thrifty customers made their own soap, often using the same bar to do the laundry, wash the floors, and take a bath!  The MEATS sign you’ll see hanging in the museum was the first electrified sign along Main Street. It used 80 light bulbs!

Mining Technology

Mining companies adopted technology to boost production and cut jobs, with the sole purpose of producing more profit. A side benefit was the increased health and safety of underground workers.  The invention of blasting caps and mechanized drills were two such improvements.  At first, black powder or dynamite was detonated using a burning fuse. Blasting caps, when used with an electrical detonating system, eliminated dangerous open flames and made timing more precise. Miners originally used hand tools to drill holes for the dynamite into the rock face. Single-jacking was done by one miner holding a drill steel in one hand and swinging a four pound hammer with the other hand. To double-jack, one man held the drill steel, while his companion hammered with an eight pound sledge. A good team could deliver 60 blows and drill two inches into the rock per minute. In 1890, Park City mines replaced hand drills with mechanical drills powered by compressed air. Silica-bearing rock dust wreaked havoc on miners’ lungs, but that hazard was later reduced by injecting water through the drill tip, which cut down on the amount of dust that was inhaled. Think you can handle a drill? Want to push a blasting plunger?  The museum’s hands-on dioramas give you the chance to feel the ground shake!  

As in most underground mines, water was a constant obstacle. One solution was to use pumps. Another approach was to dig drain tunnels. The Ontario Mine installed a Cornish Pump in 1883. The machine was 30 feet high with a 70-ton flywheel and was imported from Philadelphia by freight wagon. The pump weighed 486 tons and had a capacity of almost four million gallons a day. Later, drain tunnels replaced pumps.

The Marsac Mill processed ore from the very first Park City mine— the Flagstaff. The Marsac was a 20-stamp mill. Stamping is a process of crushing ore with huge weights. With 20 stamps operating, the mill could turn out 60-70 tons per day. Because of the long distance the ore had to be hauled to the mill and the technical problems associated with the crude stamp machinery, the Marsac was not necessarily a steady or satisfactory producer, and was only one of such stamping machines that deafened anyone in the vicinity.

Before a prospector knew if he had struck it rich, an assayer had to confirm the value of silver in the claim. The Main Street assay office was where miners got the good or bad news.  Taking representative core samples, assayers crushed and weighed the ore before pouring it into fireclay crucibles and melting it in the furnace. After cooling, the hardened metal was transferred into a cupel made of bone ash and placed in the furnace once more. The porous cupel absorbed everything but pure silver. The assayer weighed the silver on his delicate scale and calculated silver per ton based on the original ore weight.

Unionization

Don’t miss the museum’s “dungeon” where you’ll find old walk-in jail cells along with exhibits on the Miners Union Hall. Mine owners, like all employers in the 19^th century, were not held responsible for injuries or deaths. In 1902, an underground explosion at the Daly West Mine killed 34 men. Poison gas spread through tunnels to the Ontario Mine. Accidents like these didn’t happen every day, but they certainly were not rare. Lacking protection, workers organized unions and joined fraternal orders. Both organizations helped their members in difficult times and aided families whose breadwinners were killed or maimed. In 1904, a Miners Hospital was built for $5,000. Funds for the hospital was raised by local businessmen and the Western Federation of Miners Local #144. In the first year, 6,000 miners were treated for silicosis.

Tramways

When the mines first opened in the Park City area, most ore was hauled in horse-drawn wagons. Eventually more modern devices like the Silver King Tram replaced the wagon teams. Using buckets to haul ore to the mills was an economic success, lowering transportation costs to 22 cents per ton from $1.50 per ton when hauled with teams and wagons. Men could ride to work in the ore buckets from the lower terminal up to the mine. Processed ore was then brought down the mountain and loaded into railroad cars.

Another engineering marvel, the Crescent Tramway, was not an overhead tram but a narrow-gauge railroad. In 1885 Shay locomotives (geared steam engines originally developed for the logging industry) pulled ore cars up steep 12 percent grades. Winding down the mountain for five miles from the Crescent Mine, the ore eventually reached the system’s depot and concentrator near Main Street where the ore was refined. Although used until 1900, deep snow covering the tracks rendered the engines useless in winter. Steep grades and heavy downhill loads made for frequent derailments. A winding paved walkway, open to the public, is all that remains of the Crescent Tram. Take a short uphill walk and try to imagine how the narrow gauge trains could possibly traversed the steep terrain.

The Greatest Snow on Earth

Prior to the 1920s, snow wasn’t given much thought in terms of making money or even for having fun. After all, snow caused cave-ins and train derailments and generally got in the way of mining. But skiing gradually became more widespread around Park City as some miners and other workers began regularly taking the mine train to the top of a mountain and skiing down. The first ski jump was built in 1930, and in 1936 Park City hosted its first winter carnival.  Five hundred skiers arrived at what is now Deer Valley Resort, making the event a great success. The first ski lift went into operation in 1946, and the frozen white stuff began to be seen as a real treasure. The foundation was in place to market what would later be called The Greatest Snow on Earth.

During this same time, the local mining industry slowed down. The Stock Market crashed in 1929, plummeting the Silver King’s stock from $12.87 to $6.50. Mineral prices continued to drop, and in 1949 most of the mines shut down,  putting 1,200 men out of work. Stores closed. People left.  The population dropped to 1,150 souls from a peak of 10,000. Within a couple of years, Park City went into ghost town status.

In an effort to diversify, United Park City Mines Company opened a ski resort in 1963. The old Spiro Mine drain tunnel was converted into an underground ski lift. This electric mine train, which you will see in the museum, carried skiers three miles into the mountain where a hoist then lifted them 1,800 feet to the surface. Since it took an hour to transport skiers, the Spiro tunnel wasn’t all that popular, but word spread about the great snow, and people started moving to the area. Over the next few decades, world-class ski resorts and high-speed chairlifts were built, annual art and film festivals were established, and in 2002 Park City hosted many of the XIX Winter Games.

If You Go

Park City today is a good example of a boom and bust mining town booming again—revitalized in grand style as a year-round mountain resort and international tourist destination. In 2008, Forbes Traveler magazine named Park City as one of “America’s 20 Prettiest Towns.” More than 60 of Park City's buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, many of which are located along the town's Main Street alongside restaurants and plenty of shops and boutiques. Two years running— 2008 and 2009— Deer Valley Resort was named the number one ski resort in North America by SKI magazine. Whether you like to ski, shop, eat, hike, mountain bike, or just take in the scenery, a visit to Park City is a great place to treasure America’s mining heritage.

Park City Museum • 528 Main St. • Park City, Utah 84060 • Phone: (435) 649.7457

Article and text by Denise Seith. First published in the March/April 2015 issue of Gold Prospector's Magazine.  Click image on right to download .pdf of this article.

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Dr. Charles L. Garrett died on April 3, 2015. We are grateful for the contributions Dr. Garrett made to our industry, and for the fine example he always put forth for others. The Garrett name will always be synonymous with high-quality metal detectors, including those used in security applications, law enforcement, military, sports, and outdoor recreational use. Although he will be dearly missed by many, his legacy will endure.

Charles L. Garrett —inventor, entrepreneur, treasure hunter, patriot, husband, and father—died on April 3, 2015. A native Texan and resident of Garland, Dr. Garrett and his wife Eleanor in 1964 founded Garrett Electronics which grew to become the world’s largest manufacturer of metal detection equipment.

Garrett detectors have discovered some of the world’s most valuable buried treasures, and its security equipment has protected millions of travelers and others, including Olympic athletes and spectators at the Games since 1984. Dr. Garrett was born in Houston on April 1, 1932, and grew up in Lufkin. After four years of service in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict on board the USS Bottineau (APA-235), he graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont with a degree in electrical engineering. A lifelong treasure-hunting hobbyist, Dr. Garrett first developed a metal detector for his own use and because it was so much superior to others, he and his wife founded a company to sell it.

He pioneered the development of the modern metal detector, demonstrated its capabilities searching for treasure throughout the world and devoted himself to teaching others to use detectors. He discovered treasure with metal detectors of his own design on every continent except Antarctica, and he also scanned under lakes, seas and oceans of the world. Many of the treasures and relics he discovered are displayed in the Garrett Museum at the company’s factory in Garland. In 1984 the company also began to manufacture walk-through and hand-held security detectors, including the famed Super Scanner®, the world’s most popular hand-held detector, and revolutionary new walk-through units. As a patriotic American, Dr. Garrett generously donated his company’s equipment for numerous projects where metal detection equipment was required, including many of the Olympic Games.

He authored some 20 books and wrote literally scores of articles about metal detectors, treasure hunting on both land and under water and security. Many of his books remain in print. Today, the name Garrett stands as a worldwide synonym for treasure hunting and security metal detectors. Charles himself has been called the Grand Master Hunter. Along the way, he also became recognized as an unofficial spokesman for the hobby of treasure hunting and the metal detecting industry through a long list of honors, personal appearances, books and articles. U.S. Representative Sam Johnson visited the Garrett factory in February 2010 to read and present to Dr. Garrett a copy of the Congressional Record in which he acknowledged the quality and determination of Garrett’s American-made products. Charles and Eleanor Garrett have been generous contributors to Lamar University and her alma mater, Sam Houston State University. Both have been granted honorary doctor’s degrees from these schools. Charles Garrett was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during Lamar’s spring commencement ceremonies in May 2011. The Charles and Eleanor Garrett Engineering Center was dedicated at Lamar University in April 2012.

Dr. Garrett was an Eagle Scout and an inductee into Eta Kappa Nu, the national Electrical and Computer Engineering honor society. In 2004, Governor Rick Perry commissioned Charles Garrett as an honorary Admiral in the Texas Navy. He was also a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas and was a Distinguished Alumni of both Lufkin High School and Lamar University.

Survivors include his wife of almost 60 years, Eleanor; three children, Charles Lewis Garrett, Jr., Deirdre Lynne Garrett Hasselbach and her husband Timothy of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Vaughan Lamar Garrett, his wife, Angela, and their two children, David and Sydney. Dr. Garrett was a member of the Saturn Road Church of Christ. Dr. Garrett was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne L. and Stella Barber Garrett; and his brothers, George Wayne Garrett and Donald Bert Garrett.

Visitation will be at Sparkman Crane Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, April 10, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. A memorial service will be held at Orchard Hills Baptist Church in Garland, Texas, at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 11, 2015. Graveside services will be conducted at 3:00 pm on Sunday, April 12, at Calvary Cemetery in Trinity County, Texas, east of Crockett on FM 357. In lieu of flowers, anyone desiring to make a donation can do so in memory of Charles Garrett to: Lamar University Foundation, P.O. Box 11500, Beaumont, Texas, 77710.

Gold rush towns boomed all over the American West in the 1800s, but did you know that some prospectors were striking it rich up in Canada during the same time? The Cariboo Gold Rush of 1861 triggered the settlement and success of Barkerville in British Columbia. In its heydey, it was the largest city west of Chicago and north of San Francisco. At the time it was thought that Vancouver and Victoria would never amount to much because they were too far away from Barkerville! Today, more than 100 historic structures are still standing on the spots that they were built; many are active businesses. For the price of admission, this period frontier town offers daily activities and special events during the summer— guided town tours, blacksmithing demonstrations, story-telling by costumed interpreters, living history presentations— as well as shopping, dining, gold panning, and much more.

Barkerville is named after Billy Barker from Cambridgeshire, England, who was among the first lucky miners to find gold here in Williams Creek, and whose claim was the richest and the most famous. Billy began his gold-seeking career as a California ‘49er, then headed north with his fellow miners after the California Gold Rush played out. In 1868, a fire spread quickly through Barkerville’s wooden shanties, completely destroying the town. Reconstruction began immediately, and within six weeks, 90 buildings had been rebuilt, boardwalks were improved, and the narrow and winding main street was widened and straightened. In no time, businesses of every description were once again open to meet the needs of miners.

Strolling the dirt streets of Barkerville this summer is a fun way to glimpse what mining life would have been like here in the late 19^th century. Mining relics are everywhere. Many of the historic buildings are filled with displays, not only about mining, but also depicting family life, firearms, and early businesses. Barkerville’s exotic Chinatown is the largest collection of pre-railway Chinese buildings in North America and boasts one of the largest Chinese archival collections in Canada. Although more than 150 years have passed since gold was first discovered here, with all the activity and visitors in town, you’d almost think that the Gold Rush was still in full swing at this Provincial Heritage Site of Canada. You'll find Barkerville Historic Town located 50 miles east of Quesnel, BC at the end of Highway 26.

Depending on where you live, spring is in the air either a little or a lot, or maybe not at all yet. If you're in a southern or western state, you're probably getting out and about more— in the woods or the desert— to prospect, metal detect, and just clean up the backyard and flower beds (don't forget your Woodman's Pal machete for clearing brush and pruning). As you venture outside more often, or travel to sunnier climates, keep in mind that it is not too early in the season to have to worry about snake bite protection. A warmer than expected winter in some places has caused snakes to come out of hibernation earlier than usual. Just recently, a 14-year-old boy was airlifted out of Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego, California after a rattlesnake bit his leg. In Arizona, an adult was badly bitten on the knuckle of his middle finger. In warmer southern states, snakes often don't go into hibernation at all. Instead, they go into "brumation." 

Hibernation is a deep sleep, usually occuring in colder, snow covered climates in northern states. Snakes don't actually sleep in brumation, but their bodies acclimate to a lower temperature, their metabolism slows, and they become less active and less inclined to feed. Brumation or hibernation is necessary for breeding. If male snakes don't cool down at some point during the year, they most likely would not be able to produce fertile sperm.

On warm days, brumating snakes sometimes come out of their dens to bask in the sunshine. Nice sunny winter days are often when people are surprised by snakes. Just like us, snakes head out to enjoy the sun and unsuspecting humans can startle them and cause them to strike. Rattlesnakes usually try to get way from people and bite only when attacked -- or when they perceive they are being threatened or attacked. Many bites occur when snakes are accidentally stepped on. Wear snake gaiters or snake boots and you'll know you're protected in case that happens. Gaiters are also great protection against thorns, pricker bushes, and cacti needles. If you've ever brushed against cacti while on a hike, you know how painful they can be and how hard to remove those needles are!

Generally, rattlesnakes emerge from true hibernation in March or April, or when the average daytime temperatures reach and remain about 60 degrees Fahrenheit and higher. In the spring, keep in mind that emerging snakes are hungry, thirsty, and ready for love!  With spring approaching, follow the Boy Scout motto and be prepared. Just like the US Border Patrol, US Forestry Service, hunters, hikers, fishermen, ranchers, surveyors, realtors, landscapers, and thousands of treasure hunters, wear snake gaiters or snake boots and you'll know you're protected when in the desert or woods. Don't take a chance!

If you've not yet attended a GPAA (Gold Prospectors Association of America) Gold & Treasure Show, the coming months provide an opportunity to rub elbows with some of the best prospectors and manufacturers in the business! Browse the show floor to find the latest and greatest gold mining and metal detecting equipment, see product demos, attend free seminars, ask questions of the pros, and enter to win door prizes. Weekend shows run 10 am - 4 pm. Presale admission is $5 by registering online or $10 at the door.

Mark your calendars for these dates and cities:

• February 7-8  Pomona Fairplex in Pomona CA
• February 28-March 1  Mesa Convention Center in Mesa, AZ
• March 7-8  San Joaquin Fair in Stockton, CA
• March 28-29  Portland Expo Center in  Portland, OR
• April 11-12  Western Idaho Fair in Boise, ID
• April 25-26  South Point Casino in Las Vegas, NV
• May 16-17  National Western Complex in Denver, CO
• May 30-31  Metrolina Tradeshow Expo in Charlotte, NC
• June 6-7  Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, TN

Visit the GPAA website for more details and online registration. See you there!

Garrett's new pulse induction ATX metal detector is the ultimate multi-frequency detector for all terrains and extreme conditions (highly mineralized ground, saltwater, etc.). It features advanced pulse induction technology, a durable design that meets military specifications, and an advanced 20 inch Deepseeker searchcoil is ideal for use in searching for caches and other deeply buried large objects. The ATX is waterproof to 10 feet.

PI (pulse induction) detectors work a bit differently than the more common VLF (very low frequency) detectors by putting magnetic field energy into the ground and then switching off and waiting a short period before they start to look for a response. This makes them better at handling ground mineralization than a VLF detector because during that short delay the magnetic response of iron trash minerals that you don't want to find dies out. VLF detectors do not as easily cancel out ground mineralization the way a PI metal detector can do.

Kevin Hoagland, Executive Director of Development for the Gold Prospectors Association of America recently field tested the Garrett ATX Deepseeker. Below is an excerpt of Kevin's review:

"My first impression of the ATX was that it's compact, heavy and built like a tank, and all connections are waterproof. Battery installation is simple. The ATX uses 8 AA batteries in two 4-battery drop-in packs and comes with an 8-slot AA battery charger. Not only does this detector come with a rugged case and carry bag, but also everything else you need to get out detecting. The units ships with the 20 inch mono coil already installed. It is also shipped with headphones that are screwed into the back of the unit.

I slipped my arm into the adjustable cuff, and grabbed the control pod. There was no unnecessary torque on my wrist, which gave it a perfect fit and feel, and allowed me to work all of the control buttons easily with my thumb. I pushed the unit out in front of me a bit and turned on the power switch, which is located on the back of the unit. The Garrett ATX Deepseeker Metal Detector goes through its startup and self-diagnostic test. Every light on the control pad comes on and unit emits several different sounds before settling into a comfortable, but high, threshold. This is not a turn-on-and-go detector. Either read the entire owners manual before you go out hunting, or at least read the first two pages of the manual— page 1 is the Quick Start Guide and an explanation of how to access the functions of the ATX quickly, and page 2 shows you where to find more information concerning those functions.

There are 5 major functions that are completely user-adjustable: Mode, Sensitivity, Threshold, Volume, and Ground Balance. Are functions are easy to adjust with a basic understanding of the ATX and more tunable as you become more proficient. Secondary functions include iron check, tracking, discrimmination and frequency shifting, to name only a few.

As with most large PI detectors, the Garrett ATX Deepseeker Metal Detector is not light, and the waterproofing adds extra weight. Were it not for the ergonomic design, detectorists not accustomed to the weight of these machines might tire quickly. The supplied sling is easy to use, adjust, and offers a fair way to alleviate some of the weight, but I found it uncomfortable for long periods of use. Many avid detectorists use after-market harness systems, so you may want to check out those options if you plan to spend long days detecting.

In the field, the Deepseeker performed exceptionally well. The unit demonstrated almost complete immunity to all but the worst hot rocks I encountered. The ground balance and multi-speed ground tracking worked great, but I found that I rarely used the ground tracking as the ATX handled most of the soil mineralization in the OFF position. The threshold was quick to respond to ground changes and a simple ground balance was all that was needed to bring the ATX back into maximum depth and sensitivity. The Iron Check works well, maybe even too well! I dig everything no matter what and I have had a very successful nugget-hunting career doing just that. I have found good targets under junk on many occasions. Be careful and mindful that gold, like junk, is where you find it and there is no law of detecting that states there will be no gold under junk!

Regardless of your level of detecting expertise, it will take some time to get comfortable with all the functions and navigating the menus of the ATX. With multi-button presses to access some functions, it's important to take time to learn the machine well beyond the quick-start level. Overall, Garrett has created a PI detector that is extremely well made with solid functionality. The ATX offers great value for your dollar. Garrett has again carved a niche in the metal detector market, and the ATX perfectly has met the needs expressed by detectorists worldwide..."

You can find Kevin's complete field test review on pages 16-19 of the November/December 2014 issue of Gold Prospectors Magazine, or download the .pdf here.  You can also get more information and watch a video of the Garrett ATX Deepseeker Metal Detector on this website.

If you're looking for a proven fine gold recovery tool that has been on the market for decades, consider the Desert Fox Spiral Gold Panning Machine. It's easy to use, and recently Kevin Hoagland, Executive Director of Development for the Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA) conducted a field test review which was published on pages 14-17 of the January/February 2015 issue of Gold Prospectors Magazine. Here's an excerpt of Kevin's findings and you can also click on the image at the end of this post to download a complete copy of the field test review (4-page .pdf).

"... The Desert Fox ships in an Action Packer case that is the storage, transport, and water container unit. It provides excellent protection for the Fox while giving you a true compact recirculating unit that can be transported easily. Unpacking the container was simple and for those of us that spend little time looking at the way something comes out of a container, the manufacturer has included a photo in the manual to show you how to repack the unit so it's back to being travel-ready in just a few seconds. In the container you will find:

• A-frame with variable speed drive motor connected as one unit
• 7 lead 12.5 inch double wall spiral recovery wheel
• Adjustable water spray bar
• Tailings catch tray
• 12-volt 750 GPH pump and flow hose from pump to spray bar
• Instructions
• Recovery cup
• Nylon stocking for the pump
• Small bag of practice sand with flecks of real gold.

Setup takes just a few moments. The wheel frame is a single point A-frame that sits perfectly in place in the container and allows you a stable, easy-to-set-up base for the spiral unit. The A-frame construction also allows the unit to be set up directly in a stream. Stand the A-frame in the container, lift the drive unit to a beginning angle, slide the double-wall wheel into the slot on the drive motor, attach the spray bar, fill with water, hook up to a 12-volt power supply (not included), and after a couple of fine tuning adjustments, the Desert Fox is ready to start running your concentrates. Total time from cased to running is about two minutes!

The A-frame mounted drive motor allows you to easily make small adjustments to the angle of the wheel. This ease-of-use factor can become critical when running materials that require more precision. Water flow is controlled by a single-point knob on the spray bar assembly, and the speed control is located on the back of the unit. These 3 adjustments are all you need to ensure efficient gold recovery. Before first use, be sure to clean with a good quality dish washing soap to remove all the manufacturing oils (mold-release agents from the plastic parts). Do NOT use a citrus-scented soap because the scent is derived from oils, which is exactly what you are trying to remove. Use hot soapy water and a non-abrasive pad.

Spiral panners work in reverse of traditional hand panning. Instead of gravity separating gold from concentrates with the heavies sinking to the bottom of a pan, a spiral machine uses speed, water, and the angle of the spiral wheel to keep lighter material in the bottom of the wheel, while the heavier black sand and gold is brought up the leads. When set correctly, the sands drop off at the last moment and only gold is moved through the center of the unit and recovered in the cup.

I recommend classifying your dirt to a minimum of .25 inch to 1/8 inch mesh. Once classified and prepared to run, feed the material slowly into the bottom of the wheel. I've found it best to use a tablespoon. Increase the feed rate after all necessary adjustments are made.

Starting with the water first, find the lowest water pressure that will clean the light material from the leads as it climbs up the pan, adjust the angle and speed as needed so the heavy sands drop off at the right spot and you're ready to start processing your concentrates. After completing the basic setup, I adjusted the speed to keep the unit tuned in to variations in the types of material I ran. There are two models of the Desert Fox— a constant speed ($339) and a variable speed ($359). Since the difference in price is just $20, I highly recommend the variable speed model.

The Desert Fox is a straight-forward and simple spiral wheel system that recovers gold efficiently, and has been manufactured by Camel Mining since 1969. It is compact, weighs about 10 pounds, and is ideal for carrying into the field. Gold recovery is exceptional and the learning curve is short..."

Click here to learn more about the Desert Fox Spiral Panner on this website.  Click image to download .pdf of field test review.

Gold Trails is a new TV show produced by the Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA) that promotes the lifestyle of the prospector. Host Kevin Hoagland travels the country working with local prospectors and equipment manufacturers in search of the next big gold strike. Gold Trails is really an introduction for the general public to basic prospecting — to a lot of people who haven’t experienced it yet.

The premiere episode of Gold Trails will air Saturday, January 3, 2015 on the following local TV stations:

• KDOC TV — Los Angeles, 8 a.m (LA 56 — Verizon Fios HD is 506)
• AZTV — Phoenix, Ariz. — 11 a.m. 
• KWVT — Salem, Ore., 10:30 a.m.  (available to viewers in Portland) 

The following excerpt and information is found on the GPAA's website.

Gold Trails has been three years in the making, but is worth every minute of the wait, said GPAA President and Executive Producer Brandon Johnson. He’s confident viewers will feel the same by the time they’ve watched all seven weekly half-hour episodes of this first season. Though Johnson, who is Tom Massie’s stepson, is carrying on the family business, he has stepped outside of the Massie family for the first time with the choice of Hoagland as the on-camera personality and the public persona of the GPAA. But, Hoagland is first and foremost a gold prospector with solid roots in the small-scale mining industry as well as the GPAA and Lost Dutchman's Mining Association, so he’s a natural fit.

Although Johnson is a gold prospector and miner, he admits he never grew up immersed neck-deep in mining the same way as Tom and Perry Massie did. Still, he has spent countless hours at mining camps with Tom, his mother, Cindy and his siblings and he’s grown to love the mining community and GPAA family. “My grandfather was a miner. What drives me is not necessarily the mining as much as that mining community my grandfather created,” he said.“It was always important to me. To me it’s a great pleasure.”

It takes a certain kind of person to be on-camera and, Johnson by his very nature ducks and dodges the limelight, preferring instead a behind-the-scenes management approach. “I wouldn’t be opposed to it, if it makes sense for the episode,” he said, quipping, “I can give a tour of the office.” Humbly, he said, that the miners who are out in the field, rolling up their sleeves and getting down to the nitty-gritty can better reflect what gold prospecting is all about to viewers than he can as a company president, which carries with it the burden of financial and managerial responsibilities. “They have so much more to say than I do ... but I have no problem jumping in there,” he said.

Johnson is convinced Hoagland is the right person for the job of Gold Trails host. “This is a show that we’ve been passionate about producing for a few years, but the chemistry really needed to be right. My grandfather was a baseball player, and so he built a baseball field. We’ve had the opportunity with the baseball field for a long time, but we’ve been looking for the right players and the right coach. Now, I think we’ve got that,” Johnson said. “To me, it’s important. I can probably play baseball, but I’m not a baseball player; Kevin is. So, with his ability and how similar our passion is — as far as his passion to get the information out there and to help people and the joy he gets from it — I’ve got a baseball player. I can continue to be the athletic director, while Kevin is taking on the responsibility from a television, media standpoint ... and I’m a big supporter of it.”

While Gold Trails started out much like Gold Fever episodes (another GPAA TV series), the formula was changed to make it more educational with a little less of the antics that are Tom Massie’s trademark.

Although Hoagland had been visible in the mining industry, Johnson was especially impressed with him at a GPAA Gold & Treasure Show, where Hoagland had led a popular seminar on metal detecting. It was apparent then — and still is — that Hoagland’s passion for prospecting floweth over the proverbial cup. And, he has the knowledge and experience to back it up.

Listening to the story of how Hoagland got his first metal detector and then set out to create a better one, and then explore metals and geology, Johnson was impressed with Hoagland’s inquisitive nature, gumption and gusto. “I think that says a lot about how Kevin’s mind works ... He wanted to understand how the Earth works. He is very knowledgeable,” Johnson said. “We had a similar focus. I’ve met hundreds of people over the years at gold shows, but Kevin really stood out — his voice and his presence and his knowledge of prospecting.”

Rather than having six minutes of commercial time for big national advertiser on Outdoor Channel, Johnson hopes Gold Trails will expand from three to 20 different local markets, which means plenty of advertising spots for local mining equipment and prospecting shops. “Gold Trails to me is about starting that gold rush everyone expected to happen. I think a lot of people have a fascination with gold when the price fluctuates. People get excited about prospecting for gold, but I don’t think many of them know how to get started, ” Johnson said. “We’re giving people the next step. The prospecting and mining industry, really doesn’t have a show like this.”

And, no other gold prospecting TV series can offer viewers a chance to join a national membership-based organization and go out prospect on mining claims across the United States. The GPAA also has publications, such as Gold Prospectors magazine, the Pick & Shovel Gazette, and a network of local chapters that Gold Trails viewers can join for free to become part of the small-scale mining community and learn more about the industry.

Mining rights

When it comes to mining rights, Johnson said the GPAA has consistently been a strong voice for keeping public lands open to prospecting, mining and other outdoor uses, such as hunting, fishing, hiking and biking, for example. “For the last few generations, mining in this country has become something you read about in history, but that doesn’t mean in today’s word that it has gone away,” Johnson said. “It’s still done in other countries very efficiently and it’s a huge part of their economies. And, the way I see it, there will come a time when it will be part of our economy again. It has to. Grandpa said, ‘If you can’t grow it and you can’t mine it, it doesn’t exist.’ ”

And, Massie couldn’t have been more right — computers, smart phones, vehicles and the fuel that goes in them, plastics, electrical wires — virtually everything including the kitchen sink comes from some type of mining.

Historically, during periods of high unemployment or a depressed economies, many Americans looked to prospecting and mining on public lands to earn to living. “We don’t want to lose that access to public lands. I think people need to experience it. It’s great to be able to go out there casually without the need to support your family ... When you go out there and experience it, I think a lot of people get a sense of how important it actually is. You can’t care about public lands unless you’ve had a mining claim and you have that right that right is being taken away from you,” he said. “You are much more passionate about it when you’ve got a vested interest. So, this show is really about getting back to basics and encouraging people to understand prospecting and to feel more connected to public lands and to their rights and what they may be losing if they lose access.”

Modern image of miners

Many of today’s reality TV shows set the stage for human conflict and drama wrapped around a gold mining theme. The upside is that these shows put mining back on the map in the minds of the mainstream public, but the downside is a negative image of miners and mining. “I don’t want people to think of mining stereotyped with a lot of drama or that it’s old guys with beards that fight each other all the time,” Johnson said. “We need mining much like carpentry, masonry, mechanics or anything else.”

In stark contrast to stereotypes, GPAA members are often mild-mannered stewards of the land with a great respect for nature as well as natural resources. “They are ‘salt-of-the-Earth’ people, the most accepting people in the world, which really speaks to the purity of what some of us are doing” Johnson said.

His hope for Gold Trails is that it gives viewers a much more realistic view of what prospecting and small-scale mining are all about. “When you get out and actually prospect, it’s fun. It’s a family activity,” he said. “Gold fever is something that is so natural, you connect with it. Most people will, and they need to be properly introduced to it — and that’s what our show is about.” While Johnson admits he’s got high expectations and a unique vision for what Gold Trails is all about, he applauds Hoagland and the GPAA TV production crew. “I think they’ve done a phenomenal job,” he said. “Right now we have three local markets, but I see us getting to 20,” he said.

“Our members are our best resources,” said Johnson, adding that they’re often the mining experts in any given area. They know the terrain and the right equipment to use — not to mention the manufacturers who make it. Hoagland and the production crew will feature not only the equipment, but the inventors of many different mining innovations on the show.

The premiere episode of Gold Trails will air Saturday, Jan. 3 on the following local TV stations:

• KDOC TV — Los Angeles, 8 a.m (LA 56 — Verizon Fios HD is 506)
• AZTV — Phoenix, Ariz. — 11 a.m. 
• KWVT — Salem, Ore., 10:30 a.m.  (available to viewers in Portland) 

Visit the GPAA website to watch sample episodes and get more information about Gold Trails.

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