COLORADO DIAMOND PROSPECTING, Colorado has diamond deposits, you just need to look... Options

[ASTROBLEME]

Hi Everyone:

Diamond prospecting isn't too hard if you know what to look for. This photo was recently posted publicly by another diamond expert (Dan Hausel) whom I've worked with and have grown to respect over the past few years. I am excited to now be able to share some knowledge through this forum as I have endured much difficulty in the early years while learning about diamond prospecting on my own.

The specimens in this photo are great examples of "indicator minerals" that were recovered from a diamond bearing area (Sloan Ranch kimberlite pipes #1 & #2) right here in Colorado. If you ever find minerals that resemble these specimens in any of your samples, I'd advise you to consider testing the prospect area for DIAMONDS!

Sincerely,

ASTROBLEME

[Forestwalker]

I just moved to Laporte and hope to drive up there this spring a bunch to do some prospecting for diamonds and other rare mantle minerals. If anyone wants a 25 year old geology major as partner/apprentice in the area hit me up.

Also would sluicing with a gold sluice be best or a greese table/pan for finding my first diamond? I know a few people who dredge here in CO who say they have found a few diamonds in their cons.


Tom

[ASTROBLEME]

Hello Tom:

It has been my experience that a pan or sluice will work fine without adding "grease". While a grease table works well in a controlled environment, the stuff that gets into the sluice out in the field really sticks to the grease if it has carbon in it. Bugs, roots, leaves and various other carbon based items will cause you more trouble than it is worth, in my opinion.

As long as your sluice is set up to catch the black sands, diamonds will also be trapped. Just keep the riffles clean and you should do fine. Be sure to get permission from claim owners and/or private holdings to avoid any problems. Diamond prospects are well patrolled up there.

Good luck!

ASTROBLEME

[Forestwalker]

Thanks for the advice, I was thinking that would be the case with the non polar detritus. I know how to set up the sluice to catch garnets which are a similar SG and I will clean up often.

Seems like its a railroad style checkerboard pattern of public and private land, how can I find who owns the private land?

I started prospecting in NH for gold and aqua/tourmaline and there are no claims so I am not used to the paperwork and claims research side but I know I have to be diligent to do right.

[ASTROBLEME]

Thanks for the advice, I was thinking that would be the case with the non polar detritus. I know how to set up the sluice to catch garnets which are a similar SG and I will clean up often.

Seems like its a railroad style checkerboard pattern of public and private land, how can I find who owns the private land?

I started prospecting in NH for gold and aqua/tourmaline and there are no claims so I am not used to the paperwork and claims research side but I know I have to be diligent to do right.

Tom:

You are right in the railroads establishing the ownership pattern. The checkerboard pattern has over the years resulted in numerous split mineral estates. In many locations, the government lands have private mineral holdings and the public lands have private mineral holdings. It takes some time to sort ownership issues out but if you focus on a small target area, that will help limit the complexity.

Larimer County has an awesome GIS & Mapping website Use this resource to identify property ownership, overlay aerial imagery, USGS quads and more.

The Larimer County Clerk and Recorder in Fort Collins will also have copies of all the mining claims and claim maps.

Hope you find this helpful.

ASTROBLEME

[ASTROBLEME]

You just never know what might show up on the web!

Here's a link I found this morning that details a non-confidential Notice of Intent that has been made publicly accessible for one of my diamond mining claims;

http://drmsweblink.state.co.us/drmsweblink...ge=3&dbid=0

Perhaps this might help some of you that are considering putting together an operation for large scale prospecting.

ASTROBLEME

[russau]

hey forest walker, to find out who owns what peice of land go to your county seat/court hous and ask to buy thier county platt book. it has all owners of that particular countys land listed and shows a map of their boundarys. i usually buy them when im looking for land to buy!they are very handy!

[CP]

Thanks Astrobleme, that's very interesting reading and a great reference for folks possibly doing the same type of activities on their claims and the proper use of a notice of intent form and wording within. Two thumbs up!

CP

[nm jack]

hey forest walker, to find out who owns what peice of land go to your county seat/court hous and ask to buy thier county platt book. it has all owners of that particular countys land listed and shows a map of their boundarys. i usually buy them when im looking for land to buy!they are very handy!

Russ, here is another handy tool I use also. After you click on link click on search LSR's and plug in info.http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/

[Forestwalker]

Good to have that on the record so people can have more of an idea, I'd never seen a NOI before.

Thanks russ, sounds expensive though I'l head over to the offices after class sometime.

[russau]

the platt books ive bought cost from $25./$35 each but that price varies with the countys. to me this is a very good referance source for info! i buy one foreach county i plan to dredge in so i can find out who the owner of a peice of land is without asking all of the land owners,some of which dont want you there!

[ASTROBLEME]

Notice of Intent Revisions

Here's a link to Permit No. P2008001 that DiamonEx filed in an effort to revise their drilling plans for my claims at Bull Garden. The original plan was to drill multiple holes along a boundary fence to determine if the pipe continued onto adjacent lands. This revised NOI came just weeks before the company ran into financial troubles and was forced to cancel the project.

For those that find themselves in a position to move forward on a large scale project, remember that plans can be revised but it can delay permitting. Make sure to plan appropriately so that revisions are not required that will slow down a project or delay it unexpectedly.

ASTROBLEME

[CP]

Great advice Astrobleme, thanks for posting this information up.

[CP]

Good luck to everyone on their diamond prospecting adventures!
I thought I'd add in some more information I've saved in recent information gatherings with all the diamond prospecting information already posted in this thread. Excellent thread here everyone thanks!

First is a pdf document from the Colorado state geological survey rock talk series titled "Colorado Diamonds". Well worth downloading for your own references if you are prospecting for diamonds around Colorado.
 ColoradoDiamonds_RockTalk_rtv2n3.pdf ( 1.59MB ) Number of downloads: 2595


Next is a link from the Wyoming state geological survey with more information relating to the Colorado Wyoming area called the state line district.
Wyoming state geoloical survey diamond page.

This one is a link to the Geology.com diamond information page with more cool info to read up on. Geology.com - diamond information

And another link to our own Colorado diamond page here at ColoradoProspector.com with additional great info and links for daimonds.
ColoradoProspector.com - Colorado Diamonds

Happy prospecting out there everyone, stay safe.

CP

[Hawkewind]

That .pdf article was really good...printed it up and will keep, thanks!

[Boogie]

SEARCHING FOR PLACER DIAMONDS

Worth saving to disk.
http://www.wsgs.uwyo.edu/Publications/Onli...cs/IP-12new.pdf

Boogie