Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums _ Equipment - Prospecting and Lapidary _ Highbanking Demonstration

Posted by: ColoradoProspector Feb 22 2009, 12:52 PM

Highbanking can be done but needs a settling area so as not to let the muddy water directly re-enter the water system, but rather to let the top soils washed off "settle" out prior to water re-entry into the natural system.
We were able to have a very nice demonstration set up last year at the CP dig site and thought we would share a couple pics so everyone can get an idea of what they need to do in the field.

This set up was used for multiple (4 at a time) units and kept all water run off away from the water source used. In addition, we also could use the run off area as sluice spots which worked wonderfully with a constant soap seep in the intakes of the pumps.
For just one unit you would not probably need to go to this length but it gives folks an idea.

The settling area and ditch were dug in one day by myself and Denise but also needed "mucked out" as tailings will fill the settling areas.
Take a little time to do this and you won't have problems in the field with run off while you highbank.

CP

Posted by: russau Feb 23 2009, 05:58 AM

good idea!!!

Posted by: jmann Feb 23 2009, 09:04 AM

Was this at the spring outting? Joe

Posted by: ColoradoProspector Feb 25 2009, 05:54 PM

Thanks Russ and yep that sure was last years spring fling outing Joe in those pics.
Somewhere here we've got an extremely rare photo of Gat with a shovel in use! He sais he'd rather float than shovel.

We also had the honor of having Representive (Michigan) Elsenhiemer and his family visit that year. They all wished to learn a bit about gold prospecting and were actually the first to use the sluice stations. Coolest thing to, their teenage daughter was on her cell phone while sluicing, probably talking about the mall back home or something. But that is something the old time prospectors probably never dreamt would be possible.

Can also see the panning station that was set up under the canopy for shaded comfy panners.

This next one is just after the burm and ditch had been started. Daryll and Paulette are some real diggers too and they helped test out the new drainage while they tested their new highbanker "long hose" set up which was needed to get the water up from the pond.
Fortunately between a couple hardware store runs right close and some odd parts we had on hand, they got in some good diggin'.

Here you can see where the water ended up in the low ground below the pond (left of pic) and could settle out completely before re entering the water table below.

Posted by: russau Feb 26 2009, 05:27 AM

great PR! the small scale mining community can use all it can get. i wish more clubs would invite/take out more of our legislators to show them what we really do instead of what theyve been told from the greenies and the dems.

Posted by: Mrs.CP Mar 7 2009, 09:23 AM

That setup worked great! Lots of highbanking tips and techniques were also learned from this setup.

QUOTE

We also had the honor of having Representive (Michigan) Elsenhiemer and his family visit that year. They all wished to learn a bit about gold prospecting and were actually the first to use the sluice stations. Coolest thing to, their teenage daughter was on her cell phone while sluicing, probably talking about the mall back home or something. But that is something the old time prospectors probably never dreamt would be possible.

Actuatually Dan, his daughter called her friends from all the places they were having adventures in their travels.
She would give them details of what she was doing right then...hehe

They had a blast they told us at the end of the day.