Prospecting: » 1 » 2 » 3 » 4 » 5       » Image Gallery Rock Found Containing High Grade P.G.M. by The Prospector Being an avid prospector, I have discovered the unique capabilities of the Electroscope® by Thomas, not only for treasure hunting, but for prospecting. I first met J.C. of Texas, at the January 1989 Mining convention in British Columbia, Canada. He was looking into two areas in Honduras to mine for their gold values. Keeping in contact with him, he learned of my successful use of the Electroscope®, and approached me about checking out these Honduran properties. I agreed to waive my normal fee, in exchange for expense and the experience. Let me say, I wasn't sorry. We arrived in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in the middle of November, 1989, which is their summer. I was very excited to see this country, as I had been trying to put together a prospecting expedition to Honduras for the past 10 years. Funding was always a problem. Our first trip was to the Guapi River region, to an area I call the Horse Neck. A horseneck is where the river makes a big meander and then comes almost back to itself, creating a peninsula area. The whole top portion of this horse neck had reddish material with quartz running through it. It assayed out at $11.00 to the yard gold. The front portion of this area contained an old hand powered trommel. The area was benched off, signs of previous mining activity. Right at the leading edge of the upper bench, a test hole ran $39.00 to the yard gold. J.C. hoped this material ran under to lower grade material. I checked the whole area out with the Electroscope® and determined that the higher grade material was only 20' x 20' roughly, remnants of what the old timer left. I feel this better grade material was a reclassification of the upper material, when the river was there. I went down river aways, and swept the area with the Electroscope®. Several signals produced pieces of gold. Each time I located a spot, a hole was dug, just deep enough for the Scope to like the pile, and not the hole. Then the material from the pile was placed in a gold pan, until the Scope like the pan, and no longer the pile. Each time, panning produced either a piece, or pieces of gold. The next day we went to the second area of interest. We traveled to the Julan River, by Sarah. The river here is very rich. The property basically consists of a 2 mile stretch of river containing 3 distinct large sand bars. Trying to sweep the first bar, the Scope wouldn't let me sweep. The antenna just stayed where I brought it up. This happened repeatedly throughout the first sand bar. We continued down river, where I got out and a sweep of the area produced a strong lock. At this location, I couldn't see the second bar. The vegetation on the hill was incredibly thick. I could only get a direction. We drove down further, where I got out and walked to the ridge over looking the river. At this spot, I could see the second island bar. Again I received a strong lock with the Electroscope®. I walked down another 300 yards, and got the same strong signal. At this point, I had visual intersection. The spot was on the island in the middle of the river. We decided to try to make it to the island, J.C., Burt, and Honduran guide they hired, and myself. We slid down a muddy steep trail through the banana trees. My radar was on full alert for snakes. When we made it to the river, we waded waist deep out to the bar. After reaching the island, I pinpointed the spot, and the Honduran set out digging the target. While he was busy, I used the time to check out the rest of the bar. I located 2 pay streaks running lengthwise through the bar. I drew J.C. a map of their locations. When I got back, the Honduran had a 4' hole dug. I was amazed. The Electroscope® no longer liked the hole, but locked onto the pile. I had Burt, our interpreter, also from Texas, tell him to stop digging, and put the material from the pile into the pan. He did 30 pans, all of which produced colors. The Scope still liked the pile, so I started spreading out the pile and checking the rocks. I did this with my head turned slightly. I wasn't sure my heart could take finding something like was found in Arizona. Finally, there it was, a round quartz rock, 8 to 10 pounds. I rechecked the area and was satisfied this was my target. I washed it in the river, but saw no visible signs of gold. The rock showed signs of being from a quartz vein that had been intruced several times. The Electroscope® had located this rock, first from approximately 1 mile away, then again twice from ¼ mile. The rest of the trip was spent looking and scoping as much area as possible in the days remaining. No further digger was done. I gave many demonstrations on the Electroscope® to the Hondurans, and candy bars to the little ones. After returning to the United States, I send ½ of the rock off to the Bahamian Refining Services Company for assay. The report came back as follows: "Julan River ore .29 gold, 1.49 silver *Pt++" "I use a single, double and triple check system of P.G.M. This ++ means there is an indication of the presence of twice as many platinum values in this ore, as gold values. This is not quantitative testing done, but don't have the results yet." Finding a rock predominately platinum is extraordinary. The question now is, where did it come from, and is there any more? What a joy it is to have something that literally points you to the spot, opposed to digging and panning, more digging and more panning, basically looking in the dark. The designers of the Electroscope® have certainly turned on the light. I would like to thank Thomas and Bob for producing such a valuable instrument. Also for all their support during my learning process, which is still continuing. I use the Electroscope®, not only to locate a valuable mineral vein, but to determine the hottest portion of the vein. I can determine the boundaries of placer deposits, and the hottest portion. I feel this is where the instrument really shines. People who question the Electroscope must not understand how to use one properly.