Gold Panning in the Dominican Republic and other Adventures

Protest planned in Dominican Republic against Barrick Gold Company

2010-10-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

SANTO DOMINGO. – Youth groups that demand the cancellation of the contract with the mining company Barrick Gold announced Tuesday that they’ll heighten their fight with a novel walk called “To the capital in reverse."
In a statement the youngsters who filed suit to halt the works of the Canada based company say that “To the capital in reverse” said it will set off from the northeastern town Cotui on Thursday morning, November 4, after a blessing by several parish priests and pastors of the area.
They expect to arrive at Santo Domingo on Monday, November 8 and head to Congress and then to the National Palace, where they’ll deliver a document with a list of the reasons they demand voiding the Barrick Gold contract for the gold mining operation in Cotuí.
The walk will feature the group’s slogan: ‘What’s good for Barrick is neither good for Cotuí nor the country’, a play in words for the miner’s ad campaign.

Deep Blue Marine sends second boat to seek treasure in Dominican waters

2010-09-11T03:09:00.000-07:00

SALT LAKE CITY (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX).- Deep Blue Marine, Inc. announced today that the company has equipped a second 88 ton vessel, which was purchased earlier this year, for survey and recovery work in the Dominican Republic. The boat, named the "Kerri Lynn," is on its way from Florida to the Dominican Republic and is expected to arrive in 7-10 days, weather permitting.
Wilf Blum, President and CEO, had this to say: "With the amount of work that we have ahead of us, the addition of this ship is very exciting. The ship will go to work on our North Shore area as soon as it arrives. It is 100% equipped with dive gear and recovery equipment and is ready to be put to work immediately."
"As always, investing in this type of venture is very risky and no one should invest if they cannot safely tolerate that risk," Blum said.

Great New Gold Panning Sites in Dominican Republic

2010-08-08T05:01:00.000-07:00

In the past few weeks we have successfully located some great new Gold panning sites outside of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. After prospecting several streams and rivers with a few new friends whom are also Gold prospectors, we have located more promising sites with a bit easier access than some of the others that we normally pan.
One of the newest streams does have a handful of locals that work it almost daily. They usually find between 2 and 4 grams a day per person just using a shovel, pick and a wooden homemade Gold pan. Not a bad income for these guys.
We have recently added a few new tools to our arsenal, a gold wheel, a gold trommel, several new gold pans by different manufacturers and 2 new Keene engineering sluice boxes. Next to come is a gold dredge. I have been trying to put into service a useful syphon dredge, but still working out a few kinks to make it work properly.
The area here is very rich in Gold as well as history all the way back to when Christopher Columbus discover the Island back in 1492.
Our gold panning adventures and expeditions are in several different areas of the Cordilla mountains around Jarabacoa, Manabao, Blanco and others. With 1/2 day excursions, full day and custom expeditions to suit all gold prospecting enthusiast's.
For the adventure of a lifetime, contact us at http://www.Jarabacoagold.com for information. We can assist with lodging, meals, and other outdoor excursions while in Dominican Republic as well as our Gold panning adventures.
Contact us today to see some of these great new Gold panning sites in Dominican Republic for yourself.

Vacation Ideas for travel in Dominican Republic

2010-07-03T07:51:00.000-07:00

Are you searching for travel ideas for your next vacation in Dominican Republic? The Island of Hispanolia hosts many vacation types and adventures not usually found all together in one beautiful location.
The white sand beaches of Dominican Republic are some of the best in the world, with locations that are sure to please even the most discriminating tastes. From Punta Cana, with its breathtaking 5 star all inclusive resorts that offer a wide variety of excursions and packages, to Las Terranas, with its laid back Mediterranean atmosphere and all points in between. Cabarete offers world class Kiteboarding, Surfing, boating and a abundance of nightlife and an array of hotels and resorts in all price ranges.
The beach isn't your thing? Visit the "Alps of the Caribbean" with breathtaking mountain views and scenery right out of the Travel magazines. Plenty to do in the mountain village of Jarabacoa, located just a scenic 45 minute drive from Santiago. With white water rafting trips on the Yaque del Norte, Gold panning adventures in the streams of Manabao, horseback riding in the foothills and along the river banks and Hiking to Pico Duarte, the highest peak in the Caribbean this area is an adventure lovers dream. Venture off to Constanza, where the Strawberry's and vegetables are locally grown, waterfalls are plentiful and the locals welcoming.
For the history buffs, The Colonial zone in the capitol, Santo Domingo is one spot that shouldn't be missed. Historical sites, churches and museums are plentiful and the city, as are most metropolitan areas is bustling with activity 24 hours per day. Major hotels and casino's are located on the Malecon, Cruise ships in the harbor and shopping for gifts at the small shops as well as the malls of the city.
For more ideas and information about your next Dominican Republic vacation visit http://www.Jarabacoagold.com

Gold Panning Great for Family Fun and Profit Too

2010-06-26T06:20:00.000-07:00

Today many Americans, and people around the world, still find gold nuggets when they go prospecting for gold. Many people feel that gold prospecting is largely a recreational activity. It is simply one of the most exciting and rewarding outdoor family experiences that you should try. A gold nugget that weighs around an ounce can easily fetch one to two thousand dollars when sold to collectors. But it must be emphasized that you need proper knowledge to maximize your search for gold. The good news is that, you can get a lot of free gold prospecting resources on the Internet that will teach you the finer points of this traditional method of finding gold.Christopher Columbus used the Taino Indians to prospect and recover the gold for him in the Dominican Republic in 1492.Well, gold prospecting has been around for centuries. The effect on many people far outweighs the value of gold. Apart from the financial gains that a gold prospector can potentially earn, places that are home to gold prospecting sites also experience further development. Take the case of the California gold rush back in the 1840s. Before prospectors came to town, San Francisco, California was nothing but a small village. But because of the gold prospecting fever that caught everyone at that time, the village grew into a city - complete with schools, churches, roads and even its own government.
There are many ways to find gold, but one fun way to go about prospecting is by gold panning. This outdoor activity can be quickly learned, even by kids. Besides, gold panning can be combined with your family picnics during weekends. The best part about panning is that you do not need any expensive equipment to make it happen. A shovel, a gold pan, and a lot of patience are all you need to enjoy this activity. Essentially, panning is the easiest way to find gold. But more than that, it is also the most environment friendly approach to gold prospecting.
Serious gold prospectors are always looking for ways to increase their chances of finding gold and hitting the jackpot. By using metal detecting methods, modern day prospectors can find gold that is buried several inches or feet below the ground. Detectors can also hit on gold pieces smaller than pinheads. So, if you really want to pinpoint the exact location of gold, you can always rely on metal detectors. But since you will be spending a considerable amount of money on this, you need to consult with gold prospecting experts on what type of detector to invest in. Good luck on your gold hunt! Are you catching the fever?
I found a great site with a lot more info on gold, how to find it and how to prospect for it. http://paydirtworld.com
Also check out this site for great gold panning excursions in the Dominican Republic.
http://www.jarabacoagold.com

A Gold Panning Tale

2010-06-19T06:41:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine used to spend the whole weekend gold panning and having a great time prospecting and partying with the guys. When he finally returned home late one Sunday night, his wife really got on his case, and stayed on it.
After a few of hours of swearing and screaming, his wife paused and pointed at him and made him an offer he couldn't refuse, 'How would you like it if you didn't see me for a couple of days?'
My friend couldn't believe his luck, so he looked up, smiled and said,
'That would suit me just fine!!'
Monday went by, and my friend didn't see his wife.
Tuesday and Wednesday went by and he still didn't see her.
Come Thursday, the swelling went down a bit and he
could see her a little out of the corner of his left eye.
Sound familiar??

Where to Look for Gold in Dominican Republic

2010-06-18T15:19:00.000-07:00

Just about any river or stream in the world will carry some gold in its sand and gravel. Gold is usually found on the inside of bends, in a plunge pool at the bottom of a waterfall or any other place where the velocity of the running water suddenly slows down.
The best kind of stream for gold panning is one that has a rapid flow with many rapids and small waterfalls just like my spot in Manaboa, Dominican Republic. My friend Maria and I went to this spot the other day. We hadn't been able to go for a while because of all the rain that we had here. The river is now clear and a great time to use the sluice box and do some gold panning. We drive for about 45 min and then hike for about an hour in the jungle. Good thing that there are no big animals or deadly snakes. The goat path steeps to the right and we come to a clearing. Here there is a beautiful waterfall. It's my favorite place to pan. It's the best place to pan that I know. If you are ever in Dominican Republic and want to go gold panning with us Contact us at
http://www.jarabacoagold.com and find some Gold for yourself!!!

American Doctor to Search for Lost City of Gold in Dominican Republic

2010-06-17T01:57:00.000-07:00

I saw this very interesting article on the web. Doctor John Mina of Lee County is a podiatrist, but he's also an explorer and adventurer at heart. Starting this Friday, Dr. Mina, his 17-yr. old son Tony, and eight other veteran explorers, will venture into the jungles of the Dominican Republic, looking for a 'Lost City of Gold'.
"When you have a passion to discover, only an adventure will quell it," Dr. Mina told WINK News.
"It is a rush, very exciting, to un-earth something that no human hands have held for maybe 2000 years!", he added.
The Mina's will be flying to Dominican Republic and will become the first foreigners, officially invited by the Dominican government, to try to find the lost city of Bartholomew Columbus.   He was the brother of Christopher, and traveled to what we know as Hispaniola in the late 1400's, on Columbus' second voyage to the new world. Bartholomew found gold in the jungles of what is now the Dominican Republic, and he founded a city near the site of the gold. Later though, he abandoned the area, and nobody has found the city since then.
"We will have metal detectors and old maps. We hope to find some artifacts that will tell us, this was the settlement," said Dr. Mina.
He has traveled all over the world, looking for relics of lost cities and civilizations. He's been to Israel, Romania and Mongolia. He found a statue of Mars in Romania that is considered to be one of the finest and best-preserved specimens ever un-earthed.   His son Tony found a Roman coin, bearing the picture of Nero.
"When you find something that nobody has seen for all those years, and hold it in your hands, you have a direct connection with history," said Dr. Mina.
His son Tony will join him on the 10-day expedition to the Dominican Republic.   "It's going to be hot, itchy with mosquitoes, and probably just very uncomfortable," Tony Mina predicted.   "But it will be so cool if we find some remnants of the lost city.   That's why you put up with discomfort, for that  discovery."
Dr. Mina chuckled when the subject of Indiana Jones came up, but he said, he does have some Jones moments. "In Mongolia, I went to a flea market known for thieves. I bought a carpet there, and suddenly, all these men surrounded me. One big guy started hitting me in the chest and clearly, they were going to pick my pockets.   So I swung the carpet roll, hitting one guy, and created a small opening for me to run through.   Then the vendor started yelling: Thieves, and all the thugs dispersed into the crowd! That was an Indiana Jones moment for me," he said.
The Mina's do not expect trouble on the upcoming expedition.   But, just in case, "That's what we carry machetes for," said Tony Mina.

New Gold Zone found in Dominican Republic

2010-06-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

Unigold Inc. of Canada is pleased to announce the discovery of a new gold zone on its wholly-owned Neita Property located in the western region of the Dominican Republic. The gold zone is grading 2.3 g/t gold over 27 meters (true thickness) and is included in a 52-metre intercept (true thickness) grading 1.4 g/t gold. Hole number LP07 has encountered a massive barite unit and hydrothermal breccias which carry gold mineralization. Hole LP05 located 100 metres to the North-West has also intercepted the same structure and returned 29-meters grading 0.7 g/t gold from the same zone. Results from a further 2 holes are pending. The entire zone at Lomita Pina is covered by a volcano-sedimentary sequence made of andesitic pyroclastic units and a sequence of impure limestone and detritic sediments.
Mr. Daniel Danis, the President of Unigold Inc., states "We are extremely encouraged by these excellent drill results from a possible extension to the Candelones mineralization. The entire 3 kilometre distance between the Candelones resource and this new area of mineralization has become highly prospective. We expect that geophysical and geochemical anomalies from this area will be prioritized and follow-up work will commence immediately."
In addition to these new discoveries, Unigold has increased it's exploration presence in the Dominican Republic. The Company has added 10 geologists to it's field teams in the first half of this year, with two senior geologists joining the Company in recent weeks: Mrs. Lise Chenard and Mr. Francois Gaboury.
Mrs.Chenard is a former Chief Geologist for Barrick Gold at the Pueblo Viejo Project in the Dominican Republic.Mrs. Chenard holds an engineering degree in Geology and while involved in the Pueblo Viejo Project Feasibility Study she was leading a team responsible for evaluating the reserves of that world-class gold deposit.
Mr. Gaboury holds a degree in Geology and has over 23 years of exploration experience. Mr. Gaboury has extensive experience with high-sulphidation epithermal systems and has worked at Pierina and Alto Chicama in Peru. He has been involved in regional to property scale exploration and from early stage exploration to definition drilling and pre-production studies.
For Gold panning adventures or expeditions in Dominican Republic visit us at www.Jarabacoagold.com

Outdoor adventures for Schools, Churches, Families and Corporate events in Dominican Republic

2010-06-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

Are you considering a group adventure or event with your Family, school or church group?
Nestled in the mountains of Dominican Republic, is the quaint little town of Jarabacoa, with big outdoor adventures. With 2 of the countries rivers merging in the town, numerous waterfalls in the area and nature galore, there is no wonder they call it "Land of everlasting Spring". The weather year round is a constant 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit. The area is a growers delight, with fruit, vegetables, flowers and coffee growing in small gardens to mega greenhouses in the mountain towns.
Excursions for individual travelers to groups include white water rafting on the Yaque del Norte, Gold panning adventures and prospecting expeditions in the mountains, Horseback riding in the Jarabacoa foothills and mountain trails, Para-gliding for the fearless and hiking trips to Pico Duarte, the highest peak in the Caribbean.
Hotel accommodations are abundant with all price points from hostel style stays to the extravagant. Most rates are far lower than in the "resort" towns as are the prices for meals, transportation and local made souvenirs and gifts.
For more information on these exciting and unique travel ideas for your group or next vacation outing visit http://www.Jarabacoagold.com

Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic "Land of Eternal Spring"

2010-06-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic.-
Jamaca de Dios, is where God comes and contemplates his beautiful creations in the Dominican town Jarabacoa, which visitors have baptized it the "Land of eternal Spring."
Jarabacoa sits about 525 meters above sea level. One of the main tourist attractions is the mountains and natural beauty of the area due to its location in the center of the Cordillera Central. It's home to two of the country's biggest rivers, Jimenoa and Yaque del Norte.
Eighteen different waterfalls cascade between chasms of rock to water the rich, fertile earth where tobacco, coffee, apples, peaches and strawberries are grown - giving the region the sobriquet of "breadbasket of the Caribbean."
American visionary Michael Ballantine has made it his home, and purchased the Jamaca mountain, to build his dream.
A gated, self supporting and guarded community, and all inclusive in it’s concept, with a breathless view in it’s world class restaurant, “Aroma de la Montaña” right on the premises.
The project consists of 95 lots sized from 1800 to 8000 square meters, all along the foothills and up to the mountain top.
International buyers from of 8 different nations have quickly responded to the project and a third of which is already sold out.
Jarabacoa is a 45 minute drive from Santiago and has big city amenities.
Outdoor activities are abundant in the area, White water rafting, Gold panning adventures, Horseback riding, Coffee plantation tours and hiking are among a few. For more information on Jarabacoa vacations, lodging and excursions go to www.Jarabacoagold.com

Jarabacoa is tops in Dominican ecotourism

2010-06-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

Jarabacoa.- According to the company Mevenssa, Jarabacoa has 19 lodging centers with more than 600 rooms capable of housing 1,400 visitors per night, about 2,000 cabins for rent and 10 real estate companies.
Among the logdgings are the hotels Montaña, Gran Jimenoa, Brisas de los Alpes, Pinar Dorado, Las Guazaras and Brisas del Yaque; the ranches Baiguate River Club, Jarabacoa and Dos Ríos, and the Villas Turísticas del Bosque with Gisselle Típico Turist Bar and the restaurant Parque Galería.
Clodomiro Hernandez, of Mevenssa and member of the Jarabacoa ecotourism Cluster said accommodation vary from 3-star establishments to cabins “integrated to ecology."
Among the sports Jarabacoa features are white water rafting and rappelling, paraglider flying, mountain climbing, Gold Panning adventures, off-road vehicles, and swimming and golf at the Jarabacoa Golf Club.
Jarabacoa is also known for the national and international breeding, training and riding of paso fino horses, with more than 45 stalls with about 5 employees each.
It also has as many as 800 fine horses for the tourists to ride on trails and in the woods.
See www.Jarabacoagold.com for more information

Hiking and Gold prospecting in "Blanco" Dominican Republic

2010-06-06T15:47:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of taking out 4 young men from the USA on a Hiking and Gold prospecting trip here in the Dominican Republic. Being from the USA myself, it was a welcomed change. Most of the guests that go Gold panning with us are either European or Spanish decent, and speaking English isn't usually their first language, but it makes for an interesting excursion.
These 4 had a little experience in Gold panning as they had been on a few adventures in California and Colorado.
We started our trip in Jarabacoa, where we are based out of, and they chose "Blanco" for the terrain I described to them and the hiking involved. They said that even if we didn't find any Gold, the hike and scenery would all be worth it. Getting to "Blanco" is a little over an hour drive from Jarabacoa by car, and then the fun begins. I learned this trail when I was staying with friends in Los Quemados, it can be rather tough, depending on how much rain they have had recently. Fortunately, it wasn't too bad this trip.
The beginning of this hike isn't to bad as it is all downhill, for the first 3/4 mile or so. This is where you cross the first of many streams. Then things start to change a little bit. Its uphill for a while, back down, back up, etc. Most of these "trails" are nothing more than a goatpath or where the water runs down the mountains clearing a rutted gully through the dense vegetation.
Needless to say, they guys where enjoying it. We finally made it to one of my favorite spots for panning and they took to it like Old 49er's. These boys had done a little panning before.
By the end of our Gold panning we all had found between 2 and 4 grams each. If we had more time we could have done much better, but being out in these mountains after dark isn't a good idea. Not because of dangerous animals or insects, but because they are hard enough to navigate by day. Without an experienced guide, you can pretty much forget it.
The last leg of the hike we pass a waterfall that is about 180 meters tall, It is one of the most beautiful I have seen in the country. There is another that is on this adventure, but it is across the valley, you can see it from a distance. They say it is taller than the first, I personally have never hiked over to it, usually due to time, but maybe someday.
As we hiked back out, listening to these guys telling stories and joking around kinda made me homesick for a bit, but then as I look around at where I am and what I get to do, I think I'll hang around here for a while.
For information on Hiking, Gold Panning or any of our other unique Dominican Republic Adventures visit us on the web at www.JarabacoaGold.com

Mountain resort town announces ecotourism, agro fair

2010-05-27T16:14:00.000-07:00

Economy - 27 May 2010Dominicantoday.com
JARABACOA. - Taking advantage of its great agriculture, forests and ecotourism, Jarabacoa’s Ecotourism, Coffee, Greenhouses and the Agro-forestry University (UAFAM), will host the first Agro-forestry and Ecotourism Fair from June 3 to 6.
The event aims to promote and market and agro-forestry products and ecotourism services in the area, to learn about each sector’s reality, to serve as a joint platform for trade and spur environmental protection.
The United States Agency for International Development, through its USAID - DSTA and USAID - NETWORK programs sponsor the Fair, with support of the National Competitiveness Council, Tourism Ministry, Popular Bank, Agriculture Ministry, FERSAN, Brugal, Jarabacoa City Council, CODOCAFE, INDUBAN, FERQUIDO, Dominican National Brewery, MERCASID, Group Belarminio Ramirez, among others.
This activity will be open to the public starting 5 p.m. Thursday, June 3, on the land located in the Federico Basilis highway, in front of the Texaco station, Jarabaco

Great Hotels in the Mountains. Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic

2010-05-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

If you are planning a trip to Dominican Republic, don't overlook the possibility of seeing one of the most beautiful areas of the country, The Dominican Alps. Just a short drive from Santiago, or anywhere in the country for that matter is the mountain town of Jarabacoa.
With spring like weather year round and a outdoor lovers paradise this is the place.
Adventure you seek??
Lots of outdoor excursions and adventures like White Water rafting down the Yaque del Norte, Horseback riding in the foothills, Gold Panning adventures in Manabao and Jarabacoa, Hiking to Pico Duarte, Canyoning and many others all at economical prices.
The area hasn't yet exploded into the tourist trap setting. Still a very peaceful village setting, virtually no crime and very affordable.
We have recently added 3 new hotels to our recommended places to stay in Jarabacoa and the surrounding area. All three have swimming pools, some have Jacuzzi's, Color Tv with cable, Restaraunts, Bars, and many other amenities. One has private Cabanas as well as one villa that will sleep 14. Prices start at $30.00 per person per night and go up.
Don't just sit on the beach this vacation, take a few days and see the "Real" Dominican Republic.

For more information on this fabulous untouched area, visit us at http://www.Jarabacoagold.com

The Rainy Season is Over, Time for Gold Panning in Dominican Republic

2010-05-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

Now that the rains have finally slowed here in the mountains of the Dominican Republic it is perfect time for Gold Panning.
The rains cause the rivers to rise, much like when the snow melts in the states. Of course we don't have the freeze and thaw situation here, but the rains do churn up the Gold and make it move downstream.
We do our Gold Panning adventures about 3 times a week and have been finding Gold on every excursion lately. Some of our sites have been producing a bit more than others. The only thing that keeps you from the "better" sites is your ability to hike. Some do require a bit of hiking, but it is through some of the most beautiful country you have ever seen. Be sure and bring your camera. We also have good Gold producing sites that don't take much hiking at all, maybe 10 minutes from the main road.We take familys and groups of all ages out on these adventures and everyone has a great time.

Lunch is provided on our full day excursions, prepared by some of the lovely ladies of the area where we pan. It's a joy to be able to share some of the little seen areas and communities of this country. I feel that when you take a vacation to a different country with a culture not similar to yours, you miss the mark if your just coming here to visit the tourist traps. Have an adventure of a lifetime. See the Dominican Republic like few think of or can even imagine and find Gold!!
We are based out of Jarabacoa but have trips that take you to Manabao, Bonao, Miches and other little known areas of Dominican Republic. Visit http://www.Jarabacoagold.com for more information on this and other adventures in Dominican Republic
Follow our Blog to keep up with the latest on our excursions, specials and what we find while prospecting in this country.

Our Latest Trip to Manabao

2010-05-13T05:05:00.000-07:00

I got a call from a friend that lives in Punta Cana the other day. He and his wife were leaving to go to Columbia to see his new in laws. He told me that some friends of his were in Dominican Republic on vacation from Canada. He had told them how beautiful Jarabacoa is, and how different it is from the rest of the Island.We met them in town and helped them look for a place to stay. Their first day here was spent horseback riding and getting settled. The next morning, after getting some much needed coffee, we set out on one of our Gold panning excursions. They decided on our full day trip to Manabao. On the drive there I watched their faces, that were all smiles, as we traveled up in the mountains. The kids were ready to start panning in the river right away. It's good to see the perspective and other peoples enjoyment of the scenic beauty. Because I live here I sometimes forget how blessed I am to live in this paradise. After panning and finding some gold it was time for lunch. We have some local Dominican women that are always ready to fix some fantastic fare and the place is a tropical paradise. No restaurant food on this excursion. It's lovingly prepared by these fine Dominican woman. After lunch we headed back to the river in search of more gold. Everyone had a great time. Warren and his son Ian are ready to move here right away. What could be better? Standing in the cool river with the sun beating on your back, watching new panners get Gold fever.

Hiking Pico Duarte Trips

2010-05-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

From start to finish, a trek through the Dominican Alps is a challenging and exhilarating adventure! Pico Duarte (3,087M), the highest peak in the Caribbean, is protected within the Armando Bermudez National Park. The four highest mountains in the Antilles are found within the boundaries of the park, three of them over 3000M.

On your journey you will share these archaic and pristine mountains over the next few days with such rare birds as the Hispañiolan Parrot, Hispañiolan Woodpecker, White-necked Crow, Hispañiolan Trogon, the Red-tailed Hawk and 47 reported amphibians and reptiles. If luck is on your side, you will have an opportunity to spot the illusive Hutia or Wild Boar.

Truly the jewel of the Caribbean, nature lovers should not miss this Dominican Shangri-La. Accompanied by local guides and pack mules, you will ford clear mountain rivers and traverse through two subtropical mountainous life zones: humid forest and rainforest. The cool alpine temperatures, so rarely offered by the Caribbean, will energize you as we climb steeply along the path to the Zona Fria amongst serenades from Mourning Doves and the rhythmic wings of Zumbador Hummingbirds. The unmistakable aroma of Caribbean Pine and Spanish Moss fills the air as we leave the Coconut Palms and Wild Cane below us. Breathtaking views await, as you journey to the "Roof of the Caribbean".

Pico Duarte located in the uninhabited Bermudez National Park is a challenge that less than 200 foreigners take on a year. This is a 46km hike on demanding terrain. With two nights camping. In addition to our scheduled three day Mule Treks, private groups can arrange custom trips for up to two weeks trekking in the Dominican Alps.
For more information on this and other great Dominican Republic Adventures see us at:
http://www.Jarabacoagold.com or http://www.Picoduartetours.com

Family sees what Columbus already knew, Dominican Republic

2010-04-25T00:26:00.000-07:00

April 25, 2010http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20100425/LIFESTYLE/4230304
A story about a family's Dominican Republic Adventure.

"I have found the most beautiful island in the world," proclaimed an excited Christopher Columbus in 1492. In his journal, he described the Dominican Republic as a place of "high forested mountains,large river valleys,wonderous sandy beaches and peaceful, generous natives with handsome bodies who go as naked as when their mothers bore them."
To be honest, after my family's recent trip to the Dominican Republic, we found much of what Columbus saw centuries ago still remains. Although the travel industry has tried to make the island sound cooler by nicknaming it "The DR," there is no need. The island's unspoiled beauty, friendly natives, and more than 1000 miles of white sandy beaches are still the reasons why "handsome bodies" from around the world find this little island a cool escape.

Located among the islands of Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico, "The DR" is actually on the isle of Hispaniola,and Hispaniola is divided between Haiti on the west and the Dominican Republic on the east. The devastation from Haiti's earthquake was only 150 miles from us, but it might as well have been worlds away because we saw nothing of the suffering.
For our spring break holiday, our family chose to stay at The Reserve at the Paradisus Palma Real which is in Punta Cana on the easternmost coast of "The DR." Punta Cana is the fastest growing resort area in all of the Caribbean. The Canadians and Europeans have known about it for years, so they definitely make up the bulk of tourists you see. Yet, thanks to added air lift and new luxury beachfront resorts which meet our higher expectations, the American invasion has begun.
Clients return from "The DR" captivated by the music, food and charm of the islands and of course, with some stolen Cubans in their pockets. "The DR" is a smoker's paradise. It is the largest producer of cigars in the world, and while Cubans are more recognizable, Dominican stogies are voted to be far superior in overall quality, or so our guide told us. He also informed us that we should be aware that his country is much more than cigars, golf courses and baseball; it is a land of festivals, museums and archeological sites filled with dazzling reminders of a culture which blends Europe and Africa. I hated to tell him we had come just so we could chill out on those super great beaches.The official language in "The DR" is Spanish, and unlike most islands in the Caribbean, we did find communicating to be one of our biggest challenges, even within such a deluxe resort as The Reserve at the Paradisus. Still, I don't suppose I should even be whining as my high school Spanish was definitely sub-par to their English skills and communicating was never a big enough problem to interfere with our good time.

I remember in 2001, when President Bill Clinton left office, he and Hillary created quite a stir in the travel industry when he chose to escape to "The DR" for a vacation of relaxing and golf. Obviously, the rich and famous in America already knew what a world-class resort it was. Maybe it's time to catch up with the "A" team and go check out "The DR" for yourself.
So why not "take your handsome body" and go play in Columbus' "island paradise"? It's worth the trip.
For more stories and Information on your Dominican Republic Vacation , visit us at www.Jarabacoagold.com

How I First Found Gold in the Dominican Republic

2010-04-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

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My wife and I were moving from Santo Domingo back to Cabarete. I thought it would be fun to check out some different places on the way back,so I got on the internet and found a place called Rancho WendyLocated just outside of Bonao. We arrived there and set up camp. It's a OK place. But the area with the mountains and the river is beautiful. After a few days of looking the area over, Marshall, the owner of the place asked me if I wanted to hike to Charco Bonita. I said sure and I was on my way. My Haitian guide Vitilicio was very informative. He pointed out various plants, trees and fruit along the way. We made it to the river and I see before me the ricketiest handmade bridge ever. I said" that's not the bridge is it?" Vitilicio said it was. Sidestepping motos and other risk takers we finally crossed. Imagine people driving a moto across this bridge that I wasn't sure I wanted to traverse on foot. We had to go thru someones' yard to reach our destination which I was told was no problem. It didn't seem to be one either, because they just waved at us as we went by. There are many small streams criss-crossing on the way up to Charco Bonita. As I was walking across one of them something caught my eye. I could feel my heart starting to pound in my head! That's Gold, I said to myself. Well, I wanted to get back to tell the wife to find me something I could use as a gold pan. She came up with a tin shallow bowl. Good enough for me, and the next day I was off on my own. I found the same stream that I had spotted the shiny stuff in and began my quest. Must have been about a half hour and I was starting to see some results. Wishing I had my lucky pan instead of this nightmare, I spied a few glimmering Gold flakes in the water. This really got me going. I've been back several times since then. Last time I was there I met a local that told me that there is another place that the old timers still pan at. Huh, where? Let me just say it's a good spot.

Now, this is one of the locations where we take guests on Gold panning adventures in this country. It is one of the best sites and favorites among the tourists.
Visit us on the web for more information on this or any of our great Dominican republic excursions.
http://www.Jarabacoagold.com

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A trip to the Dominican Republic

2010-04-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post the events of my recent holiday in the Dominican Republic.
I landed at POP in Puerto Plata with really no plans except 7 days of adventure and fun. Thankfully I arrived mid afternoon so I could see the water as the plane was coming in. It was outstanding. I was ready for this week.
I took a taxi from the airport to Cabarete, the driver was recommending several hotels and resorts, I however stopped him as we were passing the "Extreme". It seemed to be a quaint spot so I checked in for 2 nights.
After putting my gear in the room, I ventured out to the beach and found numerous Kiters. I myself have never tried it, nor plan to, being 49 years young I think has made my mind up for me.
It was rather interesting and fun to watch.
After a short stroll about the gardens, Pool, gym, nice little bar I was off to Cabarete for dinner. I ate at a place called "Blue", which was very nice, a bit pricy though.
I ended up at a place called "Bamboo" for a few cocktails and it was a rather lively crowd. Great time for the first day.
The next 2 days were spent around Cabarete and Sosua, mainly sunning and seeing the shops and such. I did visit a few of the Disco's in Sosua. Not like home at all I might add. So I won't post here, but I had a great time.
Day 4: I had heard about a town not to far away called Jarabacoa in the mountains. I thought I'd head that way for a little change and see more of the Island. I took a taxi from Sosua there, It cost me a few quid but worth it. I heard later that busses are available from Sosua to the mountains for just a few hundred pesos.
I had Googled "Dominican Republic Adventures" and found a tour company that does Gold panning in the country and thought I'd give it a try. The chaps at The Jarabacoa Gold Company took me out to a town called Manabao in the mountains. We hiked for a bit and ended up at a beautiful stream. They proceeded to teach me the fine art of Panning for Gold. I'm not sure if I learn quickly or they took me to a rich spot, but by the end of the day I had a vial with almost 2 grams of Gold. I couldn't believe it. I was expecting maybe a little speck or two. I spent the night in Jarabacoa at the Pinar Dorado, a nice hotel. The following day I went on a White Water rafting trip on the Yaque del Norte river, quite a ride this was. I wasn't so sure about doing it, but now I'm glad I did and I survived the experience.
I finally made it back to Cabarete, where I stayed at the Wyndam Tangerine. Very small rooms for the money but a nice place. Extreme was booked.
My trip to the Dominican Republic will last in my memory for quite some time, I will be back again on my next Holiday. Cheers
David

I don't know if I can post the links on the forum but here they are.
Extreme hotel www.extremehotels.com
Jarabacoa Gold Company www.jarabacoagold.webs.com
Wyndam tangerine www.wyndham.com

Posted on Dominican Republic Forums at www.dominicanrepublicforums.com

Gold Nugget Globe

2010-04-16T05:18:00.000-07:00

The Globe

So you have seen the image of the gold nugget globe that I (Cordell Kent) made using a state of the art LaserStar welder. This globe was made as a test of the ability of the Laser welder to work with a difficult medium, to make a difficult shape, using space age technology. The effect is nothing short of stunning. Most people look at the nugget globe and see a roughly round shape, made from natural gold nuggets. Few people think about how difficult this was to make, and the technology that was used to make it (more on the Golden Globe later).

After more than 5 years of research into Laser technology for micro welding I made the decision to invest in the high tech laser technology to solve a problem. As a manufacture of natural gold nugget jewelery, with a world wide reputation, the pressure was on to be innovative, and the technology of the laser welder has created new opportunities with small gold nuggets.

Never afraid of embracing new technologies, my Ballarat based company, Australian Native Gold Pty Ltd was the first company in the world to create a dedicated web site for supplying gold nuggets and gold nugget jewelery to the world. This was done with Mr George Fong’s (IT Web Guru) assistance in about 1993. At the time gold nuggets were being found in abundance in all sizes, but over the past few years the quantity of natural nuggets being found has decreased, as has the average size of the nuggets being found. I looked for an innovative method to work with very small natural gold nuggets to manufacture high quality nugget jewelery. Traditional ‘torch and solder’ jewelery manufacture techniques have limitations that make close proximity, high strength, ‘clean’ joins extremely difficult. A different manufacturing method was needed. Laser welders have been introduced into the market place as a specialist manufacturing tool for micro welding a vast range of metals. The laser manufactures have made their products to fill a gap in the jewelery, spectacle frame, dentistry and other specialist markets, for manufacture and repairs. Laser welders are used for manufacture and repair of titanium and stainless steel spectacle frames, dental bridge repairs, and for creating metal joins of similar and dissimilar metals.

The laser welder I have can fire a single, or multiple burst of controlled laser ‘shots’ to an impact area from 0.2mm to 2mm. Control of the laser beam includes pulse duration, pulse wave shape, pulse frequency and voltage. All work is done within a specially designed work chamber in the laser unit. This unit has multiple levels of safety levels integrated into it including hand sensors, door sensors, and light frequency specific filters to block out any chance of the laser beam causing injury or damage outside the work chamber. The laser user looks through a set of Leica binocular microscope with a 15X magnification. A distinct, but ultra fine crosshair positions where the laser beam will hit. The focal length of the eyepiece is tuned to the laser, so if the object is in focus, the beam will be focused and most powerful. To ‘fire’ the laser a foot control is used. The laser beam creates a round impact area, instantly melting, and joining the metals of the join. Multiple overlapping joins will create either a liner or desired weld area. If required the item being joined can be placed on an angle to the laser beam so the strike area smooths off the surface by shooting along the top of the joined surfaces.

If required, the controls of the Laser can be turned up and the laser welder, becomes a laser drill, and an ultra fine hole can be ‘burnt’ through about 4mm of solid metal. The different metals that the laser can be used on include, all Karats (carats) of gold, titanium, platinum group metals, stainless steel, sterling silver, ‘pot’ metal and many more.

Using a filler wire, the laser join can be built up, or in the case of a wear point on contacts, or gem stone settings the laser and filler wire can build up the worn point to original height and shape. One of the features of the laser welder for jewelery and other repairs, the impact point of the laser can be controlled and selected so work on metal can be done in close proximity to heat sensitive objects, such as precious gem stones. This eliminates the requirement of removing a precious stone from a setting to build up one claw.

This application has wider use. For example the laser can repair broken spring stainless steel (battery) clips without taking the temper off the spring, while at the same time making an extremely strong join.

Back to the Golden Globe please consider this. Each nugget had to be individually chosen for the place it was going to be ‘set’ into. Each nugget had to be aesthetically sympathetic and complementary to each nugget around it. Each nugget is joined in at least 3 places to nuggets surrounding it. Each final join or weld, took between 3 and 8 laser shots.

Each join required me to be able to place the crosshairs on the impact area, each ‘shot’ required calculations of which voltage, beam duration, pulse form, and angle of incidence to be used. As only natural gold nuggets were used, each one is unique. For a manufacturer this means each nugget had a different thickness that was not similar to the shape of the nugget adjoining it, so every join had to be carefully considered and calculated. Most joins are invisible to the naked eye. To maintain my requirement to have the Golden Globe 100% Australian Native Gold, some filler wire was required, and natural gold nuggets were melted down, and drawn out to extremely fine native gold wire (no alloys) and this was used with the laser to create ‘strengthening’ bridges and joins. I chose to make a nugget Golden Globe as he felt it was the most difficult of shapes to make, from small relatively flat but uneven shapes, of different sizes and profiles. The effect is stunning.

Although the finished product look relatively ‘simple’ the process was complex and blended 400 million year old natural gold nuggets with space age technology to create a work of art that used technology in an innovative manner.

Laser welders are not inexpensive, and not many small businesses can justify the cost of this form of technology. The Mining Exchange Gold Shop sees the adoption of technology in an innovative manner as a way of opening new frontiers. Already a whole new range of gold nugget jewelery has been designed and made. The most difficult thing about supplementing traditional jewelery manufacturing techniques with space age technology is the need to ‘unlimit’ your thinking from old manufacturing limitations, and embracing the concept of new possibilities that now can be accomplished

I chose to have a video camera mounted inside the weld chamber so the manufacturing process can be hooked up to a TV screen and other people can see what is happening during the welding process. Due to current space constraints, at the moment, the laser is not in The Mining Exchange Gold Shop, but plans are in place to have this machine where the public can see and experience this exciting technology being used.

Feel free to come into The Mining Exchange Gold Shop or keep visiting this web site to see the new range of unique jewelery I am designing and making. I also make pieces on a ‘special order’ basis, so if you have a design in mind float it past me and we can talk about creating something wonderful.

This story was taken from the Mining exchange Gold shops web page as I thought was interesting reading for Gold prospectors, Recreational Gold Panners and Gold enthusiasts.

Visit there website http://www.thegoldshop.com.au

See my website about Gold Panning Adventures at http://www.Jarabacoagold.webs.com

Story from a Australian Gold Prospector/ Finding over 1 Kilo of Gold

2010-04-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

I was surfing the net and ran upon this great story written by "Cordell Kent" a Australian Gold prospector and one of his trips. Australia is know for its Gold and actually has produced more "Large Gold Nuggets" than any other place in the world. I'm not sure how many people there use Gold pans, I think most are into metal detecting, which is something I have tried a few times, but never really had any luck at. After reading his story and many others like it, I may have to break down and buy a Metal detector for prospecting here in the Dominican Republic. We do Gold panning adventures from the mountain town of Jarabacoa located in the central area of the country. Using Gold pans and Sluice boxes at this time, we find Gold on almost all of our trips, and it makes me wonder if I had a detector how much better it might be. Maybe someone who visits and goes out with us will bring one with them so I can see how good they work before making the investment. I do know that the new metal detectors are nothing like the old ones, modern technology has made huge improvements in their ability to distinguish the difference between "trash" and items of value.
The link to his story http://users.tpg.com.au/dtdan/story.htm
For the best Gold panning adventures in the Dominican Republic see us at
Jarabacoa Gold Company

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Women in Sweden make Giant Gold Find

2010-04-14T13:24:00.000-07:00

Two women in their sixty's, while out looking for Blueberries made a incredible discovery recently.
After giving up on finding the fruit they sought, they decided to search the area for stones and minerals. They found a lot more than they ever dreamed, Gold!!
Since the discovery, they have purchased the land where they found the Gold and now have plans to help their town with the new found wealth.
Geologists have assayed the ground where the discovery was made and said it contains ten times the normal amount of Gold.
For the full story and Video go to www.paydirtusa.webs.com/sweden.htm

Great Gold bearing Paydirt for sale from around the world along with Pictures, video and other information on Gold at http://www.paydirtworld.webs.com

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Gold Panners From Belgium

2010-04-13T05:23:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago Jarabacoa Gold Co. had some visitors from Belgium. We started out early in the morning after some breakfast and strong Dominican coffee. Loobie Doo, my dog came with us on this trip. We loaded up and we were off to the river.
We located a good spot and made camp. The water here is crystal clear and the views are beautiful. It's funny how so many people think only to go to the beach in the Dominican Republic when the mountains are so great and seemingly untouched. John and his friend made this a photo adventure as well. John was looking in the water and with a big smile on his face said that he could see some gold flakes in the water. Well, this got him very motivated to learn how to gold pan a.s.a.p. After a short while he started to get the hang of it. All in all everyone had a great day outside in the fresh air. The sun on your back, your feet in the cool mountain water, your eyes taking in the great views and searching for the gold that Christopher Columbus missed. Oh yeah, and we found some gold too. Here are some pics of our day.
For information on Gold Panning Adventures in the Dominican Republic or any other excursions such as White Water Rafting, Horseback riding, River Tubing or many others see Jarabacoa Gold Company on the web at
www.Jarabacoagold.webs.com
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Spiders, Snakes and other creatures in the Dominican Republic

2010-04-12T05:54:00.000-07:00

I often get asked if there are many dangerous animals or other things that we run into while out on our adventures here in the Dominican Republic. The truth of the matter is, no.
I have been told by several people that the snakes here are not poisonous and I have only seen a total of 4 snakes in the wild in this country. All 4 of those were in the mountain areas surrounding Bonao and in very remote sections of the rivers and woods.
I have also seen 2 Tarantula's in this country, large furry, black and red in color, scary spiders that I don't care for much. They were both dead, and in my backyard when I lived in the Sosua area of the country. I was told there that on the beach side of the main road ( That goes from Sosua to Cabarete) there are no Spiders and very few other insects, but this is where I lived. It made me think, whatever killed these tarantulas, I don't want to meet.
I have seen 1 very large centipede, also in the Sosua/ Cabarete area that I was told might be deadly.
There are Crocodiles in a very few areas, mainly in the South West of the Island. A large population is in Lago Enriquillo.
Nothing to speak of as far as wildlife. No Tigers, Wildcats, Mongoose's or anything even close. We don't have wild Monkeys, Deer, skunks or really much at all. Lots of chickens, cows and pigs.
So if you are concerned about these things while out on an adventure trip or excursion in the Dominican Republic, don't worry. If you should see one of these creatures, don't touch it. Take its picture. They are few and far between.
For great Adventures in the Dominican Republic like White Water Rafting, Gold Panning excursions or Hiking to Pico Duarte, the highest peak in the Caribbean, visit us on the web at www.Jarabacoagold.webs.com

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Loobie!! Get away from that Bull!

2010-04-10T14:41:00.000-07:00

Recently my dog Loobie and I went out one morning to go gold panning in the river. It was becoming a fantastic looking day. The sun was shining and not a cloud in the sky. Great day for prospecting!!! I have many spots that I go to from time to time. This gold panning spot just happens to be right by my house. Well, I loaded up my pack and got Loobie together and we set off.
Loobie and I started walking down the path and all her dog friends had to sniff and say hola. There is a large area that some of the locals keep their livestock in that we have to pass through. As we were walking Loobie spotted this gigantic bull. Most of the locals, if they tie up their animals at all, use a cord about as strong as a clothesline. If you knew Loobie you'd know that she went right over there to that bully-boy and tried to say hello. She loves all types of animals. All I could imagine were the videos of people trying to run with the bulls and getting thrown 10 feet in the air and gored by the horns. Well, as you can imagine, I was yelling and trying to get Loobie away from that monster before he got up from the ground. Finally with a big dog smile she came trotting back to me.
I have to confess that I really thought that Loobie's days were numbered, but thank God we're both OK. I quickly snapped Loobie's leash on and we headed to the river. I have to admit that I looked behind us a few times to see where that bull was. After a few moments to compose ourselves we made it to the river. It was a great panning day. Outside in the sunshine and right on the river. It doesn't get much better than this. Here is a picture of Loobie with our friends bird Conchi. Here is a pic of the bull. Needless to say, I didn't have the time nor the thought to snap a pic at that moment.

Larimar, the Caribbean Jewel

2010-04-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

In the South Western area of the Dominican Republic come a very unusual and rare stone named Larimar. Its coloration varies from white, light-blue, green-blue to deep blue with the deeper blue being the most sought after.
The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Mining records state that on November 22, 1916 Father Miguel Domingo Fuertes Loren of the Barahona Parish requested permission to explore and exploit the mine of a certain blue rock he had discovered. His request was denied as Pectolites were not yet known in the Dominican Republic. In 1974 in the coastal province of Barahona, Miguel Méndez and A Peace Corps volunteer, Norman Rilling rediscovered Larimar on a beach. Natives, who believed the stone came from the sea, called the gem Blue Stone. Miguel took his daughter's name Larissa and the Spanish word for sea (mar) and formed Larimar, by the colors of the water of the Caribbean Sea, where it was found. The few stones they found were alluvial sediment, washed into the sea by the Bahoruca River.
After exploring the mountain side, soon found a large outcrop of the precious blue stone was uncovered and became the Los Chupaderos Mine. the mine is located in the section of Los Checheses, about 10 kilometers southwest of the city of Barahona. It is a single mountainside now perforated with approximately 2,000 vertical shafts, surrounded by rainforest vegetation and deposits of blue-colored mine tailings.
Quality grading of Larimar is according to coloration and the typical mineral crystal configuration in the stone. Larimar also comes in green and even with red spots, brown strikes etc. due to other matters and / or oxidation. But the more intense the blue, and the contrasts in the stone, the higher and rarer is the quality. The blue color is photosensitive and fades with time if exposed to too much light and heat.
Trips to the mines are not for the faint hearted, as the terrain getting to them is brutal and unforgiving. One must be in good physical condition for the hike and the mines themselves can be dangerous to enter. In the rainy season, the mine shafts have been known to flood and even collapse trapping miners inside. It is a wonderful trip to the mines, with outstanding views and lush vegetation. The stones are sold in the nearby villages as rough straight from the mines or polished and made into jewelry, usually mounted in Sterling Silver. Occasionally, a high grade stone will be mounted in a Gold setting.
For trips to the Larimar mines see www.Jarabacoagold.webs.com for more information

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Wife of a Gold panner/ prospector

2010-04-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

I am the wife of a Gold panner. I was recently thinking of past days and had to write this blog. When we were first married my husband told me stories of his Gold panning adventures. The first story was of how he got the Fever. That's exactly what he said, Gold Fever. I listened attentively to his story of how he went panning at 10 years old with Pop. That's where he said he "caught" it. I never put 2 and 2 together for the reason why we've always lived someplace where there was a river or a stream nearby. For example, we lived in South Dakota. Lead, S.D. right across the street from the open cut of the Homestake Gold mine. Coincidence? I think not. He and some friends would tell me that they were going to check out the river. I never thought about it much. He would bring his back pack and off they would go for hours. Maybe Gold panners widow would be the correct terminology. After a while I noticed that a lot of my kitchen items were missing.Large spoons, knives, Tupperware etc. I tried to imagine what in the world he could be using it all for. When I checked out his closet to look for all my stolen kitchen ware I found what was left. Spoons sharpened to a point, Tupperware full of dirt, and various artifacts. Well, I thought to myself, winter is coming, no more panning for you, for a while. Boy was I wrong. Out came all the Tupperware and endless bags of dirt all over the house. I can't say which is worse, gone to the river for hours or the mess all over the house. One day he came home with a small gold nugget. I call them either a pendant or if there's two, earrings. That got my at tension. I decided to check out this panning business for myself. There's nothing like the feeling you get when you see color in your very own pan for the first time. My heart was pumping and I could feel the fever spreading. Well, we've since moved. We live in the D.R. right next to the river. Coincidence. I think not. Now, I have to say that I'm not just the wife of a Gold panner. I'm a Gold panner myself.

16 Pound Gold Nugget Found??

2010-03-29T03:10:00.000-07:00

I have been prospecting and an avid part time Gold panner for a number of years now. I'm not sure when the bug actually hit me but I do remember the first time I went Gold panning.
My father had purchased some land and built a new home 23 miles out in the country from the town where I grew up in Virginia. It was a wooded site with a beautiful pond and several streams running through it. My father and I used to explore every inch of that property together when one day he said,"you know that there is Gold in these creeks"? That of course sparked my curiosity, and he and I started panning not far from the house. I don't think we ever found anything, or if we did it didn't amount to much, but I do still remember those days. The memories alone are worth far more than the Gold that we found.
Now I live in the Dominican Republic, and for the past 2 years have been prospecting and panning the streams here for Gold. I had recently met a new friend who also is a Gold enthusiast from Canada, but living on the other side of the Island. He has been doing a little research online about the history of Gold and where it is found here in Hispanolia and came up with some very interesting things. Up in the ares where I am currently living, Gold is very plentiful in the streams, although I have yet to find any really large pieces. We do find lots of small flakes to very fine "Flour" Gold on almost every outing.
On his side of the Island however, there are stories about much larger finds, including the rumor of a 16 pound nugget. He decided to track this rumor and go and see for himself where they claim this huge piece of Gold would have been found and possibly find another one or even one half that size would be sufficient I'm sure.
I got an email from him telling me about his good luck, he did indeed find Gold at the location, not the granddaddy nugget he was looking for, but Gold. When he finally arrived at the location, there were several locals already there panning and working in the stream. They were more than helpful with stories about large nuggets being found and showing him the best spots to search. The locals didn't use modern day equipment, but pans designed century's ago to trap the elusive metal. I am told that these pans, called Bateas, are a large wooden handmade dish that actually work very well due to the grain in the wood. The "raised" grain creates a texture that helps to trap the smaller "fines" as they are called.
He did find a small amount of Gold on this trip, but he was only at the location for a short time. Finding the site is almost as difficult as finding the 16 pounder it seems. We are planning a trip back next week to spend a full day.
Gold nuggets larger sizes have been found throughout history, although rare. Due to the current price of Gold and the value of a 16 pound Gold nugget, it's authenticity may remain a mystery.

For great Gold panning adventures in the Dominican Republic, go to www.JarabacoaGold.webs.com

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Commonly Used Mining and Prospecting Terms

2010-03-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

If you are planning a Gold panning adventure with friends or just thought that you may go out and give it a try in the local creek since more and more people are finding out about this great hobby, there are a few things that you should know before heading out to the local store in search of your first Gold pan. One of the first things should be learn the miners language. A lot of the terms used are self explanitory, and some are not. Here are a few of them to help get you started:

Alluvial or Sometimes called "Bench" deposits - An alluvial deposit is an ancient river-washed rock and gravel bar that may be thousands of feet from the nearest stream, creek, or river. Alluvial (or bench) deposits contain untapped potential for finding gold because such areas have never been worked before. Bucket Line Dredge- Unlike the modern, small scale dredges; a bucket line dredge was very large. Instead of sucking up water and gravel through the use of water pressure, the bucket line dredges would scoop it up and run it through a long sluice box. Only 10 cents of gold was needed for each square yard of material to make a profit back when these dredges were common in the 1890s and on into the early 1900s.

Coyote- The process of digging in river-borne gravels by tunneling until bedrock is hit. The tunnel is dug in hopes of finding a rich bedrock deposit deep in the gravel bar.

Dredge- A common piece of mining equipment today, the dredge sucks up dirt and gravel from within the stream bed by the use of water pressure. The dredge is operated by the use of a water pump and a network of hoses. Dredge hose sizes can be anywhere from one inch in diameter to 20 inches or more.

Drift- In mining, a drift is defined as a horizontal passageway that is excavated along a rich vein of ore. Hard rock mines usually use drifts to obtain the rich ore, though, some hard rock mines are open pit.

Drywasher - A common desert mining tool. The drywasher is like a highbanker but lacks the need for water. A drywasher operates by the use of wind. The light junk material is blown off the top of the sluice in the drywasher and the gold stays on the bottom. The sluice riffles in a drywasher are backwards for better recovery..

Flour Gold or Gold Dust- Gold that is so fine that it looks and feels like flour or dust. "The bread and butter of prospecting." Nuggets are just a bonus.

Flume - Flumes are like sluice boxes, they do not have riffles though and are used solely to transport water in areas where a ditch would be impossible (cliffsides, rocky hillsides). Two flumes were built in the construction of the China Ditch.

Hard Rock Mine - A hard rock mine is a tunnel that is dug into solid rock for the sole purpose of finding valuable or precious rocks, minerals, or metals. Gold originates deep within the earth in places called pockets. The pockets are filled with gold, heavy ore, and quartz.

Highbanker- A highbanker is a sluice box with mobility. Instead of being put right in the creek like a sluice, the highbanker uses a water pump to transport the water into higher and sometimes richer placer reserves. In addition to the ability to go just about anywhere, the highbanker also is able to run more material in less time than the sluice. These characteristics make the highbanker a common modern day mining tool.

Hydraulic Mining - Hydraulic mining used water that was diverted into ditches and wooden flumes at high elevations, and gravity did the rest. Channeled through heavy iron pipes, the water exploded from a nozzle far below with a force of 5000 pounds. When that awesome stream of water was focused and directed, the mountains were literally blasted away.

Long Tom - Similiar to a sluice box, but longer and skinnier.

Mother Lode - Every miner hopes of finding their own "mother lode" or source of the gold that's laden in the rivers. A mother lode is where the gold is trapped inside veins of quartz on mountain sides. The erosion of land causes the gold to break away from this source and eventually wash down into the river. The larger the pieces of gold being found in the river, the closer one is to the mother lode. Mother lode also refers to the vast area in Central California where gold was found. It was called the mother lode, because the whole area was a source, not just a small target area.

Open Pit - In search of rich veins of quartz, open pit mines are common today. Because of the danger associated with drifts, open pit mines are dug from the ground down and are never tunneled. They can be best described as, "A big hole."

Ore -Any natural combination of minerals. Especially one from which a metal or metals can be profitably extracted. Commonly a mixture of one or more of the following: quartz, gold, copper, silver, sulfer, iron, and nickel.

Pack train - Pack trains were used to transport the bare necessities to miners and loggers in the 19th century. They usually consisted of 5 or more horses or mules and a few men.

Placer Mines - Placer Mining is the most common form of mining, it involves mining gold that has been washed away from it's motherlode (or source) and deposited in small cracks, holes, or sand bars in the mainstream of a river.. It almost always involves the use of water in some way or another. Placer mining tools generally include the rocker box, sluice, dredge, highbanker, shaker table, drywasher, and always the pan. Placer Claims are 20 acres, and many modern miners have their own placer claim.

Pocket - In mining, a pocket is defined as a cavity filled with ore, or a rich deposit of precious metal.

Prospect - Can have many different definitions to a miner. A prospect could be a hope for or anticipation of making a profit in mining. It can also mean to search for gold. Another definition can state it as meaning a place where a mineral deposit is sought or found.

Rocker Box or Cradle - Today, the rocker box is not used as extensively as the sluice, but still is an effective method of recovering gold in dryer than usual areas. Like a sluice box the rocker box has riffles and a carpet in it to trap the gold. It was designed to be used in areas with less water than a sluice box. The process involves pouring water out of a small cup and then rocking the small sluice box like a cradle, thus the name rocker box or cradle.

Shaker Table - Shaker tables are like giant gold pans. An engine drives a belt that vibrates a huge bucket. Instead of the junk material being separated from the gold, the gold is separated from the junk. The vibration of the bucket causes the gold to settle to the bottom, the junk goes into a small classifier and is dumped out into a tailing pile.

Sluice Box - The Sluice Box is the most commonly used tool in mining aside from the shovel and pan. A long, narrow, wood or metal artificial channel that water passes through when put in a creek or stream. Nineteenth century miners used and twentieth century miners still use sluice boxes to separate the dirt and junk material away from the gold. Gold, the most dense metal known to man, stays in the sluice box because of it's heavy weight.

SourDough - A highly experienced miner who has prospected for many years.

Stope- step-like excavation formed by the removal of ore from around a mine shaft.

Tailing Pile - Gravel, dirt, and rocks with no gold. Whatever is left behind from mining activity. Occasionally, a gold nugget can slip out of a mining classifier or piece of equipment and end up in the tailing pile, but in modern sluice boxes most of the gold never makes it to the tailing pile.

This of course are just some of the Terms used by Miners and Prospectors, but may help you to not look quite so green.

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The Geology of Gold

2010-03-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

Gold is relatively scarce in the earth, but it occurs in many different kinds of rocks and in many different geological environments. Though scarce, gold is concentrated by geologic processes to form commercial deposits of two principal types: lode (primary) deposits and placer (secondary) deposits. Lode deposits are the targets for the "hardrock" prospector seeking gold at the site of its deposition from mineralizing solutions. Geologists have proposed various hypotheses to explain the source of solutions from which mineral constituents are precipitated in lode deposits.

One widely accepted hypothesis proposes that many gold deposits, especially those found in volcanic and sedimentary rocks, formed from circulating ground waters driven by heat from bodies of magma (molten rock) intruded into the Earth's crust within about 2 to 5 miles of the surface. Active geothermal systems, which are exploited in parts of the United States for natural hot water and steam, provide a modern analog for these gold-depositing systems. Most of the water in geothermal systems originates as rainfall, which moves downward through fractures and permeable beds in cooler parts of the crust and is drawn laterally into areas heated by magma, where it is driven upward through fractures. As the water is heated, it dissolves metals from the surrounding rocks. When the heated waters reach cooler rocks at shallower depths, metallic minerals precipitate to form veins or blanket-like ore bodies. Another hypothesis suggests that gold-bearing solutions may be expelled from magma as it cools, precipitating ore materials as they move into cooler surrounding rocks. This hypothesis is applied particularly to gold deposits located in or near masses of granitic rock, which represent solidified magma. A third hypothesis is applied mainly to gold-bearing veins in metamorphic rocks that occur in mountain belts at continental margins. In the mountain-building process, sedimentary and volcanic rocks may be deeply buried or thrust under the edge of the continent, where they are subjected to high temperatures and pressures resulting in chemical reactions that change the rocks to new mineral assemblages (metamorphism). This hypothesis suggests that water is expelled from the rocks and migrates upwards, precipitating ore materials as pressures and temperatures decrease. The ore metals are thought to originate from the rocks undergoing active metamorphism.

The primary concerns of the prospector or miner interested in a lode deposit of gold are to determine the average gold content (tenor) per ton of mineralized rock and the size of the deposit. From these data, estimates can be made of the deposit's value. One of the most commonly used methods for determining the gold and silver content of mineralized rocks is the fire assay. The results are reported as troy ounces of gold or silver or both per short avoirdupois ton of ore or as grams per metric ton of ore. Placer deposits represent concentrations of gold derived from lode deposits by erosion, disintegration or decomposition of the enclosing rock, and subsequent concentration by gravity. [Photo] Gold is extremely resistant to weathering and, when freed from enclosing rocks, is carried downstream as metallic particles consisting of "dust," flakes, grains, or nuggets. Gold particles in stream deposits are often concentrated on or near bedrock, because they move downward during high-water periods when the entire bed load of sand, gravel, and boulders is agitated and is moving downstream. Fine gold particles collect in depressions or in pockets in sand and gravel bars where the stream current slackens. Concentrations of gold in gravel are called "pay streaks." [Photo] [Photo] In gold-bearing country, prospectors look for gold where coarse sands and gravel have accumulated and where "black sands" have concentrated and settled with the gold. Magnetite is the most common mineral in black sands, but other heavy minerals such as cassiterite, monazite, ilmenite, chromite, platinum-group metals, and some gem stones may be present. Placer deposits have formed in the same manner throughout the Earth's history. The processes of weathering and erosion create surface placer deposits that may be buried under rock debris. Although these "fossil" placers are subsequently cemented into hard rocks, the shape and characteristics of old river channels are still recognizable.

In the period when the price of gold was fixed, the common practice was to report assay results as the value of gold (in cents or dollars) contained in a cubic yard of material. Now results are reported as grams per cubic yard or grams per cubic meter. Through laboratory research, the U.S. Geological Survey has developed new methods for determining the gold content of rocks and soils of the Earth's crust. These methods, which detect and measure the amounts of other elements as well as gold, include atomic absorption spectrometry, neutron activation, and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. These methods enable rapid and extremely sensitive analyses to be made on large samples.

In the past two decades, low-grade disseminated gold deposits have become increasingly important. More than 75 such deposits have been found in the Western States, mostly in Nevada. The first major producer of this type was the Carlin deposit, which was discovered in 1962 and started production in 1965. Since then many more deposits have been discovered in the vicinity of Carlin, and the Carlin area now comprises a major mining district with seven operating open pits producing more than 1,500,000 troy ounces of gold per year. About 15 percent of the gold produced in the United States has come from mining other metallic ores. Where base metals- -such as copper, lead, and zinc--are deposited, either in veins or as scattered mineral grains, minor amounts of gold are commonly deposited with them. Deposits of this type are mined for the predominant metals, but the gold is also recovered as a byproduct during processing of the ore. Most byproduct gold has come from porphyry deposits, which are so large that even though they contain only a small amount of gold per ton of ore, so much rock is mined that a substantial amount of gold is recovered. The largest single source of byproduct gold in the United States is the porphyry deposit at Bingham Canyon, Utah, which has produced about 18 million troy ounces of gold since 1906. Geologists examine all factors controlling the origin and emplacement of mineral deposits, including those containing gold. Igneous and metamorphic rocks are studied in the field and in the laboratory to gain an understanding of how they came to their present location, how they crystallized to solid rock, and how mineral-bearing solutions formed within them.

Studies of rock structures, such as folds, faults, fractures, and joints, and of the effects of heat and pressure on rocks suggest why and where fractures occurred and where veins might be found. Studies of weathering processes and transportation of rock debris by water enable geologists to predict the most likely places for placer deposits to form. The occurrence of gold is not capricious; its presence in various rocks and its occurrence under differing environmental conditions follow natural laws. As geologists increase their knowledge of the mineralizing processes, they improve their ability to find gold.
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Information about Gold

2010-03-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

Since the dawn of civilization, gold with its radiant sun yellow texture and metallic luster has fascinated and captivated mankind. The unique coloration of gold catches the eye, enabling the seeker to detect tiny grains in an aggregate of other materials. The smallest flakes and grains are easily visible.

Excavations of Stone Age burial sites indicate that gold was the earliest element collected and treasured by man. The mysterious metal, gathered in the form of nuggets, appears to have been highly prized but was not used in practical applications. Rating 2.5 – 3 on Mohr's scale of hardness, gold was much too soft to be hammered into functional weapons or tools. Pure gold is relatively soft--it has about the hardness of a penny. It is the most malleable and ductile of metals. The specific gravity or density of pure gold is 19.3 compared to 14.0 for mercury and 11.3 for lead. Gold was of little use to prehistoric man except to be admired for its rare, intrinsic beauty.

However, as man developed he soon discovered numerous nonulitarian applications for the revered golden metal. The earliest record of gold exploration dates to Egypt around 2000 B.C. Ancient records tell of an enormous alluvial gold deposit in Nubia , between the Nile River and the Red Sea in southeastern Egypt that encompassed over one hundred square miles. Using the most primitive of tools and working to an average depth of less than seven feet, these first “miners” wrestled an estimated one thousand tons of gold from this rich concentration. Egyptian artisans, recognizing the extraordinary malleability of gold fashioned incredible jewelry, ornaments and idols of breathtaking beauty.

Throughout the history of man’s involvement with gold, the precious metal has been cherished not only for its beauty but for gold’s ability to withstand the rigors of time. No substance that appears commonly in nature will destroy gold. Unaffected by air, moisture, heat or cold, this noble metal will not tarnish, rust or corrode. Shimmering gold dust, golden nuggets of placer gold and brilliant vein occurrences have survived 4.5 Billion years of cataclysmic geologic and climate changes; volcanic Eruption, earthquakes, upheavals and deposition. Treasures of gold jewelry, bullion and coins, buried for thousands of years beneath land and sea have been recovered intact; as brilliant as the day they were abandoned.

A relatively rare native metallic element, gold ranks fifty-eighth in abundance amongst the ninety two natural elements that compose the earth’s crust. Although considered a rare element, of all metals Gold is, with the exception of iron, the most broadly distributed over the planet. Gold has been located on 90% of the earth’s surface and is mined in deserts, high mountain ranges, in the deeply weathered soil of the tropics and in the permanently frozen ground of the Arctic.

Gold is commercially mined on every continent except Antarctica . The foremost gold producing area of the world is the Witwatersrand district in South Africa . This ultra-rich area has already yielded eighteen thousand tons of gold with no end in sight. Other main gold bearing areas around the world are Siberia in the former USSR, the Porcupine District in Ontario , Canada and in the United States the famous California Mother Lode District and the Yukon District of Alaska.

In America nature was extremely generous. Thirty-two states have recorded significant commercial gold production. The highest yield areas are located within the western states, California, Colorado, Alaska, Nevada and South Dakota. Other abundant locations for prospecting include Georgia, Arkansas, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Washington, New Mexico, Wyoming, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan, Vermont and New Hampshire. The recreational gold prospector can find gold in practically every state of the union.

Gold is an ideal media for craftsmen. It is a metal that can be deformed by pounding without crumbling or breaking. Gold, in its pure form is the most malleable of all metals. A solitary ounce of gold can be drawn and stretched into an ultra fine wire over 50 miles in length without breaking or hammered to the amazing thinness of one hundred thousandth of an inch without disintegrating. Gold is easily carved, readily buffs to a gleaming polish, can be heated repeatedly without discoloration and joins to itself or other metals by soldering without the need for a bonding flux.

For more than 6000 years gold has been considered symbolic of power, wealth and status. In 1350 B.C.the Egyptian boy king, Tutankhem, was interred in a coffin elaborately cast from 242 pounds of solid gold. Throughout recorded history men and women have adorned their bodies with gleaming gold. The ancient Custom of exchanging gold during marriage ceremonies continues today.

Early man believed gold contained a hidden, internal fire, a gift from the Gods with mysterious healing and magical powers. Numerous cultures of sun-worshippers revered gold as the tangible essence of their God; solid sunshine. In modern day Japan believers seek gold’s medicinal magic by immersion in a bathtub designed in the form of a phoenix crafted from 400 pounds of pure gold.

Gold is a the natural way for man to preserve capital and protect against financial uncertainty or monetary collapse. In modern times gold has served as a hedge against the threat of inflation and as a secure and safe way to secret away assets. The “hoarding” of gold occurs most frequently during times of war, adverse world conditions and international fears of economic uncertainty. Gold has often defeated the attempts of governments to inflate the currency of their country as well as circumventing the aims of those holding political power to direct the economy of other nations.

Gold, the acknowledged king of metals, is considered the ultimate monetary exchange. Gold is the only currency that isn’t someone else’s responsibility or liability; it is more that just a paper promise to pay upon demand. Gold’s worth does not rely on the economic viability of any nation, political power or financial cartel. Gold has value in and of itself.

The current world price of gold is set daily by the London Gold Market which trades gold bullion and coins with other financial world centers such as Zurich , Hong Kong , Frankfurt and Paris . The price is based on pure or “fine” gold, so the value of gold gleaned in its natural state may vary depending on the impurities it contains. However, raw gold sold as specimens or jewelry will bring a considerably higher price. Gold nuggets are as distinctively different as snowflakes, although similar, no two nuggets are alike. A nugget of unique character and shape will sell for as much as five times its value by weight.

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Gold Mine Claims throughout the USA

2010-03-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

Some interesting statistics about active Gold claims in the USA.

Alaska: Currently has 7776 Active Gold mining claims throughout the state. They hold 2% of all the claims in the US
Arizona: Currently has 44,613 active Gold mines throughout the state of which 38,321 are Lode claims 6292 are Placer Gold claims. They hold 12% of all Gold claims in the US.
California: Currently has 17,911 active Gold mining claims throughout the state with 9467 being Lode claims and 8444 being placer Gold claims. They hold 5% of the Gold claims in the US.
Colorado: Currently has 26,750 active Gold mining claims throughout the state. 24,446 are Lode claims and 1304 are Placer Gold claims. They hold 7% of the Claims in the US.
Idaho: Currently has 13,324 active Gold mining claims of which 11,172 are Lode claims and 2152 being Placer Gold claims. They hold 4% of the Gold mining claims in the US.
Montana:Currently has 13,099 active Gold mining claims with10,822 being Lode Gold claims and 2277 being Placer Gold claims. They hold 4% of the Gold claims in the US.
Nevada: Currently has 169,069 active Gold mining claims throughout the state with 159,747 that are Lode claims. 9322 are Placer Gold claims. They hold 45% of the Gold claims in the U.S.
New Mexico: Currently has 16,499 active Gold mining claims throughout the state with 15,046 that are Lode claims and 1453 are Placer Gold claims. They hold 4% of the Gold claims in the U.S.
Oregon: Currently has 5916 active Gold mining claims throughout the state with 3196 that are Lode claims and 2720 are Placer Gold claims. They hold 2% of the Gold claims in the U.S.
Utah: Currently has 19,036 active Gold mining claims throughout the state with 15,924 that are Lode claims and 3112 are Placer Gold claims. They hold 5% of the Gold claims in the U.S.
Washington: Currently has 607 active Gold mining claims throughout the state with 550 that are Lode claims and 57 are Placer Gold claims. They hold less than 1% of the Gold claims in the U.S.
Wyoming: Currently has 45,203 active Gold mining claims throughout the state with 39,219 that are Lode claims and 5984 are Placer Gold claims. They hold 12% of the Gold claims in the U.S.

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The Strange Mystery of Victorio Peak

2010-03-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

Originally posted at http://www.theoutlaws.com/gold7.htm

New Mexico is a complex tapestry of natural beauty with mountains the dominant feature in the landscape. Except for the eastern fringe, no part of the state is without them. Some maps name seventy-three ranges, from Animas to Zuni. They include seven peaks rising above 13,000 feet, eighty-five more than two miles high, and more than three hundred notable enough to warrant names. All are part of the Southern Rockies, and all have their own strange tales of legends and myths. No legend, however, is more mysterious than the one associated with Victorio Peak.

Victorio Peak is a nondescript, craggy outcropping of rock barely five hundred feet tall. It is nestled near the center of a dry desert lake known as the Hembrillo Basin in the desolate wastelands of northern Dona Ana County in the southern part of the state. The Basin is a lonesome, empty place with miles and miles of solitude broken neither by fence post nor telephone wires. The nearest settlements are forty miles distant, and getting to the rugged sentinel in the forbidding Basin requires skill and dexterity in traversing the barren landscape.

The Hembrillo Basin itself is the southern gateway to the vast hundred mile stretch of blistering, arid desert known as the Jornada del Muerto. It is Spanish for "Journey of Death," and it is just that. Back in the days of early Spanish exploration, travelers would sometimes leave the lush Rio Grande Valley about fifteen miles north of Las Cruces at a place where the river cut west. Trying to continue their journey north across the barren wasteland toward Socorro usually turned into a big mistake. This route did shorten their trip by several days, but it also took the travelers into the domain of hostile Apache Indians. Many died in the Indian attacks, and many more in the unforgiving desert. It seems ironic that this bleak, forbidding wasteland would hold one of the most baffling mysteries of all time.

If ever anyone was destined to find a fortune in hidden gold, that person was Milton Ernest "Doc" Noss. He was born in Oklahoma, and he claimed that it was the Cheyenne half of him which led him on the fringe of excitement all his life. He loved the unknown, and took any variety of jobs all over the Southwest. Routine things bored him, and he never stayed too long in any one place. If adventure called, Doc was the first one on the trail.

On one of his frequent trips through southern New Mexico, he met a pretty brown-haired woman named Ova Beckworth. She was loving and generous and absolutely enamored with Doc. In 1933, Doc married Ova, whom he affectionately nicknamed "Babe." They settled down in Hot Springs, which now goes under the name of Truth or Consequences in honor of a popular television game show of the 1950’s. It was here that Doc opened a foot clinic. If he was any kind of medical doctor, the records have not been found to prove it.

Hot Springs was known as one of the Southwest’s best health resorts. People from all over the country came to ease their aches and pains in the healing, warm water, soak up the warm sunshine, and bask in the warm New Mexico hospitality. It was not long before Babe and Doc made many friends.

In November 1937, Doc, Babe, and four others left on a deer hunt into the Hembrillo Basin. They drove toward Victorio Peak, setting up camp on the desert floor not far from the base of the peak. Early the next morning, the men headed into the wilderness, leaving the women in camp. Doc was a loner, and not wanting to hunt with so many others around, he headed toward Victorio Peak to hunt by himself.

As Doc scouted around the base of the mountain, it began to drizzle. It was only a light rain, but a cold rain, and he decided to seek shelter. Since Victorio Peak is a barren, treeless pinnacle of rock and dirt, he scampered up the peak, searching for a rocky overhang large enough to scoot under. Near the summit, he spied a huge boulder and headed toward it. He saw evidence of early inhabitants, but did not know if they had lived there long, or merely used it as a temporary shelter the way he was doing. In the dim light, while waiting for the rain to subside, he noticed a stone that looked as if it had been worked in some fashion. He reached down, but was unable to budge it. Carefully digging around it, he was finally able to work his hands under it. When he lifted it clear, he found a hole which appeared to lead straight down into the heart of the mountain.

Instantly intrigued, Doc ignored the rain and peered over the side into the gaping blackness. He saw what he took to be an old, man-made shaft with a thick, wooden pole attached at one side. The pole had deep gouges at regular intervals for footholds and appeared rotten, leading Doc to believe the opening was the entrance to an ancient, abandoned mine shaft. He totally forgot all about hunting, as he carefully positioned himself under the boulder out of the rain. He planned adventure of a different sort.

When it stopped raining, Doc returned to camp and told Babe of his discovery, cautioning her not to tell the others. It was his plan to return later and investigate the shaft privately. If it was an abandoned mine, it would not matter, but if he found gold, he did not want to share it with anyone.

Several days later, Doc and Babe Noss returned to Victorio Peak with ropes and flashlights. When Doc inched his way down through the tight, narrow passage into the mountain, he uncovered the most controversial subject in New Mexico history---a topic involving unimaginable wealth, murder and mystery. The participants are as varied as they are unique. They appear to range from Don Juan de Onate’s brutal conquest of New Mexico in the 16th Century to our federal government of today, encompassing 18th Century Mexican friars and a legendary 19th Century Apache war chief along the way. It is one of the most incredible chapters in American history.

According to reports, Doc’s initial journey down the shaft was nothing less than spectacular. After testing the wooden pole attached at one side and deciding it was too risky for his weight, he descended by rope nearly sixty feet through the narrow opening. Near the bottom he encountered a huge boulder hanging from the ceiling, almost blocking his way. Unknown to him at the time, this boulder would later play an important role in his adventure.

At the bottom of the narrow shaft was a chamber about the size of a small room with drawings around the walls. Doc thought these sketches were made by Indians, as they were crude and stick-like. Some were painted, while others were chiseled into the rock face. At the other end of the chamber, the shaft continued sloping downward. Descending another hundred and twenty feet before it leveled off, Doc found that the passageway emptied into a huge, natural cavern large enough "for a freight train to pass through." He saw several smaller rooms chiseled from the rock along one wall.

As Doc inched his way across the great cavern, he made a terrifying discovery...a human skeleton. The hands were bound behind the back, and the skeleton was kneeling, securely tied to a stake driven into the ground, as if the person had been deliberately left there to die. Before leaving the room, he found more skeletons, most of them bound and secured to stakes like the first. Some skeletons were found stacked in a small enclosure, as if in a burial chamber. All told, he reportedly found twenty-seven human skeletons in the caverns of the mountain.

As Doc explored the side caverns of Victorio Peak, he found amazing riches amounting to extreme wealth by today’s standards. Jewels, coins, saddles, and priceless artifacts were everywhere, including a gold statue of the Virgin Mary. In one chamber, he found an old Wells Fargo box and leather pouches neatly stacked to the ceiling. He even found some old letters, the most recent of which was dated 1880. On the lid of one old chest were words written in old English script. The contents of the caverns appeared to represent several different nationalities, and it baffled him.

These chests and artifacts were only the tip of the iceberg. In a deeper cavern, Doc found what he thought was a stack of worthless pig-iron bars. He estimated there were over sixteen thousand bars weighing over forty pounds apiece "stacked up against the wall like cordwood." He was barely able to lift one, much less think of carrying it back to the surface. Later, the wealth in the cave was calculated to be worth more than two billion dollars. No matter what the estimate, it was clear that Doc had found a substantial treasure, much of it in gold bullion.

Doc filled his pockets with gold coins, grabbed a couple of jeweled swords, and laboriously returned to Babe waiting anxiously at the surface. After telling her of what he had seen and showing her the loot, she insisted he go back into the mine for one of the pig-iron bars. After much searching, he finally found a small iron bar that he could carry back through the narrow passageway, but it was difficult maneuvering through the tight passage with the heavy bar. When he reached the surface, he told Babe, "This is the last one of them babies I’m gonna bring out."

By then, it was late afternoon, the sun almost on the horizon. When Babe rolled the bar over, she noticed a yellow gleam where the gravel of the hillside had scratched off centuries of black grime. She showed the gold metal to Doc. He said, "Well Babe, if it’s gold, and all that other is gold like it, we can call John D. Rockefeller a tramp."

From the time Doc Noss discovered the treasure in Victorio Peak, he and Babe spent every free moment exploring the tunnels that led deep inside the mountain. They began living in a tent at the base of the peak, working the claim each day for hours on end. On each trip, Doc would retrieve two gold bars and artifacts. At one time, he brought out a crown that Babe cleaned in her sink in town. According to Babe’s report, it contained two hundred forty-three diamonds and one pigeon-blood ruby. Yet, Doc trusted no one, not even his wife. He disappeared at night into the desert with his booty, hiding pieces of the treasure in places that he never revealed.

Among the artifacts Doc is reported to have retrieved from the cache were four codices---leather pages with hand-tooled instructions---one dated 1797. According to Doc, the codices were reburied in the desert in a chest with other artifacts. Although the originals have never been recovered, there was a copy of one, a translation of which explains the significance of the number seven, according to Pope Pius III.

"Seven is the holy number," the passage begins. It then continues for several lines before ending with a cryptic message: "In seven languages, seven signs, and languages in seven foreign nations, look for the Seven Cities of Gold. Seventy miles north of El Paso del Norte in the seventh peak, Soledad, these cities have seven sealed doors, three sealed toward the rising of the Sol sun, three sealed toward the setting of the Sol sun, one deep within Casa del Cueva de Oro, at high noon. Receive health, wealth, and honor."

Believers say that Doc Noss found the Casa del Cueva de Oro, Spanish for the House of the Golden Cave. "Soledad" was the former name of Victorio Peak, and Doc apparently found the seventh door located "at high noon," but the promised health, wealth, and honor were denied him. Four years before his discovery, Congress had passed the Gold Act, which outlawed the private ownership of gold. Doc was unable to profit from his treasure on the open market.

When Doc’s story eventually hit the headlines, scholars began speculating on how the enormous treasure could have come to be stashed inside Victorio Peak. It was not hard to come up with theories. New Mexico has undergone a lot of transition from the time of the earliest friars to modern time. One of the theories scholars advanced dates back to Don Juan de Onate, who, in 1598, founded New Mexico as a Spanish colony. He knew the tales of the Seven Cities of Gold, and he surely sought them. But Onate was cruel, brutally subjugating the Indians to do his bidding. He beat and tortured them, forcing them to mine gold and silver. It has been reported that he amassed a treasure of gold, silver and jewels before being ordered to Mexico City in 1607. If he did not take the fortune with him, he must have stored it somewhere…Victorio Peak perhaps?

Another theory is that the treasure belonged to a Catholic missionary named Felipe La Rue, or La Ruz, as church documents are said to give his name. He was a native of France and was among the small group of priests who volunteered for service in Mexico. His party sailed to Florida, crossed the Gulf of Mexico to Vera Cruz, and from there, it went to Mexico City by ox cart. After a short rest, Padre La Rue left for the north, where he took up his work among the Indians and peons at a large hacienda near what is now the city of Chihuahua, reaching there in 1798.

From the people at his new station, he heard stories about a fabulous source of rich minerals in the mountains to the north. If he was interested in these stories, he did not reveal it to others. Instead, he continued with his teachings and ministering to the sick and spiritual needs of his small parish. Among his parishioners was an old man, who had been an explorer and soldier of fortune during his youth. This man had traveled widely over the country to the north, and as Padre La Rue personally cared for this ailing old man, the two became good friends.

One day, Padre La Rue asked about the riches which lay to the north. The old man said that if the good priest wanted gold, there was a rich deposit of it located high in the mountains about two days’ travel north of El Paso del Norte, which is the present-day site of El Paso, Texas. According to the legend, the man said, "After one day’s travel from El Paso del Norte, you will come to three small peaks yet further to the north. Upon first sight of these peaks, turn to the east and cross the desert toward the mountains. In the mountains, you will find a basin where there is a spring at the foot of a solitary peak. On this peak, you will find gold." A few days later, the old man died.

It was not until the crops failed that Padre La Rue thought of the solitary peak filled with gold. His little parish needed water and a better climate, and he called everyone together, asking if they would follow him north. They all agreed, and the little party set out for their new country. After crossing El Paso del Norte, they followed the course of the Rio Grande to the small village of La Mesilla near Las Cruces. North of there, they sighted the three peaks and turned east across the dreaded Jornada del Muerto, finally arriving in the San Andreas Mountains. After a couple of days of exploration, they located a basin in which there was a spring at the base of a solitary peak, just as the old man had said.

Scholars all believe this basin was the Hembrillo Basin, and the solitary peak was Soledad Peak. After a fierce battle between the Army and Chief Victorio of the Apaches in 1880, the peak assumed a new name of Victorio Peak. It is not to be confused with Victoria Peak in the Black Range Mountains near Kingston, New Mexico.

Padre La Rue established a crude camp and sent the men out to search for the gold the old man had promised was there. On one side of the peak, they located a rich vein, ultimately working the mine for years. They tunneled into the mountain and followed the vein downward. The deeper they went, the richer the ore became. The little priest assigned dozens of monks and Indians to mine the gold, form it into ingots and, except for whatever was needed for supplies, stack it along one wall of a natural cavern inside the mountain.

Word eventually reached church officials in Mexico City that the hacienda had been abandoned, and Padre La Rue’s tiny colony was missing. A search party went to investigate. When they returned and reported that the entire population had left for the mountains to the north, soldiers were dispatched with orders to locate the priest and demand an explanation.

It was when a small group was in La Mesilla purchasing supplies that they learned the Mexican Army was on the horizon. Hurrying to camp, they spread the alarm. It was one thing for Padre La Rue to leave his post without permission of church officials in Mexico City, but it was quite another not to deliver the Royal Fifth (or Quinta) of the gold for shipment to Spain. Padre La Rue was in a lot of trouble.

Padre La Rue immediately set about concealing all traces of the mine. Working day and night, knowing the soldiers were drawing ever closer, he had his little group labor to conceal the entrance. When the soldiers finally arrived and demanded to know where the gold came from which was used to purchase the supplies in La Mesilla, Padre La Rue refused to answer. He died under torture, as did many of his followers, and although the soldiers looked all over for evidence of a mine, they were forced to return to Mexico City with nothing to show for their long journey. The Lost Padre Mine, as it has been called ever since, went into the history pages as a beloved legend.

Many scholars think that Doc Noss stumbled upon the Lost Padre Mine, but there are a few who speculate that the treasure could be the missing wealth of Emperor Maxmilian. As emperor of Mexico in the 1860’s, Maxmilian attempted to get his gold out of Mexico, especially when he learned of an assassination plot. He was, in fact, assassinated in 1867. Legend says he sent a palace full of valuables to the United States, and it has never been found. Although it has been rumored that it went by ship and lies in deep waters off the coast of New Orleans, the victim of a particularly bad Gulf storm, the easiest route for the Maxmilian treasure train would have been through the New Mexico corridor into Texas. Strangely, there is an old rumor that it has been lost along the dunes of shifting lake bed in West Texas, the victim of banditry where all the bandits were killed by pursuing posse members. The truth is that no one knows anything for certain. Could the jewels and coins Doc saw have been part of Maxmilian’s missing fortune?

And how does Chief Victorio enter into the story? Well, the most colorful legend associated with the Victorio Peak treasure does concern the great Warm Springs Apache war chief. Victorio used the entire Hembrillo Basin as his stronghold. He absolutely refused to live on the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona where his people died from hunger and insect bites. Victorio’s land had always been in the mountains of New Mexico, and a treaty between the Federal government in Washington and his band had promised they could stay on those lands as long as the "mountains stand and the rivers flowed." With the discovery of gold in the mountains, such did not happen, and in 1878, the treaty was broken. Victorio went on the war path. Knowing how much the white man valued gold and having little use for it himself, he amassed huge amounts of the yellow mineral any way he could get it. He and his warriors raided throughout the Jornada and the Rio Grande Valley, attacking wagon trains, churches, immigrants, mail coaches, and anything else that promised riches. He raided the stage lines all over southern New Mexico and Texas in an all-out war against the U. S. Army and the Texas Rangers. He also took prisoners back to the Basin and subjected them to elaborate torture as a test of their bravery before killing them. Were the skeletons found inside Victorio Peak victims of Victorio’s raids?

On 7 April 1880, Victorio engaged in a fierce battle with a troop of the 9^th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers at the mountain. After a bloody standoff that resulted in the deaths of many of the soldiers, the Army retreated. The peak was thereafter known as Victorio Peak in honor of the great chief. Many researchers believe that Victorio and his Apaches had an entrance into the mountain and that they used the cave to conceal the booty they looted from the surrounding areas. It would also explain the presence of the Wells Fargo bags, the pack saddles, the letters and other artifacts dating to Victorio’s time. Did the Apaches fight hard to protect their cache of treasures within the mountain?

It is doubtful Doc Noss cared anything about the historical value of the fortune inside the hollow peak. The pouches and packs, artifacts and leather goods were mostly ignored, while he concentrated on the gold coins and bars. Ever since he found the treasure, he worked stealthily to remove what he could of it. He never told any of friends what he was doing.

Finally, in the spring of 1938, Doc Noss and Babe went to Santa Fe to establish legal ownership of his find. He filed a lease with the State of New Mexico for the entire section of land surrounding Victorio Peak. Subsequent to that, he filed mining claims on and around Victorio Peak. He had it surveyed for an exact location, and then filed a treasure trove claim, which has become the historic Noss family claim to the treasure in Victorio Peak. With legal ownership established, he worked his claim openly, but he became super cautious. He took the gold bars out of the cavern and then hid them from everyone, including his own family, in a variety of locations all over the desert. Some were right by the county roads by certain marked telephone poles. Some were dropped in horse tanks at the nearby ranches. Some were just buried in the sand, and Doc would put a different colored rock over the top than was natural to that surrounding.

There was a lot of fear and probably some increasing paranoia in both Doc and Babe. As they solicited more and more help from friends, neighbors, and supporters, they became afraid that some of these people might try to steal some of the bullion that they had hidden around the Peak.

It was the Fall of 1939 when Doc made his great mistake. He decided to enlarge the passageway into Victorio Peak, reasoning that if he could rid the narrow quarters of the confining huge boulder hanging at the lower portion of the shaft, he could removed the gold much easier and, more importantly, much faster. He hired a mining engineer named S.E. Montgomery to go with him and help him blast out the shaft. Although Doc claimed the mountain was rotten, and the two men argued viciously about the charge to used, Montgomery won the argument. The choice was eight sticks of dynamite.

The blast was disastrous. Instead of widening the passage as Doc wanted, it caused a cave-in, collapsing the fragile shaft and effectively shutting Doc out of his own mine. Doc tried several times to regain entry into his mine, but the shaft was sealed with tons of debris. All attempts failed, leaving him embittered and angry. He took to taking his frustrations out on his wife, and it was not long before Babe and Doc divorced. Now, instead of having thousands of gold bars to draw from, he only had those few hundred that he had brought to the surface. He became very protective of those gold bars. Two years after his divorce from Babe, he married Violet Lena Boles, which would further complicate ownership of the treasure rights in the years to come.

When Doc became desperate for cash, he took into his confidence a man named Joseph Andregg. The two of them transported gold bars, coins, jewels, and artifacts into Arizona, selling them on the black market. For nine years, Doc attempted illegally to sell his gold, but it was difficult finding buyers. He was afraid of getting caught and ending up in prison. His paranoia increased daily.

In 1949, Doc met a miner named Charley Ryan from Alice, Texas. He became convinced that Ryan could reopen the shaft, and he arranged to exchange some of the gold bars for $25,000 to fund the venture. Meanwhile, Babe Noss had filed a counter-claim on the entire area. Denied entry by the courts until legalities could determine the legal owner of the mine, Doc feared Ryan would back out of the deal. Sensing a double-cross and that Ryan would abscond with fifty-one bars of re-hidden gold, Doc asked an acquaintance, Tony Jolly, to help him rebury the gold in a new hiding place. The trip made a believer out of Jolly.

"We got in the pickup, and we went out across the desert a long ways," said Jolly, "and we started digging. We dug twenty bars of gold out of the ground right there. I said, ‘Doc, what’s going on?’ and he said, ‘Well, there’s a fella coming tomorrow who’s gonna fly in here, and he’s supposed to take this gold and sell it, and he’s supposed to split with me. I got word that he’s gonna sell it and keep right on going with the money.’ We reburied those bars of gold. There turned out to be ninety more. I handled, and I saw one hundred and ten bars of gold."

The next day Doc and Ryan got into an argument, and Ryan pulled a gun on Doc. Ryan insisted that they discuss the problem of what happened to the gold that Doc had re-hidden, hinting that if Doc did not reveal its new hiding place, Doc would not live to enjoy the gold. A fight ensued. As Doc Noss headed toward his car, Ryan, fearing Doc was getting a gun, shot in Doc’s direction. The bullet struck Doc in the head, killing him instantly. The date was 5 March 1949. Just twelve years after discovering the treasure, Doc Noss died kneeling in the dust with only $2.16 in his pocket. Ryan was charged with murder, but was later acquitted.

As the years passed, Babe Noss held onto her claim at Victorio Peak, occasionally hiring men to help her clear the shaft. Things were plodding along until 1955, when White Sands Missile Range unexpectedly expanded their operations to encompass the Hembrillo Basin. The military locked Babe out. Although Babe corresponded regularly with the military requesting permission to enter the range and work her claim, she was always denied. The military was afraid that allowing her permission would set a precedent that would allow others to petition and make similar claims. It would hinder the Army’s mission, which was missile testing. From that moment onward, every attempt of Babe’s to clear the rubble from the plugged shaft met with a military escort out of the area.

The real problem with the military claim on the land stemmed from a statement made by state officials in New Mexico. On 14 November 1951, Public Land Order No. 703 was issued, which withdrew all the White Sands Proving Ground (later to be called the White Sands Missile Range) from prospecting, entry, location, and purchase under the mining laws and reserved their use for the military. But the state officials claimed that they leased only the surface of the land to the military. The underground wealth, in whatever form it took, still belonged to the state, or to the holders of the various types of licenses. If there was treasure on the land, it did not belong to the Army, but it might not have belonged to Doc Noss, either. A search of mining records in December 1950 failed to turn up any existing mining claims, which Doc claimed he had filed. Further, Roy Henderson owned the land where Victorio Peak is located, and he had leased it to the Army. Before him, the Gilmore family had lived there. In other words, much of the disputed land belonged not to the Noss family, but to someone else.

Babe Noss then contacted the two senators from New Mexico, hoping to enlist their help in mining her claim. In December 1952, Senator Dennis Chavez wrote to Brigadier General G. G. Eddy about the problem on the White Sands Proving Grounds. Senator Clinton P. Anderson also wrote to General Eddy, but the general ruled that no further operations would be allowed on the peak because the paperwork was already being prepared to transfer all mineral rights to the government. The dispute was finally worked out in federal court which settled on a compromise of sorts. The Army would continue to use the surface of the land, but no one would be allowed on the Proving Grounds without the Army’s consent. In effect, no one could mine the treasure, and that included the Army and Babe Noss, but that did not deter Babe. She refused to leave, claiming that all she wanted, according to all the letters and documents she sent, was to recover what her late husband had discovered.

By 1958, few people believed in Babe’s claim of hidden gold. Doc was dead, and with his death went the location of all the buried bars of bullion he had removed from the peak before sealing himself out of the mountain. With the passage of years, few people could claim to have seen any of the treasure. Even though the military always refused any of Babe’s efforts to work her claim, it apparently did not refuse other military personnel from exploring portions of the White Sands. The fat hit the fire when two airmen from nearby Holloman Air Force Base said they had penetrated the gold cavern from another natural opening in the side of Victorio Peak.

The soldiers, Airman First Class Thomas Berlett and Captain Leonard V. Fiege, said they had penetrated a fissure which led to a small cavern filled with approximately one hundred gold bars weighing between forty and eighty pounds each. The bars were shaped like house bricks. Neither man was familiar with laws governing the discovery of treasure on a military reservations, nor were they aware that the Whites Sands command did not hold the mineral rights to anything found on the Range. Fiege told several people that he had caved in the roof and walls to make it look as if the tunnel came to a dead end, and then both men covered the entrance with rocks and dirt to disguise the location. Fiege then went to the Judge Advocate’s Office at Holloman Air Force Base and conferred with Colonel Sigmund I. Gasiewicz.

There was now two separate military commands involved. Gasiewicz called the Land Office in Santa Fe and spoke to a Land Office attorney named Oscar Jordan, saying that an officer assigned to the command at Holloman Air Force Base had found a gold bar on White Sands Proving Grounds, an Army post. Jordan suggested the gold bar be sent to the Department of the Treasury or to the Secret Service, since Jordan was under the impression that Fiege had carried a gold bar to the JAG office at Holloman. Both Fiege and Gasiewicz denied that this happened, but they did form a corporation to protect what Fiege had found. They planned to contact the various governmental agencies to make sure they violated no laws, and they planned to make a formal application to enter White Sands for a search and retrieval of the gold. Although the military issued an edict forbidding them to go back and remove any gold, gold fever still struck. This time the gold seekers were the U. S. Army.

In the summer of 1961, Captain Fiege, Captain Orby Swanner, Major Kelly, and Colonel Gorman were instructed by Major General John Shinkle of White Sands to work the Noss claim on advice from the director of the Mint, who had been bothered by many requests for additional information on the treasure. General Shinkle did not want anyone on the installation not authorized to be there, but he was interested in solving the mystery once and for all. However, he was unwilling to set a precedent that would haunt all of them in the future, so he requested the permission from the Department of the Army to allow a search. On 5 August, Fiege and his party returned to Victorio Peak, accompanied by the commander of the Missile Range, a secret service agent, and fourteen military police. Try as he would, Captain Fiege was unable to penetrate the opening he had used just three years earlier. General Shinkle finally had enough of it and ordered everyone out. Fiege took a lie detector test, and the results of that test prompted General Shinkle to allow Fiege back on the missile range. This time, the military to began a full-scale mining operation at the Peak.

In October of that year, fueled by increasing suspicions that the military was working her claim, Babe Noss hired four men to surreptitiously enter the range. These men were caught trespassing, and after being escorted from the area, they reported to Babe that they observed several men in Army fatigues on the peak. In an affidavit dated 28 October 1961, one of the men, Judge H.L. Moreland of Loveland, Texas, claimed they saw a military jeep, a weapons carrier, a number of poles about the width of telephone poles, and other timbers which were cut and notched.

In his affidavit, Judge Moreland testified that his group talked to Captain Orby Swanner, who ordered them to leave the missile range. As soon as he could, Moreland reported the Army activity on Victorio Peak to Babe Noss. She told Oscar Jordan with the New Mexico State Land Office, and Jordan contacted the Judge Advocate’s Office at White Sands Missile Range. In December 1961, General Shinkle shut down the operation and excluded all from the range who were not engaged in missile research activities

Thirty days later, under cover of darkness, Moreland and his friends returned to the Peak. It was totally deserted. Moreland saw the remains of extensive excavations, apparently carried out by the government. There were roads and scaffolds and tunnels, but as for Babe Noss’ gold treasure, there was no sign of it.

The Gaddis Mining Company of Denver, Colorado, under a $100,000 contract to the Denver Mint, and working with the Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe, obtained permission from the military to dig the site in 1963. Since it was a state sponsored research trip, designed to uncover artifacts of archaeological significance, the Army readily agreed. For three months, beginning on 20 June 1963, using a variety of techniques, they mapped the peak, searching for large void area that would indicate caverns. They removed tons of earth, dug their own tunnel into the side of the peak, but no entrance to any treasure cache occurred. They also dug a number of small test holes ranging in depth from 18 to 175 feet. When they ceased operations, they were a quarter of a million dollars poorer for their searching which failed to turn up anything.

It was during this same period that the Department of the Army asked Babe Noss to sign a consent document allowing the Army to search. What it said was that she waived all rights to sue the Army or the government "for alleged unlawful taking and withholding of her personal property." Under advise from her attorney, she was advised not to sign, but she had already signed the document when her attorney learned of it. What he wanted to know was why the Army would insist on such a waiver? Was it an indirect admission that there had been unauthorized intrusion into the cavern by military personnel?

It turns out that there are two theories to this document. First, only Doc Noss had ever been inside the peak, and it is only his word that gold bars were stacked there. Although Leonard Fiege had been inside a cavern, he had been feeling sick the day he was there, and all he saw were bricks covered in dust. They may or may not have been gold bars. There are some who think that Doc salted the cave in an attempt to defraud others. So, for the Army to have Babe sign such a waiver document, might not they be guarding against a real possibility that once the cavern was opened, nothing would be found in it? If Babe then believed that the Army or the government had beaten her into the cave and "stolen" the treasure that belonged to her, she would not be able to file suit. It would make no difference if the gold had been there or not, or even if the treasure cave was a myth or not. What mattered was that the Army would be protected from lawsuits.

In 1972, F. Lee Bailey, a nationally known attorney, became involved. He claimed to represent fifty unidentified clients "who knew the location of the cave with one hundred tons of gold stacked within." These claimants had retained Bailey to help them find a legal means to work the claim on the federal reservation. Bailey was skeptical, but was provided with one of the bars for analysis. He sent it to the Treasury for testing. It was sixty percent gold and forty percent copper. The problem is that fourteen-karat gold is about fifty-eight percent gold and forty-two percent copper. It was noted that old gold ingots were often far from pure. No real conclusion could be drawn from the tests. Also, the Senate Watergate hearings were in progress, and the matter was not pursued through Federal channels. Again, Babe Noss was not one of the claimants.

Meanwhile, there were now all sorts of claimants in the issue. Along with Babe Noss, there was the group formed around Fiege, Violet Noss Yancy, something called the Shriver group, the Bailey claimants, and Expeditions Unlimited (a Florida based treasure hunting group). The Army, suffering a guilty conscience perhaps, finally allowed Expeditions Unlimited, representing all of the groups, including Babe Noss and Airman Thomas Berlett, to excavate the peak in 1977. Berlett reported that ‘if the mountain has not been penetrated and no materials removed from the mountain, this will be the biggest thing that this country has ever seen.’ However, the Army placed a two week time limit on the group, and they had hardly started before they had to quit. What was most valuable, from the Army’s point of view, was that those claiming something was hidden in Victorio Peak had had their chance to search. They had found nothing. The Army then shut down all operations and said no additional searches would be allowed.

It was not the end of Babe’s quest for her mine. Her story spread like tentacles across the land, becoming profiled in several magazines and newspaper articles. Although Babe died in 1979, he grandson, Terry Delonas, fully intended to continue the family tradition. He formed the Ova Noss Family Partnership. By 1989, the story of the Noss family treasure claim had reached millions of Americans. Incredibly, another piece of the Victorio Peak puzzle then surfaced.

It came from a retired couple living in Baytown near Houston, Texas. Captain Swanner was stationed at White Sands Missile Range in the early 1960’s, and he apparently told member of his family about the Victorio Peak mystery. He said that he had gone to inspect and confirm that the treasure as reported by Airman Berlett and Captain Fiege did exist. He was Chief of Security at the time. When he determined the accuracy of the two men’s reports, he put the entire area off-limits until an official investigation could be conducted. His superiors notified the Pentagon.

Supposedly, the military was able to penetrate at least one of the secret caves and inventory the contents, although the gold bars were supposedly removed to Fort Knox. The Pentagon confirmed that Captain Swanner had served as an officer assigned to security at White Sands Missile Range in 1961. However, Gordon Hobbs, from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army, responded to the allegations reported of Captain Swanner by his relatives by saying that he really did not know anything. He had never seen any such claim in any of the records he had examined, and he had heard nothing of any such claim in the inquiries he had conducted. It did not mean it had never happened, it just meant that Gordon Hobbs could find no record of it.

For Gordon Hobbs to be telling the truth, and there is no reason for him to lie, the official records may have been altered or destroyed or there was never anything in the peak in the first place. On the other hand, what was all the covert military operation on the peak that Judge Moreland and his friends witnessed in 1961? Furthermore, the Army certainly knew of the Noss claim. Babe Noss had been in contact with them for years to gain access to it. If it could ever be proved that the Army stole Babe’s treasure, would not the Army then be liable for restitution? Under that assumption, would not it be better for the Army to conveniently lose, misplace, or destroy any records that might have existed to support that accusation?

The Army’s official position on the whereabouts of the gold is still a cautious one. According to Jim Eckles, civilian public affairs officer at White Sands Missile Range, the burden of proof rests with the accusers. There is just no way of satisfying everyone involved in this mystery.

Some researchers believe the Army really did retrieve much of the gold and then perpetrated a cover-up. They point out that the army spent hundreds of thousands of dollars digging and excavating Victorio Peak. They also point out that the Army built roads and even placed a locked steel door over the original shaft discovered by Doc Noss. Why...if not to conceal?

Was Captain Orby Swanner telling the truth? Did the Army removed the gold from Victorio Peak? Is there any physical evidence that Captain Swanner, or anyone for that matter, was ever, in fact, inside Victorio Peak in 1961? There are some who claim that Swanner left evidence of his presence in the cave, and that during the 1977 excavation, military debris---battery packs and such---was found. There is also the claim that they photographed a name and a date and an Army serial number on the wall of one of the tunnels. The name was Capt. Orby Swanner. The date was 7 OCT 1961.

Understandably, members of the Noss family and their friends believe that the military may have exploited Babe’s claim and that the treasure is now gone. They think soldiers may have moved it out by October 1961. But it is also entirely possible that the treasure still remains. The codices mentioned a total of seven entrances into the peak---presumably doorways to seven different treasure locations. Doc Noss’ was the summit; Captain Fiege’s was along one side. Suppose there are others?

Terry Delonas just doesn't know. "We're not accusing the military of stealing the gold, but I do feel that the Department of the Army in the 1960’s treated my grandmother unfairly. They really tried to make a fool out of her, and all the time she was telling the truth. They had sent my grandmother on a wild goose chase for decades. If that is the fact, I think a great injustice has been done. However, we’ve worked very hard over the years to establish a working relationship with the military, and we're certainly not going to jeopardize that by accusing them of theft."

It is doubtful anyone will know the truth about Victorio Peak until it is thoroughly excavated. There is no doubt a treasure existed; it has been photographed, affidavits are on file from those who have seen it, and Babe Noss had relics from it. Researchers also believe that the mine of Father La Rue was the hiding place of Chief Victorio’s plunder...and Doc Noss’ discovery.

Babe Noss died in 1979 and since then, her heirs have continued to push the Army for permission to excavate the peak. A special act of Congress, House Bill 2461 passed in 1989, has unlocked the Hembrillo Basin for Terry Delonas and the other heirs of Babe Noss to investigate, but even though the Partnership has been allowed back on the range, they have still found nothing as of 1995. The search is on-going.

Is the treasure still there? No one knows for sure. With all the blasting and digging that has occurred on the peak over the past sixty years, it may be impossible to economically excavate. But if it does still exist, the entire treasure today is estimated to be worth more than $1.7 billion dollars.
Written by Lee Paul

www.jarabacoagold.webs.com
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More Gold in the Dominican Republic

2010-03-16T10:14:00.000-07:00

Recently meeting a guy from the other side of the Dominican republic online we have been exchanging information about finding Gold in this country. He sent me some things he had found online about Gold being found on that side of the island. Here is some of the text and the links to where it is on the web. You may have to use Google translator if you don't speak Spanish :

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fhtml.rincondelvago.com%2Fmineria-en-republica-dominicana.html&sl=auto&tl=en

Gold Mining

El Oro en los lechos y terrazas de los ríos del país ha sido el único recurso mineral explotado en la época precolombina. Gold in the beds and river terraces of the country has been the only mineral resource potential in the pre-Columbian times. Aunque no se encuentra todavía bien determinada la fuente de este metal, se cree que son las rocas metamórficas de edad cretácica las que suministran el oro a los cursos de agua que drenan al noroeste y sur de algunas cordilleras. Although it is not yet determined the source of this metal, believed to be the Early Cretaceous metamorphic rocks which supplied gold to the waterways that drain to the northwest and south of various ranges. Las áreas más importantes son las de Miches en la parte Este del país, la cuenca del Río Mao (Monción) algo más al Oeste, el valle del Río Haina en Villa Altagracia y San Francisco de Macorís en el Centro -Norte. The most important areas are those of Miches on the east of the country, Mao River Basin (Monción) slightly further west, the valley of the Rio Haina Villa Altagracia and San Francisco de Macoris in the Central North. Todas estas áreas son de fácil acceso desde y hacia la ciudad de Santo Domingo. All these areas are easily accessible to and from Santo Domingo.

Las regiones de Miches y Monción, son las regiones principales suministradoras del oro dominicano, sobre la base de centenares de buscadores actuando individualmente. The regions of Miches and Monción are the main suppliers of gold regions Dominican, based on hundreds of search engines selling individually.
La región más productiva es un área cercana al Sur del poblado de la Mina, a lo largo de los cursos de agua y terrazas fluviales del Río Cuarón y Arroyo Claro. The most productive region is an area near the southern town of Mina, along streams and river terraces of the Rio Claro Cuaron and Arroyo. Los aluviones auríferos de Monción pertenecen a la Cuenca del Río Mao, que corren al Oeste de la Provincia de Santiago de los Caballeros, drenando la ladera Noroeste de la Cordillera Central. The alluvial gold of Monción belong to the Mao River Basin, which run west of the province of Santiago de los Caballeros, draining the northwest slopes of the Cordillera Central. Este río desciende desde 1,500 metros de altura hasta los 50 metros en su mayor recorrido, fluyendo en dirección NNE y uniéndose al Río Yaque del Norte. The river drops from 1,500 meters up to 50 meters in the main path, flowing NNE direction and joining the Rio Yaque del Norte.

“In Miches is reminiscent of a man named Doroteo who found one of its sites a gold nugget of 16 pounds. This discovery appeared in the mind world famous book "Although You Might Not Believe" by Robert Ripley.”

Believe it or Not
For Gold panning adventures and other great excursions go to http://www.jarabacoagold.webs.com

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Hiking to Pico Duarte the highest peak in the Caribbean

2010-03-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

There are several routes you can take to the peak of Pico Duarte, located in the Dominican Republic. The La Cienaqa route is by far the most popular. It is also the shortest and easiest route. The route is 46 kms (29 miles) round trip with 2275 meters (7465 feet) elevation gain and usually takes 2-3 days. The route is steep and can be muddy in places, but is not difficult.
Valle de tetaro route starts at the same trailhead as the standard standard La Ciénaga Route, but is much more strenuous. The route is also more scenic as well, and the trip is well worth the effort. At least three days are needed to complete this route through the Valle de Tetero and to the summit. Four days are recommended.

The Valle de Tetero itself is the most delightful part of the trek, with nice waterfalls, huge pools, and mountain meadows surrounded by beautiful trees full of colorful parrots and other birds. There are ancient petroglyphs in the valley as well. I would recommend spending a layover day in the valley as it is a real paradise.

The Mata Grande Route begins at Mata Grande at 850 meters (2790 feet) elevation. The route is 96 kms (60 miles) round trip and usually takes 5-6 days to complete.
There are several others as well.
You will need a guide and I recommend a mule or 2 for supplies and packs as this will make for a easier climb.
For information on Pico Duarte adventures or other excursions in the Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic area see http://www.jarabacoagold.webs.com for more information

Adventure Travel in the Dominican Republic

2010-03-12T15:25:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for Adventure on your next vacation, then look no further than the Dominican Republic. With exciting excursions like white water rafting, Kiteboarding, Gold panning adventures, hiking and whale watching, you can do it all plus more. The Dominican Republic is a safe, beautiful and affordable country that once you visit you will return.
The locals are friendly and more than willing to lend a hand to their foreign guests while visiting. You need something to make your stay more comfortable, just ask. Someone will go and get what you desire, or can tell you where to get it.
The beaches are incredible, world class windsurfing and Kiteboarding on the North shore as well as normal beach activities. If you are a diver or fisherman, this is the place.
Head up to Jarabacoa, in the central mountain zone known as the "Dominican Alps" for excursions you would only dream about. Located all in one place you can White water raft on the Yaque del Norte, Pan for Gold in the mountain streams, hike to Pico Duarte, the highest peak in the Caribbean plus much more.
For more information on these exciting adventure excursions in the Dominican Republic go to
http://www.jarabacoagold.webs.com the Dominican Republics premier Gold panning Adventure Company

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Using a Sluice Box

2010-03-10T05:04:00.000-08:00

Sluice Box

Running a sluice box is simple and will greatly improve the amount of gold you can recover in a day of prospecting. If you are serious about gold prospecting, a sluice box will be a required piece of equipment for your prospecting tool chest. Sluice boxes can be purchased from a large variety of sources or because of their simple design, easily built by anyone with minor construction skills. To get started using your sluice box follow these simple operational guidelines.

Setting Up the Sluice Box: Once you have located a promising area of gold bearing gravel, walk along the stream bank and search for a good place to set up the sluice box. Ideally find a spot where the current is moving swiftly and carrying decent volumes of water. Once you find the spot, set your sluice box directly in the current so that the box is filled with water almost to the top of the trough. To test the current's ability to carry gravel through the sluice, scoop up a handful of gravel from the creek bed and drop it into the upper end of the trough. If the current washes the lighter gravel down the trough within a matter of seconds, you have found a good location. Brace your sluice box so it doesn't rock, by the time a couple of shovels of gravel are placed in your sluice should be secure.

Getting Started: Now you will want to "feed" your gold-bearing gravel into the upper portion of the sluice box in carefully measured amounts. Don't, under any circumstances, dump a large amount of gravel into the sluice box all at one time. This will allow gold bearing gravel to fall out of the sides of the sluice box. The gravel must be fed at a pace that will not overload the riffles. If the riffles are overloaded you cannot see the top most "crest" of each riffle bar at all times, then you are feeding the gravel too fast. If this is happening reduce the amount of gold bearing ore you are feeding into the sluice. The use of a quarter to half inch classifier screen to prescreen material before dumping into the sluice box can save much time and effort. The cost for overloading a sluice box riffles is the loss of gold. Each time a new load of gravel is dumped into a sluice box with overloaded riffles, any gold in that gravel will wash right over the material that is clogging your riffles and out the discharge end of the box, and down the stream. So mind the sluice box.

Tending the sluice: Each time you dump a load of gravel into the sluice box check the riffle section for large waste rocks which may be too big to wash down and are hanging up. Remove these with your fingers immediately because these large rocks are affecting the flow of water through the sluice box. If a rock is lodged in the uppermost portion of the trough the washed out concentrate will merely settle in the next few riffles down. But if the wash out occurs at the lower end of the trough the concentrate may flow out of the sluice box altogether. One more thing, don't forget to shovel away the tailings which will periodically build up at the discharge end of the sluice box. If you don't the tailings will back up into the lower end of the sluice trough, burying some of your riffles.

Cleanup: Once the riffles have accumulated black sand in amounts extending more than halfway toward the next lower bar it is time to perform the "cleanup". Using care, lift the sluice box from the current, keeping it as level as possible. Take it over to the bank and set it down on as level a spot. Gold has a tendency to work its way beneath the matting which often lies at the bottom of the trough. You may be surprised at the amount of "color" that can accumulate there. Check to see if there is any fine silt clinging to the bottom, rinse all of it into your concentrate bucket. Take out the riffle section of the sluice, exercising care not to disturb the gravel adhering to it. Roll up the matting which lines the bottom of the sluice box trough and thoroughly rinse off all the concentrate. This should be done with the matting safely contained in a large bucket or tub, so you don't lose any of the concentrate. Rinse the riffle bars and the trough itself into the bucket, a lot of gold will work it's way under the matting and may accumulate there.

Panning the Concentrate: At this point you will have a bucket of heavy black sand and gold. To get the gold out at this point you will want to use a small Gold pan and work the fines down to the native gold. This is normally the most exciting part of the operation and can be done at night or even when you are back at home after your trip.

Not in a Gold bearing Area: If you don't live in or have access to a Gold bearing river, creek or area to use your sluice box, you can always order Gold paydirt online. One of the best sources are online auctions or there are websites specifically for selling Gold paydirt and concentrates. One of the best sites for Gold paydirt is www.paydirtworld.webs.com as they carry paydirt and concentrates from different locations around the world. You want to pan for Gold in Austraila, how about The Dominican Republic or California. They have the best from all locations.

www.jarabacoagold.webs.com
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posted at http://www.myalaskan.com/activiites-in-alaska/goldprospectinginalaska.html

Using and Building a Sluice Box for finding Gold

2010-03-10T03:32:00.000-08:00

Living in the Dominican Republic has its challenges when you are used to the United States. Electricity, Water, Roosters crowing all night and buying things that are easy to obtain. You can of course order online anything, but then you have the wait and the duty when that item reaches customs.
Being a Gold prospector, and Gold panning the rivers here I decided to build a sluice box rather than order one since I had a few days of rain and was a little bored. It was actually very easy and it works great. The entire project cost me less than $10.00 and was well worth the investment. The first time my friend and I used it we found about 4 grams of Gold, about $140.00 at the current Gold price.
Here is a list of materials needed to make your own Gold sluice box.

1- 1"x12"x5'
2- 1"x4" x5'
6- 1"x1" x 11 3/4"
1 piece of 1/4" heavy galvanized screen wire
Miners moss or scotch brite pads

Take the one by twelve and the 2 one by fours and nail them down the sides. I also used wood glue on everything.
Take the one by ones and insert them across the one by twelve in between the sides and glue and nail about every 6 inches starting at the bottom.
Cut your miners moss to fit snugly in between the one by ones.
Cut your screen wire to fit inside the side rails from bottom to top.
There you have it, a great inexpensive Gold sluice box. The only other thing I did was to seal the wood so it doesn't soak up the water.
More about Gold panning and how to use your new sluice box next time.
If you don't have a great place to pan for Gold in your area , you can order online Gold bearing paydirt and Gold concentrates from here http:www.paydirtworld.webs.com
They carry Gold paydirt from all over the world, just pick your spot and order.

www.jarabacoagold.webs.com

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Gold Bearing Paydirt from around the World

2010-03-01T06:23:00.000-08:00

I recently wrote about purchasing Gold Paydirt and concentrates online. As I said before, there are reputable sellers on the Internet, you should be careful though. I wouldn't expect to get rich off of buying paydirt and concentrates.
Most buyers do so for several reasons.

Practice, Keeping your panning skills up when you aren't able to go out in the wild.
Trying out new equipment like sluices, highbankers, new pans, ect.
Educational reasons. Teaching kids to pan, school projects, ect.
Fun. Most people find this the best reason. Nothing better than the excitement of finding Gold in your pan!

There is a new website now out on the Internet that carries Gold bearing Paydirt and concentrates from different locations around the globe. Http://www.paydirtworld.webs.com
With the finest paydirt available from Australia, Dominican Republic, Brazil and several states in the USA this is a one stop shop for all your paydirt needs. The site is up and running and is adding new locations weekly. If you live in a area known for its Gold, and would like to be a vendor on this site there are links to contact them on the website.
Check them out

Sunken treasure explorations in the Dominican Republic

2010-02-24T07:27:00.000-08:00

Originally posted at http://www.dr1.com/news.php#7

Marina Exploration under Burt Webber has announced that it is expanding its operations in Dominican waters now that it has the capacity to run simultaneous shipwreck location operations. "Initially, we will be able to work two treasure wrecks concurrently, using the R/V Hispaniola as a master vessel. Following that, we will be able to enlist another vessel as a support platform over one of our established wrecks while the R/V Hispaniola maintains treasure recovery operations over another site. I am thrilled that I have the well tested equipment and well trained crew to accomplish this exciting task," he said.
Webber added that the Dominican Government has publicly described it as the most significant shipwreck discovery in the 21st century, and expressed his significant excitement on the cusp of the R/V Hispaniola's return to treasure recovery. Webber stated, "My men and I are very excited about our return to the north coast and our resuming recovery of treasure and artifacts from the 'Solo Deo Gloria' shipwreck. We have successfully recovered gold, diamond, pearl and silver treasure already in our very short initial run and we have covered only about 5% of the wreck site so far." Preservation of the treasure and artifacts is ongoing under the direct supervision of the Dominican government and appraisals will be forthcoming, with values expected to be extremely significant due to the historical importance of the recoveries.
Webber explained: "We are also extremely excited about the immediate ongoing investigation of 5 additional wrecks which are in our exclusive contract area. We are very optimistic that these may be treasure galleon sites because of their location. Our contract area, containing parts of the Silver Bank, the Navidad Bank and critical areas along the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, covers the path that damaged, distressed and disoriented ships traveled during over 300 years of Spanish commerce. Historically, once a ship cleared the Straits of Florida, if it encountered trouble, it was ordered to sail for Puerto Rico. However, because of an inability to calculate longitude and because of the need to avoid the Gulf Stream forces, many of these ships ended up sinking in what is now our contract area."
Marine Exploration, Inc. and joint venture partner Hispaniola Ventures, LLC, headed by Burt D. Webber Jr., has plans to continue the shipwreck site survey and salvage and anticipate locating and recovering additional historic shipwrecks with valuable artifacts and treasure. Working under exclusive contract with the Dominican Republic, the Company has plans in place to pursue a number of notable shipwrecks in Dominican Republic territorial and jurisdictional waters. www.mexp.biz

Gold Panning Adventures on the Rise

2010-02-24T05:09:00.000-08:00

The economic situation apparently hasn't slowed down the Gold panning boom according to the Gold Prospectors Association of America. They report a 20% increase in new memberships from last year, to about 50,000 people this year. "I was in Nome, Alaska, where you used to see five or six people using dredges on the beach," says Brandon Johnson, director of operations for the GPAA. "Now you're seeing 18, 19 of them — people are selling the gold they find and using it to pay the bills."

Because times are tough and gold prices are high, a lot of people in their 20s start prospecting — as well as a lot of people in their 50s. People can make more money in a few days prospecting than they can working five days a week at a low paying job.

The Gold rush of the 1800's is long gone, but there's plenty of gold left. Old mining techniques were crude, and lots of gold fell into the creeks or simply got overlooked.

People vacationing are going on Gold panning excursions more and more says Ken Thompson, of Jarabacoa Gold Company located in the Dominican Republic. "We are seeing a steady increase in people on holiday going on our Gold panning adventures". "It's a great way to spend a day in the outdoors, and it can also help pay for your vacation". One of Jarabacoa Gold Company's customers, Marc Rohrer, from Switzerland found almost a gram of gold in just a little over an hour on his trip. " I didn't want to leave the river", he said. "I will definitely do this again".

Prospecting equipment sales have also tripled since last year. With newer and more modernized equipment on the market your take for the day can increase dramatically. It can be worth the investment if you live in a gold bearing area.

Most people think that the majority of the Gold has already been found, but experts say that less than 5% of the world Gold has been recovered. That leaves a lot still out there.

If you are thinking of taking a Gold panning adventure, Check out Jarabacoa Gold Company located in the central mountain region of the Dominican Republic. They only use natural methods for finding Gold. No motorized equipment, panning and sluice boxes only. For some of their excursions mules are used for transporting supplies, equipment and guests.The area is absolutely gorgeous, and there are many other outdoor excursions available in the area such as whitewater rafting, horseback riding and trips to the highest peak in the Caribbean, Pico Duarte.
http://www.jarabacoagold.webs.com

Buying Gold Paydirt and Concentrates

2010-02-21T06:42:00.000-08:00

Buying Gold "Paydirt" and concentrates online can be a costly as well as risky purchase. Not to say that all people who sell these products are out to get you, my recommendation right from the start is to find a dealer with a good reputation. Now don't get me wrong, there are a lot of reputable dealers around, but I would see what other buyers have to say before sending out your hard earned money.
What is "paydirt" some ask? Well, it's dirt or sand from a mining claim or river that is known to produce Gold. The dealers generally bring this back with them after a day of panning and list it online either on their websites or an online auction such as Ebay. It is supposed to have gold in it that the buyer can pan out from the of convenience their home.
"Concentrates" are a little bit different. They are the clean out product left over from a sluice box or dredge. In other words, after the dirt or river sand has run thru these devices, it is the dirt that accumulates in the bottom with fine Gold or flakes that didn't get caught by the screens or ribs. Concentrates can be very rich in Gold although the pieces are usually very small.
I can understand why people buy these products. Mainly for the convenience. It can be very costly to take a trip to Alaska or elsewhere to go Gold panning. With airfare or gasoline prices, time off from work, lodging, eating out, ect. it can run into quite a bit of money, not to mention the work involved while at the site digging, or working the river.
With these products, you buy them online for maybe $10.00- $30.00 per pound and there you have it. Just like going to that location, but panning from home.
There is one website online that offers Paydirt from different areas around the world all on one site. www.paydirtworld.webs.com is a one stop shop for Gold bearing Paydirt from Australia, Brazil, Usa, Dominican Republic as well as others. Most are individuals from certain areas selling only paydirt or concentrates from that particular region.
Some dealers "guarantee" gold in there paydirt. It is because they Salt the bag with some flakes before they send them out to get good response from the buyers. This is OK if that's what you are into, doing it for mainly a hobby. I personally would rather have the product that comes directly from the earth, without someone already going thru it to see whats there. If I'm going to gamble, to me that is a gamble, not a bag that someone put something in for me to find.
You'll never get rich by panning "paydirt", but it does have its place in the market.
If you can, I recommend you go on a panning adventure with a excursion company or to a Gold camp and get the real experience of panning Gold in the great outdoors. Otherwise panning "paydirt" will have to do for now.

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check my website at http://www.jarabacoagold.webs.com

Panning and Prospecting in foreign Countrys

2010-02-20T06:39:00.000-08:00

We all know how great the Gold panning in the USA can be, Its been going on for centuries. There are places all over the country with Gold producing claims and the weekend warrior can usually go out to the creeks and pan with decent success. Large nuggets are still found on occasion, but not like in the old days. Alaska , California and Nevada still give up decent size nuggets, some as large as several grams.
There are several differences from panning in the states as in foreign lands. I haven't panned personally in many other country's, But have been for the last 2 years in the Dominican Republic.
One of the biggest differences I have found is getting permission to pan certain rivers or areas. Here the rivers and streams are pretty much open game. I have never had anyone say I was trespassing or shouldn't be there panning. In most cases, if anyone approached me, it was to tell me where to find the Ora (Gold). If you are hiking and have to pass thru someones yard or farm, they will just wave at you. No problem.
On one of my first Gold panning trips I took in this country, a friend of mine took me to a site we call "Charco Bonita". As we were hiking to get there, actually not to far from the little village that we ended up staying at for a short time, we had to pass thru farm land and finally someones yard. We came up to a "gate", fashioned out of a log and some barbed wire, I could see a small house a rocks throw away with a few dogs barking. I said to my friend, "I don't think we should go thru here, he replied, "Its OK, come on". I proceeded with caution, not knowing what to expect,because in the states this wouldn't be done. A man and a woman emerged from the little shanty and waved. The dogs ran up with there tails wagging as we continued on our way. After a decent day panning and on our way back to town, As we passed thru the yard for the second time, the woman,"Rosa", invited us in for a cup of Cafe'. We sat down and enjoyed a nice cup of Java with these folks and they told us to come back anytime.
Another difference is coming up on someone else's claim. There aren't any really. Now there are a few large Gold Companies that have mines in this country that would naturally be off limits, but overall, there aren't that many people here that prospect or pan. Its almost like being in the west in the 1800's, you just kinda set up shop. Although I don't recommend using a lot of machinery or gas powered dredges an such. Your better off keeping a low profile and walking away with the Gold. One thing you don't want to do is start hollering "GOLD". But that's anywhere.
If anyone has knowledge or any info on panning or prospecting in other countries, email me or post a comment.

http:www.jarabacoagold.webs.com

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I can't Eat It, Why Bother

2010-02-18T05:02:00.000-08:00

I have been prospecting and panning in the Dominican Republic now for almost 2 years with relatively good success. Some days are naturally better than others, but all in all, not to bad. Some of my Dominican friends are amazed when they see the Gold that we find, but aren't interested in going out after it themselves. They kinda look at us as "those crazy Gringos" going back to the Rio. I was showing my vial with Gold in it to one guy and he said, "that stuff is all over in the rivers". I had to ask, "why don't you get it out"? He replied, "I can't eat it, why bother".
A lot of the trips I do are to the "Yaque del Norte" river which has a rich history of Gold. When Christopher Columbus first discovered the island in 1492, one of the first things he saw was where this river met the sea. After a little exploring and finding Gold there he decided to name it "Rio de Oro" ("Gold River"). The name didn't stick as the Taino Indians had already named it.
The Taino's had been panning this river since the early 1400's and made all their jewelery and religious ornaments out of the Gold found in it. It is also one of the longest rivers on the island, starting in the mountains near Pico Duarte and winding its way thru the country until it meets the Atlantic ocean. The river still produces the shiny yellow metal to this day. The Dominican central mountain range is also referred to as the"Alps of the Caribbean" for its wonderful views, cascading waterfalls and perfect weather year round.
Trips and Gold panning excursions are available in Jarabacoa as well as other great outdoor activity's such as Horseback riding, whitewater rafting, hiking,ect.
For more information on these excursions http://www.jarabacoagold.webs.com
or email me at jarabacoagold@yahoo.com

The Homestake Gold Mine Lead, South Dakota

2010-02-16T12:59:00.000-08:00

The Homestake Gold Mine was one of the early enterprises associated with the Gold Rush of 1876 in the northern Black Hills of what was then Dakota Territory. The mining community of Deadwood was the center of the gold fever, with tents, sawmills, log houses and saloons springing up seemingly overnight. But the real action would happen three miles away "over the hill" where brothers Fred and Moses Manuel and their partner Hank Harney located their Homestake claim on April 9, 1876. Moses liked what he saw in an outcropping of a vein of ore, referred to as a lead and pronounced "leed." Soon more prospectors materialized, and no time was lost in selecting a site for a new town. On July 10th work began on laying out the town lots, and that work was completed the next day. Miners were offered the lots, 50 x 100 feet, but were required to build on the lots in 60 days or forfeit them. That spurred many on to build on the front half and then sell the back half. Progress came quickly. Telegraph service began December 1st and by early 1877 four hotels, a grocery store, saloon, bakery and butcher shop were up and running.

In June 1877 George Hearst, who had earlier sent an agent to offer a bond to owners of the Homestake claim, bought the four and one half acre claim for $70,000. No stranger to mining, Hearst had mining interests in Missouri, California during its gold rush, Nevada, Utah, and Montana. He later represented the State of California in the United States Senate. He and his wife Phoebe had one son, William Randolph Hearst, who, rather than continue in his father's footsteps in the mining businesses, chose to manage his father's newspaper, the San Francisco Examiner. William became a publishing magnate and was a pioneer in the radio and television industries.

With a population of 8,392 in 1910, Lead was the second largest community in South Dakota. The employment opportunities for not only miners, but also laborers and mechanics were excellent. After George Hearst's death in 1891, his widow Phoebe made substantial contributions to the educational and cultural life of Lead. She was responsible for the establishment of the first kindergarten in the entire West. In addition, she arranged for the Homestake Mining Company Homestake Opera House and Recreation Building to be constructed as gifts to the community from the company. Tickets had to be purchased for events in the Opera House, but use of the swimming pool, bowling alley, meeting rooms and library was free.

Throughout the decades to come the City of Lead and the Homestake Mine were confronted with challenges ranging from an epidemic of Spanish influenza, nearby forest fires and even a fire in the mine, which was extinguished by a deliberate flooding of the mine and subsequent dewatering with no ill effects to the mine or its equipment. But on the whole, the city and its residents prospered as a result of the mine. In the early 1930s, as the rest of the nation suffered economic hardship throughout the Great Depression, the management of Homestake set a shorter work week with an increase in wages, and provided end of year bonuses to workers.

During World War II, gold mining operations were suspended by order of the War Production Board. The young men of the city joined the armed forces, moved to locations where copper mines were operating or worked in airplane factories. The older men who remained in what was by then an almost deserted town worked in the Homestake foundry or machine shop producing goods needed for the war effort, including parts for airplanes, wrenches and hand grenades.

The following decades saw modernization of mining techniques and procedures, including the advent of computerization to the Homestake Mine. The workers voted in 1966 to be represented by the United Steel Workers union.

In September of 2000 a Homestake Mining Company spokesman announced that the mine would close. In January of 2002, the Homestake Gold Mine finally shut down after more than 125 years of continuous operation.

Hoist operator, Laurie Skavang of Lead inscribed this message on an exhaust fan 4,550 feet underground, "Farewell to all! Thanks 4 being my friend. We will all stand tall, and I’ll treasure it ’till the end!"

Gold Panning Excursions in the Dominican Republic

2010-02-15T05:26:00.002-08:00

In the mountain town of Jarabacoa there is a unique excursion that takes their guests into the surrounding areas in search of Gold.

Gold has been found in Hispaniola since before Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1492. The Taino Indians used the beautiful yellow metal for making Jewelery and religious ornaments. It was in such abundance that Columbus was shipping it back to Spain. That was century's ago, but there is still plenty to be found in the creeks and streams of this country.

Jarabacoa Gold Company has over 20 years experience prospecting and panning for the elusive gold metal both in the USA and the Dominican Republic. With several "proven" sites, these trips are not only fun, but can be rewarding as well. On most trips, all guests find Gold. Sometimes as much as a few grams. With the world market price of Gold at over $1000. an ounce, it can be like taking the trip and getting paid to do it. Guests get to keep all the Gold that they find.

Most of the sites do involve hiking to get there, but the scenic views on the way make it worth the effort. Most tourists never get to venture into these areas where the water in the streams is crystal clear and the air has that fresh "mountain" smell. Great photo opportunities as well.

Other excursions are available in the Jarabacoa area like white water rafting, horseback riding, hiking, Visiting the many waterfalls, jeep tours and sightseeing. Lodging is available in the area at all price points to suit the luxurious traveler or the budget minded.

Gold panning trips are for 1/2 day, full day and can be customized to fit any need. Some locations are more suitable for the experienced hikers as others are just a short, easy hike to the location.

All equipment is provided, lunch on full day trips and panning instruction by our experienced guides for the novice. It is recommended that guests bring a change of clothes as they may get wet as well as water, and insect repellent. Some days the bugs are out.

http://www.jarabacoagold.webs.com

or email: jarabacoagold@yahoo.com

One warning: Gold fever may set in.

Trapped in the Mountains

2010-02-15T03:43:00.000-08:00

A few months ago while in town, I met a gentleman from the states. He asked what I did here and I told him about the Gold panning trips. He was very interested and told me about some land he owns in the mountains up by Manaboa. He said that there were several creeks that ran thru the property and no one had ever been panning or prospecting there that he was aware of. Knowing the area, and having found Gold close by already, we planned a trip.
The day we left to go, it is about an hour drive, we weren't really sure what the weather had in store for us. But because he was leaving the country the next day and I was excited about seeing this new find, we continued. It was myself,The owner "Steve" and a 59 year old lady from Canada named Linda.
When I say remote, I mean remote people. This place was out in the middle of nothing. We had to drive across one of the creeks to get to the land, which isn't that unusual for the Dominican Republic. It was a 2 hour hike in to where we panned, thru the jungle, up and down small mountains, crossing creeks and streams all the way. When we arrived, there was the most beautiful waterfall, one you only see in pictures. This is where we started to pan, at the base and the stream below it.
Having a little luck in the first few minutes everyone was getting excited about this location. Suddenly, The rain started coming down. We decided we had better get back to the truck, and in a hurry. The streams started rising really quick.
We finally made it back to where we parked, soaking wet, and proceded to drive back. When we got to the stream we had crossed in the truck, it had risen to the top of the vehicle. After waiting, and hoping it would go down, of course it never did we decided to try to get a ride back with someone on the other side. Thankfully there was a foot bridge across. After a few hours of waiting, walking and praying, we got a ride back to Jarabacoa with a man in a dump truck.
Oh yeah, the 59 year old lady, she held up better than either one of us guys. What a trooper.
I learned on this trip to pay close attention to the weather here. It is easy to get stranded in the mountains if the rains come. Also be prepared, take at least a little food, water and extra clothing.

For more info on our Gold panning adventures
http://www.jarabacoagold.webs.com

or email
jarabacoagold@yahoo.com

Looking for a Job?? Want to be a Gold Panning Tour Guide?

2010-02-13T05:24:00.000-08:00

Need a Job? Want to live and work in the Dominican Republic as a tour Guide?

How would you like to work as a Gold panning guide in the Dominican Republic? We are looking for a competent individual, into hiking, adventure, good with people, and fun loving to train as a guide for our Gold panning excursions. This position is for a 1 month trial period, but can become full time for the right person. Duties include: Taking guests to the sites and instructing them in gold panning techniques, talking to tourists in the area about trips, working with travel agents and others via internet to create more traffic.

If interested, applicants should be at least 18 years old, have valid passport and are able to travel,Must have computer skills, be a self starter and be ready to start right away. Spanish and English helpful but not required.
Will train the right person

For more information on this position email at:
jarabacoagold@yahoo.com

A little Chilly

2010-02-13T03:43:00.000-08:00

Wow, woke up this morning freezing. It was about 70 degrees. My wife and I were thinking about taking a trip to the US last month but decided to postpone because it was cold there. If 70 is cold, we would freeze to death.
Its a beautiful Saturday morning though all in all.
I am planning a trip to the river today in search of the elusive yellow metal. Most trips prove to be successful, finding a gram or two of Gold. Most people never dream of finding Gold in the creeks or rivers of the Dominican Republic. They think of California, Georgia, Alaska and other locations in the US.
Fact is, almost all the "Large" nuggets were found in other countries. Most in Australia, some in Chile and Russia. Gold has been found in this country since before Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1492. One of the worlds largest mining companies recently set up shop just a few miles from here. That has got to tell you something.
If you are planning a trip to the DR in the future or happen to be living here and would like to go panning, feel free to contact us at:http://www.jarabacoagold.webs.com or
jarabacoagold@yahoo.com or visit

Can Gold still be found in Creeks and Streams??

2010-02-12T03:47:00.000-08:00

Lots of people seem to think that most of the Gold has already been found and unless you dig way down you won't find any. This is totally untrue!! Experts say that only 5% of the worlds Gold has been found. People still prospect and pan for Gold all over the world, some with great success. Not saying that if you are a weekend warrior you will walk away with a sack full of nuggets, but finding the right spot can give you great enjoyment as well as great rewards.
In the Dominican Republic, Gold has been found as early as the 1400's-1500's when Christopher Columbus first discovered the island. Gold was in such abundance that he was shipping it back to Spain. Today, century's later it is still being found. One of the largest mining company's in the world have set up shop here and invested millions of dollars. They wouldn't do that if there wasn't Gold here.
Jarabacoa Gold Company, the Dominican Republics premier Gold panning excursion company will take you out to where the Gold is. They do 1/2 and full day panning trips as well as trips customized to fit your needs. They have a great success rate for locating the precious metal because of their years of experience and their knowledge of the area. If you are going to be in the Dominican Republic, this is a trip that is well worth the time and money. Located in the central mountain zone, this area is also known as the "Alps of the Caribbean". Lots of other things to do around Jarabacoa, white water rafting, horseback riding, hiking, viewing waterfalls, ect.

For more information:
http://www.jarabacoagold.webs.com
or
jarabacoagold@yahoo.com

Hey, theres Gold on your shirt!!!!

2010-02-11T03:48:00.000-08:00

On one of our excursions, actually one of the best sites we have to take people out to, we were all having great luck finding Gold that day. Everyone was finding something in almost every pan. The day was almost over and it was time to start packing up and getting ready for the trip back to Jarabacoa. I was wearing some of those "river shoes", you know, the kind with rubber bottoms and nylon tops. I had gotten out of the river and taken them off to dry before putting them in my pack. I set them on a rock in the sun, meanwhile, one of the other prospectors came out of the stream and I noticed something reflecting off of his shirt. Taking a closer look, it was a nice Gold flake. We both laughed and continued preparing for the trip back. When I went over to get my shoes from the rock, there in the bottom of one of them was a shiny piece of Gold.
The streams and creeks here are loaded with small nuggets and flakes. Not many people think about it being a rich area for panning. They come here on vacation to go to the beach or maybe sight see and miss out on the real fun and adventure.
One of the sad things is, if they come for and all inclusive vacation, they never get to see the "real" Dominican Republic. The all inclusive tell the guests that it is very dangerous outside of their resorts to keep you there so that you will spend all of your time and money at their location. They provide excursions, food, drinks and entertainment, but it is all tourist motivated. Its what they think you want to see or do, not what the rest of the country actually has or is about.
For Gold panning trips in the Dominican Republic contact me at:
jarabacoagold@yahoo.com
or go to http://www.jarabacoagold.webs.com

Ready to pan in the Dominican Republic?

2010-02-10T04:12:00.000-08:00

Its another beautiful morning here in Jarabacoa. For those of you that are snow bound or living in the frigid states, the average temperature for here is 83 degrees for the month of Feb.
I am looking forward to this weeks panning trip, as we are going upstream from our previous site hoping to find some larger nuggets.

Be sure and check out http://www.jarabacoagold.webs.com for more information

or contact jarabacoagold@yahoo.com

Ready to pan in the Dominican Republic?

2010-02-09T11:57:00.000-08:00

All right all you prospectors, adventure seekers and Gold hounds. Now there are excursions out of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, located in the central part of the country in the mountain range sometimes referred to as the "Alps of the Caribbean" that will take you out to some really great sites for Gold Panning.
Jarabacoa Gold Company has just started these trips which have already proven to be not only fun and exciting, but can also be very rewarding. Last week on a 1/2 day trip a young man from Switzerland panned almost a gram of Gold flake in about 2 hours.
I will post results of the future trips along with pictures.
If you are interested in going on one of these trips you can see the website at http://www.jarabacoagold.webs.com
or email for more information at jarabacoagold@yahoo.com
They also can arrange lodging, meals and other excursions like white water rafting, horseback riding, hiking amongst others.