New Member--Unicoi County TN

Panner Joined: 01 Feb 2016 Posts: 13 Location: Erwin, TN

Howdy, I was directed to this site by another member on Coker Creek GPAA site, was informed I might be able to get some info on mines and places to pan in Western NC close to my area. Thanks Wink

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 5:43 am

Welcome to our forum.

Wes

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 5:49 am

Welcome to the forum..!
Tell Creekstomper (Prospector) Al (my guess) we all sez Howdy..
What's your area in TN near in NC..?

Swamp

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 9:43 am

Welcome to the forum

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 2:10 pm

Welcome.

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 8:40 am

Welcome from N Georgia.

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 9:16 pm

Welcome to the forum Gordon!

Start new topic in the proper section letting everyone know exactly where you live, some of us may not know exactly where Erwin Tn. is, so they can recommend places that may be close too you so you can wet your pan!

Skip

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 10:04 am

Erwin is East of Johnson City, not too far from the NC line.

Panner Joined: 01 Feb 2016 Posts: 13 Location: Erwin, TN

Howdy, Erwin is Halfway between Unicoi and Flagpond Tn on US26 The place I go to most is the Nolichucky River. I found 1 flake so far and maybe a gemstone. The Cane and Toe Rivers form the Chucky they head up close to the Blue Ridge , And thats where gold was found years ago. Whats upstream has to come down. There is a lot of overburden on this river, I have found compacted sand and gravel and a clay layer about 18" down. Any advice would be helpful Thanks

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:12 am

Welcome

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 7:48 am

Gordon6729Zippo wrote:

Howdy, Erwin is Halfway between Unicoi and Flagpond Tn on US26 The place I go to most is the Nolichucky River. I found 1 flake so far and maybe a gemstone. The Cane and Toe Rivers form the Chucky they head up close to the Blue Ridge , And thats where gold was found years ago. Whats upstream has to come down. There is a lot of overburden on this river, I have found compacted sand and gravel and a clay layer about 18" down. Any advice would be helpful Thanks

Hey Gordon,

When you say compacted sand and gravel. Is this material held together lightly or do you have to break it apart?

What color is the clay layer?

Is the clay layer solid clay or a conglomerate of clay/sand/gravel?

As you are panning are you finding black sands or garnet sands in your final wash?

Are you finding heavies in your final wash. Such as Limonite cubes, or metallic (dark gray to black w/shiny surface) pieces of rock?

If it ever stops raining long enough for the streams to drop, I may have to make a trip up your way and see what you are finding.

Good luck

Panner Joined: 01 Feb 2016 Posts: 13 Location: Erwin, TN

Howdy Woodspirt, The compacted sand and gravel I had to use a shovel to break it up. When I dug it up it was in good sized chunks. The clay is a light bluegrey color it comes out in small chunks, It has sand + gravel mixed in. When panning I find a lot of black sand that is magnetic, some is not. In some pans there is more garnet sand than in others, it depends on the area. I find a black rock that has a lot of shiny looks like planes on a crystal, There is a lot of quartz in the river of many colors from white -grey-pink-yellow orange-clear In panning there is always some small dark rocks left in the pan that have to be picked out.

Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 6:41 pm

Not exactly in the zone most here are familiar with, but not all that far away as the crow flies either..

What do the geological reports say about the immediate area, assuming you've done some checking on your own..? What does the gang from Coker Creek have to say..?

Hope you can get up there to take a look, Woodspirit.. The material sounds interesting enough.. And hoping the majority of what's there isn't locked up too..

Swamp

Panner Joined: 01 Feb 2016 Posts: 13 Location: Erwin, TN

Howdy Swamp, The Unaka Mts in Unicoi County are the same range as in Coker creek. There are some old mines in Unicoi County, a lot of iron came from this area. There is a rumor of an old Gold mine back up the river around Lost Cove and tales of gold in some of the creeks here. The Data I have looked at suggest that there is a few small areas that have not been found. I would guess quartz veins like everywhere else, or mixed with another mineral. I always heard that Gold wears an iron hat. Have had a few comments from CC, nothing to put my finger on, I am still new to all this so we will just keep on looking and panning till I get to the right spot.