Numbering & packaging samples

In some cases, specially is laboratory shipping must be by plane, the samples can be dried on the field with the heat of the sun or fire.

On the numeration, you can use a sequencing numeration like ED/19 0025 in which for example:

ED = Ecuador
19 = area 19; defined before prospecting departure
0025 = 4 digit sequence number

This kind of numeration doesn’t locate the sample, but that is why the geographic coordinates are also taken down.

If hard containers are used, its advisable to have boxes made where an exact amount of containers fit, on the contrary make sure fill up all the empty spaces in the box with paper or straw.

Next we will go over on how to determine the tenure of gold and how to estimate the volume of an alluvium deposit.

Eluvial prospecting

Prospecting eluvials is, completely like alluviums. However, the prospecting methods can vary depending on the type of eluvial field & the objective goals, better said:

• Discovering a profitable eluvial deposit
• Search of a primary deposit, covered by eluvials (veinlets, stockwerk, mass, etc.)

Implementation methods

In a first case scenario, when simply locating an eluvial deposit, the prospecting is done according to same methods and principles of a classic alluvium (see methodology in detail).

When, in a second case scenario, you are trying to recognize a primary deposit, locating it will be done following these functions:

• recent distribution of eluvial tenures
• regularity of angular forms or outlines of the mineral grains (or peripheral minerals) 
• recent growth or growing angularity of rock fragments forming attle of the primary mineral.
• In its concentration

The discovery of a prime deposit signals the final point of eluvial prospecting. The found deposit will give way to another search phase, followed with different methods, relevant to the study of rock deposits (see part of “hammer prospecting” & also “prospector in small mining jobs”).

You must still keep in mind that when getting to a primary deposit it is a lot easier done with geochemistry and this search is commonly done with this method (see “geochemical prospecting” chapter).

Prospecting costal formations

First phase: “flying prospecting”

This work is done before a search, it’s very quick, cheap & very simple - manual & light - equipment is used, normally made up of “helix” type drillings.
Its objective is cover in the least amount of time the most amount of space to “guide” possible prospecting and be able to differentiate in a sandy mineralized context richer areas that must be further studied in a second phase.

Not being tubed, it’s most unlikely that drillings will reach the bed-rock and they will general reach the drawdown level.
This isn’t too important, since it has generally been seen that in sandy surfaces the sand has suffered blowout reclassification which are then enriched with heavy minerals, at deeper levels.