Tomah Wisconsin GPAA Chapter – April 2016

Welcome

Welcome to the 2016 GOLD FEVER Newsletter.  Another year, another gold prospecting opportunity.  If you have not tried to find gold, you need to give it a try.  Let us know if you need help to get started, there are many people with experience that the help you.

 Do not forget the Newsletter and pictures can always be found at:

President’s Message

Next month on April 16 we will be having a metal detecting outing to an old gold mining area near Rudolph Wi.. I don't know what we will find but Professor Phil Oliver told me about this site and is interested in what relicts we could find. We need people with metal detectors and others to come and record what we find and were we find it. We will meet on Hwy ”C" approximately 1/2 mile west of Hwy 34. Rudolph is between Wisconsin Rapid and Junction City on Hwy34. I would like to meet at 11:00 AM on the road there will not be any meeting or lunch. There isn't anywhere to eat to my knowledge in Rudolph so pack your own lunch and drinks.

  Mays meeting will be back at the town of Lagrange town hall.

  Some of you know already that I had a detached retina, and had to have surgery I am currently on medical leave and don't know how long it will last. Even thou I am planning to go to Thermal City in July as of this time, if I have any setbacks or am out of work for any length of time I won't be able to afford to go.

  See you with my one good eye Mike

Upcoming Events

  April 2, 2016 - Wausau Club Meeting – Wittenberg Town Hall W17395 Cty Q. – at 11:00 am

April 16, 2016 - Metal detecting Hwy "C” town of Rudolph Wi old gold mine about 1/2 mile west of Hwy 34. State of Wisconsin DNR land north side of road. Meet on Hwy C by site around 10:00 AM.

April 30- May 1, 2016 - Heart of Wisconsin Geological Society Fossil, Gem, and Mineral show - Marshfield Senior High Fieldhouse 1401 Becker rd. Marshfield WI Saturday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Sunday 10:00 AM - 4:00PM

May 21, 2016 - Tomah Club Meeting at Town of LaGrange Town Hall – at 1:00 pm - Kurt Bublitz demonstrating melting gold

June 18, 2016 - Nugget Lake County Park Pierce County WI. 12:00 lunch and meeting at pavilion by lake. If you need reservations to camp call as soon as possible it is father’s day weekend. 715-639-5611

July 22-24, 2016 - Thermal City outing Thermal city NC. Group dig with the Wausau chapter. Send $50 to Barb Bublitz by May 2 if you plan to go. If you can't make it your money will be refunded to you.

August 19th-21, 2016 - Outing and swap fest with Wausau chapter at Snyder county park, Neillsville WI. This is our meeting day so we will join them at Snyder.

Sept 9-11, 2016 - Geode outing (Wausau Chapter) Jacob's Geide Shop and Mine in Hamilton, Illinois

Sept. 17, 2016 - Tomah Club Meeting at Town of LaGrange Town Hall – at 1:00 pm

Tomah Wisconsin GPAA Chapter Minutes March, 2016

Old Business:                                                                                                                                                              

The March meeting was held at the Town Hall at the Town of Lagrange, 22731 Flint Ave. on Route #21 west of Tomah Wisconsin on March 19^th.  20 members and guests attended the meeting.

Last month many of the club members went to the Minnesota Treasure Show.  They all had a great time and came home with lots of raffles.  Items including a Gold Cube, nice gold nugget, and misc. other items.  After the treasure show there was a President’s Meeting where the presidents of all the clubs in the Mississippi Valley (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa Dakotas, Ill, Indiana, Missouri, & Michigan), decide that they should start to work together and put together some other great meetings and shows.  We hope to hear more about this in the coming months.

Randy Mauritz was the speaker at the meeting.  He described and showed how the machines (Belt Sander & Gem Sanders) he has put together and the ease of use for working on gem stones.  His machines are used to Polish Stones.

New Business:

February’s meeting will be on the 3^rd Saturday of March the 19^th.   will be a metal detecting outing to an old gold mining area near Rudolph Wi..  Meet on Hwy ”C" approximately 1/2 mile west of Hwy 34. Rudolph is between Wisconsin Rapid and Junction City on Hwy34. I would like to meet at 11:00 AM on the road^..    No group lunch is planned, so please furnish your own lunch and drinks.  

 Stamps were donated by Ted Ehrhardt – thank you Ted.

For Sale:  Fisher 1220 Metal Detector – works with earphones.  Manual, bag, & new 9v battery included.  $150.00.  Also have gem pendants for sale ($8/$10).  Phone Mike Fait for more information at 715-384-9265

Raffles: 

Thank you to all that donated items for the Table Raffle – Rich Powel, Larry Bender, John Schwingle, Dave & Bev Bender, Diane & Bill North, Mike Fait, Merlin Meyer, and Ted Ehrhardt.  Thank you to all.  

50/50 raffle winner – Richard Wysocki

Gold raffle winners:   Mike Fait – nugget & Ted Ejrjardt -  gold bag

Gold Price on 3/30/16 was $1,224.30                Silver Price on 3/30/16 was $15.22

                                    Respectfully submitted by Diane North – Newsletter Editor

Officers – all officers were re-elected for 2016.

President – Michael Fait (mgfait@charter.net) 715-384-9265

Vice-President – Gary Morrison 715-316-2160

Secretary – Jeanne Morrison 715-316-2160

Newsletter Editor - Diane North (dbnorth@centurytel.net) 608-635-7031

Treasure – Gayle Fait (mgfait@charter.net) 715-384-9265

Outing Chairman – Richard Niemyjski (richnski@frontiernet.net) 608-637-3295

Claims Director – Richard Niemyjski (richnski@frontiernet.net) 608-637-3295

State Director – Mike Flint (mwink12@excite.com) 608-372-0694

Where Does One Start Metal Detecting – posted in FAQ’s – Metal Detecting & Prospecting.

Is there a right and wrong way to metal detect? - No, not necessarily.  I have often been out on a hunt with someone who has never even held a metal detector.  They flutter around this way and that digging every signal they hear.  Meantime I methodically hunt what I think should be hot spots, dodging the newbie as they zoom by, analyzing my targets before I dig.  Not 10 minutes into the hunt, the fledgling squeals out, “A silver coin!”  They make the best find of the day on their first day while I go home with a pouch of shredded beer can. There is a great deal of chance involved for sure.  But, by metal detecting a certain way, you can increase your efficiency in the field and raise your trash-to-treasure ratio immensely.

The Triangle of Treasure - Bear in mind that old farmsteads will be LOADED with iron junk.  It will be loaded with all types of junk.  Tin roof pieces, iron implement pieces, nuts, bolts and even the modern day aluminum cans dropped by area high schoolers who discover the 3-foot rock foundation of the smoke house makes for a great little bonfire pit.  The same reason old properties are the best to hunt is the same reason why they will have so much junk to tend with.  They have been in use for a LONG time.

Anywhere people have gathered over time is typically a good place to metal detect.  So, dealing with a little junk is not an issue.  It is only part of the equation.  You have to get rid of some of the junk to find the hidden treasure below.  This is a well-known fact.  Since we know this, it makes sense to focus our efforts in potential “hot spots” and then, once fully metal detected move out from there.

So, where are the hotspots on an old farmstead?  - Back in the day people were outside a lot more than we are today.  They had to go outside to get water.  They had to go outside to go potty.  They had to go outside to do nearly everything.  You just have to ask yourself, where was the traffic highest?  Where were people most likely to drop valuables?

The obvious places to metal detect are in and around old stone foundations.  These can be hard to find in tall grass and often all that remains above the surface are a couple rocks.  Wells are another area commonly visited throughout the day.  Metal detect around it thoroughly.  Finally the barn or shed, make sure to detect inside and out of this structure.  The less obvious place is the land in between all of these structures.  An old timer told me to draw an imaginary line from each of these three structures forming a triangle and to focus my metal detecting efforts there.  Since people were traveling between these structures frequently, there was more likely to be coins and other items dropped in this locale.  Also, if you can find the privy, you can draw a square and focus your efforts within it.

 Wisconsin Area Clubs

Greenbush Wisconsin GPAA Chapter – Greenbush Prospectors meet every second Saturday of the month at Salem United Methodist Church   120 Sheboygan St.    Fond Du Lac, wi. 54935 (change of time) 1:00 PM Meetings

Midstate Metal Detecting Club – meets every 3^rd Wednesday at 7:00 pm at Shooters Bar and Restaurant at the intersection of Hwy 39 and 54, next to the Shell Station.  Contact: Steve Miller 715-572-1845

Wausau Prospectors – meets the 1^st Saturday of the month at 11:00 am in the Wittenberg Town Hall - HWY 29 East of Wittenberg.  Take HWY 29 west – to exit HWY 45 south then left to stop sign, take Business 29 to the left for about one mile, the town hall is on the left side of the road..  Contact:  Kurt Bublitz 715-340-2831 or e-mail lizzy101@charter.net

Wisconsin Northwoods Adventures GPAA Chapter – holds their meetings on the 2^nd Saturday of every month at 11:00 am, at the Cameron Community Center, 512 W. Main Street, Cameron, WI. Contact Dave “Wire” Heinsohn (715) 353-2261  

MAY THERE BE GOLD IN EVERY PAN !!!!