Gold Prospectors share skills at monthly meetings

Lincoln's gold mining tradition, dating to the gold mining boom of the 1860's that led to the establishment of the town, continues today as the Blackfoot River Chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association of America share their knowledge and experience.

About 34 club members took part in a search for gold during their monthly meeting Saturday, Sept. 19.

The members met up for their meeting at the club's claim on Poorman Creek, where they spent the day processing material from the claim.

Bob Rosteck of Great Falls, former club president, said they propsect during their meetings from April to October, and they welcome newcomers, and had a few new members at their September meeting.

"I get calls from all over the United States; people who are going to come to Montana and they want to do some digging. We help anybody. If they're new at it and don't know what to do, we give them a hand, get them going," he said. "We don't show them our secret spots, of course."

The club owns two placer claims that cover a mile-long stretch of Poorman Creek. The one they were working Saturday was the Lia Claim, named for Lia Reiling the clubs lifetime treasure. Reiling's late husband William, who passed away in March, donated the claim to the club for their use.

Rosteck, who used an in-stream sluice he built himself, washed material dug from the hillsides above the creek by two partners. He said it's a common misperception that prospectors only find gold in creeks. Although they can, they often use the creek water to sluice or pan out material they've excavated elsewhere on a claim.

As Rosteck shook dirt out of his small shovel, water washed away the lighter dirt and soils, while heavy material like gold dropped out right away and got caught in the sluice grate. His sluice included a section of carpet under the grate that helps trap material. Once they finish for the day Rosteck and his partners collect everything trapped by the sluice and divide it up so they can pan it out later to separate the gold from any other material or sand they collected.

Rosteck said he just keeps the gold he finds in a safe deposit box. "My kids tell me I should sell it and go do something I'd like to do. This is what I like to do," he said, adding his kids can have it when he's gone.

The Blackfoot River Chapter of the GPAA is planning to hold their next meeting Oct. 10. Since st; ther last meeting of the year, they plan to meet at a local restaurant, but hadn't settled on a location at the time of their September meeting.

Folks interested in getting into gold panning can go to the Blackfoot River Chapter of the GPAA website to join, Rosteck said. There's also contact information in the Gold Prospectors magazine and on their website, but another former president, Ed Klein, is still listed there. Rosteck said either he or Klein can help someone get started.