 “FootPrints” Gold Prospecting & Map
Making Software * I was able to review three separate Footprints DVDs: The Little San Domingo FootPrint; Vulture West FootPrint;
and the Black Canyon City FootPrint. I asked two professional Arizona gold prospectors – who have staked and currently
own Arizona gold claims, to assist me in this review. I also invited a gold prospecting “Greenhorn” to give me
his thoughts. * What is “Footprints?” * This is a detailed DVD that
puts almost two-dozen important and meaningful tools into the hands of the individual prospector. For instance, the “Little
San Domingo FootPrint,” is a 35-square-mile, high resolution “Orthos” map of one of the richest placer gold
areas in Arizona. Ortho
photography, or “Orthos”, is a type of high resolution aerial photography which has been digitally manipulated
so that its dimensions represent true dimensions on the earth’s surface. All of these FootPrints DVDs, feature an incredible
9” resolution. When you consider the extreme cost of Orthos mapping, from $18,000 - $20,000 per 10-square mile block,
this software would be a bargain if it just stopped there. But these software programs are much more than just a great map. * The Little San Domingo FootPrint, covers an area just 35-miles northwest of Phoenix,
Arizona. This DVD shows the location and outline of all known gold claims in the district and, you can pull up actual copies
of the claim documents and maps filed with the County and BLM. The claims are mapped to their actual boundaries, based on
original county filings. You will not find this map layer anywhere else. It provides layers of mapping including land ownership;
Private; Federal; State; Forest Service, township, range and section. To the new and seasoned gold prospector alike, this is a powerful tool. It allows you, at a glance, to see areas
that have already been claimed – and more importantly, land that has not been claimed. The software then allows you
to move in for a very close look at that open land, and gives you more than a dozen more tools to help evaluate your possible
new claim - without ever leaving your computer chair. * The two professional gold prospectors both commented on the dexterity of this software, and its ability
to perform a number of difficult and complex jobs. One tool they were both drawn to immediately was the “Hydrology Tool.”
Each FootPrint provides a data set showing streams, rivers, washes and drainage basins. Water flow and wetness map layers
are also included to help visualize water movement. This tool allows you to chart natural water flow and movement through the areas you
are interested in, giving you hard clues to where placer gold may be located – and cutting down your testing time by
showing you where to look before ever stepping foot on the claim. I watched as the two prospectors combined tools and map
layers, then compared notes and tried even more combinations. * They used several tools, including the FootPrints “Geology” layer which indicates basic
rock types and age. They also liked the shaded elevation maps, and USGS topo maps, which along with high resolution imagery,
helped them to understand the terrain and how to get into it. As I watched these skilled gold miners work their new found
tool, I wondered how my Greenhorn would fare. One of the things I like the most about this software is its stability. It will run on just about any
computer, old or new. One of the things I did not like, was the load time (2.5Gb), almost 14-minutes on my 2007 XP Dell Inspiron
Notebook. A problem I quickly forgot about after opening the program. * To test the GPS mapping tools included in FootPrints, we drove out to a spot in the Little San Domingo,
chosen by my two professionals using the FootPrints DVD. We took GPS waypoints in several locations, simulating gold claim
boundaries, test areas and gold nugget finds. We were able to take those readings and successfully add them to our custom
FootPrints map, then print out a full color, high resolution map copy. We were all very impressed with the results. After explaining the basics of the
software and how to use it, I turned the Greenhorn (a 50-something business owner from the East Coast who was in town for
a gold prospecting vacation) loose with it. I was surprised at how quickly he seemed to understand what he was looking at.
He really got excited after finding an area that looked promising to him, and seeing it was not yet claimed. * I cannot really explain the functionality of the FootPrint DVDs fully in this short
review. These DVDs can be used in many different ways, with multi-tiered combinations of information and images. We all agreed
that this software is far superior to any other single research or mapping resource available to the individual gold prospector
in Arizona – period. I look forward to future FootPrints of Rich Hill, and Greaterville. Check out: http://www.minerdiggins.com/footprints.html
 “The
Arizona Gold Adventures Gold Prospecting School at Rich Hill, strongly suggests our beginner and intermediate gold prospectors read ‘Fists full of Gold,’ by Chris Ralph. Chris has written the perfect textbook for anyone interested
in gold prospecting and placer gold mining. The
book is easy to understand, and fully
illustrated.” – Terry Soloman, COO – Arizona Gold Adventures.com
“Fists Full of Gold” – By Chris Ralph
- Cover Price $29.95 ISBN: 978-0-9842692-0-4
Goldstone Publishing; 362-pages
Some of the information contained in the book includes:
How to use a gold pan, including crevicing, mossing and sniping for gold
How to get the best recovery out of your sluice box or highbanker
How to use a suction dredge to find
and recover paystreaks
How to operate a dry washer for gold
An extensive
section on metal detecting, perhaps the best on the market
Building your own equipment: including building your
own:
Portable sluice box
Lightweight suction dredge
Desert dry washer
How to get the most out of your black sands
How to get the best
prices for your gold, specimens and nuggets
Full coverage of the geology of gold and silver mineral deposits
How
to do research to find your own rich concentrations of gold:
Using and understanding topographic
maps, aerial photos and GPS
Where to find little known sources of information on gold deposits
How to use geology maps to find gold
Mining law and how to stake and
maintain your own claim
Platinum placers and deposits – How to prospect for them
Diamonds in placers –
How to recognize them
Plus hundreds of photos, diagrams and illustrations Get your copy now with FREE SHIPPING- just $29.95
Make your check out to, Arizona
Gold Adventures Inc, and mail to: Arizona Gold Adventures Inc 260 Church St. Suite 3-B-1 White Plains, NY 10603
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Terry wants to review your gold prospecting art, book, DVD
and equipment!
 “The
Conclusion of the Original Peralta Stone Maps: The King’s Royal Treasure.” Author- Mark Clayton; ISBN 978-1-4251-8613-5; Trafford
Publishing; 73-pages; 9”x 11” paperback; Full color photographs & illustrations. $24.95 * Mark Clayton, takes us on a wild and sometimes confusing
ride through the lore surrounding “The Peralta Stone Maps,” found in Arizona by a retired Oregon Highway Patrolman
in 1949. Clayton’s book focuses on his search, and if you believe him – the discovery of “the King’s
Fifth,” which was 20-percent of all the treasure found or collected in Arizona, by the Conquistadors and the Peralta
Family. * I am very familiar with the Superstition Mountains, having hiked and camped there with my Father growing
up, in the Boy Scouts, and later as a private guide. Because I know these areas intimately I found the old maps, illustrations
and photographs in this book fascinating. The author is a Canadian, mesmerized by Arizona and the Superstition Mountains.
He takes us through his personal journey of discovery, starting in 1997. Clayton
and his friend flew to Phoenix for a vacation in October, 1997. While there, they met the owner of a gold prospecting shop
in Tempe, Dave Ramirez. It was Ramirez that told Clayton about Apache Junction, the Superstition Mountains, and the Peralta
Trails. Within a week, Mark and his friend Lori were hooked on the lore - and lure - of the Peralta Maps! * In
the book, Clayton chronicles his research, and lays out his theory about the location of what could be one of the largest
treasure hoards ever discovered. The problem with this book - for folks that are not familiar with the Peralta Maps and their
history, is that Clayton’s ideas and theories are based on endless references to other books and research - done by
others. If you have never read these books or papers, you could be left scratching your head while looking at one of Clayton’s
photographs of a Spanish trail marker, or monument! * I recommend this
book just for the topo maps, historical maps; illustrations and photographs alone! If you are interested in Adolf Ruth; the
Peralta family; Spanish Treasure in Arizona; or just hiking the mysterious Superstition Mountains, this book may be for you!
Order it online at: http://www.trafford.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000134870 
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