Some people talk about a self taught man, but when you meet one, you are blown away. For decades Steve Hicks of White Sulphur Springs has prospected in Montana using solar powered equipment. He has developed very useful techniques of integrating all aspects of bringing economically and creatively water to the gravel processing area while prospecting for gold in the field. He has worked out the kinks in his system over the years and shows how it works readily making it very impressive.

     He demonstrated how all of his pieces of equipment work in the field processing many buckets of gravel without noise, smell and expense of gasoline engines.

      Steve’s prized possession is the Denver Gold Saver which he says is the engineering marvel of the century. It cost 5-6 thousand dollars new and has tirelessly processed lots of gravel for him for decades. He explains the beauty of the machine is in the design of pulleys and a spiral encased in the big tank of the trommel. The spiral moves all material that is left from the first washing back up to the top thus completing an entire, thorough process of sorting the heavies from the non-essential.

With a variety of supportive motors, Steve has created a pump system that can bring up water from a 1000 ft below at a rate of 3 gallons per minute in order to wash your gravel in a sluice. Old motors from junkyards obtained from vehicles before engines started to use alternators work well. Bilge pumps along with piston ones provided water for a well worn wooden rocker to service the classifying and getting your gold nuggets.

     The trailer with special bolts embedded in the base formed the landing for the Gold Saver to be transported to the field where Steve uses his solar panel purchased 20 years ago to search for gold on his claim. He processes all his gravel on site without the smell of gasoline or the expense of fossil fuel energy.

     Imagine how much money was saved over 20 years of prospecting when only the sun was used to power the motors and there is no gasoline consumption. It is amazing.

      To know that this arrangement has served Steve well for so many years is heartening. You feel like the durability and longevity of success is fodder for sound prospecting judgment especially when it is powered by conserving the environment with the use of solar energy. It’s worked for him for a long time and is inspiring for others to try the same. Not all of us can own a Gold Saver Trommel, but we can hook up our own choices with a slick system like he has created. Steve Hicks’ prospecting style is well worth looking into.