Where to look for gold
Gravel bars usually found on the inside of the river bends. Although the gold here is mostly small
flakes to very fine, there sometimes is a lot of it.
flakes to very fine, there sometimes is a lot of it.
Where the stream levels out after a steeper part such as downstream of rapids or waterfalls.
Newly formed gravel bars.
Newly formed gravel bars.
Small streaks of gravel laying on the bed rock but you will need some sort of sucker to retrieve it if
it is underwater.
it is underwater.
Down stream sides of large boulders and other obstacles which because of size or other factors
appear to have been there for a long time.
appear to have been there for a long time.
Pot holes in the bed rock
Cracks in the bed rock. In popular prospecting areas, the large, obvious cracks have most likely
been cleaned out many times. Look for lines of moss running along the bed rock. There is almost
always a small crack under the moss and these cracks can contain a surprising amount of gold.
been cleaned out many times. Look for lines of moss running along the bed rock. There is almost
always a small crack under the moss and these cracks can contain a surprising amount of gold.
Moss and grass roots near the river.
The high benches. As a stream cuts deeper into a canyon, it can leave patches of gravel high on the
canyon wall. These are called benches. Look for round or rounded rocks well above the present
high water level. Round or rounded rocks have lived in a river at some time in their lives.
canyon wall. These are called benches. Look for round or rounded rocks well above the present
high water level. Round or rounded rocks have lived in a river at some time in their lives.
PANNING FOR GOLD: Any kind of flat pan will do, but
the best is the pan you can buy at local prospecting shops.
the best is the pan you can buy at local prospecting shops.
-Fill the pan with sand and small gravel.
-Fill with water and mix thoroughly.
-Rotate the pan in a fast circular motion to settle the
gold. (tapping while doing this helps settle the gold)
-While keeping the pan level and continuing the
circular motion, slightly tip the pan to get the lighter
material to the top. (keep the material covered with water)
-Take your thumb and scrape the lighter and larger
pieces out of the pan.
-Repeat the process over and over until only a small
part of the pan is covered with concentrate.
-Leave just enough water to feather the tailings as
you lightly swirl the material.
-The heavier material (gold) will be at the tail of the
feather.
-Now break out the syphon bottle and get your gold
-Fill with water and mix thoroughly.
-Rotate the pan in a fast circular motion to settle the
gold. (tapping while doing this helps settle the gold)
-While keeping the pan level and continuing the
circular motion, slightly tip the pan to get the lighter
material to the top. (keep the material covered with water)
-Take your thumb and scrape the lighter and larger
pieces out of the pan.
-Repeat the process over and over until only a small
part of the pan is covered with concentrate.
-Leave just enough water to feather the tailings as
you lightly swirl the material.
-The heavier material (gold) will be at the tail of the
feather.
-Now break out the syphon bottle and get your gold
How Miners Weigh Their Gold
Weights and Measures
24 grains = 1 pennyweight (abbreviated dwt)
20 pennyweights = 1 troy ounce
480 grains = 1 troy ounce
12 troy ounces = 1 troy pound (Please notify me where you are digging if you need to know this)
24 grains = 1 pennyweight (abbreviated dwt)
20 pennyweights = 1 troy ounce
480 grains = 1 troy ounce
12 troy ounces = 1 troy pound (Please notify me where you are digging if you need to know this)
1 troy ounce = 31.104 grams
1 pennyweight = 1.552 grams
1 grain = 64.8 milligrams
1 gram = .543 pennyweights
1 pennyweight = 1.552 grams
1 grain = 64.8 milligrams
1 gram = .543 pennyweights
24 Karat=100% Pure Gold
18 Karat=75% Pure Gold
14 Karat=58% Pure Gold
10 Karat=42% Pure Gold
Photos from http://www.dnai.com/~wfw/
18 Karat=75% Pure Gold
14 Karat=58% Pure Gold
10 Karat=42% Pure Gold
What other mineral can stir the imagination and get the adrenaline flowing
through our bodies, just the mention of GOLD seems to do this. It is one of
the most sought after of minerals, it is heavier and more malleable then other minerals, and mica, chalcopyrite, and pyrite are sometimes mistaken for gold. GOLD brings images of riches to our minds because it is scattered over most of the world. You would think that because of this it would be easy to find, it is not, and it is even harder to gather into large quantities. Even with this if you travel to one of the areas that has gold you will find gold in its natural state and have a lot of fun finding it. But remember this, it is not always easy finding it in large quantities and it will take a little work to get it. The days of finding large nuggets just laying on the surface are gone, but it still happens on occasion
through our bodies, just the mention of GOLD seems to do this. It is one of
the most sought after of minerals, it is heavier and more malleable then other minerals, and mica, chalcopyrite, and pyrite are sometimes mistaken for gold. GOLD brings images of riches to our minds because it is scattered over most of the world. You would think that because of this it would be easy to find, it is not, and it is even harder to gather into large quantities. Even with this if you travel to one of the areas that has gold you will find gold in its natural state and have a lot of fun finding it. But remember this, it is not always easy finding it in large quantities and it will take a little work to get it. The days of finding large nuggets just laying on the surface are gone, but it still happens on occasion
.
| The equipment needed to go gold hunting is wide and varied, from simple and cheap to complex and expensive. The simplest and the most important method is the gold pan. This piece of equipment and its use is the most important. No matter how complicated a system you set up the gold pan will always be needed. For this reason you need to practice with the gold pan till you feel confident in its use before heading to the gold fields. Most stores that sell the gold pans also sell sample bags that are a mixture of dirt, gravel and gold, get these and practice extracting the gold. Another method is using plain old buck-shot. I personally like the sample bags because it starts getting you used to what gold looks like in its natural state. But no matter which way you do it, practice a little before going out hunting for gold. |
| Here is a list of things that you can have. What you use is your choice, but where you go will also dictate what you can use. Gold Pan Sluice Rocker Box Dredge (from a backpack 2 incher to 5 incher) High Banker Dry Washer (hand crank, electric, or gas driven) Wet Washer (for desert use using a pump and sluice, usually home built) Vac Pac Spiral Wheels Metal Detectors Hammers (from a simple pick hammer to sledge hammers) Pry Bars (from a small 6 inch all the way to 6 footers) Shovels Screens (various sizes) Syphon bottles Tweezers Gloves Dust masks (Usually for use with a dry washer) Knee pads (May sound funny but those knees get sore after a while) This list is simple but I will add to it as time goes on. |
Photos from http://www.dnai.com/~wfw/
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