Gold prospecting

[Legion]

Anybody into gold prospecting here?

The town I live in was an old gold rush town, and there are public lands near me where prospecting is allowed. The chances of much being left behind is slim, every square inch was worked to death up until about WW1, but I'm thinking I'll have a shot at it anyway.

I've also been binge watching the various versions of the Gold Rush TV show, since being put onto it by @Toothpick, and that is giving me motivation.


So I'm putting together my beginners prospecting kit. So far I have a Fisher Gold Bug detector, a small and large pan from Turbopan, A little shovel, a geologists pick...

Is there anything else I should add?

Any hints, tips or stories of your own adventures you would like to share?

 

[Toothpick]

I think Parker minded all of Australia. You’re out of luck bud.

 

[Legion]

I think Parker minded all of Australia. You’re out of luck bud.

Parker's after richer pickings than me and my little pan.

Although, I still daydream about finding a nugget that I have to hide because it is too big to carry home. Could happen...


This was found about half an hour from my house, many years ago

.

 

[Ad Astra]

Love it. Good luck!

Found a bit in Alaska, but it was a loaded tourist thing. Exciting anyways!

AA

 

[FarmerTan]

Parker's after richer pickings than me and my little pan.

Although, I still daydream about finding a nugget that I have to hide because it is too big to carry home. Could happen...


This was found about half an hour from my house, many years agoView attachment 1219889.

Looks like I've found my new retirement village!

 

[Jayboz]

I was talking to buddy of mine about prospecting after watching too many episodes of white water gold rush. He said his uncle would occasionally find small amounts detecting in the long winding piles of rocks/dirt that were removed from the mines. He called them something but cant remember what it was. Seems like a good place for rattlers to hang out though.

Unfortunately, the geographical area Im in isnt conducive to gold deposits. At least thats what google said. Good luck.

 

[Rhody]

Cool hobby keep us posted how you do

 

[Legion]

I was talking to buddy of mine about prospecting after watching too many episodes of white water gold rush. He said his uncle would occasionally find small amounts detecting in the long winding piles of rocks/dirt that were removed from the mines. He called them something but cant remember what it was. Seems like a good place for rattlers to hang out though.

Unfortunately, the geographical area Im in isnt conducive to gold deposits. At least thats what google said. Good luck.

The waste rocks and dirt are called tailings. In the old days the mining was not so efficient, so yes, with modern equipment you can still find a bit of gold in there. Where I live there was a big community of Chinese miners who went through the tailings left by the original miners, so I don’t think I have much chance with those.

 

[CurtisB81]

Buy up old cell phones / computers tech and you will have a lot of gold...
or

You Can Refine Platinum Out of Roadside Dirt

But not a whole lot, and getting it out takes a lot of work.

www.popularmechanics.com

 

[Doc4]

Where I live there was a big community of Chinese miners who went through the tailings left by the original miners, so I don’t think I have much chance with those.

In British Columbia there were several gold rushes back in the 1850s and onward, notably the Fraser River and then Barkerville (but there were others too.) The general impression is that the white guys got there first, and got all the big nuggets, and didn't bother with the little flakes; then the Chinese came in after and were patient enough to build their gold stash flake by flake by flake ... so if the tailings were worked by the Chinese as well, they were pretty much done.

I think nowadays guys can use modern high-tech equipment to still get a bit out of those old tailings, but that's more a question of running large volume through big machines ... not a prospector with a pan in the river.

When I was a kid my parents would take me to Barkerville in the summers and I'd get to pan for gold at their tourist shop.

You were "guaranteed" to find a bit of gold (unless you were clumsy and washed it out of the pan). They still have that nowadays but, with the price of gold the way it is, it's very expensive and the gold they give you is miniscule.

 

[Doc4]

Is there anything else I should add?

A sense of humour and/or perseverance. This isn't something you do to "make money by finding gold" ... it's something you do to have fun mucking about in the wilderness, being cold, wet, and dirty ... and loving every minute of it.

 

[Doc4]

Nahanni

This short film focuses on the legend of a lost gold mine and a river in the Northwest Territories that lured men to their doom. Albert Faille, an ...

www.nfb.ca

.

 

[Jakebullet]

There’s a great short story by Jack London called ‘All Gold Canyon’, I’d recommend it.

 

[FL shaver]

My kids and I camped in the North GA mountains a couple of Labor Day Weekends several years ago. I wasn't aware of the prospecting history there until I saw several people panning in the Etowah River behind our campsite in Elijay. A stretch of US 19 in that area is called Gold Digger's Road. Great place to get outside!

 

[Jakebullet]

There’s a great short story by Jack London called ‘All Gold Canyon’, I’d recommend it.

Actually I just saw there’s a film on Netflix made up of about 6 short films called ‘the ballad of buster Scruggs ’. The 4th short film is London’s all gold canyon. It’s good but the book is better.

 

[Legion]

Actually I just saw there’s a film on Netflix made up of about 6 short films called ‘the ballad of buster Scruggs ’. The 4th short film is London’s all gold canyon. It’s good but the book is better.

Oh yeah. With Tom Waits in it. I've seen that. I'll try to find the book.

 

[GeronimoWSB]

I got into GPAA awhile back, didn't do much because of life. Gold prospectors of America. Join and can camp on their property through the U.S and they have an Alaskan camp as well. Very worth it imo. The father also had the original gold show way way back called Gold Fever they continued. They founded the Outdoor channel as well. Haven't kept track of the newer stuff. I always liked the no bs real cheap and real life video they put out.its alot more informative and I believe better than the produced crap out now.

 

[ajkel64]

Did you try some Gold Prospecting this weekend David?

 

[Legion]

Did you try some Gold Prospecting this weekend David?

Nah, it’s my wedding anniversary, so I am busy doing family stuff. And next weekend is the kids second birthday...

Coming into autumn though, so ideal weather for getting outside.

 

[Billski]

Since a rock that big was found so near your house, you are hooked on this new hobby.