The Weekend Gold Prospector and Recreational Gold Prospecting

Weekend gold prospector Hobbyist

Gold prospecting as a hobby or as a weekend gold prospector is gaining popularity. More and more and now that the gold prices are going up to record highs, and as the dollar loses its value in today’s economy will get stronger in its popularity as many more Americans are looking for a way to make money.

Not too long ago gold prospecting was all about a pan and a shovel and a lot of backbreaking work. But with today’s technology, the development of lightweight sluice boxes and hand pumps have made the process of gravel retrieval not only easier but a lot more efficient, which allows greater quantity of
concentrate gravels to be tested and processed to get a better understanding of how much gold is in the area your gold prospecting. This will help tell you, if you’re wasting your time or look for a different spot.

Weekend gold prospector nowadays

The general ways and history behind gold prospecting has never really changed. First, you need to locate the gold. Sometimes, unfortunately, that part is never as easy as it sounds. Go out to any River, Creek and try to get some gold, but unless you know where to look and what to look for it may take a while before you find any color in your gold pan. When traditionally locating a gold load to mine a good understanding of the geology of the area you plan to gold prospect is always going to aid you in your search for gold when you start to pan a spot in the river gravels, you will get a good idea of the gold concentrates in the general area and help you move closer to higher gold concentrates that can be cleaned with a shaker table.

There has always been a longtime issue with a weekend gold prospector finding gold placers from an ancient river bed or old stream channels where the water once flowed and no longer does leaving gold in places where you would never think it would be without knowing what to look for, and the tools needed to help you find gold. There are a number of new technologies to help find gold. For example, a motorized dry washer that processes Sands and gravels into concentrates that are stored in a 5 gallon bucket that a weekend gold prospector can pan later when you have water available, it is becoming a more popular choice, especially in the deserts.

Weekend gold prospector prospecting with a metal detector

Hunting gold locatable with a metal detector is another weekend gold prospector method used to find gold, sometimes called nugget hunting, a good metal detector can find small nuggets and micro-nuggets. The findings of micro-nuggets is a good indicator that you are working in an ancient stream bed “dead river” that can be a good spot to set up your dry washer or you can use it to find a single nugget. There are already a lot of metal detector hobbyists that go treasure hunting.

There are still areas where a weekend gold prospector can find gold, and for hunting treasure if there is a discovery of any value in gold minerals and gold treasure a claim can be made. These areas are mainly in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Many of the places are run by the Bureau of land management (BLM) of the United States and by the national forest administer the BLM state office will be able to show you lands that are closed to mineral mining laws.

A weekend gold prospector can still have some degree of success in their gold findings if they carefully study mining records and geology of the mining districts before doing any serious prospecting, you will need the funds to do a possibly long and tedious run of preliminary work and venture he must be paired for physical hardships and the tough equipment that will be able to travel some of the most roughest steepest roads be prepared for disappointments, even if gold is not found, it will be a life’s venture and challenge to tell the grand kids.

Here is some weekend gold prospector information on the states above that gold has been found in and a little history.

 

Alaska  gold was found in Alaska as early as 1848 in Kenai River gravels by a Russian mining engineer. After the United States purchased the territory gold was discovered south-east of Juneau around Winningham and Sumdum Bays subsequent gold rushes to Anchorage, Fairbanks and Brooks Range and Nome produce tremendous amounts of wealth. To this day prospectors are exploring the vast frozen North in search of the elusive yellow metal gold. Much of Alaska remains a vast untamed wilderness, a wildness, many experts say that still contains unbelievable amounts of gold, it would in fact be difficult not to find gold in the rushing rivers, sandy beaches and gravel bars in this land of the midnight sun.

Alaska placer gold may be found in these regions Copper River, Cook Inlet, Susitna River, Bristol Bay, Kenai peninsula, Kodiak, Kuskokwim, Northwestern Alaska, Seaward Peninsula, southeastern Alaska and Yukon River regions gold occurrences in Alaska are too numerous to list fully the recreational weekend gold prospector is allowed on all state-owned lands and rivers not currently under mineral claims for additional information, contact the Alaska Dept. of natural resources. Some of the most commonly found minerals and precious metals in Alaska and the Yukon are: Wolframite, scheelite, cassiterite, magnetite, magnesium, copper, malachite, arsenic, antimony, stibnite, gold, silver, platinum, zinc, nickel, galena, and mineralized quartz. The quartz has the possibility of being loaded with an unidentifiable mineral.

Gold Arizona

 Prospecting Arizona – Arizona’s placer mining industry began in 1774, with the discovery of gold, along the flanks of the Quijotoa Mountains in Pima County. The California gold rush. Beginning in 1849 siphoned off many of the Arizona’s miners placers were found in the 1850s in the Bagdad area and in the Chemuehuevis Mountains of Mohave County. Arizona prospecting began its own gold rush  in earnest in 1858, following discoveries at the North and of the Gila Mountains and the famous placers at La Paz, and at rich Hill and Lynx Creek in the 1860s. Arizona still provides the weekend gold prospector excellent prospecting opportunities that’ll ejecting especially in the quartzite area remains popular, as does dry washing, panning and sluicing in the Bradshaw Mountains in those rare instances when sufficient water is available gold dredging can be quite productive.

All gold prospecting Arizona hobbies it has been a big player in gold treasure hunting. For a weekend gold prospector it can be very rewarding common sense. However, concerning desert survival, including roads, heat, lack of water and poisonous snakes should not be taken lightly prospecting on Indian reservations, recreation areas and national parks and or monuments require prior permission from administrating agencies.

Gold Arkansas

 Arkansas apparently was among the places visited by Spanish explorers in the early 1940s, with at least one major gold mine reportedly est. right on top of what are now regarded as “the old Spanish diggings” but Arkansas holds one unique surprise that the Spaniards overlooked…diamonds. Nothing remotely resembling the “Hope diamond,” but real diamonds nonetheless. Arkansas’s main periods of gold related activity extended from the 1800s into the
1930s.

Both silver and gold have been recovered from the relatively low Ouachita Mountains, a belt of severely folded and faulted sedimentary rock of Paleozoic age that extended into Oklahoma gold here often is found in manganese stained quartz veins interspersed through intrusions and faults in layers of dolomite, shale, sandstone, quartzite, conglomerate and limestone gold and silver also is found chemically bound in “fool’s gold,” or pyrite, especially Southeast and Southwest of Hot Springs area.

Like many other areas in the South Eastern United States gold, especially placer gold is scattered over a wide area, making commercial mining impractical recreational prospectors. However, have an excellent chance of finding “color” in the pans of a weekend gold prospector.

Those parts of the Ouachita Mountains located in the Ouachita national Forest. Our public lands open to non-commercial rock hounding and recreational gold panning, check with the district ranger before any such activities placer gold was once notable in stream and bench gravels, about 12 miles Southwest of Hot Springs, be sure to obtain property owner’s permission before prospecting on private lands.

As in many Eastern and Midwestern states. Arkansas probably has some amounts of widely scattered gold, that would not support large-scale commercial mining operations such gold. However, it is perfect for the recreational weekend gold prospector also with increased attention. The state still could yield a sufficient “gold strike.”

Quartz crystals are quite widespread throughout the southern half of the Ouachita national Forest and hunting for them is a popular activity check with district ranger for specific local rules and regulations.

Gold California

 California gold was mentioned in writings as early as the 1500s. The first recorded discovery, however, wasn’t until 1780 in what would become the potholes mining district along the Colorado River. Other sporadic discoveries were made around San Diego and Los Angeles, but the California gold rush occurred after small chunks of gold were discovered in the tailrace of John Sutter’s sawmill on the American River east of Sacramento in 1848, somehow, without any formal communications network. The news “Gold in California!” Flashed around the world merely drawing untold thousands of eager minors from as far away as Asia, Australia and Europe.

California continues to yield significant amounts of gold to recreational weekend gold prospector. It would be difficult if not impossible to name all gold-bearing areas and waterways since many streams, rivers and creeks in and out of the California mother lode carries gold.

Colorado

 Colorado first major gold discovery was in 1859 on cherry Creek near its confluence with the South Platte River in Arapahoe County, Colorado gold production ranks right up there with the big boys of the gold treasure hunt with more than 40 million troy ounces! For many years mining was a main economic factor in the state. Colorado still provides excellent potential for the recreational weekend gold prospector significant placer deposits occur mainly in a mineralized belt. Beginning in central Boulder County and extending Southwest through Chaffee and Gunnison counties.

Gold Florida

 Florida’s relic and gold treasures has a very rich history with old forts and settlements, which makes a relic hunters dream destination, especially those with metal detectors and a good map of the old days. There are online sites that have maps of where civil wars were fought. There are many stories of treasure buried in Florida. The people who buried it may have died or forgotten where they put it, so it may still be there, and the ships that sunk off the Florida Keys that were loaded with gold and treasure could be a weekend gold prospector dream find.

Gold Idaho

 Idaho gold was first discovered along the Pend Oreille River in 1852 in 1862 rich placers were found in Clearwater County near the present-day town of Pierce placer deposits account for a significant portion of Idaho’s nearly 10,000,000 troy ounces of gold. Idaho remains a popular destination for scores of modern-day weekend gold prospector significant amounts of gold still are being found in many of the northern and central parts of this sparsely populated state. Some of Idaho’s more remote areas offer a neat combination of rugged scenic grandeur and the potential for rich gold pockets.

Montana

 gold was discovered in Montana streams as early as 1852, but it was not until 1863, when fabulously rich placer deposits were uncovered near Virginia City that the “Gold Rush” began in earnest placer gold found in abundance led to the discovery of rich load mines, but by 1975, only a few small-scale gold mines remained active. More than half of Montana’s current gold production is derived as a byproduct from large-scale copper mining operations. Some of this state’s richest placer deposits were found in Broadwater County on the eastern slopes of Elkhorn Mountains an area that also contains Montana’s largest load mines.

Nevada

 Nevada’s first recording gold discovery was in 1849, at the junction of gold canyon and the Carson River in Lyon County gold miners, along Western Nevada streams had a terrible time separating their gold from ATS blue clay, which turned out to contain silver worth many times more than the gold! Gold discoveries continued well into the 1930s. Although Nevada now ranks as the nation’s leading producer of gold with all the gold mines in Nevada. The majority is laboriously extracted from March low-grade ore deposits significant placers do exist in the state of Nevada and these provide excellent opportunities for the recreational weekend gold prospector.

New Mexico

 New Mexico’s first recording gold discovery was in 1828 in the Ortiz Mountains south of Santa Fe, an area still being actively mined today, historians, however, are certain that the Spaniards and Native Americans before them have been mining gold in the same area some three centuries before other Europeans arrived. Plenty of opportunities still exist in this state for the recreational weekend gold prospector in addition to gold. New Mexico is well-known for a wide variety of gems and minerals, so bring your metal detector and dry washer.

Oregon

 gold was discovered in Jackson and Josephine counties in 1852, and in diagonally opposite Baker County in 1861, gold mining, provided an important economic base, right up until World War II. The fact that aim miners pick is a prominent part of Oregon’s flag is only a tiny tribute to the almost 6,000,000 troy ounces of gold so far extracted from the state most Oregonians agree that “there are lots more where that came from!” The last 20 years have seen a renewed interest in Oregon’s gold. Today’s weekend gold prospectors are more likely to drive a 4 x 4 and carry a metal detector, then stumble along leading a Burro the states to richer school districts remain in opposite corners in the Southwest, (an area covering curry, Josephine, Western Jackson, southwestern Douglas and southern Coos counties) and in the Northeast (Baker, southern wallowa and union, Eastern grant and northern Malheur counties). Numerous small mining districts scattered across Oregon also will be discovered.

South Dakota

 gold was first discovered along French Creek in the Black Hills during general George Custer’s expedition in 1874. In spite of unbreakable treaties with the Sioux, a gold rush began almost immediately Homestake mining company in South Dakota remained America’s richest (more than 30 million troy ounces) until the recent development of immense low-grade deposits in Nevada threatened to out produce them. Nearly all of South Dakota’s gold-bearing deposits are concentrated in this one small southwestern geographical area (the Black Hills) lying almost entirely within the Black Hills national Forest just waiting for that weekend gold prospector.

Utah

 Utah was first reported gold discovery occurred up at Gold Hill in the deep Creek Mountains in 1858 serious mining, however, did not begin until 1864, after loads and placers were found in Bingham Canyon, near Salt Lake City. Deposits in this canyon are still being worked today. While generally not considered a major gold producing state. Utah does provide excellent opportunities for the weekend gold prospector gold in Utah’s placers in many cases tends to be both fine and difficult to recover modern processing methods. However, are proving highly effective in separating my new gold particles from black sand concentrates.

Washington

 gold was first discovered along the Yakima River in 1853, but mining activities didn’t begin in earnest until after rich gold strikes were made in the 1860s, along Peshastin Creek in Chelan County and Swauk Creek in kittitas County. Each summer, thousands of weekend gold prospector search Washington’s waterways, especially the Columbia and snake rivers for new gold deposited by spring runoff.

Wyoming

 gold apparently was discover along the old Oregon Trail in the headwaters of Wyoming’s Sweetwater River in 1842, more than 20 years past. However, before mining was begun in earnest. Due to the constant threat of Indian attacks small amounts of gold have been recovered every year since mining began in mid-1860s. Gold as well as platinum, palladium and silver are recovered as byproducts in the states large-scale copper mines at least some of Wyoming’s vast coal deposits also contains small amounts of gold. As in other Western states legends of fabulously rich, Once found then lost gold deposits (like the lost cabin mine) are an important part of Wyoming history, most of Wyoming’s placer gold is extremely fine, especially along the snake River and its tributaries,
be aware that thin seams of black manganese in granite, such as those south of Casper, often contain gold and silver watercourses draining areas with existing or historical load mines often show “gold color.”

A 1969. Report (by Houston) states, “Gold is not abundant, but deposits in Wyoming and Colorado contain as much as 1.3 ppm. In Wyoming, the younger deposits contain the higher gold contents.” Black sand is abundant due to titaniferous black sandstone deposits, especially in the Big Horn basin. The sands also contain small particles of chromate and Zircon. Gold grains averaging about 1 mm in diameter were observed in core samples taken during petroleum exploration from Mush Creek oilfield sandstone near mineral Hill.

Not all Wyoming placer deposits occur in the bottom of streams and cultures along the Wyoming and Colorado border, West of Baggs, an extensive player of aeriferous material (loose, light-colored sand and clay, studded with rounded pebbles and boulders) averaging 9 feet in thickness lies 10 to 150 feet above stream valleys on slopes and mesas.

The two most notable placer areas in Wyoming occur in the Douglas Creek area (Albany county, Southwest of Laramie) and in the South Pass/Atlantic City area. To learn more on what kind of gems, Lost treasure, Tools needed and where to go gold prospecting in all the states and some of Canada check out my other pages to see more. “Gold prospecting read more”

So if you want to be a gold prospector just do some reading on the area that you plan on going to and you’ll be a weekend gold prospector in no time.

Weekend Gold Hunting

Arizona gold prospecting

 

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Weekend Gold Prospecting Tools and Gold Prospectors Equipment

Getting into Weekend Gold Prospecting

A lot of individuals just getting into weekend gold prospecting don’t understand how to get started especially when gathering the various tools that they might need. So I’m going to get you thinking about mining equipment you may wish to take with you when searching for gold.

Weekend Gold Prospecting Tools

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