Places Where Gold is Found

Here are some tips and advice on locating places where gold is found. Though certain areas are more likely to hold gold than others, prospectors need to do more than just head to Colorado, California, or the Yukon. Even in the best gold producing areas, there are some places that gold is more likely to be found than others. Here are some things on places to look for on your next gold panning or sluicing trip.

Bends in Streams

Bends in a stream slow the water, making it a likely place for gold that is pushed along by the stream to be deposited. Gold is most often found along the inside of the river's bend, but gold may be found anywhere. In spring, water levels are often higher which may mean that gold is deposited in areas that are above the summer water level.

Cracks in Bedrock

Whenever bedrock is exposed, gold prospectors should look for gold to be located in the cracks. The weight of gold makes it fall to the bottom of streams or other soil movements, making it likely to accumulate in these cracks. Even if the cracks are above the water level, material will accumulate in the crack. A screwdriver or similar tool might be useful for picking the materials from these areas to see if some gold can be found.

Near Quartz

Gold is often found near quartz, or even attached to quartz. Though there is much more quartz in the world than gold, quartz can be a possible indicator of gold. Exposed quartz seams in the hillsides or other surfaces is a good indicator of a place to pan. Pick up some of the loose quartz and examine it for gold as well.

Hard to Reach Areas

On many popular gold prospecting streams, it seems that every rock has been overturned and every grain of sand panned. But people will naturally spend more of their time in easy to access areas, leaving much of the stream or other possible gold bearing material untouched. Prospectors should work to prospect areas that others may have missed due to water, briars, and other inconveniences.

Anywhere

Gold prospectors shouldn't spend so much time finding a likely place to find gold that they don't ever actually do any panning or sluicing. The skills needed to find gold can only be developed by actually doing it, and the experience of knowing places that work and do not work is more valuable than spending hours searching for the 'right' spot.