Gold fever has done its rounds, that’s for sure. Man, since his inception, has been enamoured with gold, take Midas or Achan for examples. And, it is no surprise, really… Gold is beautiful to hold and touch; to look at, to admire. Gold can bring wealth and happiness. Gold fever, a satirical illness said to afflict those who pursue gold day and night, may not be such a bad thing after all, for there is much benefit to be found in gold. If you have found this page, you have likely already contracted a case of the gold fever – so we needn’t convince you to.
Rather, this page will tell you how you can go out and find gold. There are many ways for the budding adventurer to find his fortune, and this page will tell you a few of those. Patience is key, however, you must have patience.
Some spend their entire lives in the pursuit of wealth, only to find that they had it in their family and friends all along. Material wealth is not everything, and while it can improve one’s life significantly it should not consume you. Please remember that.
Here is how you can find gold.
Finding Gold in North America
Gold has been found throughout North America for millennia and was a huge industry in years past. And, while large-scale North American gold mining still continues, small-time miners can also find their fortunes across North America with a pan and some gold detectors; amateur gold mining and panning are not dead just yet. Gold hunting is not just exclusive to North America, either. In Great Britain, a hobbyist gold-panner found a £50,000 gold nugget, ‘The Douglas Nugget’, only a few years ago. Anywhere you can find naturally occurring gold, you’re bound to find gold hunters.
Where Can I Find Gold?
There are a few ways you can hunt for gold; gold panning, gold mining, and ground detecting. Gold panning is one of the most popular methods, with ground detecting following closely behind. Gold mining is largely industrial and is not something performed by hobbyists.
For gold panning, rivers and creeks are the best places to search; flecks and small nuggets of gold wash into waterways after being exposed from mining, earthquakes, or ground erosion. Once washed downstream, because of the weight of the gold, only strong currents of water can carry them. When the current weakens, the gold settles and sinks into the mud. This is why it is best to search on bends in rivers.
When out detecting gold, you can search virtually anywhere. It is much easier to find jewellery and coins than it is nuggets, however. With that said, if you have a very powerful detector, you can still find nuggets of any size. Here are a few things to take into consideration when searching for gold with a detector:
- Your detectors frequency;
- The conductivity of the hidden gold and metal;
- The ground or soil you are working on;
- The size of the object you have found;
- The depth of the object.
Getting Started
However, before you get your boots on and head outside, there are a few things to consider with regard to gold detecting. Firstly, you should consult and ask permission from the landowner before you begin panning or detecting; rivers at the bottom of a farmer’s estate are still part of their property, so you can only remove or search for gold with their approval or express permission. They may also be entitled to a share of any profits made from your search. If you do not, you can be arrested and jailed. There are also environmental factors to consider; rivers throughout North America are home to diverse and unique ecosystems and areas of scientific conservation or concern. Because of this, you must check if the river has any special scientific or environmental concessions, even when there aren’t any signs or notifications posted. You do not want to disturb wildlife, for this can yield hefty fines.
Have Fun
It is important that when you are out hunting for gold, that you have fun. Searching for gold can become very addictive, and it is here that the trouble starts. Many forget that gold hunting is a hobby, and they allow it to consume their lives. Hunt for gold moderately and enjoy yourself. With hobbies of this nature, it is often the time spent outdoors that should be enjoyed, rather than the hunt for gold. Do not become disheartened if you do not find anything.
With the help of this page, you now know how you can get started gold hunting and develop a ‘gold fever’. Gold hunting is a lot of fun when one considers it a hobby rather than a job. Happy hunting, folks!
