Gold Prospecting - Seven Items You Will Need For a Successful Hunt

Gold prospecting has to be one of the most interesting outdoor activities a person who enjoys a bit of hard work could ever take part in.

Those who know these things tell us that there is a great deal more gold in the ground than ever has been discovered. You just need to go out there and track it down.

Gold has been around for thousands of years. When you look around at people today wearing the gold watch, gold rings, and the gold coins stored away in collections you begin to realize just how much a part of our lives it has become. It is almost indestructible. The fact is that in all probability, the gold jewelry you are wearing has been manufactured from old jewelry or coins or recycled from any one of a thousand items that contains gold.

Back in the 1890 era gold was discovered in the Yukon territory in Canada. Millions of dollars worth of the yellow metal came out before the rush dies down, however, placer gold is still being mined there probably more than ever.

Placer gold is what is found by the prospector with the pan. Placer gold is gold that is found in the gravel of rivers and streams and is loose in the ground.
Auriferous deposits are where the gold is found in veins in the rock and must be mined out.
For now we will assume that you may be interested in prospecting for placer gold. There are certain items you will need to do and have.

• Prospector License. Anyone can get one for about $5.00 or so depending where you live. The Department of Mines generally is where you apply. Fill out the simple form and they will give you a license, booklet on where to prospect and where not to do so, and claim tags.
• Claims maps. If you go to the claims office you will be able to view any of the maps that they have on hand for their state or province. Almost every square inch of your district has been mapped. The maps show every mining claim that exists. Not every map is a topographical one so you may want to buy maps for the area you intend to prospect.
• GPS unit. These small units are incredible and easy to use. This is a very handy tool to take along, especially if you are in a heavily wooded area. Other than that you need a good compass.
• Small tools. Hammer, brush, shovel, surveyors tape, a few nails, axe.
• Gold pan. There are many different types so suffice to say that you need one to work with.
• Notebook with pens or pencils. You want to keep good notes while you move about the area.
• Pry bar. Again there are many different types available. You will use this to move stones and pry pieces out of the way.

Read your prospectors book of rules and become familiar with the ins and outs of prospecting before you go out to give it a try. You must be ready to be honest in your prospecting. Follow the rules rigidly as claims owners protect their claims to the final degree.
Good luck to you.

Joe and Irma MacMillan have spent many years backpacking, skiing, and simply enjoying life in the mountains of British Columbia. Their website http://whistler-outdoors.com is full of tips on snowboarding, camping, kayaking, rafting, camp cooking and fishing. They met on a blind date in 1957 and are still married. Take a look at their story here http://www.whistler-outdoors.com/about-us.html

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