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The Best Ways to Find Gold on Mountain Ridges

With gold prices as high as they are, prospecting for gold can be a lucrative hobby. Gold occurs in one of two forms: lode or placer. Lode gold occurs within sold rock and is retrieved via mining. Mining for lode gold requires specialized equipment and a large investment. Placer gold is loose gold that has gathered in streambeds or other crevices and can be easily recovered with a few inexpensive tools. Mountain ridges are ideal places to search for placer gold.

Research
- Before heading for the hills, it is best to do some research either on the Internet or at a local library to determine likely places to find gold. It helps to know some geographical history as well. For example, the Rocky Mountains have risen and been eroded away twice. Because gold is heavier than any other rocks, it will end up at the bottom of whatever area it is found in. Knowing where streambeds used to be or where mountain ridges have shifted over time can greatly increase the odds of finding gold.
Panning
- Panning is one of the most basic ways to discover gold. It involves the use of a gold pan, similar in shape to a bowl, and a shovel. Once a site has been located, the pan is filled approximately two-thirds full with dirt from the streambed. It helps to pick out any larger rocks or roots before adding the dirt to the pan. Next, submerge the pan in the water and begin breaking up the dirt to loosen any gold nuggets. Shaking the pan vigorously from side to side under water will help gravity pull the gold to the bottom and soil, debris and rocks to rise up and be swept out of the pan. If any gold is present in the sample, it will be at the bottom of the pan once all the other debris is removed.
Sluice Boxes
- Sluice boxes are lined with ridges and artificial channels through which gravel and water are passed. The ridges help trap pieces of gold and other heavy metals while the water washes away all lighter materials. Sluices can be made of almost any material, including wood, aluminum or plastic, and can be built to any size. Sluice boxes are easy to set up and use in any body of water. Using a sluice box allows a person to process a larger area more quickly than panning.
Metal Detection
- Metal detectors can also be used to prospect for gold, although they require more of an investment than any of the other methods discussed. Advances in technology have yielded detectors that are capable of detecting minute particles of gold. After using the metal detector to locate potential gold nuggets, use a shovel to dig it up.

Rock Collecting