Gold Prospecting Inventions

Ancient Tools

• The first inventions used for gold prospecting include the shovel, pick ax and pan filter. These traditional tools were used to slowly chip away at the earth to uncover the gold beneath. Pans were used in flowing water to accumulate small bits of gold coming down a mountain. Today, there are still some people who use these traditional tools in third world countries.

Suction Gold Dredge

• The suction gold dredge is an invention that has overtaken the filtering pan. This machine uses a vacuum attached to a hose to suck in large amounts of water from a flowing river and rapidly filter out any gold. Due to its environmental impacts, each state has regulations governing how large this hose can be. Most regulations are related to the diameter of the hose, and restrict it to four or five inches.

Metal Detector

• The metal detector is the favorite tool of many gold bugs who use this invention along the beach or flat surface. The metal detector sends a small electromagnetic current that loops back to the device when it hits a metal conductor. Users can find gold, silver, palladium or other precious metals. Metal detector users must be quite thorough and methodical to cover enough ground to make their search worthwhile.

Sluice Box

• The sluice box is an invention to help filter dirt and find the gold pieces within. A gold box can filter approximately one cubic yard per hour. Simply use a shovel to unearth dirt, carry it to the box and mix with running water to operate. Place a bucket underneath, and wait until gold starts dropping into it. Sluice boxes are also light and mobile, so a gold seeker can carry them to remote locations.