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Arizona Gold Prospecting Guide

Prospecting for gold is an exciting activity to many people and there are numerous locations for such work in Arizona. The state features gold prospecting clubs as well as businesses offering gold prospecting tours and vacations. When prospecting, keep Arizona's abundant wildlife in mind to avoid painful bites and stings.

Geography
- Apache County, or the Painted Desert, features microscopic particles of gold disseminated throughout the residual clays. Other areas known for gold in Arizona include Cochise County, the third largest gold prospecting county in Arizona, Santa Cruz County, Pinal County and the Dos Cabezas district.
Function
- Book a gold prospecting adventure through Arizona companies which offer gold prospecting vacations, lessons and tours. The Arizona Association of Gold Prospectors (AAGP) offers membership advantages and discounts including personal access to mining claims around the state and discounts offered by vendor members.
Considerations
- Depending on who you book with gold prospecting trips and lessons can range in price from about $200 for a day lesson to $1,899 per couple for a five-day, four-night trip (as of 2010), which includes training and equipment use.
Warning
- While excessive rainfall helps uncover gold, some gold prospecting business do not promise you will find any gold during your trip or lesson, rather they show you where and how to look.

Rocks & Minerals