Searching for gold can be a lucrative hobby.
In times of economic uncertainty, investors purchase gold as a hedge against fluctuating stock, commodity and currency markets. In December 2010, an ounce of gold was selling for upwards of $1,400 per ounce, with no end of the upward trend in sight. With a little research, patience and free time, you can prospect for gold in a location near you. If Lady Luck is on your side, perhaps you will hit the mother lode, a large deposit of solid gold, and retire as a millionaire.
Geological Research
Before embarking on prospecting for gold, research the geological formations in your area. Gold has been found in every U.S. state, and many formations have been documented for hundreds of years. Due to the unique geological pressures necessary to create gold, where gold was found in the past is a key to where you will find it in the present.
Visit you library, look at USGS topographical maps and identify areas where prospectors have struck gold in years past. Look for rivers and streams leading downhill from areas where gold was found. Purchase the most detailed topographical maps ideally with GPS coordinates to ensure that you are in the optimal place for gold prospecting.
Get an expert edge by talking with a geology professor at a nearby university. You can also join a god prospector's club to share tips and tricks of the trade. Your best bet at finding gold is knowledge, so be creative in seeking out information from other sources besides books and maps.
Gold is Heavy
According to GoldFeverProspecting.com, gold is 19 times as heavy as water, which means that gold will always sink to the lowest level. Keeping this statistic in mind is key to searching for gold. Think about how gold will run down a hillside or mountain and which places the gold will be trapped in the natural environment. For example, look for places that will slow the flow of gold down, such as the inside of a river bend, under large boulders, where a stream widens, cracks under moss and under patches of gravel.
Throw a branch or some rocks into a stream and watch how the current flows, where the current slows down and which obstacles trap items. This may give you some insight on where to start hunting for gold.
Use a Gold Detector
Gold detectors are small machines that detect gold and are attached to a pole. Using a gold detector, you can avoid the backache of stooping, panning and sluicing to find gold nuggets. You can also cover more territory in a small amount of time than using traditional methods.
With the popularity of prospecting, there are numerous gold detector manufacturers. Pick a detector designed specifically for finding gold -- not all other metals. Ask a dealer to let you test drive a few detectors before purchasing to find the most comfortable fit for you and the appropriate machine for the gold density in your prospecting area. Do not test the detector in a building. The materials and the walls will interfere with your readings. Instead, take the detector on a field trip and try finding gold with it before finalizing your purchase.
Tags: finding gold, gold will, areas where, gold detector, gold found
