For someone who wants to visit Alaska and look for gold, the basic tools haven't changed much since the legendary Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s. Prospectors now use a few modern inventions; metal detectors, for instance. Because of advances in science, we know more about how gold forms and where to look for it, but the basic pans, shovels and hammers remain largely the same.
Books
According to Geology.com, the most important piece of equipment may be a good book or two on gold. Alaska is much better explored than it was in the Klondike period. We know moreabout the land and its geography and more is known about the geologic processes that go into creating gold. Alaska is a big place. Looking in the right spot will definitely help with prospecting.
Pans
Modern gold pans might be slightly different in design, and a little more durable than the originals, but the concept is the same. Prospectors use the pans to sift gold out of sediment.They are the basic piece of equipment for gold prospecting. Newer pans -- called V pans -- have a removable bottom cap to allow water to run out. The basic principle behind panning is that gold, which is dense and heavy, will sink to the bottom. Some feel the V pans better suited to the purpose than the traditional shallow, flat pans.
Sluice Boxes
Modern sluice boxes are made of aluminum sheeting or plastic composites. Prospectors use a sluice box after they have found some amount of gold. It is a trough lined with raised obstructions meant to catch heavier materials as water flows through it. At the end of the day, searchers take the box apart and pan the materials caught at the bottom.
Metal Detectors
Some modern prospectors use a VLF (very low frequency) metal detector. This detector emits radio waves which flow into and out of the ground. A second, receiving, coil picks up and amplifies the radio waves interactions with metal objects in the ground. Specialized metal detectors come tuned to be highly sensitive to the particular signal returned by gold.
Standard Tools
In addition to these specialized tools, some standard tools are staples of Alaskan prospecting. These include shovels, rock hammers, thick gloves and boots for working in cold water. Optimists carry small glass bottles for holding gold dust and smaller pieces of gold.
Tags: gold Alaska, metal detectors, piece equipment, radio waves
