The surging price of gold is attracting a whole new generation of prospectors. Sometimes you find some good gold, and sometimes you don’t, but its always an adventure and great to get out into the outdoors to enjoy what nature has to offer and breathe fresh air.
There are still some good nuggets being found in the same areas that yielded gold to the old-timers, partly because we have new technology and equipment that just wasn’t available a century ago. Prospecting is not always easy, but is certainly does give you an appreciation for the hardships and remoteness of the country tamed by the early pioneers. With some sincere effort, you can learn what you need to know and soon be out there digging some gold for yourself.

For those of you who have never prospected before, and have never actually found any gold of your own, start out small by purchasing a gold pan, some basic digging tools and maybe a bucket or two. Start slow – let your equipment inventory grow with your experience. Learn some of the basic skills and prospecting techniques before you pour a lot of money into your efforts. If you have friends involved in prospecting, ask what they recommend and take a look at the equipment they use. Once you have the confidence that you can succeed in finding gold, consider purchasing equipment like a high-banker, and you can eventually move up to a metal detector or other equipment. The experience you gain in how and where to find gold will help you later when you decide to buy that expensive equipment.
If you have a true case of gold fever you’ll be genuinely thrilled by those first few colors in your pan that you found yourself through your own skills. Learning the skills needed to find larger quantities will come in time and the investment necessary to purchase more expensive equipment mat become justified.
Learning how to prospect is crucial to your success. There are a number of possibilities. Again, if you have a very experienced friend who is willing to take you under his wing you should take advantage of the opportunity. If that’s not a possibility, books and other publications are a great source of information. Read them carefully – you can learn a lot from books, although some books are more worthwhile than others!
