Gold Prospecting for Fun

With most of the gold mining done in the United States turning into a commercial concern, some of the age old techniques of looking for the precious metal are falling out of use. However, a new crop of gold miners are taking to the streams of former gold rush locations to try their hands at searching for the lustrous material. To meet this new type of weekend gold prospecting, many campgrounds and other locations have been opened to create a realistic experience for a person that is looking for a different type of vacation. While the majority of adventurers to these gold areas do not find enough gold to pay for their trip, the thrill of discovering a few nuggets of gold is often a large enough reward in itself. Contrary to popular belief, many of these opportunities are not located only in the western states. New prospectors have also started learning about gold mining in eastern areas, such as Tennessee and Georgia, where gold mining was more popular prior to the California Gold Rush of the late 1800s. Each of the gold areas will have their own rules about searching for the metal. Most will allow shovels and pans to be used, but some prohibit the use of sluice boxes and suction dredges. A person that would like to do some gold prospecting will need to inquire with their local agencies to find out the particular regulations of the area. In the west, potential gold miners are flocking to the campgrounds and hotel areas that offer this exciting type of recreational activity. In California and Colorado, older gold mines have been converted to vacation areas, with instructors showing all of the basics of how to look for gold and pointing visitors to locations where large nuggets of gold have been found.