Gold $$, Can one still pan hand and find gold & were.?

Answer 1

I know there's a place in Arkansas where you can pan for gold - I think it's part of a state park (I saw it on some tv show not too long ago). In doing a quick web search for it, I found this web site you might find interesting.
http://store.goldfeverprospecting.com/whtofigoinun.html

Answer 2

Yes. Any sites that have produced alluvial gold will continue to produce - although in ever decreasing amounts. They say the mother of the Klondyke gold rush has never been found!

Your best bet is to join a local group - fossickers, lapidary clubs, gold clubs etc. This way you get local expert knowledge.

There are many "tricks" to panning for gold and finding the gold bearing dirt in the first place. Books help, but there is no substitute for hands on practice with someone with experience.

In Australia we need a miners permit to pan for gold. This does not give us access onto private land. Public land is ok but still has restrictions eg no panning within 100meters of a residence.

Answer 3

Each state has it's own regulations concerning recreational panning and most state have various agencies with myriad rules. Most importantly, you cannot prospect where someone has filed a "mineral claim" without their permission even on public land (where most claims are staked).. The rules can be very confusing and the penalties stiff.

Try this site http://www.goldprospectors.org/index.cfm
This is the official site of the Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA). The GPAA is the largest recreational prospecting group in the world. The site has many links and a great message board where members are eager to help others in their quest for gold. Membership to the GPAA is very reasonable and you recieve a nice pan, instructional video, FREE access to all (many dozen) GPAA claims nationwide, Gold Prospectors magzine subscription, and lots of other stuff.
The claims guide (which is the size of a phonebook) has listings by county in each state as to the locations of lost treasure, gemstone deposit locations, and other invaluable information concerning gold deposit locations, types of deposits, and contact information for the claims.
There are local GPAA chapters across the country who sponsor common digs (these are super-cool) and other events thet are open to all GPAA members and those members are more than happy to teach newcomers everything they need to know about prospecting.
If you want to find gold the GPAA is the best place to start.

Answer 4

Last time I checked, you could pan for gold in any publically owned stream in California. You might try in the places where gold has been found before; try after spring rains bring new gravel down from the mountains.

Answer 5

there are 4 or 5 places in north Carolina.you can pan for emeralds and gold.one is in hiddenite n.c. and the other is reeds gold mine.i live about 30 miles from reeds gold mine.hiddenite is the best place for emeralds, most you find are of good size.

Answer 6

Here in Australia (Queensland) there are special fossicking areas where you can do this. Most people use metal detectors however.