Where is the best place to find gold in Southern California?

Question

I found a sluice box, have a pan and a 12 pack of beer.

I need to pay my rent.

Where can I get some gold? Prospecting wise?

Answer 1

There's gold in them hills, but it's not easy to get. Otherwise, everyone would be getting it. Even in the Mother Lode Country, most people couldn't make enough money to scrape a living. The only people who really got rich were the ones who sold the mining equipment.

However, if you must, (despite our warnings):

In the north central part of the county, you will find Acton, it is located in the Cedar and Mt. Gleason district, the area had many area mines and prospect pits, notably the Governor Mine, which had a total production of at least 50,000 ounces of lode gold.

If you go north up San Gabriel Canyon, you will find Azusa, which is located in the San Gabriel district which had a total production, 1848-1957, of about 165,000 ounces of gold. In the San Gabriel range gravels, worked 1848-80 for estimated 120,000 ounces of placer gold and still productive of colors and nuggets to weekend panners and dredgers. There were also several area lode mines in area which contained gold quartz veins cutting igneous and metamorphic rocks. In the East Fork of the San Gabriel range, the old site of Eldoradoville which was a gold camp of early 1860s and favorite amateur gold hunting area today, in area watercourse and bench gravels you can find placer gold with some sizable nuggets.

North along the Kern County line and south of Neenach, you will fin Lancaster, which is in the Antelope Valley district. Gold was discovered in 1934 in the Antelope Valley district. It had a total production through 1946 of 9,700 ounces. There are many area claims and prospects, and the River Mining Company Claims are the most productive for placer and lode gold.

In Placerita Canyon State Park near Newhall, it is the area of original productive placer operations, in present gravel deposits you can still find placer gold.

Northeast of San Fernando by 12 miles, in Pacoima Canyon, the headwater and area gravels and slopewash deposits contain placer gold. If you go 12 miles up the canyon from its mouth, you will find the Denver Mining and Milling Property which was a rich lode gold producer.

In Tujunga located in Tujunga Canyon, the area gravel deposits contain colors and small nuggets.


You might not even get enough for beer money, let alone rent, but good luck anyway.

Answer 2

Best Places To Find Gold

Answer 3

There is gold virtually all over Southern California, that is not the problem. You must find it in sufficiently large enough concentrations to make it worthwhile to pursue which is extremely difficult. ....Otherwise it is just a leisurely fun activity. If I were you I would try streams in the upper northern San Fernando Valley (where gold was first discovered in California about 1842 or so on Rancho San Fernando at San Feliciano Canyon) or in Perris Valley, those are two spots where there has been significant "commercial" gold hunting activity...There are quite a number of places around the state where for a few dollars you can hunt by the "pan and hand"method only...no sluices allowed... "Good Luck...BTW don't trespass on other people's property...
If you save the aluminum from the beer cans that may be your best source of recoverable minerals..
But the whole experience can be a lot of fun...

Answer 4

People still pan for gold in Placerita Canyon.

Although, I don't think a 12-pack will be enough.

Answer 5

Even in the gold rush days, there never was much gold in SOUTHERN California. The mining region is up by Sacramento. I'd suggest you get a job.

Answer 6

downtown .. gold/silver district near Hill street

Answer 7

try the LA Riverbeds. lots of people still mine for gold down there. but go at night.

Answer 8

the jewelry store.

Answer 9

Get a frigging job !