Where to look for gold

     Gravel bars usually found on the inside of the river bends. Although the gold here is mostly small
     flakes to very fine, there sometimes is a lot of it.

     Where the stream levels out after a steeper part such as downstream of rapids or waterfalls.
     Newly formed gravel bars.

     Small streaks of gravel laying on the bed rock but you will need some sort of sucker to retrieve it if
     it is underwater.

     Down stream sides of large boulders and other obstacles which because of size or other factors
     appear to have been there for a long time.

     Pot holes in the bed rock

     Cracks in the bed rock. In popular prospecting areas, the large, obvious cracks have most likely
     been cleaned out many times. Look for lines of moss running along the bed rock. There is almost
     always a small crack under the moss and these cracks can contain a surprising amount of gold.

     Moss and grass roots near the river.

     The high benches. As a stream cuts deeper into a canyon, it can leave patches of gravel high on the
     canyon wall. These are called benches. Look for round or rounded rocks well above the present
     high water level. Round or rounded rocks have lived in a river at some time in their lives.
 
 
 

          -Fill the pan with sand and small gravel.
          -Fill with water and mix thoroughly.
          -Rotate the pan in a fast circular motion to settle the
           gold. (tapping while doing this helps settle the gold)
          -While keeping the pan level and continuing the
           circular motion, slightly tip the pan to get the lighter
           material to the top. (keep the material covered with water)
          -Take your thumb and scrape the lighter and larger
           pieces out of the pan.
          -Repeat the process over and over until only a small
           part of the pan is covered with concentrate.
          -Leave just enough water to feather the tailings as
           you lightly swirl the material.
          -The heavier material (gold) will be at the tail of the
           feather.
          -Now break out the syphon bottle and get your gold

Weights and Measures
     24 grains = 1 pennyweight (abbreviated dwt)
     20 pennyweights = 1 troy ounce
     480 grains = 1 troy ounce
     12 troy ounces = 1 troy pound (Please notify me where you are digging if you need to know this)

     1 troy ounce = 31.104 grams
     1 pennyweight = 1.552 grams
     1 grain = 64.8 milligrams
     1 gram = .543 pennyweights

     24 Karat=100% Pure Gold
     18 Karat=75% Pure Gold
     14 Karat=58% Pure Gold
     10 Karat=42% Pure Gold