Where Do I Find Gold?

🥇 Understand How Gold Moves

Gold is heavy, so it sinks quickly and settles where the water slows down.

Think: “Where would heavy material drop out?”

📍 Best Places to Pan

1️⃣ Inside Bends of a River (Very Good Spot)

• Water moves fastest on the outside of a bend (erosion).

• Water slows on the inside of a bend.

• Gold drops and collects on the inside curve, especially in gravel bars.

👉 Start on the inside bend where you see exposed gravel.

2️⃣ Behind Large Rocks or Boulders

• Water slows down behind obstacles.

• Gold drops in the “shadow” behind big rocks.

👉 Check directly behind and slightly downstream of large boulders.

3️⃣ Crevices in Bedrock (Excellent Spot)

• Gold falls into cracks in exposed bedrock.

• It can sit there for years.

👉 Use a crevice tool or screwdriver to scrape material out.

4️⃣ At the Base of Waterfalls or Rapids

• Heavy gold drops quickly after fast-moving water slows.

  
  

5️⃣ Gravel Bars

• Especially the lower, darker gravel layers.

• Look for black sand (magnetite) — gold often collects with it.

  
  

🔎 Signs You’re in a Good Area

• Black sand in your pan

• Lots of heavy material left after washing

• Quartz rocks (gold is often found near quartz)

• Old mining areas nearby (need to validate mining rights)

  
  

🚫 Places That Usually Don’t Have Much Gold

• Deep, fast center of river

• Fine sandy areas with no gravel

• Top layer of loose, fresh sand