5 Things You Need If You Want To Start Prospecting For Gold

Discovering gold out in the great outdoors is one of the most fulfilling accomplishments you can experience. However, as fun and rewarding as it is, it’s not something you can do on a whim. 

Gold prospecting requires patience, luck, some prior knowledge, and a set of tools to aid you in your search for this elusive element.

In some places in Australia and the United Kingdom, you would also need permission from private property owners before you can scour their land for gold.

Some places forbid you from prospecting for gold at all, such as recognised public lands like nature reserves, heritage sites, and national parks.

That said, there are many designated gold mining fields that you can go to in your search for gold. 

While much of the land has been scoured by other hobbyists previously, with the right tools in hand, you can experience the same joy and rush from the first gold miners of centuries past.

Ready to take up gold prospecting and panning as a hobby? Here are some things you’d need to get started.

5 Tools Every Gold Prospector Should Have

1. Gold Metal Detector

The item that separates the dreamers from the doers, the gold metal detector is an indispensable tool that puts your gold prospecting dreams into motion. It’s a tool every amateur and seasoned gold prospector has in their possession.

Just like with most technology, there are different tiers of metal and gold mining equipment. The basic and most affordable models (such as 300i models) are generally beginner-friendly and can get the job done. They’re wholly capable of detecting gold and metallic objects up to a certain depth.

However, if you want to up your chances of finding gold and set yourself apart from the amateurs, you’ll want to get a 400i or AT gold metal detector instead. 

These higher-tier gold metal detectors have a wider range and sensitivity compared to the 300i. They also have more advanced discrimination features and a decreased probability of having false signals.

Furthermore, the more expensive detectors may also have improved durability and more advanced interface options. 

If you expect to be in the game for a long time or are looking to upgrade your basic model to something better, these higher-end models may be the right choice for you.

2. Gold Pan Kit

Another essential item (or rather, a set of items) you’d need is a gold pan kit. Gold pan kits typically consist of a pan, a sifter, and smaller equipment to help extract and store small chunks of discovered gold. 

The pan and sifter are useful for prospecting in rivers and places with loose soil. Most pans are coloured in a way to help the prospector easily identify found gold. They also have ridges that can trap gold and separate it from lighter materials.

A sifting pan is used in a similar fashion. Prospectors swirl the sifter around in water sources like riverbeds. With the right technique, gold particles of various sizes may become trapped in these sifting pans.

Besides the bowls, you can find other helpful tools like tweezers, magnifiers, and gold phials in the gold mining equipment from Stonex. This will help you further examine and break down ores as well as serve as a temporary storage unit for found gold pieces.

3. Rock Pick

Gold isn’t only found in riverbeds and places with loose gravel. It’s also often found in the natural lines in quartz rock deposits.

One of the top places to find gold is near a place where volcanic or seismic activity has recently taken place. Tectonic shifts can break the bedrock and can uncover quartz stones with more prominent fracture lines. 

Gold is often found tucked between the lines of quartz deposits. A rock pick is useful for breaking and splitting the mineral and uncovering the gold beneath.

It’s important to get a dedicated rock pick since you want to be gentle enough not to break the rock. A gold rock pick typically has a flat head for hammering and a long, pointed tip that’s used for chiselling away the quartz.

Besides the primary purpose of breaking through quartz stones, rock picks can also be useful in riverbed prospecting. It can help act as a tool to dig out hardened samples in dry soil. 

It’s also lightweight and portable, making it an exceptional tool that every gold prospector should have in their arsenal.

4. Gold Sand Scoop

A fast and less back-breaking way of finding gold in waterbeds is by utilising a gold sand scoop. This tool is used in streams and natural waterways where there’s a presence of gold.

How the process works is that the prospector sifts through the loose gravel using it. It works fine in both fresh water and salt water. Then, the prospector shakes the loose sediments and allows them to fall to the ground. 

The remaining material, which is stopped by the presence of ridges and small holes, is then closely examined and inspected for traces of gold flakes or nuggets.

This tool is lightweight and requires less exertion in catching large gold flakes. That said, it may not be as thorough in catching gold as a gold pan sifter, so weigh your options wisely.

5. Processing Banjo Pan

A modern and highly effective gold-hunting tool is the banjo pan. This product is designed with a sluice, riffles, a collection mat, and gravity traps to catch gold nuggets and flakes from sediment and water extract.

Most banjo pans are made from plastic, making them lightweight and highly portable. It’s considered a hybrid between a sluice set and a pan set since it offers the same functions in one tool. 

Essentially, the gold prospector swishes the water and loose sediment extract in the pan-end of the tool. It then falls through a series of riffles, and in between the riffles is a compartment where gold falls. 

The rest of the water and sediments fall via the collection mat and finally make their way out of the tool. Any gold that hasn’t fallen in the riffles gets stuck in the collection mat.

Easy to use, multi-functional, and beginner-friendly, this tool is something every enthusiast should consider when riverbed prospecting.

3 Additional Tips for Gold Prospecting

Along with the right tools, gold prospecting requires patience, perseverance, knowledge, and grit. Here are some final tips to help you make the most out of your gold prospecting session:

• Know the best areas: Gold isn’t only found in riverbeds, it can also be near excavation sites, black sand, red soil, and clay. Familiarise your local area and ask experts where gold is usually present.
• Obtain permits if necessary: Some places can only be entered and prospected with the right permits. Unless you’re digging around your vegetable garden, ensure that you’re not trespassing and doing your gold prospecting legally.
• Dig deeper: A lot of gold deposits are near bedrock. Use quality dredging tools to dig deep enough to strike gold.

If you’re new to the hobby, it’s a good idea to get in touch with an expert who knows the ins and outs of the hobby. 

Gold prospecting is a fun pastime, but it can be tedious if you’re doing it alone. Thus, be sure to utilise all the resources to your advantage to increase your odds of striking gold.

Happy treasure hunting!