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Getting started gold prospecting in creeks near you

Perhaps you have thought about trying to pan for gold in a creek near you, but you didn't know how to get started and the equipment you would need. I faced those same questions when I started prospecting. In this article I will show you the items you will need, depending on what level you want to go after the gold.


If you just want to try your hand a gold panning a creek in your area, you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to get started. In fact, I would suggest that you start with a small gold prospecting package to see if you will enjoy it.
Be sure and check out my YouTube videos using some of the equipment I recommend in this article:
Episode 186 - "There's Gold in That Thar Creek"
Episode 193 - "The Blue Bowl Gold Concentrator"

Here is some of the equipment that I use.

BASIC EQUIPMENT

I would suggest you begin with the Garrett Deluxe Gold Pan Kit.

These items in this kit will continue to serve you no matter how involved you get into gold prospecting.

The classifier (sifter) allows you to "classify" material, in other words, eliminate the big rocks and material so you can get down to panning the finer stuff which contains the gold. The Garrett 14” Classifier / Sifter is designed to fit on top of a standard 5-gallon plastic bucket which will capture the sifted material that you can later pan out. You also can get a variety of different size gold pans and some other extras, but these will get you started.



INTERMEDIATE EQUIPMENT

Once you spend a little time in the creek panning for gold, you will realize that it takes a lot of time to "classify" and pan out material pan by pan. There is a piece of equipment that will greatly reduce the work of working material one pan at a time. It is called a sluice box and it allows you to let the flow of the creek do the work for you as you add material to the sluice box and let the flowing water separate it for you. With water flowing through the sluice, as you add material to it, the heavy material (gold and lead) will get trapped in the sluice, while the lighter material (sand and rocks) will be washed on through.

An excellent choice is the Keene Super Mini Sluice Box which is light weight and easy to carry in a backpack, but still does a great job.

ADVANCED EQUIPMENT

If you want to get real aggressive and process a lot of material in a short time (and after all, the more material you process, the more likely you are to find gold) them you might consider the Keene 2.5" Power Sluice Combination Kit.

Then there is the matter of processing the small flour gold. Even after panning out your processed material, there can still be small bits of gold mixed in with the black sand that is nearly impossible to pan.

As you work each pan of gold you will be left with fine "concentrates" (cons) which you should save after you have retrieved any gold nuggets, pickers, or flakes. You can then run the "cons" through the Blue Bowl Concentrator which will separate the fine flour gold from the black sand.

You can purchase the Blue Bowl with pump and levelers alone, but this package deal is the best bargain because you also get a set of classifiers that you will need in sizes 20, 30, 50, and 100.

Some Parting Thoughts

When I first started, I bought a lot of things I really didn't need. My aim in this article is to help you not make that mistake. Start with the basic panning kit, and perhaps a sluice box. If you enjoy it, and think it might be productive, then you can add the Blue Bowl Concentrator, and eventually the Power Sluice if you are really serious.

There are several videos you can watch that will show you how to use each piece of equipment I have recommended. Good luck and have fun!

The Ring Finder Kindle Edition by Steve Zazulyk

Very excited to announce the release of a new Kindle book by my good friend Steve Zazulyk titled, The Ring Finder. Steve has exceptional experience in metal detecting and ring recoveries, and was the dive detectorist on the first Curse of Oak Island episodes.

Here is a product description of the book:

• Ring finding is one of the most exciting and fascinating hobbies for today’s metal detectorists. And if you know what to do, it can be quite lucrative. Written by professional treasure hunter and accomplished ring finder, Steve Zazulyk, this book will walk you through how to take an enjoyable hobby and turn it into a profitable gratuity-based service. Beginners to well-seasoned detectorists will learn what equipment to use, which techniques work best, and how to distinguish the sound of gold from other metals. You will be equipped with the knowledge to navigate through each situation, from advertising your service and growing your client base, to locating the ring, capturing the “moment,” and receiving your gratuity. This book is a great resource for the soon-to-be treasure hunters and for those wanting to expand their ring finding skills.
  

Order your copy of The Ring Finder on Amazon by clicking HERE.

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to the buyer).

Record of American Uniform and Historical Buttons, Hardcover – 1997 by Alphaeus H. Albert

Those of us who regularly hunt sites that produce buttons know that there are so many varieties that it can be difficult to identify and place in their proper time period. The Albert “Record of American Uniform and Historical Buttons” has long been the go-to source for that information.

Here is the publisher’s description of the book:

“The standard reference since its first publication in 1977. Albert and his wife Lillian were pioneers in the field of button collecting and were known nationwide. Over 3200 buttons are pictured actual size with known back marks and relative values shown. They include: US Military of all periods from Colonial on, Confederate, both of the state and CS Government, Schools both civilian and military, Commemorative, Political, Militia, Veterans Organizations, Federal Departments and much more. Alberts individual coding system for each button is an invaluable reference tool and is used by collectors and dealers world-wide. This book is a must have for anyone interested in the identification and study of American buttons.”

CLICK HERE for Amazon link

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to the buyer).

Civil War Hut Digging, A to Z

Those of us who hunt Civil War camps know that some of the best finds often come from huts, trash pits, and fire pits. Just this Spring at DIV I personally witnessed period bottles, bullets, buttons, and an amazing soldier ID tag come from dug huts. Some hunters have spent many years learning the craft of locating and properly excavating these spots. “Civil War Hut Digging, A to Z” reveals those secrets to the rest of us.

Below is a detailed description of the book:

Civil War Hut Digging, A to Z by Robert A. Buttafuso is an excellent guide with all the insider tips you need to know to have success in excavating huts, trash pits, and fire pits that are located deep below the limits of most metal detectors. The author is a longtime relic hunter and owner of a metal detector dealership and service center. Within these pages he has provided all the hard-won knowledge and experience of his many years spent out in campsites and battlefields of the American Civil War. Within this volume:

• Defining hut and pit digging.

• Contemporary camp photos courtesy of the Library of Congress.

• Guide to what equipment is needed.

• How to locate huts.

• How to properly excavate huts.

• How to find more huts.

• Insightful tips.

• Color photos showing how bricks, ash, and iron change the color of the surrounding soil.

• Beautiful color photos of the many great relics recovered from huts, latrines, and trash pits.

CLICK HERE for Amazon link 

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to the buyer).

Finding Civil War Campsites in Rural Areas

People new to relic hunting often ask, "How can I find Civil War camps in my area?"

It's not easy... if it was everyone would do it, and to be honest, there probably would be no camps left to find.

Finding Civil War camps is a process of a lot of research and a lot of walking. However, there are some tools that can help make the process a little easier.

Poche Associates publishes a book, "Finding Civil War Campsites in Rural Areas" that will give you valuable information you will need to find camps in your area. 

This 48-page softcover book is essential in helping the relic hunter or historian narrow down their search for camps.

Click HERE for the Amazon link.

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to the buyer).

The perfect knee pads for metal detecting

It might surprise you if you counted the number of times you get down on your knees to investigate a hole in a normal day of metal detecting. Over the years, this can damage your knee caps.

A good solution to this problem is a good pair of knee pads. However, you need to select a pair of knee pads that are padded correctly, and that are comfortable to wear (after all, we are going to be wearing them all day in the field or on the beach). 

Over the years, and having tested various knee pads, I have learned the most comfortable ones are those that have a single wide strap to attach to your leg. I have tried the double-strap models and have found the straps are too thin and cut into the back of my legs. The single wide strap is comfortable, even if you are hunting in shorts.

The SAFE HANDLER Knee Pads are a perfect solution, they are well built, rugged, comfortable, and very affordable.

   (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to the buyer).