What Is a Gold Prospector?
A gold prospector is anyone who actively searches for gold or gold deposits. Survey teams using high-tech equipment for commercial gold mining execute much of the gold prospecting done today. However, small-scale prospecting is still done throughout the world. Individual prospectors are often called hobbyists, whether they are successful or not. Small-scale prospectors and gold hunters in less developed but gold-rich countries, like South Africa, still prospect and mine gold for a living.
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History
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According to the U.S. Geological Survey, gold was one of the first mined metals and gold objects were made in Egypt more than 5,000 years ago. Historically, gold prospecting and the discovery of gold are responsible for the development of entire towns. Many California communities resulted from the 19th century California Gold Rush. Even the growth of Johannesburg in South Africa is a result of gold discovery. Adversely, many of these communities shrink and sometimes disappear once the gold is depleted.
Prospector Types
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Gold prospectors hired by companies and governments often have survey teams and modern equipment to search for gold and set up large-scale mining operations. Private gold prospectors make up a small portion of the people in the field today, and most solo treasure hunters don't have the means or equipment to make gold prospecting a full-time pursuit.
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Methods
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Some of the earliest forms of gold prospecting involved water. Panning and sluicing involve filling a vessel with sediment from streams and agitating the equipment to separate the sediment from heavier gold. Hydraulic mining, commonly used during the California Gold Rush, is the process of using high-powered water pressure to wash away rock and dirt, leaving the gold behind. Commercial gold prospectors use drills when a gold vein is suspected in rock.
Equipment
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In addition to pans, sluices and drilling, gold prospectors still use basic hammers and chisels to locate hidden deposits. Modern electronic equipment such as imaging machines and metal detectors help prospectors locate gold deep in the earth, reducing labor-intensive digging and drilling.
Considerations
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Many traditional U.S. gold prospecting areas are on private land or federally protected land closed to prospecting. Even if an area is open to prospecting, it does not mean you can stake a claim. However, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management, there are 19 states where individuals can stake a mining claim on federal land. Claims are recorded at the federal and state levels, and people who want to prospect for gold on public property should check with the appropriate state official and the Bureau of Land Management before prospecting.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit orpailleur image by thierry planche from Fotolia.com
