California State and US National Gold Panning Championships

November 2018 by Don Robinson

This was two days of gold panning, with just over 250 gold panners trying to win a medal to show they were one of the best of the best.

Alaskan Gold Adventure

December 2016
In Chicken I had my first experience with the famous Alaska blue clay, sometimes called the blue layer. The blue layer is where the best fine gold was to be found.

Finding Gold - Fact vs Fiction

October 2023

Truths and myths about finding Gold

Gold Placers of the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

January 2014
The biggest obstacle is that like many streams on the Kenai Peninsula, high water during the summer months from snow melt and rain can make dredging nearly impossible. The best dredging is in the colder months of the year.

Sampling Mission in Placer County's Last Chance Mining District

October 2023

All About Quartz—Part I

May 2013
One of the first minerals most prospectors learn to recognize is quartz, because, in the right circumstances, it can be an excellent indicator mineral for prospectors. Quartz is common, easy to identify, and is often associated with gold and other valuable metal deposits.

Mom Finds 3.72-Carat Yellow Diamond

September 2019

“Much of the ground where Ms. Hollingshead found her diamond is made of unweathered volcanic rock. When it rains, flowing runoff often leaves loose gravel, and sometimes diamonds, on the surface in these areas.”

Tips for Detecting Nugget Patches

April 2015

Certainly many other successful nugget hunters have mentioned these methods; hopefully I can add to or clarify these methods.

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