Prospecting & Detecting
Glacial Prospecting Basics Part 1
September 2022 by Matthew Hospodar
This article will focus on glacial deposits and some of my hypotheses regarding gold in the Midwest glacial area.
How to Stake Your Own Claim—Researching Mining Claims
Once you have determined that the land is locatable, the next step in the claim research process is to determine if the land has already been claimed by a previous locator.
Piggin' for Gold

California Sniping
I opted for the underwater portion of the river. All I have to do is float down the river and pick large flakes and small nuggets out of cracks and crevices while staying cool in the summer heat.
Hunting Down Paystreaks
When I teach people about finding gold, I often explain that it is helpful to think of any river or stream that carries gold as being something like a sluice box.
Recent Prospecting in Plumas County

Strategies for Detecting Heavily Pounded Areas
The problem is every other nugget hunter and drywash prospector had the same idea. As a result, you can spend days, weeks, and even months detecting these areas and not find a single nugget.
Our Readers Say
• Prospecting for Diamonds in Kimberlite by W. Dan Hausel
• Miners referring to their activity as “recreational”
Subscription Required:
Online 3D version Coming Soon
• Geology of Placer Deposits: Reading a River
• Grass Valley, Nevada City, Malakoff Diggings, Northern California
• Let Nature Help
• Electronic Prospecting: The Hunt for Coarse Gold
• Gleaning for Gold Part 2
• PLP Update
• Blast From the Past
• Resource Maven
Free: