Getting Started - Lesson 2 | Gold Prospecting and Sampling for Beginners (Getting Started - Lesson 2)

Gold Prospecting and Sampling for Beginners 

Gold is found in nature in many different forms. Classifying the type of gold deposit is necessary to decide the best equipment to use when prospecting and mining.

In this post, we discuss some of the basic ways to prospect for gold, sample / classify material, and the equipment you can use. 

Classifying Material 

Miners often use the term 'mesh size' to classify the size of gold. 

The term refers to the size of the openings in a sieve or screen, with larger mesh numbers representing finer material.

Here is a table of the basic classifications of gold types. 

| Gold Type        |  Description          | Where Found    |  Classification      |

|----------------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|

| Very fine | difficult to see with naked eye | Beach sands and alluvial deposits | Mesh 100

| Smale Pieces | Small, flat pieces of gold |  Placer or alluvial deposits  | Mesh 10 - 100

| Nuggets |  Larger, solid pieces of gold  | Riverbeds, creeks, dried waterways, alluvial deposits | Mesh 10 and above |

Sampling 

Surface Sampling

This can be done by panning, detecting with metal detectors, or taking samples from surface outcrops. 

Surface sampling involves collecting gold samples from the surface of the ground. 

Surface sampling helps identify gold deposits that are worth mining from a commercial perspective. 

Underground Sampling

Underground sampling is the process of collecting gold samples from beneath the surface. 

This can involve drilling, tunneling, or using technology / geophysical methods to identify areas with rich gold deposits. 

Underground sampling is often more complex and expensive but can provide more accurate information about the size and concentration of gold deposits.

Prospecting 

Sampling Tools and Equipment
Gold Pan: Used for panning gold from riverbeds and creeks.
Metal Detector: Helps locate gold nuggets on or near the surface. The depth with which a detector can penetrate shall depend on the type of metal detector being used. 
Sampling Shovel: For collecting soil samples.
Classifier: A sieve used to separate gold particles by size.
Geological Hammer: For breaking rock samples.

Several tools and equipment are essential for sampling gold deposits, including:

Panning

Panning is one of the simplest and oldest methods of prospecting for gold. It involves using a pan to wash sediment from rivers or streams. By swirling a pan  containing water, sediment / gravel from the riverbed, the heavier gold particles settle to the bottom while lighter material is gradually washed away until the only remaining material is the gold and other heavy material (such as black sand).  

Requirements: 

• Pan
• Shovel 
• Water supply

Sluicing

Sluicing involves using a sluice box to separate gold from sediment. Water is directed through the sluice box, and the riffles trap gold particles while allowing lighter material to be washed away.
Sluicing is more efficient than panning for processing larger quantities of material.
Requirements: 

• Sluice box 

• Shovel 

• Water supply

Wash Plant

A wash plant is a large, mechanical device used to separate gold from other materials. 

It consists of multiple stages, including screening, washing, and gravity separation. Wash plants are used for larger-scale gold mining operations.

Requirements: 

• Wash plant 

• Shovel / Excavator

• Water supply 

Trommel

A trommel is a rotating cylindrical screen used to separate gold-bearing material from other debris. 

The material is fed into the trommel, and as it rotates, smaller particles pass through the screen while larger debris is discarded.

Requirements: 

• Trommel

• Shovel / digger 

• Water supply 

Metal Detecting

Metal detecting is a method used to locate gold nuggets and other metallic objects on or near the surface. 

Metal detectors are sensitive to the electromagnetic signals emitted by metals, making them useful for finding larger pieces of gold in areas with minimal overburden.

• Metal Detector 

• Headphones 

• Trowel

• Metal Detector Pointer 

Requirements: 

Dredging for Gold

Dredging involves using a suction device to remove sediment from the bottom of rivers or lakes. 

The sediment is then processed to extract gold particles, normally using a sluice box or numerous sluice boxes. 

Dredging is effective for recovering fine gold and is commonly used in larger-scale mining operations.

Requirements: 

• Dredge and suction nozzle 

• Sluice box  

• Water supply 
• 
  

>>>> Next: Lesson 3 - How an Where to Find Gold

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