A Renewed Interest in Gold Panning...

is sweeping across America's "gold fields", i.e., places that have historically produced placer gold.



Here is a video from "Rock Raiders" - linked on The Blaze website - of all places. Part of the renewed interest is due to the increased cost of gold, another would probably be the higher unemployment rate leaves people with more time on their hands for such endeavors.

I have been out three times this summer with the Allatoona Gold Panners, visiting 2 different creeks in Cherokee County (or extreme North Cobb County), Ga.. I have found something in virtually ever pan, but it is mostly "flour gold", very small grains. The main idea is to have some fun - which I have. I also enjoy accumulating heavy minerals for use in lab classes or just to look through, under a microscope.

Here are a couple more videos:



From Arizona:



Here is an ad for a sluice system - sounds good, but one would need to check for local restrictions regarding the use of sluices. This Grizzly Sluice is cool, but it is a bit pricey - for the hobby miner. The MSRP is $547.00, at this website.



Here is a homemade sluice box:



Another accessory - a homemade "high banker", designed to quickly wash out the larger gravels:



American ingenuity, ya gotta love it! As a reminder, if there are any diamonds, they will be retained in the heavy mineral concentrate, so check it carefully.