I was wandering as far as being new to gold prospecting what kind of equipment should we start out with, ( we already have gold pans) should we use a sluice, a highbanker, trummel etc. Which would be best to use first? Thanks in advance.
The best thing to do is SLOW DOWN! Gold prospecting is exciting, addictive, and expensive. You need to go to a club meeting, visit the claims, and see what others are using successfully there.
The very first tools you need to master are the pick, shovel, classifier, and gold pan. You need a Five-gallon plastic bucket from Lowes or Home Depot, a ¼” classifier to put on top of it to sift out the big rocks, a shovel, gold pans, and a sucker bottle. Boom – You’re done!
Once you know what you are doing and have actually found a little gold, then you can THINK about getting a simple sluice. The gold isn’t going anywhere, and honestly, unless you are out west in one of about eight states, your chances of just paying for your GPAA membership with the gold you are going to find is slim to none.
Unless you are in this for FUN, education and adventure, you are in it for the wrong reasons. 98-percent of all greenhorns NEVER make their money back on equipment.
