Compacted river gravel in Knights Ferry, CA, how old is it and is there gold?

[firebird]

I went to Knights Ferry this weekend and it was a nice place to visit, lots of people though so pretty crowded as everyone wants to get outside nowadays after the covid lockdown. About 200 feet away from the Stanislaus River there was a huge amount of compacted gravel full of round, river worn rocks which was up to 20 feet above the ground. They were so packed together I couldn't even get any of the big stones loose, is this millions of years old??

Sadly it's against the law to dig it up to pan for gold, especially with a ranger patrolling the area who wasted no time ticketing cars there too so I didn't want to risk getting caught. Would this kind of gravel contain lots of gold though? Or is this area not likely to have much since it's far away from the mountains?

 

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[firebird]

 

[Ohiogoldfever]

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There are more than enough places to go digging surely no point in tearing up something special or getting yourself in trouble. Last I checked most of the dirt we’re dealing with is at least one or two years old maybe even older?

Heck most of the fun in prospecting is just exploring and testing.

 

[N-Lionberger]

You can't dig for gold at Knights Ferry anymore?

 

[Bodfish Mike]

You can't dig for gold at Knights Ferry anymore?

A simple google search.

Panning is allowed in Knights Ferry and at Tulloch Lake Road Fishing Access, both controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, on the Stanislaus River but only if trowels and pans are used. Panning must be located within two feet of the water's edge.

Not sure if there is a size limit on the trowel

 

[Goldwasher]

yes, there is gold . the area was placered early and dredges ran nearby. Same era of gravels dredged at all the openings of the foothills all up and down the valley.

 

[Goodyguy]

Those dredge tailings still have gold that their sluices lost. And from what I understand they lost quite a lot.
It wont be as productive as virgin ground but there should be at least some gold to be found in them.

GG~

 

[mike(swWash)]

If legal, try panning the loose stuff that's sluffed down to the bottom of the bank.
Hard packed/concreted means unseached.