First timer

[mnmchase]

I am panning in the higher mountains of Wyoming, can the river or creek be "too fast" for finding gold? It's not flooded just normally a pretty swift stream.
I have not found much of anything, not even sure if the stuff I see is flour gold or pyrite.

 

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[steven332]

no i would assume not there are some pretty fast rivers that people over here, new england, find gold in

 

[mnmchase]

no i would assume not there are some pretty fast rivers that people over here, new england, find gold in

I must be doing something wrong. Wish I had someone around here I could learn from. Thank you

 

[Jessicamae3]

Go to YouTube and search, georgiagoldguy, in particular Tips to find gold in creeks and streams. May help, and if not there are a bunch of other videos to browse. Good luck.

 

[shawn32671]

ghosttownhunter on youtube has great videos that are helpful too but his are mostly on prospecting and dry diggings but has great tips for panning techniques.

 

[63bkpkr]

mnmchase,
Welcome to Tnet! You also want to learn "how to read a river" for prospecting. Search this site as well as you tube with those search words and you should find a short training thread.

Basically anything that obstructs the flow of the water will cause "heavy particles" to build up on the down river side of the object. Then there are which sides of the river to look on or at as the heavies drop out at different locations depending on the curves in the river bed.

Best of luck to you.................63bkpkr

Also, put some small lead bird shot in your pan and then add dirt. You are panning correctly when all the pellets are still in the pan after everything else is gone.

 

[mnmchase]

Thank you all for advice much appreciated!

 

[Goodyguy]

Maybe you're not digging deep enough. In fast moving water the gold is deep in the cracks and crevices.
Try under and around boulders and rocks on the banks too.

GG~

 

[KevinInColorado]

Maybe you are on the wrong river altogether. Any history of gold in the general area? Upstream or downstream...?

 

[maplesapper]

if the river is steep and fast, go to a spot where it widens up and flattens out. Water thats to fast and steep with bedrock will get flushed out. key rule is where it slows. Anywhere it slowes.