Found a big deposit! Finally.

[Ohiogoldfever]

For several years I’ve prospected my area. I’ve hit nearly every creek and river in 30 miles. Mostly gravel bars as Ohio gold tends to be pretty small. I traveled up a little creek a bit further than I had in the past. Tested a gravel bar just around a sharp corner and BANG! 40-50 specks. Pan after pan it’s holding strong. The largest chunky black sand, garnets and mixed iron stone and verity’s mjnerals I’ve found to date.

After about 20 pans in and I’ve found this deposit is about 200’ long and as wide as 20’. The real kicker, there’s bedrock about 3-4’ below this bar, I can see it exposed on the fast side of the river.

Freaking tickled fellers!

I’ll try and post some decent pictures once I get to doing some real work.

 

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[Ohiogoldfever]

I'm from Elyria Oh. ( 40 yrs ago) I always thought any Gold in Ohio was Glacial Till, any deposits?

That’s correct. All glacial deposits. No load gold.

 

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[Ohiogoldfever]

That's probably more than I will find in my lifetime. Great work! I will just keep trying. I haven't tried that many places. I'm just worried about all the laws in PA.

It’s all a numbers game really. You just have to keep trying, learning and knocking down all the places that have very little or no gold. Eventually you will find a place that’s got enough in each pan to keep your interest.

Keep at it. You’ll find something. Good luck!

 

[Ohiogoldfever]

I am a firm believer that gold can be found anywhere in the world. Since I'm in my state I'm excited to look for it. I'm not looking to get rich, it's more of an enjoyment and curiosity to me. I have a done some research.

It’s all about the fun around here. I’ve spent a couple grand on gear the last few years to find a few dollars in gold. It’s like fishing really.

I’ve been standing in a burbling creek at 6:30am as the birds chirping and the sun just coming through the trees. The air is crisp and I’m the only one around. Freaking spiritual

 

[Garytman]

It’s all about the fun around here. I’ve spent a couple grand on gear the last few years to find a few dollars in gold. It’s like fishing really.

I’ve been standing in a burbling creek at 6:30am as the birds chirping and the sun just coming through the trees. The air is crisp and I’m the only one around. Freaking spiritual

I don't mind spending money on an interesting hobby, as long as I can do it somewhere I'm happy. I just hope I can find a good place where I'm allowed.

 

[Ohiogoldfever]

I don't mind spending money on an interesting hobby, as long as I can do it somewhere I'm happy. I just hope I can find a good place where I'm allowed.

I am not familiar with the legal aspects of prospecting public lands out your way. Are you dealing with restrictions?

 

[Garytman]

I am not familiar with the legal aspects of prospecting public lands out your way. Are you dealing with restrictions?

I'm not really sure, from what I am reading it sounds like it. As long as I'm not near any houses I'm going for it. What I meant was going to a local creek near me near the local river. Way out in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Clay Diggins]

I'm not really sure, from what I am reading it sounds like it. As long as I'm not near any houses I'm going for it.

Sure - theft is one option.
We all make choices.

 

[Garytman]

Sure - theft is one option.
We all make choices.

Well if I see someone I will ask for permission. I'm not a thief lol

 

[Garytman]

Well if I see someone I will ask for permission. I'm not a thief lol

What would you do?

 

[BoulderTroll]

What would you do?

My preference is to use OnX. If you haven't heard of, it's a paid app (subscription) that gives you a pretty high-quality map that shows property boundaries and ownership. So you can find out if the land is public or private, as well as a possible point of contact for permissions.

I haven't been tested, but I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to hand-cuffs and lead bullets, so I try to make sure I don't encounter them.

 

[Ohiogoldfever]

What would you do?

Here in my county I use the local GIS. It has accurate property boundaries and can provide you with the owners name as a matter of county record.

I’d say start with local park lands. Assuming the capital G allows that of course.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

My preference is to use OnX. If you haven't heard of, it's a paid app (subscription) that gives you a pretty high-quality map that shows property boundaries and ownership. So you can find out if the land is public or private, as well as a possible point of contact for permissions.

I haven't been tested, but I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to hand-cuffs and lead bullets, so I try to make sure I don't encounter them.

OnX is a good tool to determine that you are smack dab in the middle of some public lands.

What do you do now to determine if the gold you’re searching for is owned by an individual or group of individuals? Or perhaps held in trust by the government?

The burden is not on the owner to notify the guy stealing his opportunity/gold.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

The more you dip your toes into casual panning (where it seems relatively harmless based on your actual recovery), the higher the possibility that you will find yourself in gold country where folks might not be so understanding of your ignorance.

Land Matters is a website that helps folks find places to search for gold without running risk of being accused of…things.

The BLM MRLS Mineral & Land Record System Reports is another good resource.

BLM General Land Office Records website is another. Check out the Land Status Records including the Master Title Plat.

Then there is the local county recorder’s office.

If this all sounds complicated and burdensome to you, you might consider joining a mining club that provides you an opportunity to mine on their claims. This ensures that you don’t end up on the wrong end of a barrel out in the sticks (where there are no houses nearby).

 

[Garytman]

Here in my county I use the local GIS. It has accurate property boundaries and can provide you with the owners name as a matter of county record.

I’d say start with local park lands. Assuming the capital G allows that of course.

Ok thank you for this information.

 

[Garytman]

OnX is a good tool to determine that you are smack dab in the middle of some public lands.

What do you do now to determine if the gold you’re searching for is owned by an individual or group of individuals? Or perhaps held in trust by the government?

The burden is not on the owner to notify the guy stealing his opportunity/gold.

Thank you for the information, I'm not looking to trespass or steal anyone's gold. I just like the hobby and not looking to cause trouble. I just want to go out somewhere that allows me to enjoy a new found hobby.

 

[tamrock]

It’s all about the fun around here. I’ve spent a couple grand on gear the last few years to find a few dollars in gold. It’s like fishing really.

I’ve been standing in a burbling creek at 6:30am as the birds chirping and the sun just coming through the trees. The air is crisp and I’m the only one around. Freaking spiritual

Now that's Golden. I lived a short walk to the upper Arkansas river in Buena Vista, Colorado in the early to mid 1980s. I found specks of gold all up and down the gravel banks of that river with just a pan and shovel. I concluded you'd need to work your tail off with equipment that could move yards more material just for a few bucks of flower gold dust. The real treasure I found was being out in the elements of the untouched wilderness with all those sights and sounds you mention and more.

 

[Garytman]

The more you dip your toes into casual panning (where it seems relatively harmless based on your actual recovery), the higher the possibility that you will find yourself in gold country where folks might not be so understanding of your ignorance.

Land Matters is a website that helps folks find places to search for gold without running risk of being accused of…things.

The BLM MRLS Mineral & Land Record System Reports is another good resource.

BLM General Land Office Records website is another. Check out the Land Status Records including the Master Title Plat.

Then there is the local county recorder’s office.

If this all sounds complicated and burdensome to you, you might consider joining a mining club that provides you an opportunity to mine on their claims. This ensures that you don’t end up on the wrong end of a barrel out in the sticks (where there are no houses nearby).

I appreciate you taking time to educate me on all of this. I definitely don't want to end up on the wrong end of a barrel either. I did join PGP on Facebook and asked if I could come to a meeting on on a Western PA site and didn't get a response. I'm trying and I will learn someway or another. I might just go to a state park near me, where the glaciers cut through and ask someone in the office there. I will check all of this info you gave me, I appreciate it very much!

 

[Garytman]

The more you dip your toes into casual panning (where it seems relatively harmless based on your actual recovery), the higher the possibility that you will find yourself in gold country where folks might not be so understanding of your ignorance.

Land Matters is a website that helps folks find places to search for gold without running risk of being accused of…things.

The BLM MRLS Mineral & Land Record System Reports is another good resource.

BLM General Land Office Records website is another. Check out the Land Status Records including the Master Title Plat.

Then there is the local county recorder’s office.

If this all sounds complicated and burdensome to you, you might consider joining a mining club that provides you an opportunity to mine on their claims. This ensures that you don’t end up on the wrong end of a barrel out in the sticks (where there are no houses nearby).

I checked out Land Matters and could not find any claims in Pennsylvania. In fact it doesn't even give you the option to look at PA. I will check somewhere else.

 

[Garytman]

I checked out Land Matters and could not find any claims in Pennsylvania. In fact it doesn't even give you the option to look at PA. I will check somewhere else.

Do any of you live in Pennsylvania? I was just wondering. I know there isn't probably much gold here and not as many claims as some of you. This may be too much information according to my location. I will still abide by the rules in PA of course. I think I'm going to just try a local park and ask the park ranger and see what happens.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

Do any of you live in Pennsylvania? I was just wondering. I know there isn't probably much gold here and not as many claims as some of you. This may be too much information according to my location. I will still abide by the rules in PA of course. I think I'm going to just try a local park and ask the park ranger and see what happens.

A state park might very well have a recreational panning permit if the area is known for having some recoverable gold and it’s popular.

I’m in Northern California, where most gold bearing creeks and rivers are plastered with back to back claims. Many not posted.

Out West, when land is first patented out from the government it may or may not include the minerals depending on what congressional act it was patented under. Could be completely different back east. So it is possible to own gold bearing land and not own the gold! That would suck.

Here we do have folks literally stopping along the river and grabbing their mining gear out of the trunk because nobody is around and they go to work enjoying themselves finding what’s likely small amounts of gold. But they also bust up the bedrock, retrieving small nuggets that are not theirs to take. Really ticks us claim/land owners off because we may have purchased our claim and pay fees every year to maintain them.