Is there gold in Western North Carolina?

[justin35]

See map. I'm about to attempt to try and find some gold in far western NC. I've been reading up on where gold settles in creeks and stuff and I have zero experience in this. I've bought my pans and thats it.

Also, I cannot pan in the areas of the National Forest, can I? Thats exactly the area I'm in so I may have to to travel slightly.

 

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[Mitch Dickson]

Extreme Western N.C. has gold but it is difficult to find. Area makes Cambodia look like Kansas LOL! Look on a map and find Shuler creek off hwy 68 in tennessee and follow it to the edge of N.C. to a place called brush creek. This is in the national forest of N.C. Lots of Cherokee and Muledgon mines here and extensive hard rock mining that isn't registered on any gold map (some of these contain high grade silver ore). You have to walk in to find them. Beware, the rattlesnake fangs haven't been used since sharpened and the Russian boar have 7 inch cutters. Of course the bear and the mountain lions are worse It is no place for a presbyterian, nor will you remain one for very long LOL!

Never go in there alone. Never go in there unarmed. Unless you want to make the cover of the next "Missing 411 Book".

(by armed I mean really armed! I carry a lever action 45-70 and a 44 magnum sidearm in there. Don't worry about Rangers, they aren't silly enough to be back in there to start with.)

 

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[justin35]

Extreme Western N.C. has gold but it is difficult to find. Area makes Cambodia look like Kansas LOL! Look on a map and find Shuler creek off hwy 68 in tennessee and follow it to the edge of N.C. to a place called brush creek. This is in the national forest of N.C. Lots of Cherokee and Muledgon mines here and extensive hard rock mining that isn't registered on any gold map (some of these contain high grade silver ore). You have to walk in to find them. Beware, the rattlesnake fangs haven't been used since sharpened and the Russian boar have 7 inch cutters. Of course the bear and the mountain lions are worse It is no place for a presbyterian, nor will you remain one for very long LOL!

Never go in there alone. Never go in there unarmed. Unless you want to make the cover of the next "Missing 411 Book".

(by armed I mean really armed! I carry a lever action 45-70 and a 44 magnum sidearm in there. Don't worry about Rangers, they aren't silly enough to be back in there to start with.)

I came to this thread again wanting to bump it up and to say I'm moving to the area in question and around Xmas I plan on doing some panning.

I'll have to check out this area you're talking about. Sounds interesting.

 

[DeepseekerADS]

View attachment GOLD LOCATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA.doc

I panned at the paid site Thermal City (Rt. 221 South of Marion) last year. Right crowded at the time, skunked all day long in the Newbie panning trough, but then moved into the creek/river and found color = not a whole lot, but broke the ice.

 

[justin35]

Extreme Western N.C. has gold but it is difficult to find. Area makes Cambodia look like Kansas LOL! Look on a map and find Shuler creek off hwy 68 in tennessee and follow it to the edge of N.C. to a place called brush creek. This is in the national forest of N.C. Lots of Cherokee and Muledgon mines here and extensive hard rock mining that isn't registered on any gold map (some of these contain high grade silver ore). You have to walk in to find them. Beware, the rattlesnake fangs haven't been used since sharpened and the Russian boar have 7 inch cutters. Of course the bear and the mountain lions are worse It is no place for a presbyterian, nor will you remain one for very long LOL!

Never go in there alone. Never go in there unarmed. Unless you want to make the cover of the next "Missing 411 Book".

(by armed I mean really armed! I carry a lever action 45-70 and a 44 magnum sidearm in there. Don't worry about Rangers, they aren't silly enough to be back in there to start with.)

Shuler Creek looks to be the more remote of the 2. Are you sure I need to get to Brush Creek?

 

[goldhuntertim]

not sure but I heard of that NC. was the first place to have gold even before the 49ER'S in Calif. I want to say the reed mine area is where it all got started the nugget or at that time should I say BOULDER it was being used as a door stop plus it was to weigh in at 3lbs. The door stop was bought and the rest is history

I had heard in passing someone say that the largest gold nugget was found in NC. Does anyone know it's size? I'm just curious.

 

[enamel7]

Yes, not largest nugget but first discovery of gold. I'm lucky enough to live in the area!

 

[justin35]

Yes, not largest nugget but first discovery of gold. I'm lucky enough to live in the area!

What part exactly? I'm officially moving to Robbinsville in a couple weeks. It'll be a big change from the big city.

 

[enamel7]

Just north of Charlotte. It's near Concord.

 

[therobertsmith]

Yep, Reeds gold mine. You can still pan there for a few. North Carolina was one of the largest producers of gold that they had a mint in Charlotte. I grew up in Rowan County and the Gold Hill area has some very rich mines at one time. I was recently invited to go up and pan some of the tailings from years before. This spring we may go over and check it out. I am now in the Gaston county area and there are so any mines here it is crazy. I have found a book that everyone in NC should read. It was free by doing a Google search about gold mining in the carolinas. If I can find it in will post the link.
If any of yall want to start a club or get together on the weekends let's start something up. My good friend and I spent many days just out panning and hanging out. Finding gold is always a plus but just hanging out is the best.

 

[justin35]

Yep, Reeds gold mine. You can still pan there for a few. North Carolina was one of the largest producers of gold that they had a mint in Charlotte. I grew up in Rowan County and the Gold Hill area has some very rich mines at one time. I was recently invited to go up and pan some of the tailings from years before. This spring we may go over and check it out. I am now in the Gaston county area and there are so any mines here it is crazy. I have found a book that everyone in NC should read. It was free by doing a Google search about gold mining in the carolinas. If I can find it in will post the link.
If any of yall want to start a club or get together on the weekends let's start something up. My good friend and I spent many days just out panning and hanging out. Finding gold is always a plus but just hanging out is the best.

Good to know. You're pretty far away from me as I'm in Graham County, the far western part. AKA the land of no cell coverage and spotty internet. :/

I havent taken my pan out yet because I'm pretty sure the water is still freezing cold. Although if this weather keeps up, it wont be for long.

 

[therobertsmith]

This weather has been beautiful. In the winter I usually set up my highbanker in the garage and right before fall ends i get several buckets to keep me busy during the cold. I am lucky though, I have a creek just steps behind the house and a river 75 yards in the front.
There is a lot of history here with the Catawba Indians and the cotton/iron mills on the river. You can find all kinds of things just walking and looking.
I have one piece I obtained from up in Cherokee out of the river some years back. I finally made it into a necklace. I am not sure if it is an ancient bear claw or some kind of animal tooth.
You ever get down this way pm me and we can go out back in the creek and see what she holds. There is just way to much for me to cover.

 

[therobertsmith]

See if this link works. It is a pdf but the book is pretty awesome

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...WiyZoL0TFpdS3qUzw&sig2=I8YuHUq5ynoknwG108GQxg

 

[therobertsmith]

Here is one more for this area.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...O_WB3Ha7gQ9Itwg8g&sig2=3V9l2zERPMwamxgVoa9tSg

 

[justin35]

Ok so I went to the local (only) hobby store. If ever there was a question about whether gold is in the area or not, it has been answered. There most certainly is!

The guy had lots of gold collecting stuff. Sluices, various pans, obviously detectors, mats, etc. He said yes there is a lot of gold in the area and that the gold rush basically started here before it went to GA the CA then AK. Gold corner of the store:

 

[KevinInColorado]

Cool!
As much as I like to support local stores, that gear looks sub-par. Don't buy until you see some local prospectors in action. Maybe as a guest at a local club outing or some pay to dig spots.

 

[1obxdiver]

Hello fellow Prospectors, I live in Morganton nc now, and Im looking for someone to go prospecting with ,Ive had pretty good luck with this forum in other adventures ,looking forward to a responce .......

 

[placertogo]

More copperheads than gold!