rivers changing course

[maddmaxx]

When a river changes course over time, where is the best place to look if you're in the old bed?

[Daveinthebush]

I would think as if there was still water in the stream.  Any area that would have gold in a running stream should produce the same results as in a dry bed.  Behind rocks, logs, inside of a bend and such.

Some of the best gold is not found where the river is today, but where the river was many years ago.  You might have to use a highbanker or power sluice.  One of the biggest claims in the past 15 years in Canada was found in an old bed that someone missed.  

Where did you say that was? :roll:

[maddmaxx]

Any beginners' guide you could reccommend?  It's common knowledge there is gold within 3 or 4 hours of here, and I'd like to give it a try. (It's also common knowledge it ain't worth gettin', but the experience ought to be worth a fortune.) A friend with property has black sand, and we've always said we ought to have the experience, but don't really know about anything but coal mining. Most stuff at the local library is only stories of riches or heartbreak; not "how to". So tickle my ears, if you will, and maybe we'll get rich with experience.

[Daveinthebush]

I have 2 that I started with.

Gold Panners Manual by Garnet Basque ISBN 1-55821-873-4 [$12.95]
Handbook for the Alaskan Prospector by Earnest Wolff  no ISBN (very heavy reading) [$50+]

Try researching the internet too. Lots of informatin on the web.

[masek77]

I know this is an old post but oh well.

If you think you might know where the old riverbed is try behind any large boulders or obstructions. Imagine the river as it was back then and think about the path it took. Look for bends in the river or places where it was narrow and fast. Gold will be on the inside bend of a river as well as just after a fast narrow section.

Lots of old riverbeds are barren and contain no gold at the surface or even a few feet down. Dont give up as the gold is often highy concentrated.

[Kaimi]

I used to use a metal detector hunting for nuggets only but recently ran into someone with a Whites GMT that used his to find and track black sand and high concentrations of minerals. He would then dig down a foot or two and take a sample of the dirt/sand and pan it out. Lo and behold, fine gold and even a couple of flakes. Try to think outside of the box when it comes to finding gold. It worked for me too!
Aloha,
Ka'imi