If you have ever joined other prospectors on a trip, you would have seen them sampling the soil and speaking about potential pay dirt. These are terms referring to a knowledge of geology that is essential when deciding to start prospecting for gold. On the other hand, gold can be in several locations, which do not only include river beds.
Gold can be found in dirt, but not in all locations. If the dirt lies in a gold-bearing site, you are likely to find gold in it. However, deploying the right tactics to recover is essential. In some cases, dry washing might be necessary if you can’t benefit from the proximity of water.
Let’s find out how to retrieve gold from dirt!
Table of Contents
What Is Dirt?
Firstly, it is essential to clarify what dirt refers to in the field of prospecting. Generally, the terms soil and dirt are used interchangeably, and they refer to a blend of sand, clay, and other particles like hummus and roots. These mixes often lie on top of bedrocks, along river beds and in drylands.
These mixes are not necessarily gold-bearing, and no two types of dirt are entirely similar. However, gold can reside in the dirt in many locations around the world. That is why many prospectors will use pans, sluice boxes, and dry washing techniques to retrieve it.
Before heading to the nearest grounds, it is worth knowing what to expect from prospecting for gold in dirt. Indeed, often, the gold found in such material comes under the form of fine gold. This element is just as valuable as nuggets or flakes, as the value of gold is calculated per gram or troy ounce.
However, retrieving fine gold[1] poses some challenges that you might not have to face when recovering nuggets or more substantial pieces. Indeed, aside from using correct pans with adequate riffles, you will need to improve your knowledge of prospecting techniques and tips.
This expertise will be essential to analyze the soil before your operation. More importantly, it is easy to lose fine gold particles when panning or sluicing without the right equipment.
Therefore, if you wish to prospect for gold in the dirt, you should invest in the right devices and tools to successfully complete your prospecting operations. These might include dry washing machines and micro sluice boxes such as Fine Gold Recovery Mini Sluice Box.
Where Can You Find Dirt?
Dirt can be found in many locations, both nearby or far from water sources such as streams and creeks. While there is no scarcity of soil you could prospect, not all of it will contain gold. It is essential to examine the surrounding location to understand what opportunities certain dirt will yield.
In this case, understanding the geology of the area and using topographic maps[2] can help you start your research from the right point. Some places in which it is worth sampling the dirt for potential gold-bearing dirt include:
- Locations where gold has been found before
If gold has already been found in a location, it is worth sampling the dirt. In some cases, all resources might have been exploited, and gold deposits replenished over time. This happens due to natural forces moving the particles along and erosion.
- Near rivers and creeks
Rivers and creeks always offer a better indication that there could be some gold in the proximity. Indeed, the natural forces that move gold particles from the main lode[3] will tend to drop them near or above water sources – which will then transport them even further along the course.
- Ancient rivers
Ancient rivers[4] are particular locations in which to find gold deposits. While they might be dry today, in the past, they were full-flowing rivers. Therefore their rich streambed would have become exposed. Here you can find dry soil that is more likely to contain cold compared to other locations.
- Color changes in the soil
If you notice a color change of the soil – usually tending towards a reddish tone – the surrounding area is worth sampling. This indicator might mean that there could have been a rock nearby that has eroded over time. While the stone is not there any longer, the soil and, potentially, gold particles, might still be there.
These are part of the several natural indicators of gold-bearing locations. Some rocks, in particular, will give you an idea of what the soil will yield. If you can see that a place boasts several types of them, you might be in a “Contact Zone.” These can be particularly fruitful.
Pay-Dirts
Pay-dirts[5] refer to the areas in which significant gold or ore has been found. These areas can be highly profitable to mine. Yet many of them have already been exploited as part of mining claims.
However, you might still be able to find pay-dirts in gold-bearing grounds. They might be smaller and less profitable than others, yet they can yield the results you wished to see. Of course, to find a pay-dirt, you might need to understand the area’s geology and sample the terrain.
How to Extract Gold From Dirt
Several techniques can help you unearth gold from the soil. However, you might have to pick one depending on the kind of location you are prospecting. The presence or absence of nearby sources of water is one of the most important determining factors. Here you can find some of the most accessible tactics.
Panning
Panning is potentially one of the most popular and diffused ways of prospecting for gold – from soil or streambed material. However, this technique is ideal only if there is a source of water nearby that you can leverage. Some more serious prospectors could also opt to divert some of the water from a nearby river to a dry location to make the most out of his or her pan or sluice box.
Panning soil for gold is an excellent strategy to deploy. Indeed, the movements and process of panning will allow you to separate the materials and stratify them. As you do so, the lumps in the soil will quickly break down, causing any heavier particles contained in the agglomerates to detach.
Once free, such particles of gold and other heavier materials will rapidly drop to the bottom of the pan. The water flow will wash away the lighter materials, revealing any valuable deposit of gold contained.
Sluicing for Gold
Sluicing for gold is another strategy that could yield excellent results, but only if you can leverage a nearby water source. Indeed, this technique will allow you to process much higher quantities of soil and dirt. However, water is necessary for the correct functioning of this piece of equipment.
Dry Washing
Dry-washing[6] is a valid alternative to sluice boxes that can be used to prospect in dry areas and lands. Indeed, many prospectors looking for gold in the regions that are far from any water source will prefer this tactic over others. Dry-washing machines use a controlled airflow to break down the materials and separate any heavier element from the lighter ones.
Dry-panning for gold is also a viable technique. However, this technique might require you to have much more refined prospecting skills without the necessary airflow or water flow. Learn more about how dry washing works through the video below!
Conclusion
Soil is one of the most popular places in which to find gold. Alongside streambed materials, crevices, and desert locations, dirt in gold-bearing sites allows prospectors to unearth gold from several areas. Depending on whether there is a source of water nearby or not, you might opt to use a pan, a sluice box, or a dry-washing machine to recover the gold from first. Metal detectors can also be viable tools, but a higher investment might be required in this case.