Finding Fine Gold in Colorado

After the gold discoveries in Denver, Colorado and the mountains just west of Denver in 1858, prospectors swarmed through the Colorado Rockies in search of that shiny gold stuff. In 1862, gold was discovered near Hahns Peak, just north of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and a settlement was established there in 1866.

However, the remote location and absence of rich gold veins made it difficult for prospectors to turn a profit near Hahns Peak. Although several mines did open, a “gold rush” to the area never truly materialized, but there are several creeks in Steamboat Springs where “fine gold” is still present in the water. One prospector by the name of Bob Gill knows how to easily recover the gold with his grandchildren using a special tool: the Gold Rush Nugget Bucket.

Bob bought his first Gold Rush Nugget Bucket about three years ago, and after seeing the results in recovering fine gold, he bought two more for the grandchildren to use. Bob, originally from Arizona, has enjoyed gold panning and prospecting for more than 20 years. Bob and his family relocated to Craig, Colorado where he enjoys his off time pursuing his hobby of gold panning and spending time with his grandchildren.  

Some fine gold that Bob found with his Gold Rush Nugget Bucket.

Bob and his family took a trip to the Hahns Peak area in late summer 2015 to gold pan using his Gold Rush Nugget Bucket. The photo below shows the 1/2-gram of gold Bob recovered using his Gold Rush Nugget Bucket. Bob particularly likes the fact that he can set up his grandchildren on a flat area with a Gold Rush Nugget Bucket, where they can happily find their own gold and have a ton of fun. In addition to the Gold Rush Nugget Buckets, Bob has invested in some cleanup equipment at home for that extra pay dirt he brings home from his trips; a blue bowl and a finishing sluice that cut down on the time it would take to pan out the super concentrates from his Gold Rush Nugget Buckets.

Bob summarized our conversation saying the Gold Rush Nugget Bucket is his favorite equipment to take prospecting, and the two he bought for his grandchildren were the perfect Christmas Gifts that keep on giving with “every outing with Grandpa.”

Special thanks to Bill Jones, one of our favorite prospectors, for this great blog! 

Gold's Value Rests on Supply, Demand, and Malleability 

Mankind has wondered, throughout the course of human history, as to the reason of gold’s high value. There are plenty of exquisite items around the world that are pleasing to the eye that are substantially less valuable than gold. However, very few metals or items are as rare as gold. It is believed that only 1 to 20 percent of the world’s gold has been found, and most companies that dig for gold using heavy equipment have to move about ten tons of dirt or rock to extract a single ounce of gold.

Gold is also inert, meaning it doesn’t rust, corrode or degrade because it doesn’t interact with other elements. In essence, gold is made to last forever. Gold is extremely malleable. It can be stretched and twisted without breaking or cracking, allowing jewelry makers to create a plethora of different items and objects. Gold can also conduct electricity and is often used in computer circuits and audio cables around the world.

The bottom line is that people have always wanted gold, and have been willing to pay or trade for it since its discovery. Gold is a timeless wonder that has greatly appreciated in value, especially within recent years. People are willing to pay for gold because of it's difficulty to obtain and malleability.

Although gold panning is mostly made to be a fun outdoor activity, it can be a profitable venture if done correctly and in the right place. Make your gold panning both fun and easy with the Gold Rush Nugget Bucket, and we promise your gold panning will never be the same. Contact us today!

Places For Gold Panning in California

California has a ‘rich’ history of gold mining and panning. Underground mining of high-grade gold deposits, surface dredging, and open-pit mining are a few examples of the most popular means of obtaining high quantities of gold in the state. California ranked fourth in the U.S. in gold production in 2013, producing approximately 449,200 troy ounces of gold worth $122.3 million.

Despite the more common forms of obtaining gold in California, gold panning is an incredibly popular and profitable recreational activity in several of California’s regions. River locations around and near the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains have shown significant signs of quality gold.  Northern California typically has the richest spots for gold panning. Areas around Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park offer panning along the American River. Auburn Recreation Area also offers a great location for prospecting and panning for gold as well. Millerton Lake State Recreation Area in Central California has gold tours to pan for gold on Saturdays in November and March. Although Southern California has a limited number of spots to pan for gold, Red Rock Canyon State Park has streams that have shown signs of significant gold panning returns in recent years.

Wherever your gold panning adventure may be, please consider looking up the uses and efficiency of the Gold Rush Nugget Bucket for your next adventure!

Make Your Next Camping Trip Unforgettable With Your Family 

A camping trip may be the perfect weekend excursion for your family, and something that may compliment your next trip is bringing along some gold panning gear! You can pan for gold at just about any lake, stream, river, or beach, so pack your tent, S’more fixings, and head to the nearest natural source of water where you can go camping! Here are some great camping activities to make it a memorable vacation:

1. Fireside Poker: Adults can play with chips or cash, and kids can play for goodies such as marshmallows or small candies.
2. Chubby Bunny: You remembered to bring those S’more fixin’s, right? Children and adults alike can play this game, likely without keeping a straight face: how may marshmallows can each person fit in their mouth, while still being able to exclaim “chubby bunny."
3. Mexican Train Dominoes: A popular game played with Dominoes that can become addicting! Find a picnic table and spend your evening playing Mexican Train. Don’t know how? Find instructions here (http://boardgames.about.com/od/Dominoes/a/Mexican-Train-Rules.htm)
4. Hunt for Tadpoles: While you’re panning for gold, search in the water for tadpoles. How many can you catch?
5. Ladder Golf: Ladder Golf is a great outdoor game to play while grilling dinner back at camp after a long day out on the water. It’s similar in many ways to horseshoes, but arguably more fun.

Of course, exploring your natural surroundings can be entertaining as well, but we’re sure you’d much rather spend your daylight hours searching diligently for gold nuggets and fine gold using the Gold Rush Nugget Bucket!

Well-Known Californians During The Gold Rush 

Lotta Crabtree
Carlotta (“Lotta”) Crabtree was an American singer, comedian, and actress whose claim to fame and wealth consisted of entertaining miners for approximately 20 years of her life, starting when she was only six years old.

Levi Strauss
Where miners saw holes in their pants, Levi Strauss saw opportunity. Day in and day out, miners tore their pants, and Levi sought to resolve this issue. He designed the durable denim jean, which to this day still earns big bucks for Levi’s company.

Mark Twain
Considered by many to be the greatest writer in American history, Mark Twain traveled west to reap the benefits of the Gold Rush. Though his gold panning efforts failed, his wit and satire prevailed, and he earned a great deal of money through his writing. He then invested in several fruitless ventures, and found himself bankrupt. Poor Mark Twain.