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For many of us when we hear the term gold prospector we think of flannel, ratty haired, missing toothed, grizzly old men who would rather shoot you than show you their gold. But the times they are a changing. The former days of blind digging and hoping for a big strike have been replaced by scientific and technological advances that have made hunting for gold a much more precise operation.
Did the old timers get all the gold? This is a common question asked by people who only know about the original gold rushes of the 1800s. True, the former days produced large amounts of gold and as the gold became harder and harder to recover the original gold rush receded as more sources of revenue became the easier way to make money. However many scientists agree that less than five percent of the worlds gold has been recovered. Few people actually realize that during the eighties there was another huge gold rush as the small yellow rose dramatically in value and once again, fortunes had been discovered. So the days of walking along and tripping over a hundred ounce nugget are rarer and rarer, but the precious yellow is still out there, waiting to be found by some lucky person.
Now, thanks to advances in prospecting we have equipment and supplies that the old time prospectors couldn’t even dream of. We are no longer limited by natural restrictions. Modern day prospectors are able to hunt for gold that is not visible on the surface and even look underwater for extended periods of times where the old timers couldn’t even get to. Even the simple snuffer bottle is something that the former gold hunters would have preferred rather than picking up small pieces of gold with a burnt matchstick.
Prospecting offers a rare financial gain for those willing to do the work. Recovered gold adds to wealth of the world. Unlike the traditional exchange of currency, finding gold is like creating new money that wasn’t there before. If you go out and find $100.00 of gold, you ad that to the economic pot, where someone giving someone else $100.00 is still the same amount, just in different hands. So prospecting actually enriches one individual without taking from another.
There are also several health benefits to prospecting as well. Number one, loading and unloading your gear twice over is a good way to burn calories. Hiking, digging, breathing fresh air, and panning all increase your heart rate and help tone muscles. If your dredging or working in cold water you can be shocked to know that shivering can burn up to 500 calories an hour. Of course as with any kind of activity that carries physical exertion you should consult your physician before prospecting of any kind. However prospecting can be as simple as swinging a four pound, ergonomic metal detector to shoveling countless buckets of dirt and sand. So whether you’re a fit athlete or a recovering couch potato you can be sure to find a physical challenge while increasing your personal wealth and health.
A good prospector can also be a better asset to the environment than someone holding a protest sign ever could. Prospectors remove lead, mercury, and countless types of garbage that can be harmful to the environment. Metal detectors find rusting metals and old lead bullets that seep into the ground as they deteriorate. Gold Dredgers remove countless ounces of mercury out of rivers and streams every year as well as oxygenating the water, dislodging food for small fish, and creating protective fish beds that increase the survival rate of fry.
Prospecting is also a great way to get the family out of the house and do something that brings people together. I have seen families where the kids classify the material while mom and dad pan and make lunches. Nothing can beat the look in a child’s eye when they find their first flake from panning on their own. The hands on educational experience both children and parents receive from a family outing is invaluable.
So with all the technological advances, finacial, health, environmental, and social benefits associated with gold prospecting, it's easy to see why the popularity of modern recreational prospecting is increasing on a daily basis. So whether you are just looking for a little extra exercise, a great time in nature, or adding a little color to your pcoket, prospecting is a great hobby to get into. When you think about it, how many other hobbies can you have that have the potential to pay for themselves, and then some?
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