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My home is ideally located for prospecting, roughly halfway between the desert dry placers of northern Nevada and the rich placers of the famous Mother lode country in northern California. Like many local prospectors, I am interested in gold nuggets. While very few will strike it rich, there is some very nice gold out there to be found - its a fun and exciting hobby, but patience and skill are required. The thrill of finding a nice nugget is well worth the effort - I know from personal experience. Unfortunately, gold just does not occur here and there spread over everywhere, so before one can find gold, you first have to know where to look. That's why I have assembled the following information on the placer districts of both Northern Nevada and Northern California. I have also included two other areas I have prospected, Arizona and Alaska. While this may be enough info to get you started, further details on the claims and land status of the goldfields can be obtained from your regional office of the BLM, or through the internet at the BLM's LR2000 website. Click on the highlighted topic links below to access the information I have assembled for you to review.  Good luck in your prospecting and may you find that big nugget that's out there waiting for you!

Nevada Placer Locations

Nevada has produced some nice gold from a series of placers in the northern part of the state. Perhaps the best known are that are located in Pershing and Humboldt counties between Lovelock and Winnemucca. Prospectors armed with metal detectors have been very successful some of these areas, producing some good gold. This page has information and maps covering the placers of Northern Nevada.

California Placer Locations

California has produced more placer gold than any state in the USA. While some nice gold has been mined several regions of the state, there is little question that the best known gold field is the famous Mother Lode country along the western side of the Sierra Nevada Range. Prospectors armed with a wide variety of mining equipment have been very successful, producing some good gold. From dredges and sluice boxes, to dry washers and metal detectors just about all types of mining equipment have a place here.  This page has information and maps covering a number of placer locations in California.

Arizona Placer Locations

Arizona has produced some nice gold from a series of placers. It has become famous in recent years as a hot spot for prospectors armed with metal detectors. I have not had the chance to spend loads of time in Arizona, but I have done some prospecting there, and I did produce some nice gold. This page has notes about my experiences, information and maps covering the placers of Arizona.

Alaska Placer Locations

Alaska is the wild and untamed north, and the state certainly has produced a large amount of placer gold. In 2006, I had the chance to visit Alaska and prospect for gold there. It was a certainly an amazing experience and nothing like any place I had visited before. Here are some comments on my trip and information about searching for gold in the great north. I have also included some historical information and other tales. 

Prospector's Library and bookstore

Want to learn more?  This website has loads of information, but there is always lots more to learn. Here is a large list of books I recommend on Prospecting, rock and mineral collecting, geology, jewelry making, etc. Each has a link where you can make a purchase from Amazon if you wish. 

Nevada Outback Gems