Click here For Ohio GPAA Gold Claim Information Recreational gold prospecting is alive and well in Ohio. This pan of GOLD was found prospecting the Clearfork River in Richland County, Ohio. While gold is not plentiful, with a little paitence you to can find a little color in your pan. All gold that has been found in Ohio is of the secondary or placer type. It is a long-accepted theory that the placer gold in Ohio originated in the igneous rocks of Canada (Canadian Shield) and was transported to Ohio during one or more episodes of Pleistocene glaciation. This theory has support because Ohio gold is always found in association with glacial deposits formed by meltwater from the glaciers. In addition, gold-bearing areas of Canada lie north of Ohio, more or less in line with the projected paths of the southward flow of various ice sheets. Gold can be found in small quantities throughout the glaciated two-thirds of Ohio. Most reported occurrences are in the zone of Illinoian and Wisconsinan end moraines--areas which commonly mark the farthest advance of these ice sheets. The highest concentrations of gold appear to be associated with Illinoian deposits. Almost all gold recovered is in the form of tiny, flattened flakes only a millimeter or so in diameter. Less common are pieces the size of a wheat grain, and rare are those the size of a pea. At most productive locations, several hours of panning will produce only a few flakes. No locality has been demonstrated to have concentrations sufficient for commercial exploitation, although many attempts were made in the 1800's and early 1900's to mine gold in the state. Most of these ventures were in Clermont County, near Batavia, in southwestern Ohio and in Richland County, near Bellville, in north-central Ohio. All of them were financial failures.

WHERE TO FIND GOLD Theoretically, any stream in the glaciated portion of the state has the potential to produce small amounts of gold. However, there has been little serious scientific study of gold occurrence and concentration throughout the state. Some studies have indicated that the most productive areas may be the result of several episodes of localized concentration by running water. In particular, there is some evidence that modern streams are locally eroding and concentrating gold that was originally concentrated in glacial meltwater channels. The best known and most productive localities have been along Stonelick Creek and Brushy Fork, north of Owensville, Clermont County, and north of Bellville, Richland County. It is probable that there are many other equally productive localities in the glaciated portion of the state. Most areas in Ohio are on private property and permission should always be obtained from the landowner before making a search for gold.

HOW TO FIND GOLD Gold is extremely heavy in comparison to other rocks of equal size and consequently concentrated by stream waters, particularly during floods, in certain areas of the stream bed. Because of its high specific gravity, gold moves along the bed of the stream and will tend to drop into joints or other openings. These crevices can be searched in shallow water by using a meat baster to suck the gold-bearing sand from the joint. Gold also will concentrate at the upstream end of gravel bars, on the inside bend of meanders, or behind large boulders. There is a decrease in current velocity associated with these features and the heavy gold tends to drop out of the flowing water at these points. Coarse gravel associated with large boulders commonly produces gold flakes in favorable areas. Most successful gold panners attempt to sample this gravel as close as possible to its contact with underlying bedrock or clay.

HOW TO PAN GOLD Plastic gold pans are light in weight and have ridges along the inside lip of the pan that prevent gold flakes from being sloshed out. These pans are available from many rock and mineral shops and from various suppliers of treasure-hunting equipment. Other helpful items of equipment include a shovel or scoop to dig into gravel, a screen of hardware cloth to remove large pebbles and debris from the gravel before it is panned, and a small vial or pill bottle in which the gold flakes can be saved. This vial or "keeper" is most efficient when partiall filled with water. A knife point, tweezers, an eyedropper, or an artist's brush work well to remove flakes from the pan for transfer to the keeper. Panning techniques vary widely and each experienced panner develops a special technique. All methods utilize two processes--sizing and gravity concentration. Fill the pan about half full of sand and gravel and then submerge it beneath the water. Knead the material with your fingers in order to break up lumps of clay that can then be washed out. This step is important because gold flakes will adhere to the clay and can be washed out of the pan with lighter material. With the pan still submerged, begin agitating it back and forth with a rotary motion. This technique will size the material, causing the coarsest gravel to rise to the top. Scrape off the upper layer of gravel and discard this material. Repeat this procedure several times. The next step in the panning procedure uses gravity concentration and separates the heavy gold and other minerals from the much lighter fragments of quartz, feldspar, and rock fragments. Begin by agitating the pan with a rotary motion and with the lip of the pan tilted slightly forward. This can be done with water in the pan, but it need not be submerged. After a minute or two of this agitation, dip the lip of the pan below the water surface and, with a forward and upward motion, wash off the lighter weight, upper layer of sand. This procedure can be speeded up by scraping off some of this upper layer with the fingers. After repeating this procedure a few times, all that will be left in the pan will be a small amount of light-colored quartz and a heavy concentration of dark sand (composed primarily of magnetite, ilmenite, and garnet). By placing a small amount of clear water in the pan and giving it a gentle swirl, the dark sand will tail out across the pan. If any gold flakes are present, they should sparkle amongst the black sand. The above technique is a general guideline and speed and efficiency improve with practice. Credit: Much of this information was obtained from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website