Gold Prospecting

Level: 1

Requirements

• Create a list of equipment used for gold panning. Describe each item and tell what it is used for. The list should include at least the following.
• Define the following:
  • Pay dirt
  • Quartz
  • Pyrite
  • Blond sands
  • Black sands
  • Placer
  • Lode
  • Nugget
  • Flake
  • Dust
  • Specific gravity
  • Wet and Dry panning
  • Mercury (historical use) DO NOT USE TODAY
  • Troy pound
  • Troy ounce
  • Pennyweight (dwt)
  • Grain
  • Gold fever
• What are the following identifying characteristics of Gold.
  • Specific gravity
  • Color of streak
  • Color
• Where are some good places on a river or stream to look for gold.
• Make a timeline containing at least 15 items about the history of gold prospecting from 1600 until the present day, including the following rushes: California Gold Rush, Klondike/Yukon Gold Rush, Witwatersrand Gold Rush, and the Victorian Gold Rush.
• Learn about gold panning by doing one of the following:
  • Do some gold panning. (preferred).
  • Practice panning using flattened lead or tungsten shot mixed with sand (preferably from a river bank).
• Look up the following verses in the Bible and discuss them in relation to prospecting for gold.
  • Matthew 13:44-46
  • Matthew 6:19-21