After practicing with some paydirt at home, I finally got the opportunity to try panning on the North Fork of the Yuba. It was definitely a steep learning curve, but I got some color. Most of this came from a few pans at the end of the day.
[Previous Post](https://www.reddit.com/r/Prospecting/s/zdsJylf7sa)
[Link to model](https://makerworld.com/models/3189875?appSharePlatform=copy)
Last week, I posted about this 2" dredge/8" sluice box I designed and printed. I have now uploaded the files to MakerWorld for download. Instructions and required materials are included there.
I do plan on working on this in the future, though it will not be at a very fast pace as I intend to actually use it for a while. The biggest existing pain points are the expanded metal clamp and material usage, but there are plenty of other things that can be improved. If you have suggestions, ideas, or need dimensions for your own design, feel free to message me. I do ask that if you create any designs based on this, that you also release them (or allow me to) for free.
P.S./Self-plug: I put a lot of time into this, so downloads/likes/prints/especially boosts are much appreciated over on MakerWorld.
We know it’s been a little quiet around here… but there’s a reason.
We’ve been busy!
The 2026 season is underway, and so far it has been anything but easy.
A whole lot of snow and plenty of challenges—but we’re back at Nugget Creek and putting in the work.
Here’s a little sneak peek.
I was doing some research on a river that has a wild and scenic designation that I would like to prospect on. From what I can tell, that designation removes it from eligibility to be claimed, but in checking the blm mlrs it seems as though someone put a claim on it last year. The rest of the river is claim free despite having good gold, which leads me to believe that it indeed is not possible to claim. Is there a way to report this claim as invalid? Can the claim owner really restrict prospecting on this section of federally protected land?
Thanks in advance for the help!
I haven't found much, but I've at least found something.
Starting to know where to dig and look for.
Got back to the same location after the flood.
Yes it moved lots of material, but I also had to look deeper.
And yep... The same app helped me again 😁😁😁😁
Right next to the old timers dry blowing. So close, yet so far mate.
My hunch from last trip was confirmed as I worked behind a large boulder that is buried in the ground. I found an even more submerged boulder behind the buried boulder I was working on uncovering. Unfortunately I didn't anticipate this new found hunk of rock and I had piled up tailings on top of it. I'm thinking about pushing back my tailings wall and just bare bones working behind both buried boulders.
1.55 Grams on the scale from yesterday with the largest piece being a little picker coming in at 0.09 Grams.
I get her all the way to the bottom. It's heavier than black sand. It's non-magnetic. I don't have a lot of stuff to test with. But it's like a reddish brown. Some of it looks yellow. It's all shiny. And the pics are the best of my cell phone will give. Oh and edited in. Any help commentary or anything else is appreciated. Thank you guys.
I found it in South Germany. Like quartz with gold? I compared the colour and shape of the golden part from other pictures in Reddit, and I think it should not be Pyrite? Actually I have no idea. A newbie learning about stones the first day.
I’m a filmmaker/creator looking to document what it’s actually like to mine for gold in the California desert.
If you regularly prospect or mine out there and wouldn’t mind having me tag along for a day or two, I’d love to join, learn, and document the experience for a YouTube video.
I’m respectful of your land, time, and process — just looking for a genuine adventure and a good story.
Feel free to comment or DM me if you’re interested.