158:
166:
140:
218:
43:
279:
454:
The introduction of modern gravity and magnetic surveying methods has greatly facilitated the prospecting process. Airborne gravimeters and magnetometers can collect data from vast areas and highlight anomalous geologic features. Three-dimensional inversions of audio-magnetotellurics (AMT) is used to
286:
The traditional methods of prospecting involved combing through the countryside, often through creek beds and along ridgelines and hilltops, often on hands and knees looking for signs of mineralization in the outcrop. In the case of gold, all streams in an area would be panned at the appropriate trap
203:
In some areas a prospector must also stake a claim, meaning they must erect posts with the appropriate placards on all four corners of a desired land they wish to prospect and register this claim before they may take samples. In other areas publicly held lands are open to prospecting without staking
458:
Another relatively new prospecting technique is using low frequency electromagnetic (EM) waves for 'sounding' into the Earth's crust. These low frequency waves will respond differently based on the material they pass through, allowing for analysts to create three-dimensional images of potential ore
367:
Other gold rushes occurred in Papua New Guinea, Australia at least four times, Fiji, South Africa and South
America. In all cases, the gold rush was sparked by idle prospecting for gold and minerals which, when the prospector was successful, generated 'gold fever' and saw a wave of prospectors comb
467:
Geochemical prospecting involves analyzing the chemical properties of rock samples, drainage sediments, soils, surface and ground waters, mineral separates, atmospheric gases and particulates, and even plants and animals. Properties such as trace element abundances are analyzed systematically to
306:
These shows were commonly short-lived, exhausted and abandoned quite soon, requiring the prospector to move onwards to the next and hopefully bigger and better show. Occasionally, the prospector would strike it rich and be joined by other prospectors to develop a larger-scale mining operation.
199:
Traditionally prospecting relied on direct observation of mineralization in rock outcrops or in sediments. Modern prospecting also includes the use of geologic, geophysical, and geochemical tools to search for anomalies which can narrow the search area. Once an anomaly has been identified and
294:
was found, it was then necessary to intensively work the area with pick and shovel, and often via the addition of some simple machinery such as a sluice box, races and winnows, to work the loose soil and rock looking for the appropriate materials (in this case, gold). For most
597:
Fiji through a Prism of
Geology and Mines Inspection. Chapter 5 in: White F. Miner with a Heart of Gold: biography of a mineral science and engineering educator. Friesen Press, Victoria. 2020. ISBN 978-1-5255-7765-9 (Hardcover) 978-1-5255-7766-6 (Paperback) 978-1-5255-7767-3
459:
bodies or volcanic intrusions. This technique is used for a variety of prospecting, but can mainly be for finding conductive materials. So far these low frequency EM techniques have been proven for geothermal exploration as well as for coal bed methane analysis.
658:
Farquharson, Colin; Craven, James (August 2009). "Three-dimensional inversion of magnetotelluric data for mineral exploration: An example from the McArthur River uranium deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada".
401:
are invaluable for gold prospectors, as they are quite effective at detecting gold nuggets within the soil down to around 1 metre (3 feet), depending on the acuity of the operator's hearing and skill.
157:
314:
In most countries in the 19th and early 20th century, it was very unlikely that a prospector would retire rich even if he was the one who found the greatest of lodes. For instance
307:
Although these are thought of as "old" prospecting methods, these techniques are still used today, but usually coupled with more advanced techniques such as
455:
find conductive materials up to a few kilometers into the Earth, which has been helpful to locate kimberlite pipes, as well as tungsten and copper.
912:
694:
Shi, Yuan (January 2020). "Three-dimensional audio-frequency magnetotelluric imaging of Zhuxi copper-tungsten polymetallic deposits, South China".
322:, died without receiving anywhere near a fraction of the value of the gold contained in the lodes. The same story repeated at Bendigo, Ballarat,
862:
494:
729:
Singh, Anand; Sharma, S.P. (2015). "Fast imaging of subsurface conductors using very low-frequency electromagnetic data".
379:
Knowledge of previous prospecting in an area helps in determining location of new prospective areas. Prospecting includes
107:
574:
79:
265:
126:
247:
405:
86:
17:
815:
Van Der Kruk, J (2002). "An apparent-resistivity concept for low-frequency electromagnetic sounding techniques".
523:
902:
243:
64:
608:
93:
857:
408:
from the nonmagnetic fraction, which may assist in the panning or sieving of gold from the soil or stream.
239:
60:
75:
907:
892:
622:
364:. The majority of early prospectors had no training and relied mainly on luck to discover deposits.
483:
228:
181:
517:
440:
ores. Prospecting pickaxes are usually equipped with a triangular head, with a very sharp point.
232:
53:
31:
299:
shows, the rock would have been mined by hand and crushed on site, the ore separated from the
376:
Modern prospectors today rely on training, the study of geology, and prospecting technology.
872:
200:
interpreted to be a potential prospect direct observation can then be focused on this area.
897:
781:
738:
703:
668:
327:
8:
505:
100:
785:
742:
707:
672:
797:
772:
Wang, Nan (2017). "Passive super-low frequency electromagnetic prospecting technique".
754:
380:
323:
867:
801:
758:
641:
514: โ Extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth
789:
746:
711:
676:
488:
715:
680:
398:
170:
278:
613:
609:
Reserves, resources and lithium exploration in the salt flats of northern Chile
550:
529:
477:
437:
421:
353:
793:
626:
886:
361:
357:
750:
449:
404:
Magnetic separators may be useful in separating the magnetic fraction of a
315:
173:. The gold, deposited along a fracture, appears rusty-orange in this photo.
344:
In the United States and Canada, prospectors were lured by the promise of
308:
169:
Rich specimen from a 2009 gold discovery by a prospector in southeastern
532: โ Electronic instrument which detects the presence of metal nearby
386:
Prospecting of minerals found in mobile fluids, as is often the case of
508: โ Finding commercially viable concentrations of minerals to mine.
319:
296:
193:
165:
383:, rock assay analysis, and sometimes the intuition of the prospector.
502: โ Gold discovery triggering an onrush of miners seeking fortune
499:
339:
139:
480: โ Exploration of nature for material with commercial potential
217:
42:
144:
428:, obtaining small samples that can be tested for trace amounts of
852:
425:
417:
387:
287:
sites looking for a show of 'colour' or gold in the river trail.
185:
511:
433:
432:. Modern prospecting pickaxes are also sometimes equipped with
349:
300:
189:
192:, precious metals, or mineral specimens. It is also known as
345:
180:
is the first stage of the geological analysis (followed by
429:
877:
868:
Historical pictures of prospectors and the Gold Rush
30:"Prospectors" redirects here. For the TV series, see
67:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
640:
161:Schoolchildren learn to pan for gold, Denver, 1972
657:
884:
526: โ Scientific agency of the US government
491: โ Act of searching for new gold deposits
443:
390:, adds a "temporal element" to be considered.
836:Analytical Methods in Geochemical Prospecting
814:
356:. They traveled across the mountains of the
728:
246:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
601:
462:
266:Learn how and when to remove this message
127:Learn how and when to remove this message
277:
164:
156:
138:
913:Western (genre) staples and terminology
643:Introduction to Geophysical Prospecting
495:Gold Prospectors Association of America
184:) of a territory. It is the search for
14:
885:
638:
551:"Mining - Prospecting and exploration"
520: โ Attempts to locate oil and gas
411:
371:
207:
833:
771:
244:adding citations to reliable sources
211:
65:adding citations to reliable sources
36:
863:Prospecting in Northwestern Ontario
693:
24:
393:
333:
318:, who discovered the Golden Mile,
25:
924:
846:
282:Example of a prospecting pickaxe.
216:
41:
27:The physical search for minerals
827:
808:
524:United States Geological Survey
52:needs additional citations for
765:
722:
687:
651:
632:
591:
567:
543:
360:, carrying picks, shovels and
143:Prospector and burro, western
13:
1:
716:10.1016/j.jappgeo.2019.103910
696:Journal of Applied Geophysics
681:10.1016/j.jappgeo.2008.02.002
661:Journal of Applied Geophysics
536:
436:, to aid in the gathering of
311:magnetic or gravity surveys.
148:
7:
471:
444:Electromagnetic prospecting
290:Once a small occurrence or
10:
929:
858:Prospecting in Nova Scotia
774:Frontiers of Earth Science
639:Dobrin, Milton B. (1960).
447:
337:
29:
794:10.1007/s11707-017-0597-4
629:. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
878:Prospecting in Indonesia
647:. New York, McGraw-Hill.
627:10.5027/andgeoV49n2-3444
484:Geobotanical prospecting
873:Prospecting in the West
853:Prospecting in Tasmania
817:Geophysical Prospecting
751:10.1111/1365-2478.12323
731:Geophysical Prospecting
555:Encyclopedia Britannica
518:Hydrocarbon exploration
463:Geochemical prospecting
32:Prospectors (TV series)
420:are used to scrape at
316:Patrick (Paddy) Hannan
283:
174:
162:
154:
903:Geological techniques
281:
168:
160:
142:
607:Cabello, J. (2022).
579:www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca
575:"Mineral Tenure Act"
240:improve this section
61:improve this article
786:2017FrES...11..248W
743:2015GeopP..63.1355S
708:2020JAG...17203910S
673:2009JAG....68..450F
506:Mineral exploration
412:Prospecting pickaxe
468:locate anomalies.
406:heavy mineral sand
381:geological mapping
372:Modern prospecting
284:
208:Historical methods
175:
163:
155:
908:History of mining
368:the countryside.
276:
275:
268:
137:
136:
129:
111:
16:(Redirected from
920:
893:Economic geology
840:
839:
831:
825:
824:
812:
806:
805:
769:
763:
762:
726:
720:
719:
691:
685:
684:
655:
649:
648:
646:
636:
630:
605:
599:
595:
589:
588:
586:
585:
571:
565:
564:
562:
561:
547:
489:Gold prospecting
271:
264:
260:
257:
251:
220:
212:
204:a mining claim.
153:
150:
132:
125:
121:
118:
112:
110:
69:
45:
37:
21:
18:Prospecting pits
928:
927:
923:
922:
921:
919:
918:
917:
883:
882:
849:
844:
843:
834:Fletcher, W.K.
832:
828:
813:
809:
770:
766:
727:
723:
692:
688:
656:
652:
637:
633:
606:
602:
596:
592:
583:
581:
573:
572:
568:
559:
557:
549:
548:
544:
539:
474:
465:
452:
446:
414:
399:Metal detectors
396:
394:Metal detecting
374:
354:precious metals
342:
336:
334:The gold rushes
272:
261:
255:
252:
237:
221:
210:
171:Yukon Territory
151:
133:
122:
116:
113:
70:
68:
58:
46:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
926:
916:
915:
910:
905:
900:
895:
881:
880:
875:
870:
865:
860:
855:
848:
847:External links
845:
842:
841:
826:
807:
780:(2): 248โ267.
764:
721:
686:
667:(4): 450โ458.
650:
631:
621:(2): 297โ306.
614:Andean Geology
600:
590:
566:
541:
540:
538:
535:
534:
533:
530:Metal detector
527:
521:
515:
509:
503:
497:
492:
486:
481:
478:Bioprospecting
473:
470:
464:
461:
445:
442:
413:
410:
395:
392:
373:
370:
338:Main article:
335:
332:
274:
273:
224:
222:
215:
209:
206:
135:
134:
49:
47:
40:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
925:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
899:
896:
894:
891:
890:
888:
879:
876:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
856:
854:
851:
850:
837:
830:
822:
818:
811:
803:
799:
795:
791:
787:
783:
779:
775:
768:
760:
756:
752:
748:
744:
740:
736:
732:
725:
717:
713:
709:
705:
701:
697:
690:
682:
678:
674:
670:
666:
662:
654:
645:
644:
635:
628:
624:
620:
616:
615:
610:
604:
594:
580:
576:
570:
556:
552:
546:
542:
531:
528:
525:
522:
519:
516:
513:
510:
507:
504:
501:
498:
496:
493:
490:
487:
485:
482:
479:
476:
475:
469:
460:
456:
451:
441:
439:
438:ferromagnetic
435:
431:
427:
423:
419:
409:
407:
402:
400:
391:
389:
384:
382:
377:
369:
365:
363:
359:
358:American West
355:
351:
347:
341:
331:
329:
325:
321:
317:
312:
310:
304:
302:
298:
293:
288:
280:
270:
267:
259:
249:
245:
241:
235:
234:
230:
225:This section
223:
219:
214:
213:
205:
201:
197:
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
172:
167:
159:
146:
141:
131:
128:
120:
109:
106:
102:
99:
95:
92:
88:
85:
81:
78: โ
77:
76:"Prospecting"
73:
72:Find sources:
66:
62:
56:
55:
50:This article
48:
44:
39:
38:
33:
19:
835:
829:
820:
816:
810:
777:
773:
767:
734:
730:
724:
699:
695:
689:
664:
660:
653:
642:
634:
618:
612:
603:
593:
582:. Retrieved
578:
569:
558:. Retrieved
554:
545:
466:
457:
453:
450:Turam method
416:Prospecting
415:
403:
397:
385:
378:
375:
366:
352:, and other
343:
313:
305:
291:
289:
285:
262:
253:
238:Please help
226:
202:
198:
177:
176:
123:
114:
104:
97:
90:
83:
71:
59:Please help
54:verification
51:
898:Gold rushes
737:(6): 1355.
309:geophysical
182:exploration
178:Prospecting
152: 1900
887:Categories
702:: 103910.
584:2024-02-08
560:2020-02-29
537:References
448:See also:
328:California
320:Kalgoorlie
297:base metal
256:March 2020
194:fossicking
117:March 2020
87:newspapers
802:113545890
759:131284478
500:Gold rush
362:gold pans
340:Gold rush
303:by hand.
227:does not
472:See also
426:minerals
418:pickaxes
324:Klondike
186:minerals
145:Colorado
782:Bibcode
739:Bibcode
704:Bibcode
669:Bibcode
598:(eBook)
434:magnets
388:lithium
248:removed
233:sources
190:fossils
147:, USA,
101:scholar
800:
757:
512:Mining
350:silver
301:gangue
103:
96:
89:
82:
74:
798:S2CID
755:S2CID
422:rocks
108:JSTOR
94:books
823:(6).
424:and
346:gold
326:and
292:show
231:any
229:cite
80:news
790:doi
747:doi
712:doi
700:172
677:doi
623:doi
430:ore
242:by
63:by
889::
821:48
819:.
796:.
788:.
778:11
776:.
753:.
745:.
735:63
733:.
710:.
698:.
675:.
665:68
663:.
625::
619:49
617:.
611:.
577:.
553:.
348:,
330:.
196:.
188:,
149:c.
838:.
804:.
792::
784::
761:.
749::
741::
718:.
714::
706::
683:.
679::
671::
587:.
563:.
269:)
263:(
258:)
254:(
250:.
236:.
130:)
124:(
119:)
115:(
105:ยท
98:ยท
91:ยท
84:ยท
57:.
34:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.