A New California Gold Rush

[Steve Herschbach]

On 5/3/2023 at 1:22 AM, TampaBayBrad said:

This guy doesn't have a problem panning for gold in California recently....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcAJ21YttwQ

Is it illegal to pan out there?

 

No it's not illegal to pan for gold or metal detect for gold in California unless you are doing it where you should not.

I locked the thread temporarily as it was veering into politics. Open again now. Please people, remember the prime directive on these forums. Zero politics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And be decent to your fellow forum members. It does not seem like too much to ask. Thanks.

[Clay Diggins]

Here is a map of the mines in California currently mining with permits and heavy equipment. There are new ones being approved on a regular basis. I have several clients that have permitted major mines in California in the last three years. Some of those are gold mines - both placer and lode operations. No form of mining has been outlawed in California.

https://maps.conservation.ca.gov/mol/index.html

I wouldn't look to flooding to move much gold in the waterways. Mass wasting from heavy rains does replenish gold in the waterways but without mass wasting I wouldn't expect much change in river placer gold availability. Watch for new landslides or major slump movement to bring fresh gold this spring. ?‍♂️

[Steve Herschbach]

5 hours ago, Clay Diggins said:

No form of mining has been outlawed in California.

Suction dredging?

[Clay Diggins]

1 hour ago, Steve Herschbach said:

Suction dredging?

It's still legal Steve - just as soon as permits are available you can start dredging.

It was never outlawed just put away in a bureaucratic jungle. Any more than that is straying into forbidden territory on this forum.

Thanks for providing a place where we are free from politics and religion. It's always about the hunt here. I'm good with that.

[GhostMiner]

11 minutes ago, Clay Diggins said:

It's still legal Steve - just as soon as permits are available you can start dredging.

It was never outlawed just put away in a bureaucratic jungle. Any more than that is straying into forbidden territory on this forum.

Thanks for providing a place where we are free from politics and religion. It's always about the hunt here. I'm good with that.

Our lessee just had 2 approved permits on our claims in northern Cal including state approved water license. No digging or washplant within 300 ft of creek & you are good to go. 

[Hard Prospector]

Since on the subject of gold panning in California,  its my understanding that gold panning in California state parks is legal so long as only "hands and pans" only.  To imply no hand tools of any kind allowed in the process.  Can anyone confirm if this is so?  

Just a simple question,  nothing political here.

[WesD]

Yep thats the policy in my area.  Now if you are deep in the Auburn Rec area away from the public eye, I bet you may spot a sluice and shovel or two.

[TampaBayBrad]

On 5/3/2023 at 4:22 AM, TampaBayBrad said:

This guy doesn't have a problem panning for gold in California recently....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcAJ21YttwQ

Is it illegal to pan out there?

 

 

6 hours ago, Hard Prospector said:

Since on the subject of gold panning in California,  its my understanding that gold panning in California state parks is legal so long as only "hands and pans" only.  To imply no hand tools of any kind allowed in the process.  Can anyone confirm if this is so?  

Just a simple question,  nothing political here.

I guess that means the guy in the video was illegal because he was using a shovel if it is in fact "hands and pans only".

[GB_Amateur]

5 hours ago, TampaBayBrad said:

I guess that means the guy in the video was illegal because he was using a shovel if it is in fact "hands and pans only".

He was in a state park??