GOLD ENCYCLOPEDIA
The definitive global ledger of prospecting terminology, geological theory, and technical extraction protocols.
Alluvial Gold
Gold that has been eroded from its original mineral source (the lode) and transported by water, typically settling in riverbeds and gravel bars.
Black Sand
Heavy minerals, primarily magnetite and hematite, that settle in the same low-pressure areas as gold due to their high specific gravity.
PRO TIP: Use a magnet to remove magnetite from your final concentrates, making it easier to see the gold.
Bedrock
The solid rock layer underlying all surface soil and gravel. In gold prospecting, "true" bedrock is the ultimate barrier where gold stops sinking.
Pulse Induction (PI)
A type of metal detecting technology that sends powerful bursts of electronic pulses into the ground, ignoring soil mineralization.
Specific Gravity
The ratio of the density of gold (approx. 19.3) compared to water (1.0).
VLF (Very Low Frequency)
A common metal detector technology that is highly sensitive to small gold but can struggle in heavily mineralized soil.
Sluice Box
An artificial channel with riffles or matting used to wash gold from gravel using the force of flowing water.
Indicator Minerals
Minerals that often occur alongside gold, such as garnet, ironstone, or quartz.
Lode Gold
Gold found in its original mineral host rock (typically quartz veins), rather than washed into a riverbed.
PRO TIP: Look for "rotten" iron-stained quartz. This oxidized rock is where gold is most easily freed.
Overburden
The layer of barren soil, sand, and gravel that covers the gold-bearing "pay layer."
PRO TIP: If the gravel is loose and light-colored, it is likely overburden. Look for the transition to darker, heavier material.
Tailings
The waste material left over after the gold has been extracted. Historic tailings are often found in large piles near old mines.
PRO TIP: Old-timers were often bad at catching fine gold. Re-running old tailings with a modern sluice is a proven strategy.
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
Remote sensing technology that uses laser pulses to map the ground surface through dense vegetation.
PRO TIP: Check your local government GIS portal for LiDAR datasets. They are the ultimate "X-ray" for gold hunters.
Tenure / Mineral Rights
The legal right to extract minerals from a specific piece of land. This varies wildly by country (e.g., BLM in US, Crown Land in NZ).
Garnet (Ruby Sand)
A heavy, often pink or red mineral that settles just above the gold layer in the pan.
PRO TIP: If you see a pink "halo" in your pan, you are deep in the heavy concentrates. Move slower.
Zircon
A highly durable, heavy mineral that often appears as tiny, translucent crystals in the pan.
THE SLUICE BOX BIBLE
Take your knowledge from theory to literal weight. Our 140-page master manual covers advanced matting physics, high-flow geometry, and the "Lost Gold" recovery protocols.
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