Permits are available from the Ranger Station, Monday thru Friday, in person, or by mail or telephone. Tellico Ranger District, Rt 3, Tellico River Road, PO box 339, Tellico Plains, TN 37385. Good gold can be found in the flood sands and from near the mouth of Wildcat Creek. You have to have a permit for any prospecting, panning, etc. Each person is required to have a permit, even children.
Gold is very fine and black sand are a minimum.
You actually have a greenish colored sand which is somewhat heavier than most black sands. Recovering this gold is very difficult. I have also found gold at my home in Wilson County which is in Middle Tennessee. Gold is fine to pepper grain with some wire gold. I am currently prospecting some leads in Jackson Co. near Gainesboro, TN and will send a follow up report later.