Nuggets and flakes are nudged along waterways, until, far from the host rock, coarse gold becomes particles of dust. This natural process may take hundreds or even thousands of years. Although soft like a fingernail, gold is almost indestructible. Despite the ebb and flow of gold rushes, little Wells not only survives but lures investors to new projects. We are back on the gold trail on the banks of a crystal clear creek where we discover traces of gold in the gravels.
Gold is found in the moss and tree roots as well as in riverbank gravels.
However, after a little more panning, we find that gold can be elusive. The strike of a lustrous nugget, although uncommon, happens each year as patient prospectors explore new and old trails. A middle-aged American teacher, who had camped at Quesnel Forks on his way to Barkerville, shows us a tiny nugget about the size of a pea. I found it at the Forks. In 1860, about 4,000 prospectors are in the area.