If you know of some gold bearing places, you’ll want to look for black sands, where flowing water meets an obstruction, the inside curves of a river, or any obvious area where water slows down and gravity allows gold to settle like sandbars, around boulders, logs and debris, and below waterfalls. These are some placer deposit markers to be aware of and where to dip your pan.
If you’re looking for specific locations in the United States, here are some popular sites that you can research further.
• Fairbanks, Alaska
• Pile’s Creek, Colorado
• Feather River, California
• American River, California
Always do your research on the area not just for improving success rates, but to be aware of the legalities of gold claim laws.