Panning in Virginia

[kmil10]

Another newbie here with the fever. I was hoping for some tips on panning sites in Virginia. Been reading up on the gold mining history of Virginia. I live in Richmond area and eager to learn as much as I can about gold prospecting and metal detecting. Thanks also for this great resource....love reading the posts

 

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[B H Prospector]

Hi Kmil10,
welcome to the net and the beautiful golden world. You have already done yourself a favor by joining the forum as there are alot of knowledgable folks on here. Also you have been researching. Your next step should be to find a local prospecting or metal detecting club to join. There are no GPAA clubs in Virginia but 3 in WV. They are as follows: Larry Board 304-742-5097 Craigesville WV, Jim DeWeese 304-882-2578 New Haven WV, and Joe Smoot 304-972-1976 Nitro WV. Maybe one of them are close to you. I'm sure they will be helpful.

Good Luck!

B H Prospector

 

[kmil10]

Thank you BH Prospector for the information. I joined the GPAA in November. I will be sure to reach out to a chapter nearest me as well as one of the folks listed to see if there a place near me to get my pan wet. Take care and thank you again

 

[Ausquatcher81]

Hi Kmil10,

Newbie Prospector here as well and also just joined the GPAA. I live here in Va around the Charlottesville area. There is Central Virginia Gold Prospectors out of the Buckingham area as well as a GPAA chapter in Maryland that I joined recently thats 2.5 hrs from me and the ones in West Virginia that B H Prospector said. I know of a few places around here that are pretty good. Always down to getting some pans wet. Hope some of this info was helpful Happy Prospecting!

 

[kmil10]

Auscquatcher81...love the tag and thanks for the reply. I have checked out the Central Virginia club. Have you been to a meeting?

 

[Ausquatcher81]

Kmil10,

No not yet. I missed the Nov one and they didn't have a dec or a jan meeting. The next one is feb 16th and I was planning on going to that one.

 

[kmil10]

Cool.... It's the Frederick MD chapter? That's probably the closest to me. The GPAA I mean...

 

[Ausquatcher81]

That's the one! I wish there was a closer one. I'm surprised there isn't a GPAA Chapter in VA honestly. Maybe I should contact the GPAA and start one for Central VA! They all have to start somewhere right?! Have you been out prospecting anywhere yet?

 

[kmil10]

In va not really. I am trying to find a spot. I have been out several times in W NC. That's what got me started and hooked really.

 

[kmil10]

A GPAA chapter for Central VA would be sweet to.

 

[Ausquatcher81]

NC has some nice gold! I have only prospected at Vein,Thermal City and Uwharrie Forest there. Always looking for new places in VA,NC,TN areas. I found a good spot this past week and not far from my house, we will see if it pans out!

 

[Ausquatcher81]

Yea. I looked into starting a GPAA Chapter and doesn't seem that difficult to do. If I wasn't planning on taking a year or longer trip to a few LDMA sites I would think about starting one myself.

 

[kmil10]

Wow when are planning to do that? Someday I hope to do the LDMA. Kids getting in the way of my gold dreams.... But I wouldn't trade even a moment with them for all the gold

 

[Ausquatcher81]

I was planning on early summer. But might take me till August to really get everything I need and things ready to go. So roughly 6 months from now. It should be a blast!

 

[kmil10]

That's really cool. Have you picked the sites? How long do you plan to be at each one?

 

[Ausquatcher81]

I was thinking a month/6 weeks ish per LDMA camp, longer if finding good gold! Since I will be using it mainly for a campsite it's a lot cheaper and prolly somewhat safer being there vs staying at some random places. And I can go to diff locations around the area from the LDMA site to prospect,metal detect and all. I was thinking starting off heading through Tennessee to Colorado and from there prolly northern Cali to hit fall time so I can get some Squatching in up there. And stay in that area a few months.

 

[kmil10]

So jealous....well at least if I ever get to it myself someone will be there to give me all of the tips

 

[smokeythecat]

You should visit the little museum in Goldvein, VA, it's north and West of Fredericksburg, but check to see when they're open. Fluvanna County has gold in the streams. I've been told Contrary Creek still produces gold. There was a post on this forum recently. I have done better at the Cottonpatch Mine in New London, NC (you buy buckets) and at Crisson's Gold mine is GA. (same deal there). I did get small nuggest both places, but it's like fishing in a barrell.

 

[Ausquatcher81]

Hi Smokey,

Nvr have been to Goldvein,va. I need to go soon. And yes. I know for a fact Fluvanna has gold in it hehehe And as for CC in Louisa, yes there is good gold there too but that place has so many other heavy minerals its just a hard place to do anything other than dredge or high bank. I have been to cc maybe 6 times and it is hard, and a harder place to learn to pan at. I never have been to louden. Sounds like a interesting place. I just don't like the idea of paying. But that's me. I'm tight lol

 

[kmil10]

Thanks smokeythecat for the suggestions. I am ready to go explore some creek and stream beds starting first in Goochland, then Louisa and work further out until I have some luck. Starting from Richmond (where I live) I know I be driving more than panning. Are there any specific streams other than Contrary Creek that have been worthwhile? I plan to make the trip there pretty soon.