Would placer gold be found more in fast moving streams than still waters?

Question

Where I live there's fast moving water but very rocky except for some sandy areas. Where do I look? In the sandy areas downstream from waterfalls?

Answer 1

It all depends on the history of the stream. If its always been slow moving water draining non-gold-bearing rocks, then you probably won't find any placer gold. If, on the other hand, you've got an old drainage system eroding gold-bearing rocks, then you've got a better chance.

Gold is very dense, ie, its heavy (about 6 times heavier than most rocks), malleable, and resistant to erosion.  Therefore you need to look in high energy parts of the stream bed.  If you find magnetite (black sand), then you are looking in the right place. If there are bedrock pools right below the waterfalls, that would be a very good place to look.

There are many books on placer gold and gold panning, with some diagrams to show where gold would accumulate. You've got to think like a gold nugget, you are heavy and don't like to get washed around...where would you be hiding?

Good luck and have fun!