Prospecting or Mining?

Remember that there is a big difference between prospecting and mining. Most average small-scale miners today are prospectors. They aren’t using big equipment and they usually aren’t trying to make a living from the gold that they find.

Some of the prospecting technique are very similar to the early gold rush. Pans and sluices haven’t functionally changed at all. Yes, modern equipment is often made from plastic, but the use is quite similar. Gravity is still the way that gold is separated from other rocks.

Mining technique has changed a great deal since the early days. While the first miner to arrive at a major goldfield would be armed with nothing more than pans and sluices. The gold was plentiful though, and a few men got rich.

Big Equipment

For the large mines, one of the biggest changes is the use of heavy machinery to extract gold. Equipment such as excavators, bulldozers, and drilling rigs are used to remove large amounts of earth and rock to access the gold deposits.

Early mining may have used techniques like blasting to tunnel underground, but they still required man-power, horses, mules, and other rudimentary techniques to process ore.

Mines today can use massive trucks to move tons of ore in a fraction of the time.

There are mining trucks like this that can carry up to 400 tons of ore in just one load! Needless to say, the old-timers might need months to process this much…

Chemical Extraction

Another significant change is the use of chemicals to extract gold from ore. In the past, miners would crush the ore by hand and then use water and gravity to separate the gold from the dirt and rock.

Some mines still use gravity separation techniques, but many of the biggest operations now use chemical extraction methods.

Cyanide and other chemicals are used to dissolve the gold from the ore, making it easier to extract. Cyanide has actually been used for a very long time, but the process has improved greatly and become much more efficient.

An ore cart overlooking a massive open pit mine.

Exploration

Early exploration was almost entirely done by individual prospectors. The actual discoveries of almost all major gold deposits around the world were made by single men or perhaps small parties of prospectors panning a creek or river.

Modern exploration techniques are done by specialized companies that use aerial surveys and satellite imagery before they even set foot on the ground.

Once out on the site, they use testing and drilling to locate ore bodies that may be of interest to the mining companies. The days of small-scale miners making million-dollar gold strikes are mostly over.

Environmental Concern

Environmental concerns was almost nonexistent during the early gold rushes of the 1800s. Some incredibly harmful techniques were commonplace.

Two of the main techniques for mining placer gold was hydraulic mining and bucketline dredging. Both of these would absolutely scour the countryside, changing the landscape forever. Many of the richest goldfields still show evidence from these mining operations even today.

Regulations

Mining companies must comply with strict regulations to protect the environment and local communities. This includes measures such as minimizing the use of chemicals and waste disposal practices that prevent contamination of waterways.

With that said, there are still environmental issues of concern with today’s gold mining operations. The scale of some mines today are incredible. Huge open pit mines must mitigate the release of heavy metals and other contaminants into the waterways.

This is the Berkeley Pit, a massive open-pit mine in Butte, Montana. The scale of this operation is absolutely incredible. Immense wealth was mined from this pit (primarily copper), but the environmental damage left behind will likely last for centuries.

Limitations on Small Miners

Environmental regulations are particularly challenging for small-scale prospectors. Unlike mining companies with lots of money and time, most casual prospectors are at the mercy of the rules and regulations set forth by their state.

Motorized placer mining has become quite challenging in most areas today. Techniques that were once commonplace like suction dredging and high banking are generally limited to a fairly short season. Many states have banned it altogether.

In my opinion, a small high-banker like this causes a negligible impact on the environment. Unfortunately, regulations on even small motorized equipment like this have gotten burdensome in recent years. In many states like California, it’s almost impossible to get the permits to operate high bankers and dredges.

Mining Now & Then

While the basic principles of gold prospecting remain the same, advances in technology and changes in environmental regulations have made it easier in some ways and incredibly challenging in others.

For the casual prospector who just wants to spend a weekend up in the mountains looking for gold, the regulations can be burdensome. In some areas, you can’t even put a shovel into the ground legally. It’s important for each prospector to take special care to ensure they are following the law.

Large companies has many, many more regulations to contend with, but they also have more money and resources (experts, lawyers, etc.) to help them establish their mines.

There are very few large placer mines today. Most large mining operations are searching for lode gold. These are usually larger, more predictably sustainable operations. Dealing with the issues (water resources, salmon & steelhead, etc.) regarding placer operations is especially challenging.

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