Gold Panning Arizona

Right on the other side of the Colorado River from the district of Potholes one can find the placer deposits that are in Arizona and gold panning in Arizona is still a common thing. In the past the Laguna Dam was the richest source of placer gold on the side of Arizona, given that some of the potholes that were in this area were up to one hundred feet above the river and a good number of gold nuggets were also found by the workers that were building the dam, there was also a fairly large quartz vein that was located in the area. In 1884 there was an attempt to try dredging the deposits. However this did not turn out to be successful the next year given that the dredge sunk due to a flood. The gold that has been found in this area is coarse and has a rust color to it. Geologists believe that the gold has come from irregular quartz veins in the huge pieces of black schist and granitic gneiss that go up above the river. There are a few others that are well known of and good locations that can be found in the Laguna Mountains. The McPhaul placers consist of ancient Tertiary gravels that are located on the south end of the range near the Gila River and just about one mile from the McPhaul Bridge. Another area that is close by, around one mile north of the Gila River) is Las Flores Gulch; this area has produced a little bit of gold in the past as well. For those interested in gold panning in Arizona there are currently prospecting tours available. These companies offer equipment for all the diverse types of terrains that can be found in Arizona. Some of the tools and equipment offered include drywashers, detectors, dredges, gold pans etc. For those that are beginning gold prospecting and looking for placer gold in Arizona it would be useful to learn how to prospect using various methods including panning, drywashing, dredging, crevicing, metal detecting and other methods. This information can be provided by research centers or the prospecting tour companies.