The temptations of easy money often lead people into wondering how to gold prospect with the purpose of achieving that goal. This is not difficult to understand with the current price of gold standing at $1900 an ounce as some people may be motivated by the romanticized idea of striking it rich, similar to the gold rush prospectors of the 19th century in their decision to taking up this activity. However, many modern gold prospectors approach the activity with a more realistic and informed perspective.
In modern times, gold prospecting is often pursued as a hobby or small-scale business rather than as a primary means of financial support. People who engage in gold prospecting typically do so with a combination of recreational interest, a love for the outdoors, and a fascination with geology and mining history.
It should also be pointed out that the availability of accessible and easily recoverable gold deposits has significantly decreased since the 19th century. Most of the easily accessible and high-grade deposits have already been discovered and mined and modern prospectors often need to use advanced equipment and techniques to extract gold from lower-grade deposits.