2. Alluvial Fans: Placer gold can also accumulate at the base of alluvial fans, which are fan-shaped deposits of sediment and debris that form where rivers exit mountainous terrain and spread out onto flatter plains or valleys.
3. Beaches and Coastlines: In some coastal areas, particularly where rivers meet the sea, you can find placer gold deposits on beaches. The action of waves and tides can concentrate gold along the shoreline.
4. Desert Dry Washes: In arid desert regions, gold can accumulate in dry washes, which are intermittent stream channels that only carry water during heavy rains. Gold prospectors often use metal detectors and dry-washing equipment in these areas.
5. Terraces and Bench Deposits: Placer gold can also be found on terraces and benches above present-day rivers and streams. These deposits are remnants of ancient riverbeds.
C. METHODS COMMONLY USED BY PROSPECTORS TO FIND PLACER GOLD DEPOSITS
1. Panning: This is one of the simplest and oldest methods of gold prospecting. Prospectors use a gold pan to carefully swirl water and sediment in a pan, allowing the gold to settle to the bottom. Gold is heavier than most other materials, so it collects at the bottom of the pan. Panning for gold can be an effective way of recovering gold in certain situations, particularly in areas where there are small to moderate amounts of fine or flake gold in the sediment, such as riverbeds and streams.
2. Sluicing: A sluice box is a long, narrow box with riffles (bars or ridges) on the bottom. Water is run through the box, and the riffles trap the gold as it moves downstream. This method allows for larger volumes of material to be processed compared to panning. Sluicing for gold is an effective and efficient method for recovering gold from placer deposits, especially in areas where there is a reasonable concentration of gold in the sediment.