Finding Gold with Google Earth pt.3

Tweaking Google Earth's Settings

Google Earth can also be used to find gold without add-ons. A few simple adjustments and one can unviel a treasure-trove of hidden gold deposits! After doing some extensive studying on ancient river beds and bench deposits, a lightbulb popped on in my head. The newest version of Google Earth has an option to show historical imagery. Depending on the area, I have seen the imagery go as far back as 20 years! Although 20 years is not quite "ancient", one can begin to notice changes in the path of a creek. Over time the creek will erode deeper into the bedrock. Over many years of erosion, creeks change their paths and leave gold deposited high above where the creek flows today. This is known as a "bench". Adjust your Google Earth Historical Imagery bar and see what has changed with the area you prospect in. You never know what you may discover and things like this keep the prospecting hobby fun! Click on the following images to view an example of Google Earth's Historical Imagery.

Finding Gold with Google Earth pt.2

In this section of "Finding Gold with Google Earth" part 2, I will be discussing how to get the most out of Google Earth without any add-ons. This useful tool can easily be overlooked, and could show you the next paystreak or gold deposit you have been missing all along.

Over many years, creeks change their paths and/or dry up. Erosion causes a creek to change its path after many years of flooding. This in turn causes creeks to dry up. The creek dries up because the creek that was feeding the dried up creek changed its path and no longer supplies water to it. In most cases the creek turns into an underground spring. As a result of this, the vegetation on and around the ancient creek is healthier, thicker, and greener. This is easily spotted using Google Earth. Here is a photo example of what to look for:

Notice the vegetation outlined in yellow.

Notice the vegetation outlined in yellow. Observe the surrounding vegetation. Do you see how the vegetation around the underground spring is nearly dead looking? On top of the spring and along its edge is healthy, deep-green vegetation. A creek once flowed through that area and is now underground. This would be a great place to look for gold (if it is in a gold bearing area).

Finding Gold with Google Earth

Google Earth is a powerful user-friendly satellite imagery viewing program. It is a very useful tool for finding gold locations. Yes, you can find gold with Google Earth by following my simple step-by-step process. Combined with the downloadable add-ons, Google Earth could easily be your main research tool for planning your gold prospecting adventures. I use this tool myself when plotting out my next prospecting trip to a new area. I have found myself using Google Earth with the add-ons I'm about to share with everyone, almost daily.One of the ad-ons will give you highly accurate GPS coordinates of old gold mines. All of the following tools/resources are totally free and will point you straight to the gold locations!

The tool I apply 100% of the time when I am beginning to stake out a new area to prospect is called MineCache. This is an AMAZING resource for locating old gold mines, gold prospects, and confirmed gold occurrences.

As you can see, the normal Google Earth imagery is unaltered. MinceCache simply adds gold mine symbols to areas on the map where past or present gold mines are. You can click on the gold mine icon and it will display the following information on the mine:

• Operation Type
• Development Status
• Primary commodities
• Comments from other MineCache users (or post your own)

You can also view more mine details which includes the following:

• Site Name
• State
• County
• Latitude (GPS Coordinates)
• Longitude (GPS Coordinates)
• Year Discovered
• Years in Production
• Operation Type
• Deposit Type
• Production Size
• Development Status
• Primary Commodities
• Secondary Commodities
• Other Commodities

Simply visit www.MineCache.com and register your free account so you can download the tool. A tutorial for accessing the tool with Google Earth is located on the MineCache web page or you can simply click here.

After locating a gold-bearing area with MineCache, the next resource I use is E-maps Plus (http://emaps.emapsplus.com or emapsplus.com). This is another free tool that aides in finding the contact information for the land owner of the gold-bearing area you seek to prospect.

It is very important to seek permission from land owners before venturing out on their land. Most of the information on this site pertains to prospecting in the Southeast United States. Unlike the West Coast, Eastern United States land is PRIVATELY owned in exception of National Forests/Parks. Feel free to e-mail me on tips/advice on how to approach a land owner about asking permission. My methods have worked pretty well for me.

When you access the e-maps website, you will see a map of the United States with states highlighted. These are the states you can view land owner information. (NOTE: Since my last log in, I've noticed that nowhere near as many states are available as was a few weeks ago. Not sure if it's an update and more will be added later. If someone knows another source please e-mail me and let me know so I can share with others.) Click on a state to access a county map of that state. The available counties will be highlighted. Zoom in to the area you wish to find out the owner's information. If you zoom in enough on the new version of e-maps (you may have the option to use the older version in which this will not apply), you will see the owner's name. Click the search icon in the top-right navigation bar and input the owner's name to find the information you need.

The alternative method of achieving this information is to contact the tax assessor in the county you wish to prospect to get the information you seek. I have not tried this method and it may not be free.

Optional Add-Ons

-Geologic Maps of the United States

• This will show you the different types of rock formations in any given area

-Topographical Maps

• These can be useful to view the elevation of the areas you are going to prospect to better prepare yourself for the hike in needed. google Earth uses elevation at the point of the mouse wherever you scroll, but a topographic map is a little easier to use in this manner.

I hope these gold prospecting tips help you understand how to better use coordinates and other features to find gold with Google Earth.

Google Earth