Recent wildfires and rains have caused “Gold Rush 2.0” in California’s Central Valley as some have found nuggets of gold unearthed by natural events.
According to historian Ed Allen the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park in ColomaOnly about 10 to 15 percent of California’s gold has been discovered.
Now, nearly 175 years after the first gold rush, groups of eager amateur miners are heading to the “Gold Country”—an area on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada—in search of the remaining 85 percent.
In an interview with The New York TimesAlbert Fussell displayed the gold he found in a creek in Placerville after only 20 minutes of searching.
“Woooo-hoo-hoooo!” The man said of his discovery – a piece of gold large enough to pinch between your fingers and worth about $100.
The hunt is on for anyone looking for expensive metal nuggets. In 1850, raw gold went for $20 an ounce. Today, one ounce will fetch you about $1,900.
Recent wildfires and rains caused ‘Gold Rush 2.0’ in California’s Central Valley as some find nuggets of gold unearthed by natural events
The hunt is on for anyone looking for expensive metal nuggets. In 1850, raw gold went for $20 an ounce. Today, one ounce will fetch you about $1,900
“We had a flood here last month that brought gold down,” Allen said he said in a February interview with KCRA. People are still looking for gold.
He claims to be “always looking” for gold, even at the age of 75.
The second rush of gold seekers was caused by rains and melts after California experienced historic rains and snows, which are now starting to melt.
The situation has also been aided by wildfires in the past several years, which have helped loosen the area’s soil.
“I found quite a few gold nuggets,” said Nick Pribalik, who spoke with KCRA.
“This is the good stuff, and it will be the best stuff in that box at the end of the day,” he says.
The Pribalik family was leasing a 500-yard claim along Woods Creek in Jamestown to search for gold.
“It’s very easy to be hooked,” Pribalik said. “This is like the best office ever.”
Now, nearly 175 years after the first gold rush, groups of eager amateur miners are heading to the “Gold Country”—an area on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada—in search of the remaining 85 percent.
Unknown gold mine pan of gold, 1890, El Dorado County, California
“We had a flood here last month and it took the gold down,” Ed Allen, a historian at Marshall Gold Discovery State Park in Coloma, said in a February interview with KCRA.
The reason for the second rush of gold seekers was rain and melt after California experienced historic rain and snow, which is now beginning to melt
The situation has also been aided by wildfires in the past several years, which have helped loosen the area’s soil
Those who have had consistent success while searching are now reluctant to give up information about where they got their luck.
“Somewhere north of Los Angeles, south of Seattle and west of Denver,” said Jim Aiken, describing where he found the nugget of gold that he claims was large enough to allow him to purchase a brand-new Ford F-150.
Speaking with the New York Times while wearing a gold nugget around his neck, Aiken said he’s trying to stay on top of gold in the region any way he can.
“Anytime you can stand by a river, and hear rocks tumbling, you know that gold is also moving,” said Eiken.
“It’s going to be an amazing year,” said Tony Whatley, President of the Gold Country Treasure Seekers Club.
“We’re seeing new erosion everywhere,” Whatley told The Times.
The Gold Country Treasure Seekers Club has seen a significant increase in gold over the past several months, according to members.
“There was $50,000 worth of gold on that table,” said Mark Dayton, a club member who found $750 worth of gold in April.
The Gold Country Treasure Seekers Club has seen a significant increase in gold over the past several months, according to members
“I found quite a few gold nuggets,” said Nick Pribalik, who spoke with KCRA.
California law does not allow miners to use large machinery when panning for gold, so the “new forty-nine” are left to search with their hands or their old equipment, like their predecessors.
“We’ve got more gold in the last two meetings than I’ve seen in the last two years,” Dayton said.
Dayton, along with other gold seekers, says the best is yet to come as river levels continue to drop.
California law does not allow miners to use large machinery when panning for gold, so the “new 49ers” are left to search with their hands, or the same equipment their predecessors used.
“The more land you move, the more gold you’ll likely get,” said Marshall Gold Discovery State Park employee James Holman.
“If you don’t move any land, you won’t get any gold.”
