The Prepared Idiot's Guide to Gold Prospecting

California lends itself to glamour, bright lights, wine, and prospecting. It is, after all, how California really got its start. While I might live in Los Angeles, the hills aren’t too far off and the appeal of possible gold (flakes, I am sure) is real, and a day adventure away; but how to go about it? Richard R. Barna answers that question, and many more in “The Prepared Idiot’s Guide to Prospecting for Gold: Asking the dumb questions on how to get started finding gold.”I love the subtitle – it really sums up how I feel about most of my prospecting questions, dumb. This is something that has been done for hundreds of years in the very state I live in, and I haven’t a clue what to do. Or didn’t have a clue. Barna breaks it down, explaining everything from commons kinds to prospecting to where it is permissible to prospect (double check local laws and ordinances,) gear you may need, HOW to pan for gold and so much more. He covers laws and situations, from the recreational panner to the prospector with loftier goals. It’s all here, if you’ve thought of a question (or even if you haven’t) – you will most likely find the answer in The Prepared Idiot’s Guide.

Lots of general information very short on specifics. Not a how to book. More history than technique. While interesting it's not going get you started in prospecting.

Loved it! Really accurate with important information concerning the laws & regulations with prospecting. Makes the reader want to investigate further.

Very very basic information you probably already know from just being alive. I honestly learned nothing from this book. There are much more informative books out there

Ok book for the basics. To much emphasis on sluce use and not enough on panning. A little more time on where to pan.

Great read

When I was in fifth grade, I was fascinated by the Gold Rush and had the sudden wish that I too could mine for gold. Flash forward twenty years later, and here I am, reading this book. I really enjoyed it and this book helped me, as a beginner, the basics of prospecting. Prospecting is really fun, not even because of the gold, but more because of the search for it. It's like a big scavenger hunt! This is a really great book that taught me the basics and how to's with prospecting.

A very basic, short, general, and vague writing that had, at least for me, nothing new to say. Much of the information written here I have already picked up accidentally from old westerns and the history channel, which is where I suspect the author has gotten his information from.