3There are countless prospecting books out there. They all teach the same general theories and show the same diagrams. While they are not bad books, in fact many are great and no collection should be without them, this book is written to take a different and simpler approach, especially for those who are brand new to prospecting and have failed to find their first color of gold. A prospectors lifetime of knowledge is simplified and condensed into an easy to read and understand guide that will hopefully benefit those who never even held a gold pan as much as those who have spent a few years prospecting but might still have a few questions they are seeking answers to. It is the intent that this is the prospecting book that will read as a novel, and teach every bit as much as an informational guide. What are the types of equipment available and how do I use them? What is it that I am looking for when I am prospecting? What do I do with my gold once I find it and how do I sell it? Are my black sands worth anything? What are black sands made out of? How do I find a place I can go and prospect? Is there a way to know where I should dig in a stream? How do mining claims work? These are some of the many questions that this book was written to address. While there is no guide that can tell you how to get rich mining for gold, this one has been written for the purpose of helping you be more likely to find gold on your future prospecting trips, or perhaps even in your own backyard; yes, many of you likely have gold in your backyard, especially if you have a stream running through it. All you have to do is know to look It is easy to become discouraged as a prospector, or allow yourself to believe others when they say