There 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, this book is written to take a different and simpler approach. 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 guide has been written for the purpose of helping you be more likely to find gold on your future prospecting trips. It is easy to become discouraged as a prospector, or allow yourself to believe others when they say "there is no gold left to be found, the old-timers got it all." You are just a few pages away from learning the facts; and that the gold has not all been taken and how you can get your share!