Gold Prospecting in Ohio

Ohio is one of the Midwestern states that rests in the Great Lakes region of the United States. It takes its
name from the Seneca word for “great river”, in reference to the Ohio River which snakes through it.
Indeed, this 1,579 km-long powerful body of water divides the eastern from the western United States.
Within Ohio, there are numerous streams that are offshoots of this great river, as well as various
freshwater lakes and ponds.

Though Ohio is not as well-known for commercial mining, it’s a great place for local hobbyists to find
success. As many mining enthusiasts know, a river or stream is a great place to go hunting for placer
gold. Placer gold is accumulated over time when gold erodes from the hard rock veins and gets
transported by the rushing water. Because gold is of a higher density, it sinks rapidly compared to other
minerals and debris and thus forms concentrated alluvial deposits in stream beds.

This is useful to note, especially for those who are beginning their placer mining journey, because it also
indicates that gold tends to accumulate in areas where water slows down. Instead of hunting the
massive expanse of the Ohio River blindly, we know that gold is likely to be found on the inside curves of
a river or behind large boulders. One common indicator in a gold-bearing stream is the presence of black
sands, which are made up of iron oxides and are usually found together with placers.

Now, where exactly in the Buckeye State can we go prospecting for these alluvial deposits?

Let’s make our way to Clermont County, which is one of the most prolific counties in all of Ohio for gold
production. Roughly 460 square miles with a population of just under 200,000, Clermont is home to
favorite places for gold panning. The Stonelick Creek is known to be gold producing, and areas around
this township are well known for gold finds. Large flakes of gold have been found from Stonelick and
nearby Brushy Fork. Other areas in Clermont County near Perintown have also been noted to have
significant gold discoveries.

There also three private leases in Ohio that are open to gold mining hobbyists. The first of these is the
62-acre Spriggs Claim in Scioto County. Right smack on the Ohio River, this rests in the southern area of
Ohio in the town of Lucasville. Common methods of prospecting in the Spriggs Claim are either dredging
or panning. On top of gold, you can also find gems and fossils in this area. One lucky prospector even
found himself a 4-pound hunk of amethyst.

The second claim is called the Swank Claim, located in Richland County on the Clear Fork River. The
county experienced a short-lived hubbub in the 1800s when large gold flakes were found in the area.
Some tried their hand at commercial mining, which didn’t pan out. Placer prospecting continued, and
still has successful discoveries today. In the Swank Claim, one of the most notable gold finds came in the
form of nuggets embedded within large chunks of quartz, reportedly worth $50,000 for a single nugget.
Gemstones like garnet can also be found in the Swank Claim. In the rest of Richland County, gold is so
fine that it is often called flour gold and requires careful panning to be recovered.

Finally, the third private lease in Ohio that is popular for enterprising prospectors is the Frazee Claim in
Knox. Sitting on a humble 21 acres of land, flakes and fine gold can also be found in Frazee. Similar to the
other locations, prospectors are allowed to dredge and pan, but digging into the banks is not allowed.
Because this claim is slightly smaller, the campsite is not as well-developed and is largely comprised of
simple tents. As such, those who camp out to mine the area often take shorter stays, ranging between 1
to 2 weeks.

There are also various bodies of water known to produce gold. One of these is the Honey Creek, which
produces small and fine but consistent amounts of gold since the early 19 th century. It runs through
Seneca County and Miami County, and is quite a popular hiking location for its scenic views. The gold-
bearing areas of the creek are largely located in the Seneca half. Other bodies of water in Ohio that are
known to be gold-bearing are the Clearfork River, Friends Creek and Leatherwood Creek.

Though Ohio may not be the most commercialized mineral scene in the United States, it is still a favorite
for its consistent production of placer gold. There are several spots to choose from, the likelihood of
finding other treasures like gems and fossils is quite high, and the people very welcoming—indeed, they
put the “Hi!” in Ohio. For those who are only just starting to learn prospecting and find themselves in
the area, Ohio is a wonderful community to begin your journey.

Sources

1) Gold in Ohio, Ohio Department of Natural Resources GeoFacts

2) Featured State, Prospecting in Ohio, GoldProspectors
3) Panning for Gold in Ohio, Silver Recyclers
4) Gold Panning and Prospecting Creeks in Ohio, Rare Gold Nuggets