How to Go Treasure Hunting

OK, so you want to go treasure hunting. There is a lot to that statement that first needs to be thought out before you do anything. The first and most important thing is to know what you want to look for. There are numerous types of treasure hunting and this chapter here is just a brief over view of them and of where to look. A second factor is what kind of budget do you have, some equipment can cost thousands of dollars while other areas of this hobby cost almost nothing but your time and energy. Finally it is important that you understand that treasure hunting is for the most part a "Hobby" Don't expect that because you go out and search for treasure that you will suddenly become rich, it would be nice but that's not the case. Most treasure hunters do it because of all the benefits that this wonderful hobby brings them. They get exercise, they get to spend time with family and friends that also love hunting and of course there are the times when they come across that lost piece of history and find something valuable. Which in my humble opinion is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

Nothing can give you the same feeling as unearthing a lost or buried treasure. It fills you with an excitement that will remind you of when you were just a kid and the things you found in your explorations back then. All of us imagined finding a buried treasure at the beach when we were little, we imagined pirates from long ago rowing ashore after a successful raid and needing someplace to hide their booty. We imagined the X marks the spot and so we dug. We dug in anticipation of the treasure we were surely going to find. Now we might not have found actual treasure but we generally found something and that something really was our treasure, as silly as that may sound, a lot of you know what I'm talking about. That feeling is what drives us, what makes us look where others do not want to, that feeling is what makes us do what we do.

So now that you are hopefully geared up a little what do you want to do.....? Well read below and find something's that might interest you, if you have any questions please go to our reference area or post a blog with your questions. We are a community here to help one another. There are no stupid questions because all of us started out not knowing anything before we started to ask the same questions. Most of all welcome to Treasure Adventures and we hope that you have as much fun with your treasure hunting experiences as we have had. Again welcome...

Treasure Hunters Code of Ethics

If you have done any surfing on the net or read any of the books available on treasure hunting then you should already know that we as treasure hunters follow a code of ethics. This code is used to define accepted or acceptable behaviors, to promote the higher standards that we live by in the hobby of treasure hunting and to use as a guide to establish a framework for professionalism and a higher level of maturity. At Treasure Adventures we take these codes very seriously and encourage all of you to always remember to do the right thing: by our friends, neighbors and by the planet herself.

1) Whenever you dig, do not leave holes or trash that you dug up behind. Some places do not allow treasure hunters on their land any more because of the mess that past hunters have left in their wake.

2) It is always recommended to get permission to hunt private land, if possible get it in writing.

3) Be Responsible.

4) If you are not sure if you are not suppose to be in a spot and someone asks you to leave, than leave. Don't argue or cause a confrontation. Again know your location and get permission to be there.

5) Avoid confrontation with the authorities at all costs.

6) Follow all state and local laws.

7) Report any dangerous finds, such as sinkholes, ammunition or other potentially hazardous materials to the proper authorities.

8) Fill any holes that you dig, as well as any others that you might find. It is our responsibility to maintain the grounds we hunt, whether it is our mess or not.

9) Protect and have respect for our woods, forest and wildlife.

10) Clean up after yourself, including disposing of all liter and other trash you find.

11) Use caution when camping or building fires.

12) Be thoughtful and courteous at all times.

13) Leave areas better than how you found them.

14) Do not destroy property, tamper with signs or conduct yourself in a manor, which causes personal or structural damage.

15) Remember that you are a member of the treasure hunting community, what you do and how you do it reflects on us all. Always conduct yourself in an honorable way.

Types of Treasure Hunting

1) Prospecting:

Is the searching for precious metals, minerals or fossils? Although most prospectors are generally only interested in finding precious metal (such as gold) there are many things that are sought by numerous people all around the world. However we will stay close to the road and stick with precious metals as well. Over the last couple of decades prospecting has increasingly become more and more of a hobby for many people, both young and old. It is a relaxing way for people to get out and enjoy nature as well as providing exercise. Over the years however more and more people have incorporated it into part of their life style and some have even made prospecting their career. Don't be mistaken however; prospecting generally involves some rather intensive physical labor. It can involve a considerable amount of travel (usually on foot or horseback), panning, sifting, researching, investigating and time.

Although prospecting can involve quite a bit, with all the possible resources that are available today it is a lot easier than it used to be. Traditionally prospecting would involve careful and intense study of the territory. Searching the creek beds, along ridgelines, combing hilltops and scouring area bedrock for signs of gold. If gold was found, then all the rivers and streams in the area were panned looking for a show of color (signs of gold). Generally these areas were not very promising and the prospecting would not last long. However there were some occasions when a prospector would "strike it rich" and then would be joined by other prospectors and the area would attract a large mining force. These events were known as "Gold Rushes". These rushes lured prospectors with the promise of gold, and untold riches. The majority of these early prospectors had no training, or experience and relied on luck to find their wealth.

Today's prospector has a clear advantage over their counter parts from the past. Today a prospector can study the geology and terrain of an area before even stepping foot outside. They can study the results of previous prospecting in that area; they can get training from experienced veterans, as well as having all the information they might want at the tips of their fingers. Well now that we have that out of the way here are a few of the different methods and tools that prospectors use.

A). Metal Detecting: This should be one of the very first things you purchase if you are interested in any form of prospecting. Metal detectors are a great tool when locating gold and other minerals under ground. They generally have different filters and depth ranges. Even though some detectors work better than others (and their prices generally reflect that) the best thing you can do is learn how to use the one you get, no matter what the price. Even an average detector will find more if the person using it knows what it's saying.

B). Wet Panning: This fun and low costing method of prospecting is generally the one that people envision when they think of the old time prospectors. Panning involves putting dirt and gravel from a stream or creek bed into a pan, adding some water and then swishing it around allowing the heavier gold to settle at the bottom of the pan. Again a metal detector is useful in locating "black sand" which is the precursor to gold.

C). Dry Panning: Is almost the same as wet panning except that no water is used. Remember that in wet panning water is needed to help separate the heavier gold pieces to the bottom and riffles of the pan. In dry panning the sand or gravel needs to be completely dry and generally in a somewhat refined state (Keep the larger rocks and clogs out of the pan) Work the pan the same as in wet panning and the gold will settle at the bottom. Just remember that this method is much more difficult than it's counterpart but if you live near or by a desert type area that has gold it might be worth a shot. It is also a great way to sharpen your wet panning skills as it makes you better at separating with a pan.

D). Dredging: A dredge is a motorized vacuum pump that is supported so it floats on the surface of the water or near the mined area. Attached to the pump is a hose that is used to suck up the contents on the bottom of the streambed and forces them out onto a sluice (a riffled platform that uses gravity to wash out all the unwanted materials while leaving the heavier gold trapped in the sluice underlining or riffles). Dredging is basically a panning method but is capable of going through an extreme amount of volume when compared to the basic gold pan.

E). Slicing: This method of gold extraction is generally used in conjunction with dredging but can be used by itself without any motorized pumps. This makes it much less expensive than dredging and is still a very effective way to find gold. A sluice is a long (generally portable) pan with riffles that you place in the current of a steam and then feed the material through. The water washes away the unwanted dirt and gravel and the riffles catch the gold. The sluice has many advantages over the basic pan method and most prospectors generally use them together when mining an area.

F). Sniping: This method of prospecting is if anything a fun way to find gold. Sniping is basically picking up gold right off of the stream bottom. You can do this by using a sniping tube (a piece of equipment that has a glass or see trough bottom, so you can see the river bed) or simply use a set of diving goggles. You then comb over or swim over an area and search for the gold that you can see on the bottom or within the beds crevices.

2). Coin Shooting: Is the searching for old and valuable coins. The best possible tool you will ever need is a simple metal detector. What is truly important is to know what you're looking for and where to find it. Coins can be found anywhere but the trick is to look where people gather in mass, (such as in parks or areas where outdoor events are held). If you are looking for older coins then you will need to study some and find out where these spots are. Ghost towns are a great place as well as areas that had small towns pop up and then disappear a short while later. These locations can be found at the library or historical society. If you come upon an old deserted town make sure you search around the corners of buildings and throughout the houses yards. People used to bury their money and other valuables on their property to avoid house fires and robbery. Coin shooting is also a great way to find jewelry as well as lost relics. Remember to get permission before you go looking on private or government property.

3). Relic Hunting: This is one of the most fulfilling methods of prospecting. Not only do you get to find something with incredible value potential but also you actually get to see, touch and learn about our past. The best tip for this is to study (A LOT). Know where you are going and what you could find, always keep your options open to what might be there. Use a metal detector and become familiar with the old maps and journals of the past. Visit museums and antique shops, this will help you get a feel for what you are looking for and to see what people find valuable.

4). Beach Combing: This method of treasure hunting is one that is simple and requires nothing more than wanting to take a stroll along the beach. For those of you lucky enough to live by an ocean this is generally a great place to start sharpening your treasure hunting skills. Again a metal detector is a nice tool to have at your disposal and you will defiantly find more if you have one but again it is not a necessity. All you really need is a sharp eye and maybe a small spade shovel. Your objective is to walk around and see what the waters have brought up onto its shores.

5). Garage Sales and Thrift Stores: OK, some of you think I'm crazy now, don't you. Well treasure is where you find it and just like panning for gold or studying areas geology, these places can find you treasures. Michael Sparks a music equipment technician happened upon a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence in a small thrift store. He looked it over thought it looked original and purchased it, for $3. The document is worth at least six figures and is said that it could go for as much as $250,000. The painting below was purchased at a garage sale in Canada for $200 and is expected to fetch more that $100,000 at auction. So before you dismiss my claim that this is treasure hunting you might want to think twice.

6). Rock Hunting: Have you ever seen a shooting star? Of course you have and although a majority of them burn up in the earths atmosphere some do actually fall to the earth. Believe it or not but they are worth a lot of money. Meteorites have been falling since the beginning of time and although they are not easy to find they are out there and are fun to track down. The best places to look are in deserts and old creators (make sure you have permission to be there). The best tools for you to use are a metal detector and a magnet, since meteorites are made of metal the magnet will stick to them. Also keep in mind that you will need to learn what to look for, fortunately there is a great amount of reference material out there for you to use.

7). Gemstone Hunting: The trick for finding gemstones is first and foremost knowing what to look for and where to look. You need to know your area and what types of gemstones have been found there in the past. Again this is a topic that requires a lot of study (especially on simple recognition of raw gems). The best places to look are in streambeds, along the faces of cliffs or in caves. This field usually requires a fair amount of hiking or driving into remote areas so remember to be cautious.

8). Cave Exploration: This is one of the more daring types of treasure hunting. It is recommended that you never go alone and that you always let others know where you will be and when you will be back. With that said it is one of the most thrilling experiences that you can have. Going into caves to find raw gems or veins of gold is indeed an exciting experience. The best advice is to always be safe. Caves and old mineshafts are dangerous and your trip should not be taken lightly. Make sure before you go that you learn the areas geology and know what you are looking for.

9). Underwater Exploration / Deep Sea Diving: This is the ultimate form of treasure hunting. It is the most expensive and requires a great deal of training to get started. It is also the most dangerous field of treasure hunting for people to try. There are many factors that are working against you when you decide to venture into the depths of the worlds waters. On the other hand most of the worlds largest finds have come from the water. If this is something that you are interested in than you need to make sure that you get the right training and always have a guide to help you. There are many companies that you can contact that will assist you in perusing this field.

12). Geocaching: This fun and adventurous type of treasure hunting has really taken off over the last few years. Geocaching is basically a treasure hunting game where people use their (GPS) Global Positioning System or other navigational techniques to either hide and/or seek treasure ladened containers, which are known as "geocaches" or "caches". Generally these caches are small waterproof containers that usually have a logbook and a small treasure for you (usually these treasures are toys and trinkets but can sometimes be of a little greater value). Remember to put your information in the logbook and to leave a little treasure for the next hunter to find. Geocaching is becoming a fast and growing sport and is currently taking place in over 220 countries. Overall there are over 450,000 geocaches spread out among those countries. These caches are registered on the Internet and are not hard to understand or find, as there are numerous sites devoted to this game. You will also find that there are many different types of geocaching that you can take part in.

I hope that you found a few areas of interest and want to learn more about them. Throughout the rest of this book we break down each of these areas into detailed sections and teach you what you need, what to look for and where to go. Always remember to be careful no matter what type of treasure hunting you find yourself in and always try to learn as much as you can about your field of interest. Although we cover most of the information that you need to become a great treasure hunter, we can't teach you everything. This is where our home site TreasureAdventures.net comes in handy. It is a community of hands on treasure hunters that you can visit with and learn from. You might even be able to help someone there yourself. Good luck.