If you aren't sure it's gold, it probably isn't! Pyrite and yellow-colored mica are frequently mistaken for gold, but can easily be distinguished. Gold is very soft (2.5-3 on Mohs scale of hardness) and can be hammered into thin sheets without shattering. It is heavy (specific gravity of 19.3 when pure) and is insoluble in all acids except aqua regia (a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids).

Pyrite is harder than gold (6-6.5 on Mohs scale) and is brittle. When struck with a hammer, it shatters. It is also relatively light (specific gravity of 5.02). Pyrite frequently forms small cubes. Mica, on the other hand, is as soft as gold (hardness 2-2.5), but naturally occurs in thin sheets or flakes that can be split into individual sheets. It is lighter than gold (specific gravity of 2.76-3.1) and can be smeared out with a fingernail or a sharp object.

Most property in North Carolina is privately owned.  Individuals interested in non-commercial prospecting should obtain permission from the landowner prior to entering private property.  Most landowners are cooperative, but do not tolerate trespassers.

For serious mining, a lease agreement or purchase of mineral rights can be negotiated with the landowner.  Unless bought separately, mineral rights are normally retained by the landowner.  Property deeds are recorded in courthouses in the county seat of each county.  These records can be examined to determine land ownership.

Most federal lands in North Carolina are in parks and forests.  Although prospecting is not permitted in national parks,  prospecting or exploration permits are occasionally granted in national forests.  The district forest ranger should be contacted for permits and regulations.  Prospecting is not allowed in state-owned parks or forests.

Any mining must be carried out in accordance with the North Carolina Mining Act of 1971.  Anyone operating a mine that affects more than one acre of surface area must obtain a permit, post a bond, and develop a reclamation program.  Further information is available from the Land Quality Section of the Division of Land Resources, 1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1612, telephone (919) 707-9220.

All mining operations must comply with state and  federal  laws  pertaining  to  safety  and  health requirements.  Prior to opening a mine, operators should contact the Mine and Quarry Division of the North Carolina Department of Labor, 4 West Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC  27601, telephone (919) 807-2790 or (800) LABORNC (522-6762).

Most of the gold-exploration companies in North Carolina are looking for invisible gold associated with volcanic rocks.  Amateur prospectors are looking for the coarser gold found in streams and quartz veins.  Streams flowing through former gold-producing districts offer the best opportunities for panning. Although these streams were prospected many times, much of the fine gold was lost during earlier activities.  Because stream action and erosion redistributed the gold, it is still possible to find small amounts of gold in the stream sediments (placers).  It is also possible to find gold in quartz veins exposed at the surface of the ground. Although there are many quartz veins, it is rare to find one that contains gold.

The best place to find gold in streams is where they begin to widen or change in velocity, such as along the insides of bends or in slow-water areas below rapids.  Gold also tends to work its way to the bedrock and often accumulates in crevices, depressions, and potholes in rock underlying the streams.

Streams such as Little Buffalo Creek in Rowan and Cabarrus Counties, Dutch Buffalo Creek in Cabarrus County, Cabin Creek in Moore County, the Uwharrie River in Montgomery County and streams in the South Mountain area might be good places to try panning.  The Cotton Patch Mine near New London, Stanly County, is open to the public for panning.  For a fee, gold seekers can pan from sediments dug from a small creek.