This (slow-loading) US article about present-day panners working California rivers and the backstory of the historic 1848-56 goldrush days in that region, is a good read for those interested in such topics.
Australians too, travelled across the Pacific to join the US West Coast goldrush and some returnees, with newly-gained experience of gold district geology, prospecting/mining techniques and equipment, were among the forerunners of Australia's own gold-mining boom from the mid-1850's onwards.
Placer miners continue to pan Sierra streams, gripped by the same gold fever that shaped California:
https://tahoequarterly.com/best-of-tahoe-2018/the-last-prospectors
Australians too, travelled across the Pacific to join the US West Coast goldrush and some returnees, with newly-gained experience of gold district geology, prospecting/mining techniques and equipment, were among the forerunners of Australia's own gold-mining boom from the mid-1850's onwards.
Placer miners continue to pan Sierra streams, gripped by the same gold fever that shaped California:
https://tahoequarterly.com/best-of-tahoe-2018/the-last-prospectors
