Posted April 5, 2023

I’ve always been fascinated with panning for gold. In our history, whole towns have sprung up to provide services where someone found gold. First it was in streams, then crevices, then cracks deep underground. It actually takes about 20 tons of ore to produce 1 ounce of gold.

Diggers Creek Mine is Discovery Park’s challenge to find some gold – and other stuff. Grab your sluice box, pour in some mining ore and set it in the running water. Shake it back and forth and watch the gemstones from around the world appear as the sand is washed away. There’s Opal and Emeralds, Amethyst and Quartz. Look at the fossils, sharks teeth and arrowheads!

Wait a minute!.... There’s GOLD in the bottom of the tray – (fools gold, but to kids, that’s close enough). Bag up the treasure – trade with your friend. Are we done? ....NO.

When you’re young, figuring out the world is fascinating. Collecting and identifying is essential to train your brain to sort out the chaos. I had stamp collections and coins. When you get your “ore”, you also get an identification card so you know what each gem is named.

Don’t let the experience end there. Pick up a small parts holder from a craft store so those gems can be sorted. Label each spot. Study them with a magnifier or microscope. Do some research about where in the world this gem is found, what is it used for, what is it’s value, does it have any spiritual connection. Do one or two each day. The kids are discovering not just gems, but how to research, categorize, evaluate. They are even teaching themselves about geography and how to keep organized in their adult life. That’s a lesson I’m still working on.

Maybe it’s time to watch a video about modern gold mining – both big mines and one-man prospecting. Maybe your next vacation will be mining for gold or digging for gemstones or diamonds (Crater of Diamonds in Arkansas). I get a percentage of whatever you find!