Gold in Alabama: Table of Contents

Posted on January 25, 2022January 25, 2022 by Staff

Gold In Alabama

Disclaimer :

All locality information in this publication is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary. The coordinates listed for many locations are general coordinates and should not be relied upon for locating localities.

Research vs Open Source Intelligence

The Intelligence Cycle

Prospecting for Gold in the United States

Principal Gold-Producing Districts of the United States

Learn About USGS

BLM Easter States Mining and Minerals

History of Gold in Alabama

Alabama Surface Mining Act of 1969 Summary Requirements

Gold Locations In Alabama

Gold is found primarily in the gold belt of Alabama which covers an area 60 miles wide and 100 miles long. Alabama Gold has been mined from both placer and lode sources. The gold belt enters and trends the northeastern part of the state coming from the border with Georgia towards an area in central Alabama, known as the Piedmont Uplift, fairly extensive and is approximately 100 miles long by 50-60 miles wide.

Alabama Gold Regions

Gold Regions of Alabama Map

Code of Federal Regulations

Mining Claims

Gold Deposits in Alabama

Significant amounts of gold have come from Alabama, making it one of the better gold producing states east of the Mississippi River. Gold has been found in both lode and placer deposits, with the majority coming from area in the east central part of the state up next to the Georgia border. Gold has been found throughout Talladega, Tallapoosa, Chambers, Coosa, Clay, Chilton, Elmore, Cleburne, and Randolph Counties.

Alabama Gold Belt

Public Gold Mining In Alabama

Recreational gold panning in Alabama is open to everyone, as long as you abide by the Laws of Gold Panning in Alabama.

Public Gold Panning In Alabama

Places To Pan For Gold In Alabama

Gold in Calhoun County Alabama

Gold in Chilton County Alabama

Gold In Clay County Alabama

In Clay County, placer gold can be found at Crooked Creek, Tallapoosa River, Wesobulga Creek, and many other streams throughout the county.

Gold in Cleburn County Alabama

Cleburn County Gold In The News

Gold in Coffee County Alabama

Gold in Coosa County Alabama

Coosa County has a significant history of mining in the early gold rush days and still has areas to placer mine. The Gold Ridge Mine produced gold as a byproduct of copper mining, and placer workings occurred along Hatchett Creek, Weogufka Creek, and the Rockford placers.

Gold in Elmore County Alabama

Gold in Etowah County Alabama

Gold in Lee County Alabama

Gold in Randolph County Alabama

Along the far west side of Randolph County and the far east side of Clay County lies the Cragford district. Several mines operating here produced free-milling gold from veins in quartz. Properties situated along the tributaries of Crooked Creek have both placer and lode gold deposits.Area streams and branches near Wedowee are most productive. Placer gold is found in the local watercourses, beach sands and gravels.

Near Omaha gold colors are reported in the streams.

In Wedowee, the area creek sands and gravels along the Tallapoosa River have good gold placers. A mine on Wedowee Creek is said to contain lode gold, but nearby stream gravels have placer gold.

Bordering Randolph County and nearby Wildcat Hollow Prospect, the banks of the Tallapoosa River will produce some fine placer gold. Numerous lode mines in this area have all produced lode gold. Other gold deposits can be found in Wesobulga Creek and White Oak Creeks just south of Cragford.

Gold in Shelby County Alabama

Gold in St. Clair County Alabama

Gold in Talladega County Alabama

Riddle Mine and Story Mine are past producers of lode gold. Placer gold is still found in Talladega Creek.

Gold in Tallapoosa County Alabama

Tallapoosa County contains numerous gold districts including the Hog Mountain district, one of the biggest gold producers in the state. The Talladega National Forest, part of which is in Tallapoosa County, has many creeks that contain placer gold as well.

Largest Gold Nugget Found In Alabama

The Blue Creek area is where the largest placer gold nugget in the state was recovered. The area is now underwater but the creeks feeding into the Blue Creek portion of the Coosa River contain gold.

In the Verbena, Alabama area, all the streams and creeks surrounding the corners of Chilton, Coosa and Elmore Counties contain placer gold. The gold gravels extend about 1 mile in a valley and not more than 200 yards wide. Fine gold and nuggets are reported. On Rocky Creek, there are also some rich placer workings, but it has been worked and reworked often. Large nuggets have been recovered from these sites.

Alabama Mines and Mining

Alabama Precious Metals

Alabama Gold Locations

Gold Mining in Coosa County Alabama

Gold Mines In Talladega County Alabama

Gold Log Mine

Gold in Tallapoosa County Alabama

In the early 1840’s Tallapoosa County experienced a gold rush. Gold Mining operations were carried on in Tallapoosa County from 1842 to 1936. The area in the northeastern part of Tallapoosa County came to be called Goldville. The town of Goldville was born and died between the census of 1840 and 1850.

Gold Panning and Prospecting the National Forests of Alabama

Talladega National Forest Gold Prospecting

As of 2013, Alabama was home to seven National Park Service units, one national monument, one national forest, three wilderness areas, one national preserve, one national military park, one national heritage area, two national historic trails, two national historic sites, and 15 national recreation trails.

Before you plan an activity on national forest lands, please check whether or not you need a permit or pass. Many of the facilities and services are free; however, some activities require fees or permits to help maintain, manage and improve the amenities that you enjoy.The majority of the recreation fees collected stay on the forest and go right back into improving the recreational opportunities visitors use and value the most – campgrounds, developed day use sites, boat ramps, trails, and much more.

Always contact a Forest Service district office for information prior to collecting any forest product to find out if you will need a permit. Please remember that many wildflowers, orchids and medicinal plants found on the Forest may be listed as sensitive, threatened or endangered.

A permit may be required for group gatherings or events, filming or videography, research, mineral, gold panning, rock collecting, or long term uses such as outfitter guides, roads and water systems. Each district office has a special use coordinator who is available to answer your questions.