🪙 Southeast PA Gold
A Prospector's Guide & Study Report
PROSPECTINGPA.COM · JULY 2026 · DETAILED RESEARCH DOCUMENT
1. Why Southeast PA is the Best Gold Ground in the State
If you want to find gold in Pennsylvania, the southeastern part of the state is where you need to be. Here's why, in plain terms:
- SE PA has LOCAL gold sources. The gold comes from bedrock right under your feet — ancient volcanic intrusions that cooked gold into the rock 200 million years ago.
- NE PA gold was imported by glaciers. Ice sheets carried gold from Canada and scattered it as flour-sized dust. SE PA gold never traveled — it was born here.
- SE PA gold is COARSER. Because it hasn't been ground up by hundreds of miles of glacial transport, SE PA gold comes in real flakes, pickers, and even nuggets. The largest nugget ever found in PA — 11+ ounces in 1938 — came from the York County gold belt.
- SE PA has 8 documented gold mine records across 5 counties. The northern tier has zero.
- Cornwall Mine alone produced 67,000 ounces of gold as a byproduct of iron mining — the only significant gold production in PA history.
- Gold has been documented here since 1820 — the earliest recorded gold discovery in Pennsylvania.
The bottom line: If you're a beginner who wants to actually SEE gold in your pan — not just dust that needs a loupe — SE PA is your best bet. The York County gold belt is the place where "if you pan any stream in the quadrant, you will find a small flake of gold" (TreasureNet forum).
2. The Geological Engine — How the Gold Got Here
The Recipe: Diabase + Limestone + Heat + Sulfides = Gold
All the gold in southeastern Pennsylvania was created by the same geological process. Understanding this "recipe" is the key to knowing where to look. Here's how it works, step by step:
Step 1: Diabase Intrusions (~200 Million Years Ago)
During the Triassic Period, when the supercontinent Pangea was breaking apart, molten rock (magma) pushed up from deep underground into older layers of limestone and sandstone in what is now southeastern Pennsylvania. This molten rock was called diabase — a dark, dense, iron-rich igneous rock.
At least four large diabase sheets pushed into the Gettysburg and Newark basins (the lowlands of SE PA). Three types of diabase have been recognized by geologists, with the "Quarryville type" being the oldest.
Source: GSA Bulletin (Rose et al.), "Geology and Geochemistry of Triassic Diabase in Pennsylvania" · Smith (1973) PhD dissertation, Penn State · NYSGA 1998 Field Trip Guide B3
Step 2: Contact Metamorphism (The Cooking Zone)
The diabase magma was hot — 500° to 675°C (930–1250°F) — and under enormous pressure (~1500 bars, which is about 21,000 psi). When it pushed into the cooler limestone, it "cooked" the limestone along the contact zone. This process, called contact metamorphism, changed the limestone into new minerals.
Think of it like baking: the heat transformed the ingredients into something completely different. In this case, the "oven" was the diabase intrusion, and the "dough" was the limestone.
Step 3: Magnetite Replacement (The Iron Ore Forms)
Iron-rich hydrothermal fluids (hot water carrying dissolved minerals) flowed through the cooked limestone, replacing it with magnetite — a dense, magnetic iron ore. This created massive deposits of iron ore along the contact zones between the diabase and the limestone.
These are called "Cornwall-Type" iron deposits, named after the Cornwall Mine in Lebanon County where they were first studied. The same geological model created iron deposits at Cornwall, Grace Mine, Jones Mine, the Dillsburg District, and Hopewell — all in SE PA.
Source: NYSGA 1998, "Cornwall-Type Iron Ores of Pennsylvania" Field Trip Guide
Step 4: Sulfide Mineralization (Where the Gold Hides)
Along with the magnetite, copper-iron sulfide minerals formed in the contact zone. These include:
- Chalcopyrite — copper iron sulfide (the main gold carrier)
- Pyrite — iron sulfide ("fool's gold" — but real gold hides inside it)
- Pyrrhotite — iron sulfide variant
- Covellite and digenite — copper sulfides
Here's the critical part: gold is trapped inside these sulfide minerals. The gold atoms are locked within the crystal structure of the chalcopyrite and pyrite. You can't see the gold with the naked eye — it's microscopic. But it's there, and when the sulfides are processed (milled and concentrated), the gold can be recovered.
Key insight: The presence of copper in a magnetite deposit is the #1 indicator that gold may be present. Where there's copper sulfide in a Cornwall-Type iron deposit, there's almost certainly gold. This is why Jones Mine (1–7% copper) is such an exciting untested target.
Step 5: Gold Recovery from Sulfide Concentrates
When the iron ore was mined and milled, the sulfide minerals were separated from the magnetite as "concentrates." These concentrates were then processed for their copper, cobalt, and gold content.
At Cornwall Mine, this process recovered 67,000 ounces of gold between 1908 and 1973. At Grace Mine, the USGS MRDS record confirms that "sulfide concentrates produced valuable byproducts of iron, copper, cobalt and gold."
Step 6: Weathering = Placer Gold in the Creeks
Here's where it gets exciting for us prospectors. When the sulfide-rich ore is exposed to rain, groundwater, and oxygen at the surface, the sulfides oxidize (rust away). When the sulfide crystals break down, the gold trapped inside them is released as free particles.
These free gold particles wash into streams during rain. The streams then concentrate the gold in bends, behind boulders, in gravel bars, and in bedrock cracks — just like any other placer gold.
This means: creeks downstream from these old mines carry placer gold. The closer to the mine source, the coarser the gold should be, because it hasn't traveled as far.
Gold-Bearing Quartz Veins (A Separate Gold Source)
Separate from the magnetite deposits, the Chickies Formation (Lancaster/York Counties) contains quartz veins that formed during crustal shifting. These veins carry gold independently of the magnetite ores. The Hellam Hills gold (reported in 1820) and the Chickies Rock gold come from these quartz veins, not from the iron deposits.
The Chickies Formation is one of the oldest rock units in Pennsylvania. It contains a basalt conglomerate unit called the "Hellam Member" that's overlain by quartzite. When the earth's crust shifted, cracks formed and filled with quartz — and gold came along for the ride.
3. Timeline: 200 Million Years of Gold History
~200 Million Years Ago
Triassic Period: Diabase magma intrudes into limestone and sandstone in SE PA. Contact metamorphism creates magnetite deposits with gold-bearing sulfides.
1718–1732
Gap Nickel Mine discovered in Lancaster County — one of the oldest mine sites in PA. Originally worked for copper, then nickel.
1742
Cornwall Mine begins iron production in Lebanon County — the start of 230+ years of mining. Cornwall becomes the oldest continuously operated mine in North America.
1820
First documented gold in Pennsylvania: Reported at Chickies Rock (Lancaster County) and at iron mines in the Hellam Hills (York County) by Clemson. Gold found IN iron mine ores — same pattern as Cornwall.
1855
Dillsburg Magnetite District begins mining — 30+ pits and underground mines over 60 years, producing ~1.5 million tons of iron ore.
1907–1908
USGS economic geologist Arthur C. Spencer prepares a field report on Pennsylvania's Cornwall-type occurrences and visits the Dillsburg district while several mines are still accessible. The Jauss Mine closes in 1908.
1908
First gold refined at Cornwall Mine — 35 troy ounces recovered from copper concentrates. Enough to warrant continued gold recovery for the next 65 years.
1920
Samuel Gordon publishes "Mineralogy of Pennsylvania" — mentions York County gold. The first scientific documentation of PA gold outside the mines.
1938
Largest gold nugget ever found in PA — 11+ ounces — discovered in the York County gold belt. Exact location never publicly disclosed.
1941
Cornwall Mine begins commercial cobalt production — directly serving the WWII war effort. Cobalt is a Strategic & Critical Material under the 1939 Stock Piling Act. WAR EFFORT
1942–1945
U.S. Bureau of Mines produces "War Mineral Reports" documenting domestic mineral resources vital to WWII. Pennsylvania's Cornwall-type deposits surveyed for strategic iron, copper, and cobalt. WAR EFFORT
1948
Grace Mine deposit discovered by an aerial magnetic survey — a modern exploration technique. Bethlehem Steel develops the mine.
1950
Preston E. Hotz (USGS) publishes "Diamond-drill exploration of the Dillsburg magnetite deposits" — a post-WWII study likely connected to strategic minerals assessment.
1958
Grace Mine begins operation by Bethlehem Steel. Gold confirmed as byproduct of sulfide concentrates.
1972
Mining at Cornwall ceases after Hurricane Agnes floods the underground workings and open pit.
1973
First modern systematic gold prospecting in PA — the Earth Science Association explores SE PA and finds gold flakes near Hunterstown, Adams County. This launches the modern PA gold rush.
1973 (continued)
Cornwall gold production ends: 67,000 ounces of gold and 443,000 ounces of silver recovered from 1908–1973.
1980s
Grace Mine closes. Bethlehem Steel ceases PA mining operations.
2012
Pocono Record reports on the Earth Science Association's gold hunting activities and the Jeri Jones & Donald Schmerling book "Gold in Southeastern Pennsylvania."
2017
York Daily Record publishes a detailed column on York County gold, confirming the Dillsburg/Rossville/Wellsville/Grantham quadrant as the state's best gold ground.
2026
This comprehensive guide is compiled from USGS MRDS, mindat.org, The Diggings, historical publications, and forum intelligence.
4. The Historical Mines — Where the Gold Comes From
These are the lode sources — the places where gold was born in the bedrock. Every flake of placer gold in SE PA creeks originally came from one of these deposits. Understanding where they are and what they produced tells you where to pan.
Mine #1: Cornwall Mine — Lebanon County
GOLD: 67,000 OZ IRON: 106M TONS COPPER: 0.4% COBALT: WAR STRATEGIC
| Detail | Value |
|---|
| USGS MRDS # | 10069387 |
| Location | Cornwall Borough, Lebanon County |
| Commodities | Iron, Cobalt, Gold, Copper, Silver, Sulfur |
| Gold Production | 67,000 ounces (1908–1973) |
| Silver Production | 443,000 ounces (same period) |
| Iron Production | 106,000,000 tons at ~40% iron |
| Copper Grade | 0.4% average |
| Cobalt Grade | 1.4% — first commercial cobalt in 1941 |
| Gold Grade | 0.001 oz/ton — small but at massive volume = real gold |
| Three Open Pits | Big Hill, Middle Hill, Grassy Hill |
| Mined Since | 1742 — oldest mine in PA |
| Closed | 1972 (Hurricane Agnes flooded workings) |
How the gold was recovered: The iron ore contained sulfide minerals (mainly chalcopyrite). When the ore was milled, sulfide concentrates were separated from the magnetite. These concentrates were processed for copper — and the gold came out with the copper. First gold was refined in 1908: 35 troy ounces, enough to justify continued recovery for 65 years.
War connection: Cobalt was declared a Strategic & Critical Material under the Stock Piling Act of 1939. Cornwall began commercial cobalt production in 1941 — directly serving the WWII war effort. Cornwall was a strategic minerals source for the nation.
⚠️ DANGER: Mine workings are closed and extremely dangerous. DO NOT enter old mine pits, shafts, or underground workings. They can collapse without warning. Instead, pan creeks downslope from the mine area.
Placer opportunity: 67,000 ounces of gold was processed at Cornwall over 266 years of mining. Some gold inevitably escaped into drainage — especially in the pre-modern era (1742–1908) before gold recovery began. Old tailings piles may still be weathering and releasing gold. Creeks flowing away from Cornwall Borough are prime placer targets.
Sources: USGS MRDS #10069387 · mindat.org (loc-3653) · The Diggings (usgs10069387) · goldrushnuggets.com · panfortreasure.com · Cornwall Banks Historical Marker (explorepahistory.com)
Mine #2: Grace Mine — Berks County (Morgantown Area)
GOLD CONFIRMED IRON: 40% COPPER
| Detail | Value |
|---|
| USGS MRDS # | 10067406 |
| Location | 2 miles north of Morgantown, Berks County (near New Holland) |
| Commodities | Iron, Cobalt, Copper, Gold, Sulfur-Pyrite |
| Operator | Bethlehem Steel (1958–1980s) |
| Ore Type | Magnetite at ~40% iron, replaced Cambrian limestone |
| Discovery | 1948 — discovered by aerial magnetic survey |
| Formation | 500–675°C, ~1500 bars pressure |
Gold confirmed: The USGS MRDS record states: "Sulfide concentrates, a result of the milling, produced valuable byproducts of iron, copper, cobalt and gold." Same gold-bearing sulfide model as Cornwall.
Minerals found: Magnetite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, marcasite, pyrite, goethite, hematite, covellite, digenite. A detailed geological paper is available on OneMine.org: "The Grace Mine Magnetite Deposit, Berks County, Pennsylvania."
This is the mine near New Holland that you were thinking of. Morgantown is just west of New Holland, right on the Berks/Lancaster County line. Grace Mine exploited the same type of magnetite deposit as Cornwall, with the same gold-bearing sulfide concentrates.
Placer opportunity: Streams draining the Grace Mine area toward Morgantown and New Holland could carry placer gold. The mine operated from 1958 into the 1980s — tailings may still be weathering and releasing gold. Same geological model as Cornwall = same placer potential.
Sources: USGS MRDS #10067406 · mindat.org (loc-9018) · The Diggings (usgs10067406) · OneMine.org · Berks Mineral Society
Mine #3: Jones Mine — Berks County (Untested Gold Target!)
COPPER: 1–7% (HIGHER THAN CORNWALL!) IRON
| Detail | Value |
|---|
| Location | 3/4 mile east of Joanna, 2 miles NE of Morgantown, Berks County |
| Township | Caernarvon Township |
| Commodities | Iron, Copper (gold NOT listed in MRDS) |
| Copper Content | 1% up to 6–7% — even higher than Cornwall! |
| Historical Use | Supplied iron ore to Rebecca, Warwick, and Joanna furnaces (1800s) |
| Owners | Potts and Rutter families |
Why this mine is exciting: Cornwall's gold came from copper sulfide concentrates. Jones Mine has even higher copper content than Cornwall — up to 7% copper in the magnetite, compared to Cornwall's 0.4%. Mindat.org confirms: "Although similar to the mineralogy at Cornwall, the Magnetite at this locale differs, as it typically contains 1%, up to 6-7% copper."
Gold was never assayed at Jones Mine. But the geological model is identical to Cornwall and Grace — diabase intrusion + contact metamorphism + magnetite + copper sulfides. Higher copper = more sulfides = more potential gold carrier.
🔥 UNTESTED GOLD TARGET: Jones Mine is one of the most exciting untested gold prospects in Pennsylvania. If the geological model holds (and it has at every other Cornwall-type deposit), there should be gold in the sulfides at Jones Mine. Placer gold in streams near the mine could reveal what the ore body contains — without ever needing to enter the mine itself.
Placer opportunity: Streams east of Joanna, draining toward the mine area, are untested placer targets. If you find gold in these creeks, you've found evidence of an untested gold deposit. That's real prospecting — being the first to find color in a new area.
Sources: mindat.org (loc-5710) · Reading Eagle newspaper · The Diggings
Mine #4: Dillsburg Magnetite District — York County
IRON: 1.5M TONS LODE SOURCE OF YORK COUNTY GOLD
| Detail | Value |
|---|
| Location | ~1 mile east of Dillsburg, Carroll Township, York County |
| Scope | 30+ pits and underground mines — a district, not one mine |
| Production | ~1,500,000 tons of iron ore over 60 years (1855–~1915) |
| Individual Mines | King Mine, Grove Mine, Butler Mine, Jauss Mine, +26 more |
| USGS Study | Hotz, P.E. (1950) — diamond-drill exploration study |
The Dillsburg Magnetite District is the LODE SOURCE of York County's placer gold. The diabase intrusions that created the iron deposits also created the gold-bearing quartz veins. When the sulfide ores weather, gold is released into streams — and those streams are Muddy Creek, "Lucky Creek," and the other creeks throughout the Dillsburg/Rossville/Wellsville/Grantham quadrant.
Edison connection: Thomas Edison visited the Jauss Mine to evaluate the Dillsburg magnetite fields for his iron ore concentration venture. Edison ultimately decided not to invest, and the Jauss Mine closed in 1908.
USGS study: Preston E. Hotz (1950) conducted a diamond-drill exploration of the Dillsburg deposits — a post-WWII USGS study likely connected to strategic minerals assessment. The report is referenced in the USGS National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB record 21222).
30+ mine pits = 30+ weathering sources feeding gold into the stream system. This is why York County has the best placer gold in PA — there are dozens of old mine workings, each one leaking gold into the drainage every time it rains.
⚠️ Private property: All mine sites in the Dillsburg District are on private property. Do not enter mine workings or trespass. Instead, pan streams at road crossings and public access points downstream from the mine area.
Sources: mindat.org (loc-332995, loc-333003, loc-333005) · USGS NGMDB (proddesc_21222) · daltonemig.com · York Daily Record · pennminerals.com
Mine #5: Hellam Hills Iron Mines — York County
GOLD REPORTED 1820
Location: Southern slope of the Hellam Hills, Hellam Township, York County
Historical: Gold was reported in 1820 at "several of the iron mines located on the southern slope of the Hellam Hills" (Clemson publication, 1820). This is the earliest documented gold in Pennsylvania — found IN iron mine ores, the same pattern as Cornwall.
Geology: Chickies Formation — basalt conglomerate (Hellam Member) overlain by quartzite. Quartz veins formed during crustal shifting carry gold. These veins are a separate gold source from the magnetite deposits.
Current status: Old mine workings are likely overgrown and on private property. But streams draining south from the Hellam Hills into the Susquehanna River valley are untested placer targets.
Sources: TreasureNet · York Daily Record · panfortreasure.com · mindat.org (mesg-65199)
Mine #6: Gap Nickel Mine — Lancaster County
COPPER NICKEL
| Detail | Value |
|---|
| Location | Bart Township / Georgetown area, Lancaster County |
| Discovered | 1732 (or 1718 per The Diggings) — one of oldest mines in PA |
| Originally worked for | Copper, then nickel (millerite principal ore) |
| Nickel Production | 270,000+ lbs (PA DCNR) |
| Gold | Not listed as gold commodity, but Serpentine Barrens area has documented gold |
The Gap Mine is one of the oldest mine sites in Pennsylvania. It's in the Serpentine Barrens area of Lancaster County, where chromite mines were also located. Gold has been documented in the Serpentine Barrens area by panfortreasure.com and LancasterOnline.
Sources: mindat.org (loc-4085) · The Diggings (usgs10067832) · PA DCNR Educational Series 12
MRDS Records Summary
| Mine | MRDS # | County | Commodities | Gold Status |
|---|
| Cornwall | 10069387 | Lebanon | Fe, Co, Au, Cu, Ag, S | 67,000 oz produced |
| Cornwall Pellet Plant | 10299283 | Lebanon | Co, Cu, Fe, S, Mn, P, Si, Ag, S | Producer |
| Grace | 10067406 | Berks | Fe, Co, Cu, Au, S-Pyrite | Gold byproduct confirmed |
| Jones | mindat 5710 | Berks | Fe, Cu | High Cu — untested for Au |
| Dillsburg District | mindat 332995 | York | Fe | Lode source of placer gold |
| Gap Nickel | 10067832 | Lancaster | Ni, Cu | Gold secondary association |
PA Mine Counts by County
| County | Total Mines | Gold Records | Iron Mines | Copper Mines |
|---|
| Berks | 131 | 3 | 122 | 4 |
| Lebanon | 9 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
| York | 56 | 1 | ~30+ | 2 |
| Lancaster | 48 | 2 | 18 | 3 |
| Adams | 45 | 0 | 29 | 16 |
| Chester | 66 | 1 | 27 | 8 |
Note: Adams County has 16 copper mine records (15 prospects!) — more than any other county. Since copper in magnetite deposits is the key gold indicator, Adams County is another area worth investigating for untested gold potential. The Hunterstown area (1973 first modern find) is in Adams County.
5. War Mineral Reports — WWII Strategic Minerals
Background
During World War II, the U.S. Bureau of Mines produced classified reports called "War Mineral Reports" (1942–1945) documenting domestic mineral resources vital to the war effort. These reports are held in the National Archives under Record Group 70 (Records of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1860–1996).
The strategic minerals program began before the war:
- 1938: Naval Appropriations Act — first purchase of strategic minerals for wartime
- 1939: Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act — first formal U.S. strategic materials stockpile
- 1940: USGS began topographic mapping of strategic areas
- 1941: Cornwall Mine begins commercial cobalt production — directly serving the war effort
- 1942–1945: War Mineral Reports produced by Bureau of Mines
- 1950: Hotz USGS diamond-drill study at Dillsburg — likely a continuation of wartime strategic minerals assessment
What the War Mineral Reports Likely Contain
Based on the National Archives Record Group 70 description, these reports likely include:
- Detailed surveys of Cornwall-type iron-magnetite deposits (Cornwall, Grace, Jones, Dillsburg) for strategic iron, copper, and cobalt
- Gold, silver, and copper assay data from sulfide concentrates that may not be in the public MRDS database
- Diamond drilling results (like the Hotz 1950 Dillsburg study)
- Production statistics for war-critical minerals
🔥 Why this matters: The War Mineral Reports may contain gold assay data for mines like Jones Mine where gold was never publicly reported. If the Bureau of Mines assayed Jones Mine's sulfide concentrates for gold during the war — and found it — that information could be sitting in an undigitized file in the National Archives. This is a high-priority research target.
How to Access the War Mineral Reports
- National Archives Catalog: Search online at catalog.archives.gov for Record Group 70, "War Mineral Reports"
- National Archives at College Park, MD: Holds Bureau of Mines records. Physical reports may need to be requested and viewed on-site.
- OneMine.org: Some geological/mining papers are digitized (subscription required)
- USGS Publications Warehouse: pubs.usgs.gov — some related studies are available
- PA Bureau of Mining Programs (DEP): May have state-level copies at files.dep.state.pa.us/mining/
Research status: ONGOING. The War Mineral Reports have NOT been fully digitized. Specific PA mine reports from 1942–1945 need to be located and reviewed.
Source: National Archives — https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/070.html
6. Placer Gold — Finding Gold in the Creeks
Placer gold is gold that has been released from its source rock and concentrated by water into streams. In SE PA, the placer gold comes from the weathering of the old mine deposits. Here's how it works:
How Placer Gold Forms from Mine Areas
- Mine workings expose sulfide-rich ore to weathering (rain, oxygen, groundwater)
- Rain oxidizes the sulfides — pyrite and chalcopyrite break down (rust away)
- Gold is released from the sulfide crystal lattice as free particles
- Free gold washes into drainage creeks during rain
- Stream action concentrates the gold in bends, bars, and bedrock crevices
- Old mine tailings and waste piles also weather and release gold — for decades or centuries after mining stops
The fundamental rule: "Mines near the towns of Cornwall and Morgantown are worth investigation, since any lode gold production generally means that placer deposits can be found in nearby creeks and rivers." — goldrushnuggets.com
The 5 Placer Target Areas
| Target Area | County | Why It Works | Gold Type |
|---|
| Cornwall Mine drainage | Lebanon | 67,000 oz gold processed — some escaped into drainage over 266 years | Fine flakes |
| Grace Mine drainage | Berks | Gold confirmed as byproduct. Tailings still weathering since 1980s. | Fine flakes |
| Jones Mine drainage | Berks | Highest copper in PA — untested for gold. Streams east of Joanna. | Unknown — be the first! |
| Dillsburg District drainage | York | 30+ mine pits feeding gold into Muddy Creek & "Lucky Creek." PROVEN producer. | Flakes, pickers, nuggets |
| Hellam Hills drainage | York | Gold in iron mines since 1820. Quartz veins weather and release gold. | Flakes |
7. York County Gold Belt — The #1 Target
The York County gold belt is the best documented, most reliable gold-producing region in Pennsylvania. Centered on Dillsburg, extending through Grantham, Wellsville, and Rossville.
Multiple independent sources confirm the same thing: "If you pan any stream in a quadrant bordered by Rossville and Wellsville on the south and Dillsburg and Grantham to the north, you will find a small flake of gold." — TreasureNet forum
Confirmed Spots in York County
Dillsburg / Grantham / Wellsville / Rossville Quadrant
Gold type: Placer flakes + lode gold in quartz veins. Gold is ~2mm typical size — about 15,000 flakes per ounce.
Access: Route 74 runs through the area. Multiple road crossings and bridge access points. Verify property boundaries before panning — much of this area is private farmland.
Muddy Creek & "Lucky Creek" — The Best Spot
Muddy Creek is the main gold-bearing stream in York County. Route 74 crosses it. An unnamed tributary west of Route 74 was dubbed "Lucky Creek" by modern prospectors because "several pan-fills of sand yielded sizeable gold" (York Daily Record).
Largest known specimen from Lucky Creek: 0.75 inches — that's a PICKER, not flour gold. This is the best documented coarse gold find in PA outside of the 11+ ounce nugget.
Technique: Pan the confluence where Lucky Creek enters Muddy Creek — gold drops at confluences. Work inside bends. Look for black sand concentrates. Natural bedrock ledges trap gold.
Bermudian Creek
Near the York/Adams County line. "Excellent access to prospective gravel bars." Smaller creek than Muddy Creek = easier to work.
Codorus Creek (East Branch & South Branch)
South of the main Dillsburg belt. East Branch near Winterstown, South Branch near Glen Rock. Very fine flakes — gold washing out of meta-igneous rocks. Barely visible to the naked eye — bring a loupe.
Reference book: "Gold in Southeastern Pennsylvania" by Jeri Jones & Donald Schmerling — contains maps showing where gold has been located in Adams, Lancaster, and York Counties. The definitive guide for SE PA gold hunting.
8. Lancaster County — Peters Creek & Beyond
Peters Creek — Best Panning Stream in SE PA
Location: Fulton Township, Lancaster County. Runs into the Susquehanna River.
Gold type: Fine placer gold + small platinum nuggets (!!!)
LancasterOnline calls Peters Creek "the finest gold deposit in southeast Pennsylvania." Panfortreasure confirms it's "the best panning stream in southeastern PA" and "small platinum nuggets have reportedly been found there."
Platinum! Peters Creek is one of the few places in PA where platinum has been documented. Platinum looks like silver-white heavy particles that do NOT respond to a magnet. If you find silvery heavies in your pan at Peters Creek that aren't magnetic — you may have found platinum.
Other Lancaster County Spots
- Susquehanna River (Lancaster section): Fine gold throughout. Pan the upstream side of islands where heavy minerals concentrate.
- Muddy Creek (Lancaster County): Access through Susquehannock State Park. Small gold flakes — use fine mesh screens.
- Gap Nickel Mines / Serpentine Barrens: Gold associated with nickel/copper/chromite mineralization. Surrounding creeks may carry gold.
- Chickies Rock: First PA gold discovery (1820). Chickies Rock County Park — massive quartzite outcrop 100 feet above the Susquehanna River. Check park regulations before panning.
- Slate Belt / Muddy Run area: "I have found gold in EVERY creek in the slate belt. I find between 3-30 flakes every 3 hours of panning." — TreasureNet poster. Near Muddy Run State Park.
9. Berks County — Grace Mine & Jones Mine
Berks County has 131 total mine records — the most of any PA county. It has 3 gold records (2 producers, 1 occurrence) and 122 iron mines. The Grace Mine and Jones Mine area near Morgantown is the most exciting target.
Grace Mine Area (Morgantown / New Holland)
Streams draining the Grace Mine area toward Morgantown and New Holland could carry placer gold. Gold was a confirmed byproduct of sulfide concentrates at Grace Mine — same geological model as Cornwall. The mine operated from 1958 into the 1980s, so tailings piles may still be weathering and releasing gold.
Access: Mostly private property in this area. Focus on road crossings and bridge access points on streams downstream from the mine site. Verify land ownership.
Jones Mine Area (Joanna)
Streams east of Joanna, draining the Jones Mine area, are completely untested for placer gold. Jones Mine has the highest copper content of any PA mine (1–7%), and copper sulfides are where gold hides. If there's gold in the sulfides at Jones Mine, it should be weathering out into the streams.
This is frontier ground. Be the first prospector to test pan these creeks. If you find color, you've discovered evidence of an untested gold deposit.
10. Lebanon County — Cornwall Mine
Cornwall Mine is the only place in Pennsylvania with significant gold production — 67,000 ounces between 1908 and 1973. The mine operated from 1742 until 1972 (when Hurricane Agnes flooded it).
Cornwall Iron Furnace (1742–1883) is a National Historic Landmark — the only surviving intact charcoal cold-blast furnace in the Western Hemisphere. It's administered by the PA Historical & Museum Commission and is open to the public as a historic site.
Placer opportunity: Look for streams flowing away from Cornwall Borough. 266 years of mining (1742–1908) before gold recovery began means gold was escaping into drainage for over 150 years before anyone tried to capture it. Old tailings and waste piles may still be weathering.
⚠️ DO NOT enter mine workings. The open pits (Big Hill, Middle Hill, Grassy Hill) and underground openings are extremely dangerous. Hurricane Agnes flooded them in 1972. Pan downstream creeks only.
11. Adams County — Hunterstown
Hunterstown area — first modern PA gold find (1973). A group of amateur prospectors from the Earth Science Association systematically explored SE PA and found small flakes near Hunterstown. This was the first confirmed find in the modern gold prospecting era.
Geology: Gettysburg Formation — diabase intrusions create gold-bearing quartz veins. Weathering releases gold into streams. Part of the same gold belt as York County.
Adams County also has 16 copper mine records (15 prospects!) — more than any other PA county. Since copper in magnetite deposits is the key gold indicator, Adams County is another area worth investigating for untested gold potential.
12. Panning Technique for SE PA Gold
SE PA gold is generally coarser than NE PA glacier gold. This means you can use standard panning technique — you don't need the ultra-slow, ultra-gentle method required for flour gold.
The Method
- Pick your spot: Inside bend, behind boulder, gravel bar tail, or creek confluence
- Dig the top 6–12 inches of gravel above bedrock or clay layer
- Classify to 1/4 inch — use a coarser screen than NE PA (where 1/2 inch is standard) because SE PA gold is bigger
- Fill pan 1/2 to 2/3 full
- Submerge and work with circular motion — normal speed, not ultra-slow
- Work down to black sand concentrate — gold associates with black sand (magnetite)
- If black sand present: fill a bucket from this spot for later processing
- Final pan: work to black sand, check for gold with 10x loupe
- York County gold: warm yellow shine, ~2mm, stays put in the pan when you tap it
Gold vs. Fool's Gold — Quick ID Guide
| Mineral | Color | Behavior in Pan | Key Test |
|---|
| Gold | Warm yellow shine | Stays put, heavy, doesn't move when tapped | Won't crush — gold is malleable |
| Pyrite (fool's gold) | Brassy/white flash | Lighter, moves easily in pan | Crushes to powder — pyrite is brittle |
| Mica | Silver/gold, flat | Floats on water, flaky | Flakes apart — very light |
| Chalcopyrite | Brassy, tarnishes | Moderate weight | Iridescent tarnish colors |
| Platinum | Silver-white | Heavy, stays in pan | NOT magnetic — found at Peters Creek! |
High-Probability Spots (In Order)
- Inside bends — water slows on the curve, gold drops out
- Behind boulders — drop zones for heavy materials
- Downstream end of gravel bars — heavies settle here
- Bedrock crevices and cracks — gold settles into every crack
- Confluences — where two waterways meet (like Lucky Creek entering Muddy Creek!)
- Below rapids or falls — heavies drop in the slow water below
- On top of clay layers — gold can't sink through clay
- Behind submerged ledge rock
Indicator Minerals — What to Look For
- Black sand (magnetite/hematite) — the #1 indicator. Where there's black sand, there could be gold.
- Quartz gravel — possible gold-bearing vein material
- Diabase fragments — the source rock for SE PA gold. Dark, dense, fine-grained igneous rock.
- Garnets — sometimes found with gold
- Rust/iron staining in gravel — possible sulfide mineralization nearby
13. Placer Strategy — How to Work Mine Drainage
This is the specific strategy for finding placer gold downstream from the SE PA mines. This is what makes SE PA different from anywhere else in the state — you're not just randomly panning creeks, you're systematically working drainage from known gold sources.
- Identify mine locations using USGS MRDS (mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds), mindat.org, and The Diggings (thediggings.com)
- Find streams draining AWAY from mine areas — use Google Earth or topo maps to trace drainage
- Look for old tailings piles near mine sites — these are weathering sources that feed gold into streams
- Pan downstream from mine workings — test every bend and bar
- Focus on confluences where small mine-drainage creeks enter larger streams — gold drops at the confluence
- The closer to the mine source, the COARSER the gold should be — short transport = less grinding
- Old "ore banks" (limonite surface digs) also weather and release gold — check streams near any historical iron mine, not just the big ones
- Test pan 3–5 spots per creek — if no color after 5 pans, move to the next creek
- If you find color, work that area systematically — fill buckets for camp processing
14. Legal Status & Ethics
- Hand panning on state forest land and public waterways = NO PERMIT needed (PA DEP confirms)
- Non-motorized hand tools (pans, shovels, hand sluices) generally OK on state forest land
- State parks: Check with park office — some have specific rules (e.g., Susquehannock State Park, Chickies Rock County Park)
- Private property: ALWAYS get permission. Much of SE PA is private farmland and residential.
- Bridge crossings and road rights-of-way often provide legal stream access
- NO motorized equipment without DEP authorization
- NO undercutting stream banks or disturbing vegetation
- Mine workings: CLOSED and DANGEROUS — never enter old mine sites
Important: Unlike NE PA where most land is state forest, SE PA is mixed public/private. Always check for posted signs. If approached by a landowner, be polite and explain you're recreational panning — many will give permission if asked respectfully. When in doubt, pan at road crossings and bridge access points.
Code of Ethics
- Fill your holes
- Leave no trace
- Don't disturb stream banks
- Respect private property — ask permission or use public access
- Pack out all trash
- Don't block roads or gates
- Be courteous to farmers, residents, fishermen, and hikers
15. Safety Considerations
- Old mine workings are DEATH TRAPS. Open pits, shafts, and underground openings can collapse without warning. Do not approach them. Pan downstream creeks only.
- Poison ivy is common along SE PA stream banks — learn to identify it
- Ticks are always present in PA — check yourself after every trip
- Slippery rocks — mossy boulders in creeks are a falling hazard
- Private property — verify access before panning (biggest legal risk in SE PA)
- Farm runoff after rain — avoid panning right after heavy rain in agricultural areas
- 3-hour drive from Susquehanna — driver fatigue on the return trip is the biggest safety risk. Take breaks, stop for coffee, don't rush.
16. References & Sources
Primary Database Sources
- USGS MRDS (Mineral Resources Data System) — mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds — mine records, commodities, locations
- USGS USMIN — mrdata.usgs.gov/usmin — significant mineral deposits
- The Diggings — thediggings.com — user-friendly mine data aggregator (1,205 PA records)
- mindat.org — mineral locality database (Cornwall loc-3653, Grace loc-9018, Jones loc-5710, Dillsburg loc-332995)
- PA DEP — pa.gov/agencies/dep — official gold/gemstone prospecting regulations
Books & Publications
- "Gold in Southeastern Pennsylvania" by Jeri Jones & Donald Schmerling — THE definitive guide to SE PA gold locations with maps. Find via Google Books or local libraries.
- "Mineralogy of Pennsylvania" by Samuel Gordon (1920) — first scientific documentation of York County gold.
- "Cornwall-Type Iron Ores of Pennsylvania" — NYSGA 1998 Field Trip Guide, Trip B3. Geological guide to the diabase-magnetite model.
- "Diamond-drill exploration of the Dillsburg magnetite deposits" — Hotz, P.E. (1950), USGS. Post-WWII drilling study.
- "The Grace Mine Magnetite Deposit, Berks County, Pennsylvania" — OneMine.org geological paper.
- "Geochemistry of Triassic Diabase from SE Pennsylvania" — Smith, R.C. II (1973), PhD dissertation, Penn State (262 pages).
- National Archives Record Group 70 — Bureau of Mines War Mineral Reports (1942–1945). Not fully digitized.
Online Sources
- goldrushnuggets.com — PA gold locations + Cornwall gold production article
- raregoldnuggets.com — Prospecting for Gold in Pennsylvania article
- panfortreasure.com — PA locations + laws articles
- rockchasing.com — "17 Proven Places to Find Gold in Pennsylvania"
- York Daily Record (ydr.com) — York County gold columns by Jeri Jones
- LancasterOnline.com — Lancaster County gold articles
- thesanlupeproject.org — PA gold guide with geological context
- TreasureNet.com — Long-running forum with PA gold threads
- pennminerals.com — Chronicles series on PA mineral history
- daltonemig.com — Dillsburg Mining District history
- explorepahistory.com — Cornwall Banks Historical Marker
Photographic Sources
- PA Geological Survey Historical Photographs — digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org — "Abandoned iron mine in Big Hill Cornwall" (1922 photo)
- mindat.org photo galleries — Cornwall Mines, Jones Mine, Grace Mine
- explorepahistory.com — Cornwall Mines circa 1880 photograph
- Wikimedia Commons — Cornwall Mines category, Chickies Rock County Park
17. Why the Northern Tier Is Different
For comparison, here's why the northern tier of PA (where your homebase in Susquehanna is located) is fundamentally different gold ground:
| Feature | SE PA | NE PA (Northern Tier) |
|---|
| Gold source | Local bedrock (diabase intrusions) | Canadian glacial till (Abitibi Gold Belt) |
| Transport distance | Zero — gold born in place | Hundreds of miles via glaciers |
| Gold size | Flakes, pickers, nuggets | Flour gold, dust (-50 mesh) |
| Lode gold mines | 8 documented records | Zero |
| Gold production | 67,000 oz (Cornwall alone) | None (commercial) |
| Largest nugget | 11+ ounces (1938) | Dime-size (rare GPAA report) |
| Geological model | Diabase + magnetite + sulfides | Glacial scatter |
| Best technique | Standard panning (1/4" classify) | Ultra-slow flour gold technique |
| Public access | Limited (mostly private land) | Excellent (state forest, NF) |
The trade-off: SE PA has better gold but worse access (private property). NE PA has worse gold but excellent access (state forest, public land). For a day trip from homebase, NE PA is easy and close. For actually finding meaningful gold, SE PA is worth the 3-hour drive.