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California Gold Rush Mining in 1849
The California Gold rush is back after 160 Years. This time it seems to be recession driven.
The number of people coming to California to pan for gold is up as the economy has gone down.
Professional gold panners say they make an average of $60 to $80 in a day, but most amateurs who do it recreationally make significantly less.
Some who have lost their jobs and become gold panners quickly learn that it takes hard labor.
Gary Mosher says he comes from Colorado, and sees the effect of new prospectors first hand.
“He’s sleeping in a tent with his son and his wife; doesn’t have a job; got a car,” said Mosher. “Taking drinking water out of the side of the mountain and hoping to find enough gold to buy groceries.”
Gold panning professionals are also seeing an influx of vacationers who are choosing to come to California to pan for gold to try to make some money while taking time away from their day jobs.
“We’ve had people from Texas, from Ohio, from Georgia, from Tennessee, from New York all come out here and use this as their vacation to get a little bit of extra money,” Dennis Robnett of Pioneer Mining Supplies said.
Some estimate there is a 15% increase in gold panners. It will cost you about $40 for basic supplies to get started.
Source : http://wbztv.com/watercooler/modern.gold.rush.2.1144903.html
