A gold prospector looking for a gold placer follows up the water channels in which it is possible to detect specimens of all the rocks in the deposit. The prospecting activity is focused amongst these to find samples of granitic, rusty quartz, quartzose rocks or fine particles with mineralization. Basically, plenty of broken quartz is considered a good sign, but vey pure, hard, dull white quartz is considered as low gold grade. Also, the size of the fragments denoted the nearness to the reef.

Essentially, a good gold prospector examines closely the fine sandy matter of the stream bed, especially where eddies and backwaters have been formed. A potential deposit must be scraped up, even down into every crevice and depression in the bedrock or solid rock bottom over which the river has formed its channel. This material must be panned. Other interesting points are present in slopes of the bedrock as well as in the deepest portion. It has been noted that nuggets found on high reef above the level of the stream imply their weight enables them to remain in their position, during the deeper erosion of the streams and that the original vein from which they came is not far off. Large nuggets and coarse gold are found much nearer to the source where they came than fine or flour gold, which is usually carried long distances away.

In some gold placers, the character of quartz veins and of their enclosing rocks in the immediate area or zone decides the character of gravels derived from them. Hence sometimes a pebble may be located in the peculiar rock where it came, and the gold vein is found near it place. Also, according to experienced prospector, leads following the course or lines of a gold bearing reef keep a continuous yield than those crossing a number of gold reefs at intervals. Gold is present in pockets and shoots at intervals with some zone with lost gold contents. In a deposit where the gold quartz veins are small, although rich at intervals, the gravels tend to be small. In a very deep ground where the wash is very heavy, a series of drill holes are made to evaluate the quality of the deposit.