Hi Aaron,

I don't know if I can be of much use to you since I'm getting started myself. But I'm originally from Ford City, about 35 miles north of Pittsburgh. Here's a short story I can pass on to you, although I don't know how true it is. If it is true, it's kind of exciting.

My brother was at a gold and gem show in Butler, PA last year. He made the comment to someone that there is no gold in Pennsylvania worth getting excited over. After hearing this, someone walked up to him and showed my brother a gold ring. The guy responded, I found all of this gold in SW PA." Again, I don't know true it is, but who am I to argue? If it is true, that's very exciting. Then again, it could have taken him a very long time to find that much gold.

Personally, I'm looking forward to heading out to eastern PA this summer and doing some panning. I have no expectations of getting rich, but I just want to start panning, do some metal detecting, and catch some trout.

Have you joined a chapter near you? The closest one that I'm aware of is the Allegheny Chapter.

Hi Aaron,

I am from Monaca...which I am sure you heard of. I really have been wondering about that, and have read geology reports and such. There was gold found up in Mercer County I believe because it was brought in with the glaciers. You know Moraine state park and the gravels were all from those glaciers. They say the gold is fine.....but I never heard about SW...unless they call Butler in the SW but its not....

Leo 

I appreciate the info guys. I have a place here in Washington county I am going to poke around when the weather improves. Hopefully I will be able to report more than having a blast being out prospecting!

You're actually pretty close to Northern Virginia. From what I understand, there's a good bit of gold there. I'm looking forward to spending some time there this summer.