In which river to find gold in France ?

Gold is a metal hidden in rock, which is why humans dig very deep mines in search of the most beautiful nuggets. But how does the gold then reach the watercourses to create gold-bearing rivers ? It is the phenomenon of erosion which is responsible, discovering the rock faults where the gold was niche. The recurring passage of a watercourse in these places disintegrates it, and transports it along the river. This explains why gold is mainly found in mountainous regions, or in areas that have hosted mines which have exposed golden faults.

If gold can be found almost everywhere in France, there are gold-bearing areas more prolific than others. Certain departments are in fact particularly popular with gold miners¹, because the geology of the place and the numerous gold courses are conducive to the discovery of gold.

The watercourses of the Massif Central

In the Massif Central and even in the Cévennes, all of the departments can be explored to find gold. From Puy-de-Dôme to Corrèze via Lot, Cantal, Aveyron, etc., there are streams where gold flakes are hidden. 

Establishing an exhaustive list of the gold-bearing rivers of the Massif Central is complex, but we can cite a few: the Jordanne, the Vézère, the Isle, the Lot, the Allier, the Orb , etc. 

Gold zones in the Pyrenees

Among the richest gold-bearing rivers in the country, we find those of the Pyrenees. From one end of the mountain range to the other, there are streams where gold panning can be fruitful. Ariège, Aude, Haute-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Pyrénées-Orientales and Hautes-Pyrénées: all these departments have gold-bearing areas that delight gold prospectors. The most famous gold courses for gold panning in the Pyrenees are the Têt, the Aude river, the Salat, the Neste, etc., as well as the Garonne, fed by gold-bearing tributaries.

The rivers of the Armorican Massif

If the mountains are often the ideal place to look for gold, you should know that Brittany, Normandy and the Pays de la Loire also have many gold-bearing rivers. This is due to the geology of the Armorican Massif, an ancient mountain range, which only peaks at 417 meters today. 

Within tributaries of large rivers (e.g. Mayenne, Oust, Sarthe) or in more modest rivers, you can successfully engage in gold panning in the Armorican Massif. There is even talk of a “Golden Triangle” in Brittany, around the villages of Mûr-de-Bretagne, Loudéac and Pontivy.

Other departments where to find gold

If the Massif Central, the Armorican Massif and the Pyrenees are the most gold-bearing regions in France, it is not necessary to go there to search for the golden metal. 

For example, you can explore rivers such as the Moselle, the Rhine and its tributaries, the Gier, the Isère, the Ognon, etc. On the other hand, you have less chance of finding gold in the North and North-East of France as well as in the Paris basin.

If in theory, many rivers allow you to find a few flakes of gold with a little luck and the right techniques, the reality is a little more complex. Indeed, several departments, in order to protect their waterways and the ecosystems that surround them, have prohibited gold miners from crisscrossing gold-bearing rivers. This is for example the case in Finistère, in Côtes-d’Armor, in Jura or even in Gard at certain times of the year.  Other departments have decided to restrict gold panning areas, while leaving the possibility for amateur gold prospectors to indulge their passion in certain waterways.

It is therefore important to obtain information from the Departmental Directorate of Territories before setting off in search of gold in a river.

Knowing the places richest in gold is a first prerequisite to maximizing your chances of finding some golden metal. But it is not enough to place your pan in a gold-bearing stream to hope to see flakes of gold deposited there as if by magic. The most successful gold miners have a few techniques to know more precisely where to look.

Find and follow the Goldline

In a gold-bearing river, gold is not present in every location or in every cubic meter of water that follows its path to the sea. Rather, it follows a line, called the Goldline, which constitutes its route through the meanders. Generally, gold will take the shortest route, but it depends on the water level (flood or recession period) and the “traps” it encounters on its route.

You should know that the “golden line” is not golden: we do not identify it by its shiny appearance or its yellow color, but it appears in the form of black sand. Indeed, the Goldline does not only contain gold, but all the heaviest metals and materials. Among them, we find magnetite and hematite, minerals whose respective colors are black and reddish. Hence the formation of black sand in which gold is hidden, rather than a golden Goldline.

Take an interest in slowing down zones in the watercourse

Once a gold prospector has determined the Goldline of a watercourse, his work is not finished. You need to know where the glitter may have been trapped, in order to immerse your pan in it. Logically, the heavy gold and black pond sand are deposited where obstacles prevent them from continuing their path in the watercourse. There are several strategic places to look for gold in a gold-bearing river:

• In the meanders, where the flakes accumulate since they tend to want to follow a direct, and therefore straight, line;
• Around rocks, branches and other fairly large obstacles found in the middle of the river or along the banks;
• In areas where the watercourse narrows, where the flow is slowed, since this causes the gold flakes to sink to the bottom;
• In pots, these holes formed naturally in the course and which capture the heaviest materials;
• In the faults of the rock, which also constitute spaces in which the black sand can be lodged;
• At the confluences of several rivers, because their meeting can lead to deposits of gold along the bank.

After discovering these places where gold could be hidden, all that remains is to collect black sand and count on luck to find some glitter!

If your goal is to build up a large stock of gold and diversify your assets, recreational gold panning is not the right option. In the gold-bearing rivers of France, you can of course find some flakes that are valuable, but nothing that will allow you to become immensely rich. Gold panning is more of a fun activity, where you enjoy looking, without necessarily finding THE nugget. You will still get real satisfaction from discovering your first glitter, but it may require some patience.

If one cannot expect to find much gold in rivers, then how can one obtain gold ? Purchasing gold from a specialist like Gold Union remains one of the best solutions at your disposal. Why ? Because you are sure to buy pure and certified gold, delivered directly to your home in complete safety. And don't think that it's not within your reach: we of course offer 1 kg ingots, but also ingots that can weigh between 5 and 500 grams, allowing you to invest even with a smaller budget.

However, nothing stops you from going gold panning in our beautiful French regions simply for fun!