In Russia they started talking about a “gold rush”: citizens were offered to mine precious metals themselves

“If you will be with us in Kolyma, you are welcome!” “No, it’s better if you come to us.”

It seems that this famous dialogue from “The Diamond Arm” is losing its humorous “filling”, and it’s time to replace the second line with another phrase: “Yes, yes. I’m just going there.”

After all, now that same Kolyma can become an object of increased leisure interest for us.

There is educational, sports, health, medical tourism… And in this case it is quite appropriate to use the designation “mineral tourism”.

According to the Governor of the Magadan Region, Sergei Nosov, tourists who come to these regions have a chance to try to mine gold on their own. For such “miners at leisure,” the authorities of the Far Eastern region intend to allocate an area of ​​several tens of hectares where precious metal is hidden in the ground.

“We are now considering the option of a site that will be allocated specifically for “free supply,” the governor explained in an interview with the TASS agency. – Gold can be mined there by tourists. Let’s combine business with pleasure: gold will be mined, and there will probably be no end to tourists, since many people want to experience such strong sensations.”

However, complete freedom – in the spirit of the famous stories of Jack London – should not be expected here. Only classic tools for manual washing can be used, and the work of the tourists-miners and its results are supposed to be monitored – including to ensure compliance with environmental laws. In addition, as Nosov explained, “compliance with the law in matters of circulation of precious metals has not been canceled either.”

If the initiative mentioned by the governor is implemented, the Magadan region will become the first Russian region where individual tourists are allowed to mine gold.

“I got some gold,” many would probably not refuse to take part in such an exciting quest. Especially if there is a real prospect of extracting some grams of the precious metal and thereby strengthening one’s financial situation. Although, of course, in the case of the Magadan option described above, a serious obstacle for those same Muscovites is the geography factor. From the capital to Magadan the distance is enormous. Try and fly!

Meanwhile, paradoxical as it may seem to some, the opportunity to find grains of the coveted yellow metal exists even in the Moscow region.

I had a chance to read about this not widely advertised fact in one of the guidebooks published before the revolution.

“Near the Iksha station of the Moscow-Yaroslavl-Arkhangelsk railway, gold-bearing placers were found – gold was found in gristly boulder deposits of glacial origin.”

Experts have provided an explanation for this formulation. The “culprit” for the appearance of gold deposits near Moscow was the prehistoric ice age. Then, under the influence of a serious cooling that occurred on the planet, a powerful glacier arose, which slowly crawled from the north to the present-day Central Russian regions. On the way here, like the plow of a giant bulldozer, he raked and pushed in front of him a mass of stones, sand, and rubble. The glacier left some of these “building materials” on the site of the future Moscow region, where the Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge is indicated on the maps. Among those “imported” stones, some turned out to have precious inclusions. It was thanks to this that the gold-bearing placers near Moscow arose.

However, they do not have any real industrial value. Judging by the descriptions of enthusiasts who tried mining in the north of the capital region, even in a promising place chosen with skill, the result of a hard day’s work is only a few tiny grains of gold sand. As they say, the game is not worth the candle.

Although it turned out that one day an attempt was made to develop large-scale deposits of the precious metal near Moscow.

The MK correspondent managed to find evidence of a commercial project, thanks to which its author decided to enrich himself on gold deposits located not far from the Mother See.

“Russian California”, “Klondike near Moscow”… – some Moscow newspapers “shot” with such sensational headlines in the summer of 1903. Their correspondents informed readers that gold had been discovered north of Belokamennaya. Following this, a certain landowner Ponomarev published announcements about the creation of a joint-stock company to organize industrial mining of this precious metal on the lands he owned near Iksha. The landowner managed to conduct a very successful advertising campaign: many Muscovites and residents of the province decided to purchase shares of the new commercial enterprise.

At the very height of the “gold rush” he had inflated, Ponomarev could not resist the temptation to hit a good sum of money without waiting for the results of panning for gold near Moscow. The swindler entrepreneur embezzled part of the money received from the sale of shares in his Gold Mining Company and tried to escape with this capital. But the fugitive was detained by the police. They wanted to put Ponomarev behind bars. However, the landowner-“prospector” found influential patrons who managed to help him out of trouble. Nothing is known about the further adventures of this scoundrel.

What is the situation with private mining in other countries of the world? Here are some examples.

In Germany, anyone can hunt for grains of sand of the treasured yellow metal hidden in the ground. No official permission is required for this. He can safely keep all the spoils that the amateur miner has mined for himself. Another question is that the very possibility of obtaining such mining is a very big question: after all, the gold reserves in the bowels of this country are extremely insignificant. However, in some regions (mainly in the foothills), here and there local rural entrepreneurs offer services for organizing artisanal tourism. Those interested are given the equipment necessary for gold washing for rent, they are given appropriate instructions on how to proceed, and then the “gold mirage hunters” are taken to one of the places suitable for mining.

Norway is not so democratic in this area. Although anyone can hunt for gold dust here, and all areas that are not closed to the public and are not private property are available for this type of activity, you will first have to obtain the appropriate permission and pay a miner’s fee – about 1000 Norwegian kroner. You will also need to coordinate your proposed search for treasures with the municipality – the owner of the land where it is planned to conduct washing.

In the north of Finland, neighboring Russia, in Lapland there are many rivers in the beds of which you can find grains of gold. Moreover, there is quite a lot of precious metal here. But in order to engage in gold mining, a tourist must purchase a license. For 300 euros you get the right to wash the sand for 10 days. Judging by information from those involved in such searches, the “catch” during this time can be quite significant, although when selling the panned gold, a rather high tax is charged from a private miner.

We are accustomed to the fact that Switzerland is rich only in Alpine “golden” chocolate. However, geologists also discovered real precious metal in the depths there. There is not much of it, and therefore the zealous Swiss decided: there should be no industrial development, so as not to disturb the environment and not disfigure the beauty of the surrounding mountains. Only tourists and private enthusiasts are allowed to dig in the soil while washing. To get such pleasure, they have to apply for a special and by no means free permit. Everything “knocked out” from the Alpine depths becomes the property of the miner himself. There has been an Association of Gold Miners in the country for more than 30 years and competitions are regularly held, the participants of which are awarded a gold miner’s certificate.

Now let’s go beyond old Europe.

Tourists can indulge in gold mining in some regions of Indonesia (they must obtain special permission from the authorities).

There is such an opportunity in Ghana. Moreover, the prospects for mining success in this African country are very impressive: in Ghana there are several explored rich gold-bearing areas. But there is also a criminal component: many local residents are actively engaged in gold mining themselves and view visiting competitors with great disapproval. Even if there are conflicts between the “gold hunters” from among the aborigines, which sometimes lead to murders, then a foreigner should think three times before going panning here.

In far, far away New Zealand, mining tourism is popular. On the South Island of this country there are one and a half dozen areas with gold deposits. There are still several mines working there, and individuals participating in special tours are also allowed to dig. However, the main bonus from such an activity will only be admiring the surrounding nature and the awareness of one’s involvement in such an unusual type of activity. The chances of finding even a couple of grams of the yellow metal are extremely low, since the gold-bearing strata have largely been depleted over previous decades.

But in Canada, the tourist-miner has freedom. This North American country has some of the world’s largest gold mines. Mining tourism is very developed there, so your craving for “hunting for gold” will be provided (of course not free of charge) with all the necessary conditions and equipment.

And of course, we can’t help but mention the northernmost state of America – Alaska. It was she who became famous throughout the world for the “gold rush” that happened here at the end of the 19th century. There is still a lot of precious metal in the depths of the peninsula. Inspired by the stories of the famous writer Jack London, many individual tourists come here for this “yellow devil”. For most of them, the main goal is to participate in such an original role-playing game – the game of gold miner. However, it is quite possible, in addition to the unforgettable impressions received, to enrich yourself with some amount of washed-up golden sand, or even fish out a small nugget from the river pebbles! A license issued for such mining pleasures costs $50 per day.

Rich “golden horizons” are opening up for mining tourists in Australia. Gold placers were explored on the territory of the state back in the century before last. Now any individual can develop them – both a local resident and a foreign tourist. You just need to purchase the appropriate license, which costs about a hundred dollars. This “indulgence” gives the right to pan in the territory of a specific state. And there are four of them in Australia with gold “filling” available to private miners.