Gold is a metal with a density of 19.3 g/cm3. The Mineral Act distinguishes between state’s minerals (density higher than 5 cm3) and landowner’s minerals. Gold in solid rock is defined as a state’s mineral, while alluvial gold is considered a landowner’s mineral. Alluvial gold is found in loose sand and gravel deposited in a river (carried to the site by water).

The free prospecting right

The free prospecting right means that anyone can search for minerals on foreign land, cf. Section 8 of the Mineral Act. The prospecting right only gives the right to search for minerals to determine whether there are minerals in the area or not. The prospecting right does not give the right to take landowner’s minerals (such as alluvial gold) from the terrain.

Gold panning

Gold panning refers to the washing of small amounts of gravel using simple hand-held tools and pans in streams and rivers. There are very limited interventions in the terrain that can be carried out by virtue of the exploration right, without permission from the landowner. The searcher can not make interventions in nature that lead to damage to the terrain. Exploration with the use of larger tools, machinery, hoses, pumps etc. is not included in the free prospecting right. This can lead to a change in the flow of water in the watercourse.

Before you start exploration, you are obliged to notify in accordance with section 10 of the Mineral Act, and in some cases a special permission is required. Finnmarkseiendommen must be notified in writing no later than 2 weeks before the search starts. The Sami Parliament, the administrator and the district board of reindeer husbandry must also be notified.

The searcher must always take nature and the environment into account and ensure that equipment used in streams and rivers is disinfected.