Prospecting for gold in loose masses
The Minerals Act distinguishes between the state's minerals (density higher than 5 cm3), and landowners' minerals. Gold in loose masses (alluvial gold) is considered the landowner's mineral. Gold panning is the use of simple hand-held tools and washing pans in streams and rivers to wash small amounts of gravel. Gold laundering takes place within the Minerals Act.
Gold washing / gold panning
Gold panning refers to the washing of small amounts of gravel using simple hand-held tools and pans in streams and rivers. Very limited terrain interventions are permitted on the Finnmark property. The searcher cannot make interventions in nature that lead to damage to the terrain. Exploration with the use of larger tools, machinery, hoses, pumps, dredging etc. is not permitted. This can lead to a change in the flow of water in the waterway and have an unwanted environmental impact.
Landowner's permission
Gold panning, with the independent purpose of finding gold in loose masses and taking it with you for sale or collection, is considered extraction - and requires permission from the landowner. Read more about how you can easily apply for a "gold card" at Finnmarkseiendommen
How do I get permission to wash gold on the Finnmark property?
FeFo opens for gold washing or goldplanning on the Finnmark Estate, but you must have the landowner's permission before you start:
The search right
The Minerals Act distinguishes between exploration, investigation and extraction. If prospecting for gold is to be done pursuant to section 8 of the Minerals Act (the free prospecting right), the purpose of the prospecting must be to survey mineral resources with a view to extraction. The prospecting right only gives the right to look for minerals in order to determine whether there are minerals in the area or not. The exploration right does not give the right to take the landowner's minerals (such as alluvial gold) from the terrain.
Before you start exploration, you are obliged to give notice according to Section 10 of the Minerals Act, and in some cases a special permit is required. The Finnmark property must be notified in writing no later than two weeks before the start of the search. The Sámi Parliament, the state administrator and the district board in 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.