The right picks in prospecting do what a shovel cannot: chip rock, split hardpack, and pry gold out of the cracks where it settles.
A geologist chipping samples, a placer prospector cleaning bedrock crevices, and a detectorist digging a rocky plug all reach for a pick, but not the same one.
Pick the wrong style and you fight your ground all day. Pick the right one and the work goes faster with less swinging, because the tool is doing what it was shaped to do.
TL;DR
- Rock (geologist) pick: a flat chisel or point end for chipping samples and splitting rock along seams.
- Mattock: a two-sided head, pick on one side, blade on the other, for breaking hardpack and chopping roots.
- Point pick: a single sharp point for driving into compacted gravel and cracking it open.
- Crevice work: a pick with a fine point cleans gold out of bedrock cracks a shovel cannot reach.
- Material: forged, heat-treated steel head; a fiberglass or hickory handle absorbs shock better than solid steel.
- Maintenance: keep the point sharp and the head tight, or the pick works you harder than the ground does.
- Safety: eye protection is not optional. Struck rock throws sharp chips at speed.
Featured
What Picks Do in Prospecting
A pick concentrates all of your swing into a small point or edge, so it delivers far more force per square inch than a shovel or bar. That is why it breaks material the shovel just bounces off of.
The head shape decides the job. A sharp point drives into and cracks hard material; a flat chisel edge splits rock along a seam or chips a clean face for a sample; a broad blade side moves loose dirt or chops through roots.
Most prospecting picks combine two of these on one head so you carry one tool instead of three. A mattock pairs a point with a blade; a rock hammer pairs a chisel with a flat striking face.
The functions break down into four jobs you will do over and over:
- Digging: driving the point into packed gravel or clay to loosen material a shovel can then lift.
- Breaking: cracking rock, hardpan, or frozen ground to reach what is under or behind it.
- Extracting: working a point or edge into a seam to pop out a sample or a chunk of pay material.
- Chipping: knocking layers off a rock face to expose minerals or clean down to bedrock.
Types of Picks in Prospecting
Three pick styles cover almost everything a prospector does. Knowing what each is built for keeps you from swinging the wrong tool at the wrong ground.
Geologist Pick (Rock Pick)
The classic rock pick has a hammer face on one end and either a sharp point or a flat chisel on the other. The point cracks and pries rock; the chisel version splits along bedding planes and shapes clean sample faces.
This is the tool for anyone reading rock, chasing a vein of interest, or knocking hand samples off an outcrop. It is precise rather than powerful, made for controlled taps, not full swings.
Mattock
A mattock carries two working ends on one head: a pick point on one side and a wide adze or axe blade on the other. Swing the point to break hardpack and rock, flip it to use the blade for chopping roots or moving loose soil.
That two-in-one design makes the mattock the workhorse for opening ground. When you need to break into packed overburden or clear a root-choked bank before you can dig, this is the tool.
Point Pick (Railroad or Mining Pick)
A point pick has a single long, sharp point (sometimes a point on one end and a chisel on the other). It is built for driving into compacted gravel, hardpan, and rock, then levering to crack it apart.
For placer work, this is often the pick that gets into stubborn streambed material and breaks up cemented gravel down near bedrock, where the heaviest gold sits.
| Pick Type | Head Design | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Geologist / rock pick | Hammer face plus point or chisel | Chipping samples, splitting rock, precise work |
| Mattock | Pick point plus adze/axe blade | Breaking hardpack, chopping roots, opening ground |
| Point pick | Single long point (or point/chisel) | Driving into and cracking compacted gravel and rock |
Choosing the Right Pick
Match the pick to your ground and your job before you look at anything else. A detectorist digging small plugs, a rockhound chipping samples, and a placer prospector cracking cemented gravel each need a different head.
Beyond the type, four things separate a pick you trust from one that fails you:
- Head material: forged, heat-treated steel holds an edge and takes repeated rock strikes without chipping or mushrooming. Cheap cast heads crack or deform.
- Handle: fiberglass and hickory both absorb shock, sparing your elbow and wrist over a long day. A solid one-piece steel pick is nearly indestructible but transmits every jolt straight into your arm.
- Weight and balance: a heavier head hits harder but tires you faster. Pick the lightest head that still breaks your typical ground, and make sure it balances so it swings where you aim.
- Point condition: a sharp point does the work; a dull one just bounces. This is as much about upkeep as the tool you buy.
Some prospectors modify their picks, resharpening a point to a finer taper for crevice work or shortening a handle for tight digging. There is nothing wrong with tuning a tool to how you actually use it.
Recommended Reading
Using Picks for Bedrock and Crevice Gold
This is where a pick pays for itself in placer work. Gold sinks until it hits bedrock, then packs into every crack and crevice, and a shovel cannot reach any of it.
A pick with a fine, sharp point digs into those cracks and breaks up the cemented material wedged in them. Work the point along the crevice, pop the packed gravel loose, and scrape it out to pan, because that bottom layer holds the coarsest gold in the creek.
The same goes for false bedrock, a hard clay or caliche layer that traps gold above true bedrock. A pick cracks through it where a shovel just slides across the top.
Take your time and work systematically along each crack. The gold that has been settling into bedrock for years does not wash out on its own, and the pick is how you get to it.
Shovels and Picks
Maintenance and Care for Prospecting Picks
A pick lives a hard life against rock, so a little upkeep keeps it working and safe.
- Clean it after use. Knock off mud and grit and wipe the head dry so it does not rust, paying attention to where the head meets the handle.
- Keep the point sharp. A file or bench grinder restores a dull point. Work slowly and keep the original taper; overheating a ground edge on a fast wheel softens the steel.
- Check the head is tight. A loose head is dangerous. Re-wedge a wood handle or replace it if it is cracked, and retire any head that shows deep cracks.
- Store it dry. Keep picks out of damp and off concrete floors, ideally hung or in a sheath, so the edge and handle both last.
Safety With Picks in Prospecting
A pick is a striking tool swung with force at hard rock, so treat it like one. Struck rock and steel both throw sharp chips fast enough to injure an eye.
Wear safety glasses or goggles every time you swing at rock. Add sturdy gloves for grip and blister protection, and solid boots in case the pick or a loosened rock comes down near your feet.
Watch your surroundings before you swing. Loose slopes, unstable rock above you, and other people within range of the swing all turn a pick into a hazard. Clear your space, plant your feet, and keep your swing controlled rather than wild.
For the full picture on staying safe in the field, our gold panning safety guide covers terrain, water, and gear beyond the pick.
Resources for Prospecting Tools and Ground Access
- U.S. Geological Survey Geology and mineral data for reading rock and locating gold-bearing ground.
- Bureau of Land Management, Mining and Minerals Rules for prospecting and ground disturbance on federal land.
- U.S. Forest Service Minerals Guidance on prospecting within National Forests.
- Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA) Club claims, outings, and hands-on instruction.
- TreasureNet Forums Prospector discussion on tools and crevice technique.
Choosing Your Pick and Using It Well
A pick is the tool that gets you past the ground a shovel cannot break. Match the head to your work, keep the point sharp and the head tight, and protect your eyes every time you swing.
Whether you are chipping samples with a rock pick, opening hardpack with a mattock, or cleaning bedrock cracks with a fine point, the right picks in prospecting turn stubborn ground into recovered gold.
Frequently Asked Questions – Picks in Prospecting
What kind of pick is best for placer gold?
A point pick or a rock pick with a sharp point. You use it to break up cemented gravel and clean gold out of bedrock cracks, which is where the coarsest gold settles and where a shovel cannot reach.
What is the difference between a rock pick and a mattock?
A rock pick is a precise tool with a hammer face and a point or chisel, made for chipping samples and splitting rock. A mattock is a heavier two-sided tool, pick on one side and a blade on the other, made for breaking hardpack and chopping roots.
What should a prospecting pick be made of?
Look for a forged, heat-treated steel head that takes repeated rock strikes without chipping. A fiberglass or hickory handle absorbs shock better than solid steel and spares your wrist and elbow.
How do I keep a pick working well?
Clean and dry it after use, keep the point sharp with a file without overheating the steel, and make sure the head stays tight on the handle. A loose head is a safety hazard, so re-wedge or replace it.
Do I really need eye protection?
Yes, every time. Striking rock throws sharp chips fast enough to injure an eye. Safety glasses or goggles are the one piece of gear you never skip when swinging a pick.
Can one pick do everything?
A mattock or a point/chisel rock pick covers most tasks, which is why those double-ended designs are popular. But no single pick is ideal for both delicate sample chipping and heavy hardpack breaking, so many prospectors carry two.
How does a pick help with bedrock cracks?
A fine, sharp point digs into cracks and breaks loose the packed gravel wedged in them. You work the point along the crevice, pop the material out, and pan it, because that packed bottom layer holds gold that has settled there for years.
Keep Exploring
For the bigger picture, start with our Prospecting Picks and Shovels guide.
⛏ Recommended Gear ⛏
* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Ryan Conlon is the founder of Pan for Treasure.
A lifelong gold panning enthusiast, he created this site to help beginners learn the ropes and share practical tips from his own time on the creek. [email protected]
