I found a newspaper about panning for gold in a river.
I would get a pick-axe to mine for silver though and other minerals. Just in case I don’t find any silver or gold, I would start a farm. If I ran out of food, I could send minerals for money to buy more clothing in the cold winter. I’d buy boots. for me because the water was freezing, and I got frostbite sometimes in the winter.
I knew mining was dangerous for cave-ins and landslides. I definitely needed a cabin for my seeds, water, and food. The seeds are for the farm. though. I’d gather twigs and flint for fire on cold nights.
If I found gold nuggets, I’d give two at least for $1000 and keep the rest to buy my land. I brought my family to California, and we got rich!