Ok so it sounds like gold is what I should be looking for then? Come back to the gems/minerals later?

Hello Mireton, welcome to CP, as mentioned this is a great site and a place of great information and fantastic people.

The term prospector is a person who searches, what you search for is up to you. So if you prefer to look for gem/minerals than that is what you should prospect for, and in doing so equipt yourself with the neccessary knowledge/tools for that type of prospecting. If you seek gold then the same goes for this type of prospecting. I myself have done very little prospecting but do quite a bit of hobby/recreational panning for gold due to where I live. I do plan on doing some prospecting/rockhounding for gems this year-topaz,aquamarine,etc with finances/time permiting. Best of luck to you!

Ok. I know this will be a lot of trial and error at first. I'm just just to minimize that. The only things I'm at a stand still with is where I want to begin my search. I also have a claim question. Can I explore and dig on unclaimed land to see if it has promise before I pay to claim it?

Of course! You just need to be careful that the area is really unclaimed. Go to your blm office and check the area of interest. If it's open, go to town!

Just a random thought, when I was digging in the river yesterday there was a wide array of stones in the island we where working on. I saw some very beautiful stones I now wish I had kept. One of them looked like a dull emerald, it probably wasn't but it was beautiful. Pethaps you can do both hobbies. While classifying your "paydirt" you can look through the rocks for gemstones. Again, just a thought. I may start double dutying it from now on!