# Gold Prospector App — AI, maps & LiDAR for finders

> AI and LiDAR terrain analysis app for gold prospecting and metal detecting. (iPhone/iPad app by Jordan Setnor.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gold-prospector-app/id6762539171 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Jordan Setnor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1894589356)
- Category: Navigation, Sports
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 15.1 · 74 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-07-17
- Data updated: 2026-08-18
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gold-prospector-app/id6762539171/reviews.md

## What is Gold Prospector App?

Read the land. Strike gold.

Gold Prospector is the all-in-one app for recreational gold prospectors and metal detectorists. Built by a lifelong prospector, it brings together AI, GIS mapping, 1-meter LiDAR, and historic topo maps.

Free to use, with 7 days of every feature when you sign up.

— FEATURES —

1-METER LIDAR HILLSHADE
USGS 3DEP elevation shading that reveals what the ground remembers. Placer cuts, hydraulic pits, tailings piles, benches, and old water races show up in the terrain itself, even where brush has grown over them for a century. Nationwide coverage.

HISTORIC TOPO MAPS
Scanned USGS topographic maps going back to 1879, overlaid on the modern world with an opacity slider so you can fade between then and now. Find the mill, the cabin, the schoolhouse, the wagon road, and the townsite that are not there anymore. Three era layers: Oldest (1880s-1930s), Classic (1900s-1940s), and Detailed (1930s-1940s).
Currently in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona. More states coming soon.

COIN & RELIC ID
Photograph a coin, button, buckle, nail, or any other find and get an instant identification. Coin identification includes the type, the years it was minted, what it is made of, and the history behind it. Works on relics too, using the details that actually date an object: nail type, button construction, glass seams, and cartridge headstamps.

AI TERRAIN ANALYSIS
Snap a photo of any creek, hillside, or stretch of ground and let the AI score its gold potential. Get back geology cues, indicator minerals, and where to focus your effort.

GOLDBOT, YOUR AI PROSPECTING GUIDE
Ask anything. From "what does a black sand line tell me?" to "how do I read a contact zone?" Built for prospectors, by a prospector.

MAPS & LAYERS
Pick your basemap, then stack the layers that matter. Every layer has its own opacity control, so you can blend LiDAR relief under a historic topo sheet and see both at once. Offline support for backcountry trips.

Basemaps: Satellite, Outdoors, Topo, and Dark.

DATA LAYERS
Hillshade / LiDAR, 1-meter USGS 3DEP terrain
Historic Topo, USGS maps from 1879 to 1949
Gold Probability, AI heatmap of high-potential ground
Water Flow Zones, natural gold trap predictions
Pay Streak Zones, predicted deposition patterns
Historic Mines, USGS MRDS mine sites
Mining Claims, BLM active claim boundaries
Geochemistry, USGS soil and stream samples
Rock Types, USGS bedrock geology
Mineral Deposits, USGS USMIN database
Detailed Streams, USGS stream network
Magnetic Anomaly, aerial magnetic survey
Public Lands, BLM, USFS, and state boundaries
PAD-US, federal, state, tribal, and easement status
Modern USGS Topo, current contour lines
Roads & Trails, including BLM and forest roads
My Pins and Find Log Pins

The right stack of layers reveals ground most prospectors walk right past.

TRACK EVERY TRIP & FIND
GPS trail tracking and a detailed find log. Record finds with photos, weight, location, and notes. Drop pins sorted by type: find, point of interest, relic, coin, camp, or waypoint.

TIPS & GUIDES
Guides covering geology, equipment, technique, and history.

A COMMUNITY THAT GETS IT
Share finds, follow other prospectors, ask questions. Built for our hobby, without the noise of social media.

— FREE & PRO —

Free forever: the map and all basemaps, 3D terrain, GPS, your pins and find log, trail tracking, tips and guides, and the community feed.

Pro unlocks: every data layer above, plus AI terrain analysis, Coin & Relic ID, GoldBot, and offline map downloads.

Pro is $8.99/month or $89.99/year. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase and renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings.

Made by a prospector and metal detectorist who got tired of cobbling together five different apps for one hobby.

https://goldprospector.app
https://goldprospector.app/privacy
https://goldprospector.app/terms

## Key features

- AI terrain analysis for gold potential
- AI prospecting guide (GoldBot)
- 1-meter LiDAR hillshade mapping
- Customizable maps with data layers
- GPS trail tracking and find logging
- In-app guides and community forum

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gold Prospector Pro | $8.99 | per month |
| Gold Prospector Pro | $89.99 | per year |


## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gold-prospector-app/id6762539171/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Great for prospectors!

*2026-08-03*

User interface is very easy to navigate. The analyze feature is accurate. I also love that I’m able to keep track of how much good I have found and where at!

### 5/5 — This is a very useful app!

*2026-08-03*

So cool to see the land we live on that was a gold mine in the old days so to see it with the lidar is very neat.

### 5/5 — Game changer

*2026-08-02*

This app has too be the number one. Been a prospector around my whole life and this app opens up so much opportunities to get on good gold! I will most definitely be telling all my friends in the prospecting community about this app!!!

## Frequently asked questions about Gold Prospector App

### What is the Gold Prospector App?

Gold Prospector is an all-in-one app for recreational gold prospectors and metal detectorists. It combines AI terrain analysis, 1-meter LiDAR, GIS mapping, and a community forum to help users find gold.

### Does Gold Prospector App have ads?

No, the Gold Prospector App does not contain advertisements. The app is free to use with optional subscription plans for advanced features.

### What devices does the Gold Prospector App support?

The Gold Prospector App is currently supported on iPhone and iPod devices. Future platform expansions may be considered based on user demand.

### How often is the Gold Prospector App updated?

The latest version of the Gold Prospector App is 1.2, which was last updated on July 31, 2026. Updates typically include new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements.

### What is the age rating for the Gold Prospector App?

The Gold Prospector App has an age rating of 12+. This indicates it is suitable for users aged 12 and older, with content generally considered appropriate for this age group.

### What are the subscription options for Gold Prospector App?

Gold Prospector offers a Pro subscription at $8.99 per month or $89.99 per year, both including a 7-day free trial. This unlocks all features for enhanced prospecting.

### Can I use Gold Prospector App offline?

Yes, the app offers offline support for its maps, which is crucial for backcountry trips where internet connectivity may be limited. This ensures you can access your maps and data anywhere.

### What kind of AI features does Gold Prospector App offer?

Gold Prospector App features AI terrain analysis that scores gold potential from photos and provides insights into geology and indicator minerals. It also includes GoldBot, an AI guide for prospecting questions.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.2.2 — 2026-08-14

LiDAR maps now go one zoom level deeper with 1-meter detail. Zoom in further and you'll see ground you couldn't before.

There's also a second LiDAR layer with different lighting. Some features sit in shadow on one and show clearly on the other, so it's worth flipping between them over ground you're working.

### 1.2.1 — 2026-08-09

HISTORIC TOPO MAPS

Scanned USGS topographic maps going back to 1879, laid over the modern world with their own opacity slider. Fade between then and now to find the mill, the cabin, the wagon road, and the townsite that are not there anymore.

Three eras to pick from: Oldest (1880s-1930s), Classic (1900s-1940s), and Detailed (1930s-1940s). Available now in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona, with more states coming.

Pair it with the LiDAR hillshade and you can see the old map on top and the earthworks still in the dirt underneath.

COIN & RELIC ID

Photograph a find and get an identification. Coins come back with the type, the years it was minted, the metal content, and the history behind it. Relics are dated from the details that actually matter: nail type, button construction, glass seams, cartridge headstamps.

Everything saves to your phone so you can build a record of what you have pulled out of the ground.

ALSO IN THIS UPDATE

Every map layer now has its own opacity control, so you can blend two layers instead of fighting over one slider.

The layer list is grouped into categories that expand and collapse.

A guided tour of the map screen runs the first time you open it, and can be replayed anytime from Settings.

Pin types now include relic, coin, and point of interest. Pins save directly to your phone and work with no service.

Tap any pin or logged find to see its coordinates, and tap the coordinates to copy them.

Public land boundaries now load based on where you are looking on the map, not where your phone is.

### 1.2 — 2026-07-31

Gold Prospector is now free to use.

Every new account gets 7 days with everything unlocked, no payment
info needed. After that, the map, your pins, find log, trail
tracking, tips, and the community stay free for good.

Pro unlocks the full layer set, including 1m LiDAR terrain, mining
claims, historic mines, and geochemistry, plus AI terrain analysis,
GoldBot, and offline maps.

Also in this update: smoother map controls, a persistent layer opacity
slider, and keyboard fixes in the post composer and Log Find screens.

### 1.1 — 2026-07-30

1-Meter LiDAR Hillshade

The Hillshade layer now uses 1-meter USGS 3DEP LiDAR. At that resolution the ground tells on itself — placer cuts, hydraulic pits, tailings piles, benches, and old water races show up in the terrain, even where brush has covered them for a century.

California and Oregon load instantly. The rest of the country works too.

Also in this update: fixed the keyboard covering buttons when writing a long post or logging a find.

### 1.0 — 2026-07-17

No release notes.

## Related topics

[turner prospector](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/turner-prospector) · [ursa hollows](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ursa-hollows)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-18.*
