Gold Story

The Challenge

Historic gold records, current land status, and your own field observations are different kinds of evidence. Mixing them up is costly: a historic producer does not prove that gold is recoverable today, a map marker does not prove legal access, and an absent online claim record does not prove that ground is open.

Our Approach

Gold Story keeps each layer visible and labeled. It maps 75,000+ historic USGS gold records, offers dated BLM claim-record packs for 11 covered states, and lets you save a timestamped log of the records you checked. Alongside that research, the private field journal records finds, trips, saved spots, photos, weather, notes, and optional GPS breadcrumb trails.

The website demonstrates three smaller pieces for free: a transparent gold-value calculator, a printable claim-research checklist, and a beginner prospecting guide. The calculator uses a price you enter rather than claiming a live market feed, while the checklist records research steps without making a land-status conclusion.

Key Features

• 75,000+ historic USGS gold records. Explore occurrences, prospects, and past producers on a bundled offline US map.
• Claim research for 11 covered states. Download active and closed BLM record packs, inspect PLSS references and source dates, and refresh the public catalog when online.
• A due-diligence trail. Keep a timestamped research log of the claim records you checked around a location.
• Research leads, not promises. Compare historic producing sites with installed claim records without labeling land “unclaimed” or implying permission to prospect.
• A complete GPS field journal. Log finds, weights, methods, photos, trips, saved spots, weather, notes, and optional breadcrumb trails.
• 44 practical lessons. Learn to read water, use field techniques, stay safe, and understand the legal checks that belong before a trip.
• Private by design. No Studio AM account, advertising, analytics, tracking, or journal server. Private iCloud backup is optional and off until you enable it.
• English interface. The current app interface and instructional content are in English.

Access and Data

Creating new records and using maps, lessons, filters, insights, on-device AI, claim records, research leads, and due-diligence tools requires Gold Story Pro. There is no permanent free usage tier. Pro is sold as a one-time purchase that never renews, or as monthly and annual auto-renewable subscriptions. Eligible new subscribers may receive a 3-day trial on the subscription plans. The App Store shows the current local billed amount, eligibility, and terms before purchase. All three unlock the same complete app.

The complete app, including BLM claim records, is included in every Pro option. The separate Claims Pass is retired. Verified earlier lifetime owners retain permanent access through Restore Purchases, and an active legacy Claims Pass remains valid through its paid term.

Your existing journal does not become read-only when access ends: saved records remain readable, searchable, editable, individually deletable, and exportable. The export ZIP can include a lossless journal JSON file, CSV tables, GPX and KML, and available photos. A location-free export strips coordinates from the data and GPS metadata from photos; if a photo cannot be stripped safely, Gold Story omits it and reports the omission instead of silently sharing location data.

Offline, Network, and Safety Boundaries

The bundled map, historic sites, installed region packs, installed claim records, lessons, and journal work offline. A connection is needed to load StoreKit plans, purchase or restore, refresh the public pack catalog, download optional map or claim-record packs, or use private iCloud backup that you explicitly enable.

Historic USGS sites and dated BLM records are research references. Claim locations are approximate PLSS section or quarter-section reference points, not surveyed boundaries. Records can lag, and a missing record is not evidence that land is open. Verify current claim status, ownership, access, and local rules with the BLM, county recorder, and relevant land manager before prospecting.

Results

Gold Story gives a prospector one defensible workflow: research the records, record what was checked, verify the live legal facts, and keep the field journal under their own control.

Common questions

Gold Story, listed on the App Store as Prospecting Log: Gold Story, is an English-language iPhone field journal for US gold prospectors. It combines 75,000+ historic USGS gold records, downloadable offline region maps, active and closed BLM claim-record packs for 11 covered states, a timestamped research log, 44 practical lessons, and GPS records for finds, trips, spots, photos, and breadcrumb trails. Records are references, not surveyed boundaries, legal advice, proof that ground is open, or permission to dig. Gold Story has no permanent free usage tier. Pro is sold as a one-time purchase that never renews, or as monthly and annual subscriptions. Eligible new subscribers may receive a 3-day trial on either subscription. The App Store shows the current local billed amount, eligibility, and terms before purchase. All three choices unlock the same complete app, including claim records. The earlier Claims Pass is retired; an active legacy Claims Pass remains valid through its paid term. Existing records remain readable, searchable, editable, deletable, and exportable after access ends.

Does the gold-site map work without cell signal?

Yes, after the relevant data is on the iPhone. A low-zoom world map, detailed US base, historic USGS gold records, and a California detail pack are bundled. Other region and BLM claim-record packs need a connection for their first download and then work offline.

Where do the gold-site records come from?

The 75,000+ gold-related locations come from the historic USGS Mineral Resources Data System, whose records are frozen around 2011. They describe occurrences, prospects, and past producers; they are not a current land-status or claim database.

Can Gold Story tell me that I may legally prospect at a spot?

No. Its BLM claim-record packs are dated snapshots with approximate PLSS section or quarter-section reference points, not surveyed boundaries or legal advice. A missing record is not proof that ground is open. Always verify current claim status, land access, and local rules with the BLM, county recorder, and relevant land manager before visiting or digging.

What does Gold Story Pro include?

Gold Story Pro includes the complete app: new finds, trips, and spots; maps and region packs; all lessons; filters and insights; on-device AI on supported hardware; active and closed BLM claim records; research leads; and the due-diligence log. Claim records are no longer sold as a separate Claims Pass.

How much does Gold Story cost?

There is no permanent free usage tier. Pro comes three ways: a one-time purchase that never renews, or monthly and annual subscriptions with a 3-day trial for eligible new subscribers. All three unlock the same complete app. The App Store shows the current local billed amount, eligibility, and terms before purchase. The earlier Claims Pass is not sold; verified owners keep the access it covered.

What happens to my journal if access ends?

Existing finds, trips, spots, photos, research checks, and other saved records remain readable, editable, and deletable. Export remains available as a ZIP containing the full journal JSON, CSV tables, GPX and KML when locations are included, and available photos. Creating new records and using Pro tools remain locked.

Does Gold Story upload my journal?

Not to Studio AM. There is no Studio AM account, analytics, tracking, or journal server. Records stay on the iPhone unless you explicitly make an export or enable private iCloud backup. Studio AM cannot read either destination.

Does the app use AI?

On supported iOS 26 devices with Apple Intelligence ready, Apple’s on-device model can help structure find notes, recap trips, and summarize research leads. Those features are optional; core maps, records, lessons, and deterministic research tools do not depend on generative AI.