Source: https://www.southernhighlandnews.com.au/story/5575150/gold-prospecting-fever-hits-wa-outback/?cs=7
And you can tell the sucess rate or lack of it from the amount of new detectors being sold barely used
I was sad to learn that Discovery Channel Gold Rush's Parker Schnabel split with his Aussie girlfriend Ashley Youle (who was in the last 2 seasons of Gold Rush, helping Chris Doumitt with the gold clean-up).
Most prospectors have a friendly wave at you on their way out to the Goldfields. Most don't bother on return. This is a simple way to gauge success. Or a lack of.
in the gold rush days the smart people didn't dig for gold they started a hotel, general store etc in the town and made money selling supplies to the prospectors. nothing has changed.