How to Pan for Gold

Although many people believe gold panning is a thing of the past, the truth is that panning for gold is a thriving enterprise, one that caters to both the serious panner and the recreational one. Strike out on your own with a gold pan and lots of determination, or visit a gold mining company that will provide you with the proper gold prospecting equipment and guide you through the process. Either way, there is a new adventure awaiting you if you are willing to take the plunge. Check out this how-to guide for gold panning and who knows, you may just strike it rich.

Gold Panning Techniques

This video provides an overview of gold panning, and some tips you can implement along the way to make your panning experience more effective. Some of the things mentioned include trying a lot of different methods and techniques, and finally choosing the one that feels most comfortable for you. The video walks you through the process of panning visually so you can get a feel for the overall process.

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Introduction
- Do you thrive on adventure? Does your spirit soar at the thought of traveling amid the western landscape, following the same bends in the rivers and streams that were once navigated and mapped by Lois and Clark? Do you ever wonder what it would be like to travel back in time; to walk the streets of yesterday with youthful dreams of self-discovery and riches? If so, you might want to consider embarking on an outdoor journey into gold panning country. By following this simple how-to guide, you will be on your way to a fun-filled experience that could end with you holding your own "golden ticket."
Step 1: Choose a Destination
- Location is everything. Why go panning in a place where there is no gold or where you run the risk of getting fined? Consider this:
- 1. Wherever you choose to pan for gold, learn the laws for recreational panning. Each state is different, so educate yourself.
  2. Go where the gold is! Sometimes the best places are simply the ones where people have already struck it rich. Do your research.
  3. Consider going to a prospecting company that offers panning on their premises or has guides you can pay to take you out. There are plenty of prospecting companies and camps that offer these services, and yes, people often find gold!
  4. There are also gold maps you can purchase that tell you where gold has been found and the types of places you are likely to find it. These are great resources, especially for beginners. Not only do they direct you to specific panning sites, but they also give you tips and suggestions for when you actually start the panning process.
Step 2: Get Equipped
Once you have chosen the perfect spot, it is time to get equipped. Not only will you need gold panning gear, but you will also need to know about the climate and terrain you will be exploring. Additional supplies may be required if you are heading into a remote area, for example. Here is what you need:
1. Pan - The pan is the most important tool, so pick a good one. There are two main types that people use; steel or plastic. Steel is good if you want that old mining experience, or if you are camping while panning, and then it can be used over the campfire. Plastic is the most popular because it allows you to see the gold more clearly, and green is the most popular color for the same reason.
2. Buckets to carry supplies in
3. Boots will keep your feet dry when you are standing in the water
4. Picks and Shovels will be used to dig into the sediment
5. Screwdriver to loosen sediment and rocks in the riverbed that you want to pan
6. Tweezers to remove the smaller pieces of gold
7. Container to put all your gold nuggets in
8. Vial or Tube to put the smaller pieces and flecks of gold
- You may add more items to your list as you become more familiar with the panning experience, and there are always various gold panning kits you can purchase.
Step 3: Choose a Place to Pan
- The best place to pan is along edges or bends of rivers and streams. Since gold is heavier than water, it usually sinks to the bottom, getting caught in the sand or stuck in crevices near rocks.
Step 4: Start Panning
- Now it is time to start panning. Find a place to dig up sand or rock sediment to pan and do the following:
- 1. Place the material you want to pan in the pan, filling it 3/4 of the way to the top
  2. Find a place where the water is at least six inches deep and submerge the pan
  3. While submerged, move the pan in a slow, circular motion until half the contents are gone
  4. Remove the pan from the water and repeat the circular motion, this time tilting the pan slightly so the water will pour out
  5. Repeat the last two steps, keeping your eye out for specks of gold as you do so
- If you do not find any gold simply repeat the above procedure. Once you detect the glimmer of gold, you are ready to separate and clean.
Step 5: Separate the Gold
- Once you discover gold in your pan it is time to separate it. Often, there will not be big chunks of gold, but rather small bits or flakes. It is important that in separating the gold that you do not lose it in the process, so if you are not able to separate it with your fingers, use something small, like a set of tweezers. Put the bigger pieces of gold in the container and the smaller specks in a small tube or vial.
Conclusion
- Panning for gold is not an easy task. It requires patience and often results in disappointment, but don't let that discourage you! There is a lot of gold out there to be discovered, and if you stick with it long enough, you will eventually find the golden glimmer you've been seeking. Good luck, and don't forget to have fun!
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