Recreational gold panning can be exciting pastime. Needing only a gold pan, shovel and a whole lot of patience. It is an activity that can be enjoyed by all ages. You will need a gold pan, a 12 or 15 inch steel pan is preferred.
Darken the pan by placing it over a burner or in a campfire. This will make the flakes of gold more noticeable.
Look for gravel bars (thin piles of light gravel)
• In the middle of rivers, streams, or around heavy water run-off.
• On the inside of a river bend.
• On the downstream side of large boulders
• On tree roots in streams.
• In cracks above the water line, along the edge of the stream
• In streaks of gravel that settle above stream beds and follow the bottom of stream channels.
Panning Method.
Place your pan under water, keeping the pan under water at all times, filling the pan nearly full. Throw away the large stones and break up lumps of mud and clay.
Hold the pan level with both hands and rotate the pan with swirling motions. As you rotate the pan the heavier gold loosens from the sand, gravel and settles to the bottom. Tilt the pan downward to let the dirty water, sand and gravel wash over the edge of the pan.
Continue to raise and lower the lip of the pan so the water will flow over it and remove more of the lighter material.
Continue this process until nothing but gold and heavier minerals are left in the pan Carefully inspect the black sand for nuggets or tiny specks of gold or other precious minerals.
