Due to its affordability and accessibility, panning for gold is the most popular prospecting method among beginner and intermediate prospectors. Even if you are an expert miner, refreshing your panning skills can be helpful when sampling a terrain. Of course, the results of your panning efforts will depend on your skills and knowledge.
A guide on how to pan for gold includes understanding how gold behaves and its properties. You will also need to pick a suitable location and refine your technique. Prospectors leverage the water flow to eliminate the lighter elements and reduce the streambed material to just gold and black sand.
Below prospectors can find a step-by-step guide to panning for gold. Read on.
Table of Contents
Understand How Panning Works
Panning for gold is one of the most ancient methods used to prospect for gold[1]. It is also one of the favorites by beginners and intermediate prospectors. This is because panning is the most inexpensive and accessible strategy, and it does not require you to file a mining claim to see results.
Additionally, if you undertake regular prospecting trips to different areas, using a pan guarantees you the chance of prospecting almost anywhere. Instead, prospectors that opt form more intrusive equipment such as dredges have to obtain special permits.
Using a pan to prospect for gold does have some disadvantages. One of the main ones is that you will only be able to process limited amounts of streambed material at any given time. Additionally, this activity can be time- and energy-consuming, and the results often depend on your skills and knowledge of the field.
However, today’s pans have significantly evolved since the first “bateas.” Indeed, you can find them in lightweight plastic, colored, and boasting “cheater’s riffles.” All these implementations can increase the chances of finding gold.
In any case, this gold prospecting strategy leverages the fact that gold is naturally much denser than the surrounding materials. The water flow will naturally eliminate any lighter material from the pan until everything left on the pan is the heavy black sand. In the case of lucky eventualities, this sand will contain gold.
Understand How Free Gold Behaves
Understanding how free gold behaves in nature is essential for prospectors that opt to use a pan for gold prospecting. Indeed, the material you will be able to process with a pan can be minimal. Knowing where gold is more likely to be can increase your chances of being successful in your gold panning efforts.
Of course, most rivers in the world boast gold-bearing potential, to an extent. However, not all of them will yield the same amount or quality of gold. While some expert prospectors suggest beginners to start from locations where gold has already been found, others stress the point that “gold is where you find it.”[2]
In any case, a knowledge of its properties and the placer geology can help you pinpoint the locations in which you are more likely to find gold.
The Properties of Gold
Gold is one of the 92 naturally-occurring elements on Earth, and only limited quantities are on the surface of our planet[3]. Scientists have estimated that the primary source of gold is at the dense core of the Earth, and this element only reaches the surface through volcanic eruptions and activity.
Gold can be in several locations, such as within mountains, on the ocean bed, and under rivers or streams. When it becomes separated from the lode (rock containing gold veins)[4], the forces of nature can cause it to be transported for miles and eventually reach streams and creeks.
Of course, many properties make this element extremely valuable. However, to understand its behavior, there are two essential properties that prospectors should keep in mind:
- Gold is denser than surrounding materials
Gold’s specific gravity is 19.3, which is much higher than any volume of water and other materials found in streambeds[5]. This characteristic causes it to fall faster than other elements. So, when the natural forces transport gold particles away from the lode, this will deposit at the bottom of it.
This characteristic is also essential to understand that gold will sink to the bottom of a stream when the pressure of water is not strong enough to carry it along. The high density of gold is also what guarantees the efficiency of a pan and traps it at the bottom of your device.
- Gold is non-magnetic
While not essential during the panning process, understanding the implications of this property can help prospectors devising a strategy to recover it from the pan[6]. You can use a magnet to separate the black sand from any gold particles in the container, given that the pan itself is in plastic. This principle is the same used in the design of shaker tables with magnetic separators.
The Path Gold Follows
Understanding how gold particles behave along a river allows you to pick a suitable spot for your panning activity. Here are three prospecting tips to keep in mind when looking for the perfect panning location:
- Gold follows a straight path
Independently on the river that you are trying to prospect, you will notice twists and turns. Due to its weight, gold is more likely to follow a straight line through the river course and take the quickest path. Therefore, you should set up the equipment on the curve’s short side (inside the curvature) rather than on the outer side[7].
- Examine a river that slows after rapids
If you have noticed a river to flow rapidly and downhill, follow its course until it starts to flow on flat terrain. Since the inclination will change, the water is likely to slow down. As this happens, the current will no longer be strong enough to carry the heavy gold, causing it to sink to the stream’s bottom. Here is where you should start panning for gold[8].
- Search the river’s course when it is expanding
If the river you are analyzing is flowing through a narrow course, the water is likely to flow rapidly. Follow its path until the streambed becomes much broader. If this happens abruptly, the water will disperse to fill all the newly available space, thus reducing its pressure. Just like the situation seen above, when this happens, the current is not strong enough to carry the gold, which will drop to the bottom[9].
Placer Geology Essentials
Aside from the tips seen above, you should try to obtain the topographic maps of a location. Unless you are panning for gold in a controlled area – a mine site offering tours, for example – topographic maps [10]can offer you all the information you need to identify the most suitable locations for panning.
Aside from the topographic maps, certain rocks and formations can indicate whether the grounds are gold-bearing. Stones that present significant irregularities and crevices are a tell-tale sign that gold might have remained trapped nearby[11].
This is because, as particles become separated from the lode, they will be transported along and eventually remain stuck in a crevice or opening in a rock. In line with this, smooth rock formations give you fewer chances of finding gold in that area.
Secondly, it is essential to keep in mind that gold is associated with quartz[12]. Of course, quartz does not always contain gold; in some cases, the particles can be so small that the result is invisible to the human eye.
However, if notice “floats” – fragments of quartz along the river, it is likely for a lode to be nearby.
Pick the Right Pan
Once you have identified a suitable location that boasts all the characteristics seen above, it is time to pick the right equipment for your outing. Not all pans or kits are ideal for every prospector, but there are some characteristics that prospectors can’t overlook.
Cheaters Riffles
Firstly, the presence and type of baffles – or “riffles” – on the pan is essential. The riffles are a series of obstructions commonly found on one side of the gold pan. However, in some cases, you will be able to notice two different sets of riffles (dual-riffles) on both halves on the pan. In this case, these will have different purposes and come in various measures.
The more extensive, deeper riffles on one side are ideal for the gold panning process’s first stages. They help you separate the lighter materials in the streambed from potential gold by trapping the heavier elements at the bottom of the pan.
Instead, the smaller riffles are often useful during the finishing stages of the process, when the prospector needs to retrieve eventual fine gold.
In modern gold pans, the riffles are molded into the pan’s plastic, making them durable and resistant to impacts. Of course, this represents a significant advantage compared to when prospectors would use hand-made utensils or metal devices. Indeed, modern riffles are today nicknamed “cheater’s riffles”[13] due to the impressive results they can yield.
Material
All prospectors will agree that plastic pans are the best choice for beginners and intermediate prospectors. They are made with a material that makes them impossible to break and bend, thus guaranteeing durability and reliability. Additionally, they have considerable advantages over metal pans. Here are some to consider when picking your pan:
- Due to the reduced weight, plastic pans are easy to carry with you on your trips
- If accidentally dropped during the panning process, they float, saving the streambed material you were processing
- They are made of unbreakable plastic, thus resisting to impacts
- You can include several pans in your kit without having a lot of additional weight to carry
Color
The color of the pan you have picked is a crucial factor to consider. Manufacturers cover the most common pans on the market in a black tint that allows prospectors to identify any “color” in the pan immediately. However, black pans can make it more challenging to analyze the black sand.
That is why many gold hunters today opt for green, red, and blue pans. This is another advantage over metal pans that novice prospectors can leverage.
Size
New pans come in a variety of sizes and shapes. While you will not need more than one pan to complete your panning process, it is helpful to understand what the different sizes are best for during your prospecting outing.
- Gold pans with a diameter of 6in to 10in (15cm to 25cm) are perfect for sampling a terrain. However, the amount of material you will be able to pan with this device is limited.
- Gold pans with a diameter of 12in to 14in (30cm to 35cm) are more suitable for novice prospectors who need to refine their skills.
- Gold pans with a diameter of 16in to 18in (40cm to 45cm) allow expert prospectors to process more material in one single process. However, such pans require stamina, strength, and precision.
Ultimately, the larger your pan is, the higher are the chances of losing precious particles of fine gold. Therefore, if you are a novice, you should opt for a middle-sized one that allows you to process increased quantities of material, but they are more easily manageable.
Implement Your Equipment
Aside from the pan, there are other tools and pieces of equipment that can make the process much more enjoyable and manageable. Here are only some of the essential ones. However, specific gold-bearing areas might require you to acquire other devices, such as crevice tools and picks.
- Classifiers
These are pan-shaped devices that boast a mesh net along the bottom edge[14]. These devices can be helpful during the first stages of the panning process to filtrate the streambed material. Indeed, the larger rocks will remain in the classifier, while smaller material can run through the openings and settle in a bucket. Then a prospector will only need to process the remaining content.
- Magnifying tweezers
When gold panning, it is rare to find large gold nuggets in your pan, especially in an area that has already been mined. So, once you have panned the material down to just black sand and heavy elements, you might need a jeweler’s loupe or magnifying glass to identify smaller particles and flakes.
Prospectors today can benefit from pocket-size tools such as magnifying tweezers for this step. These allow you to identify the gold and remove it from the pan at the same time.
- Suction bottles
If you don’t feel comfortable enough to pan down the black sand until everything left on the pan is gold, you can analyze the deposit remaining at the bottom of the pan later. Suction bottles allow you to pick up the black sand and store it safely away. Then, once you are in a controlled environment such as your home, you can use a micro sluice box to separate the black sand from the gold.
- Vials
Most of your prospecting activities will happen in natural environments or outdoors. In this case, having vials with you allows you to store the gold retrieved during your trips. The vials on the market today are often small enough to fit in any backpack, but it is essential to opt for plastic models rather than glass ones for safety reasons.
- Other tools
Other tools essentials for gold panning include a shovel and a bucket. These are easy-to-find tools that you are likely to have already around the house. Additionally, don’t forget a first aid kit on your outings!
Pick the Right Location
Picking the right location to set up your equipment is just as important as understanding the area’s geology. Indeed, not all banks of a river or creek are suitable for gold panning.
Water Depth
Ideally, prospectors should pick a spot along the banks of the river where the water is at least 6in (5cm) deep[15]. Additionally, it should be moving slightly, and there should not be any strong current nearby. Especially if you are a beginner, a strong water velocity can push the material you have collected out of the pan, thus causing you to lose precious particles.
At the same time, a light current or water movement is essential to help you expel the lighter materials in the pan.
Where to Set Up Your Equipment
If you have found the perfect spot in which to start panning for gold, you should also consider safety and comfort. Indeed, the panning process can take several minutes and repetitive movements. While many expert gold prospectors are happy to stand in the water and bend forward for the panning process, there are solutions better-suited for beginners.
Start by finding a lock or rock to sit on or to grab during the panning process. This might not seem an essential feature at first, but if your pan escapes your grip or you accidentally slip, this can save the content of your gold pan. Naturally, this can also help you to avoid injuries.
Select the Streambed Material
Once you have picked the right spot in which to pan for gold and you are ready to start the process, you can start by selecting the streambed material you wish to process. You can pour this directly into the pan.
However, if you are equipped with a classifier, you might opt to stack this device on a 5-gallon (19L) bucket. By doing so and pouring the material on it, you will be able to filter the material and get rid of bigger rocks. This simple strategy can help you reduce the weight of the content on your pan, making the process more manageable and safe.
Once the bigger rocks and stones have been eliminated from the mix, you can pour the material onto the pan and start the panning process[16].
Begin Panning for Gold
Start the panning process by carrying your filled pan to the spot you have identified. Once here, submerge the pan and place it underwater while you keep holding it.
Alternatively, if you are not able to keep the pan steadily while the device is underwater, you could use a rock or your legs to keep it in place.
Then, with care, use your fingers to move the content of the pan. This movement will break up the pieces of mud and agglomerations. As the material becomes saturated with water, the clay, dirt, moss, and roots present in the mix will break apart. You will then start noticing the elements to be in a state of liquid suspension in the pan. This is ideal for the stream water to carry them away from your pan.
It is usual for beginner prospectors to worry about this happening, but the heavy gold will fall on the bottom or remain trapped in the riffles as you do so.
Once there are no more solid conglomerates in the pan, and all the elements are broken apart, take the pan in your hand, making sure that the riffles are on the side that is the furthest away from your body.
As you start shaking the pan with a motion from left to right under the water’s surface, the materials will break even further, causing the gold to sink at the bottom. Meanwhile, the lighter elements will reach the surface, where the stream water can carry them away.
During this step, keep the movements steady but not too vigorous to splash the material out of the pan. Moreover, depending on the type of content you are processing, you might need to repeat the previous step several times to ensure all the elements are broken down[17].
Tilt the Pan and Repeat the Steps Above
Once satisfied with the state of the material, you can slightly tilt the pan forward. By doing so, the forward bottom edge of the pan (the one just below the riffles) will be lower than the rear bottom. This is essential to start getting rid of the mid-weight materials still hanging in the mix.
While in this position, start shaking the pan with a forward and backward movement. This movement will gently push the materials at the bottom of the pan against the riffles. During this step, it is essential that your actions are not too vigorous – as this can cause you to push all of the material out of the pan inadvertently.
Alternate the back-and-forth movement to circular motions to allow the water to enter the pan and carry out the lighter, worthless elements in the mix. It is essential to focus on the material that leaves the pan to catch more significant pieces of gold as these flow out.
Alternate the tilting and sweeping motions to the side-to-side movements to keep breaking down the materials and allow the water to remove the lighter elements. Don’t forget to repeat all of these steps with care[18].
Analyze the Black Sand
As you continue with the steps we have seen above, you will notice the black sand now at the bottom to start uncovering. Especially at the beginning, it can take some time to know how much further you can continue panning your material while keeping the process safe.
If in doubt, stop to analyze the black sand or heavier elements now and then, as you might notice, little fragments of gold starting to show. If you feel confident enough, keep repeating all the movements described above to get rid of as much material as possible from the pan.
This strategy will make the identification and recovery of gold easier. However, if you don’t feel confident, it is recommendable to stop panning and continue with other methods to analyze the elements in the pan.
For a visual guide that can help you learn how to pan for gold, watch the video below.
Retrieving Gold
Once everything that is left on your pan is the black sand and other heavier materials, you could use different methods to retrieve smaller gold particles. The first step is to use magnifying tweezers to pick up the grains that are visible or large enough to be removed. Place them in a vial and move onto smaller particles.
Now, you could choose to use a black sand magnet. The black sand in your pan will be partly composed of magnetic elements such as[19]:
- Magnetite
- Hematite
- Titanium
- Zircon
- Monazite
- Pyrites (Fools’ Gold)
While not all of these elements are magnetic, some are. Therefore, you should wait until the materials in your pan are dry and use a light magnet. This device will lift away all the magnetic elements in the pan, and leave you with the remaining ones. These are likely to include hematite and gold, among others.
Then, using a suction bottle, you can safely store everything that is in the pan in vials, and continue to analyze the materials in a controlled environment. Indeed, it is much safer to analyze these concentrates through a micro sluice box at home rather than outdoors.
Conclusion
Panning for gold is the most convenient method of prospecting and can be enjoyed by anybody independently on skill and knowledge level. However, before undertaking your next prospecting trip, some essential tips can help you see better results at the end of your prospecting trip.
Picking the right gold pan for your need and understanding the location’s history and geology can be extremely helpful. Moreover, the more you refine your skills, the better are the results that you are likely to see during your outings.
