Panning for Gold

User Manual

By:
Umpqua_Gold

May 20, 2010

Prepared for:
All Greenhorns
 Table of Contents

Introduction.......................................................................1
Selecting a Gold Pan...........................................................2
Seasoning a Gold Pan.........................................................3
Tools Needed.....................................................................4
Reading a River..................................................................5
On the Gravel Bar...............................................................6
Using the Gold Pan..............................................................7
Step One....................................................................7
Step Two....................................................................8
Step Three.................................................................9
Step Four...................................................................10
Step Five...................................................................11
Step Six....................................................................12
Collecting the Gold..............................................................14
Step One..................................................................14
Step Two..................................................................15
Introduction

This manual is designed for the beginner prospector. Many people

today are looking for new recreational activities to pursue in their
spare time. Prospecting for gold is one recreational activity that
can provide adventure and sometimes an economic bonus.

Some of the greatest gold discoveries in history were uncovered

with nothing more than a gold pan and determination, and this
manual will provide the user with basic knowledge to make their
own gold strike.

Remember:

Be a good steward of the land:

• Pack out what you pack in
• Pick up any trash that may be present
• Leave an area cleaner than it was
• Backfill any excavations before leaving the prospecting area.

1
Selecting a gold pan

There are many colors and styles of gold pans to choose from. It
is recommended that the beginner prospector look for a gold pan
that has a wide flat bottom and “riffles” on one side inside the
pan.

Riffles

When choosing a color for the gold pan, green is the best choice
because it contrasts gold and the associated black sands,
rendering both highly visible.

Note:
It is wise to stay away from black colored gold pans. Although
black will provide a backdrop for gold, it will mask the black sands
and make extraction of gold very difficult.

2
Seasoning a Gold Pan

It is important to remove any oils from manufacturing, because

oil will cause fine and flake shaped gold to float. The reason is
because gold is hydrophobic and resists water.

To season a new gold pan:

• Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol into it
• Take a paper towel and rub dry.

The rubbing alcohol helps to remove waxes and oils that may still
be present from the manufacturing process.

To further increase the ability of the gold pan to retain gold:

• Use sandpaper on the inside of the gold pan to rough it up

OR

• Place a combination of dry sand and rocks of varying size and

shape in the gold pan and shake vigorously.

Note:
The rougher the inside of a gold pan is, the better it will retain
gold. It is recommended that either sandpaper or sand and rock
be used to accomplish roughing up the gold pan.

3
 Tools Needed
The basic tools necessary for prospecting are a classifier, a gold
pan, a hand trowel, hand rake and a snuffer bottle, which is used
to remove the gold from the pan.

C D
B
A

Basic tools

A Classifier

B Gold pan
C Hand trowel
D Hand rake
E Snuffer bottle

4
Reading a River

Reading a river can give a prospector likely places to start

searching for gold. In the picture below, the cross hatched area
indicates where gold is likely to be found after being moved
during a rivers high water stage in winter.

Gravel bars and gold path

Gravel bar A: Notice that gravel bar A is entirely within the

yellow area where gold may be found.

Gravel bar B: Although gravel bar B is not entirely within the

yellow area, gold values can be found near the
river-side of the bar.

Gravel bar C: This is a corner location, a place where gold has a

high probability of settling or dropping out of the
flow.

Keep in mind that gold is not always where a prospector may

logically conclude that it should be. As will be learned through
experience, “gold is where you find it.”

5
On the Gravel Bar

When a gravel bar is located that the prospector finds promising,

the first thing to determine is where to sample. Sampling is a
process of trying many different areas on a gravel bar to decide
which area of the gravel contains pay dirt.

When on a gravel bar for the first time:

• look from river bend upstream to river bend downstream. The
first place to be sampled should be between these two points.

• Look for large boulders, cracks in bedrock, or clumps of

vegetation in the gravel bar that fall within the point to point
sighting made previously.

The downstream side of boulders and vegetation clumps are most

likely to produce a higher yield of gold. Sampling should start
there.

6
Using the Gold Pan

Step One:

Locate an area to sample, such as the rock pictured below.

Start by removing the larger stones to expose the smaller rocks

and sands.

7
Step Two:

Place the classifier on the Gold pan.

Fill the classifier about 3/4 full.

8
Step Three:

Carry the gold pan and classifier to a pool of water or river and
submerge.

Use fingers to stir the gravels to allow small rocks, sand and gold
to settle into the gold pan.

9
Step Three Continued

Take care to thoroughly wash rocks of all clays. This is important,

because gold can be trapped by the clay.

Step Four:

Once the material in the classifier has been cleaned and no

small material remains, check the classifier for any large
nuggets. Then discard the rocks in the classifier.

10
Step Five:

Take the gold pan that now contains material that passed
through the classifier.

Submerge the gold pan and shake it vigorously under the water.

The objective is to bring the contents of the gold pan into a state
of suspension and allow the gold to sink to the bottom of the
gold pan. Try not to slosh any material out while shaking.

Do not be concerned about the loss of gold as mud and silt wash
out of the pan. Gold is much heavier than mud and silt and will
settle to the bottom of the pan.

This step should be repeated until most of the mud and silt is
absent from the gold pan.

11
Step 6:

While keeping the material suspended by shaking the gold pan,

grip the edge of the gold pan opposite the riffles and tilt it so
that the riffles are at an angle, as if to pour.

With a slight back and forth motion, gently wash the larger rocks
and lighter sands from the gold pan. Allow only a small amount of
material to exit the pan at a time.

12
Step Six Continued

Wash material out of the pan for 10-20 seconds then submerge
the gold pan and repeat Step 5.

Alternate between steps five and six until Black sands are visible.

There should be between one-third and 1/2 cup of material in the

gold pan.

The remaining sands in the gold pan should have a mostly black
appearance.

Gold, lead, bits of metal or even gold that has been coated with
naturally occurring mercury may be visible.

Any remaining pebbles in the gold pan should be plucked away.

13
Collecting the Gold

Step One:

To separate the gold from the remaining materials in the gold

pan:
• add a small amount of water to the pan.
• Hold the pan flat and tip the edge in a circular motion, taking
care to wash the black sands gently.

This action will reveal gold if it is present.

14
Step Two:

Take the snuffer bottle and squeeze the sides.

While continuing to squeeze the sides, take the straw and place it
on or near the item to be picked up. Release the pressure on the
snuffer bottle.

The gold should now be in the snuffer bottle.

Note:
An alternative to using a snuffer bottle while sampling is to have
a small container such as a coffee can or a bucket to deposit the
black sands and gold, called concentrates, for processing at a
later date.

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