Ten years ago gold was selling for $250 per ounce. At such low
prices, gold panning was considered a fun hobby that could possibly pay
for your equipment and weekend excursions, but not a realistic source of
income. Today, prices are over $1,200 per ounce, almost five times
their previous levels and making gold panning a much more realistic
source of income.
Gold panning is an excellent family activity that provides exercise, family bonding, an appreciation for nature and put money in your pocket. But if you have no experience with gold panning it can be very discouraging without the proper guidance. You need to have the right equipment, know how to use it, know where to use it and know what to look for.
Obviously, the first thing you'll need is a gold pan. For adults I recommend a 14" plastic pan with ridges to collect the gold as it settles. Children do better with the smaller 10.5" pan. You'll also need a couple of snuffer sucker bottles to suck up small pieces of gold from your pan and shatter proof vials to store your gold.
Once you have the proper equipment you need to find a place to pan. Gold has been found in nearly every stream, creek and river in the United States but, not all contain enough gold to justify panning. To find the best places to pan you can research online, check with medal detector and panning dealers in your area, look for gold prospecting maps at your local library or talk to "old timers" in the area.
Once you've located possible panning areas you will need to check state and local laws to ensure that panning is legal in that area. Many places will allow panning as long as you are not digging or dredging. If the stream is on private property get permission from the owner.
Now you're ready to pan! Locate an area of the stream where it changes velocity, such as a bend or where the river widens. Use the pan to scoop up enough sand so that it's about 75% full. Pick out any large rocks. Place the rim of the pan just below the surface of the water and begin to swirl the pan in a circular motion so that the light material will wash off the top. This will allow the heavier material, including the gold, the settle to the bottom. Do this until there is only a small amount of sand and very small rocks remaining in the bottom.
The remaining sand should be mostly black. If you found any gold it will be in the grooves of the pan. Tilt the pan forward and gently shake it back and forth so that water moves the sand around. Gold dust and small nuggets will be obvious. Use the sucker bottles the suck up any pieces of gold that are in the bottom.
The key to successful gold panning is having the proper equipment, knowing how to use it, and learning how to recognize likely settling areas for placer gold and nuggets along the streams. Good luck with your prospecting.
Gold panning is an excellent family activity that provides exercise, family bonding, an appreciation for nature and put money in your pocket. But if you have no experience with gold panning it can be very discouraging without the proper guidance. You need to have the right equipment, know how to use it, know where to use it and know what to look for.
Obviously, the first thing you'll need is a gold pan. For adults I recommend a 14" plastic pan with ridges to collect the gold as it settles. Children do better with the smaller 10.5" pan. You'll also need a couple of snuffer sucker bottles to suck up small pieces of gold from your pan and shatter proof vials to store your gold.
Once you have the proper equipment you need to find a place to pan. Gold has been found in nearly every stream, creek and river in the United States but, not all contain enough gold to justify panning. To find the best places to pan you can research online, check with medal detector and panning dealers in your area, look for gold prospecting maps at your local library or talk to "old timers" in the area.
Once you've located possible panning areas you will need to check state and local laws to ensure that panning is legal in that area. Many places will allow panning as long as you are not digging or dredging. If the stream is on private property get permission from the owner.
Now you're ready to pan! Locate an area of the stream where it changes velocity, such as a bend or where the river widens. Use the pan to scoop up enough sand so that it's about 75% full. Pick out any large rocks. Place the rim of the pan just below the surface of the water and begin to swirl the pan in a circular motion so that the light material will wash off the top. This will allow the heavier material, including the gold, the settle to the bottom. Do this until there is only a small amount of sand and very small rocks remaining in the bottom.
The remaining sand should be mostly black. If you found any gold it will be in the grooves of the pan. Tilt the pan forward and gently shake it back and forth so that water moves the sand around. Gold dust and small nuggets will be obvious. Use the sucker bottles the suck up any pieces of gold that are in the bottom.
The key to successful gold panning is having the proper equipment, knowing how to use it, and learning how to recognize likely settling areas for placer gold and nuggets along the streams. Good luck with your prospecting.
Jeff White has written hundreds of Internet Articles over the past 15 years for sites such as Water Treatment Operator Jobs.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_White
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