Panning technique for newbie?

[GaBnn3]

Hi. I'm taking my boys for our first wilderness camp out. Since these guys will be unused to being away from their electronic games for the first time, boredom will need to be addressed. So, I bought a gold pan to amuse them during the idle hours. I never panned before and don't know how to do it. Can anyone describe the proper technique for panning? Thanks.

 

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[nebraskadad]

Get a decent pan for each of you.. the Garrett Super Sluice is a good one. Fine a stream with known deposits.

Watch the shows on Outdoor Network lot of good tips for beginners..

I have a couple of "VHS" tapes by the GPAA, you can get the panning video for around $13.00, If you buy the "79.50 Buzzard's special you can get on any GPAA claim, the kit contains a pan snuffer bottle, video, claim guide and family membership.. It has close to 500 claims you can touch nation wide, not bad for beginners.

Check the following links:

http://www.tomashworth.com

http://www.goldiswhereyoufindit.com - New and under construction


http://www.goldprospector.org GPAA SITE



Locations
http://49ermike.com/goldloc.shtml

If you want to buy equipment I use Tom Sanders, he has a trommel operation in Oregon and a webstore

http://www.golddredgehog.com

If you PM me I will see if I can send some info on your area..

Nebraska Dad.

 

[nebraskadad]

Here is the link to the Keene Eng Site's panning tutorial

http://www.keeneengineering.com/pamphlets/howpan.html

 

[GaBnn3]

Thanks a bunch for taking the time to reply. I'll check each of these sites within the next couple of weeks.

 

[nebraskadad]

BTW,

it is http://www.goldprospectors.org

The other one takes you to a hijacker site. Sorry

 

[goldenboyofwa]

I recomend the bood Recreational Prospecting For Fun And Profit by Gail Butler. some of the information on other stuff is a little out of date but it is still good knowledge.

 

[Chris in BC]

Here's part of a few pages I used to send out to our club members for final panning technique, may help a bit.

*NOTE* Before you start the panning procedure please have a catch basin to pan into and make sure the material is thoroughly wetted and allowed to soak for a minute or two if starting from dry concentrates, adding a drop of dish detergent will help to keep surface tension down as well and can help to avoid surfing material in the pan itself.

1) Work with as little water as possible, in a standard 14? pan I like around ?? to ? of an inch of water only, you may find you need more.
2) I start by shaking gently (2? off center, 4? stroke) back and forth with 1 hand holding the pan with the palm facing out and up, my thumb hung over the lip of the pan and all fingers spread out evenly to support the outside of the pan, you will find that this method makes a fulcrum out of your wrist. Try to maintain a slight tilt to the pan away from you.
3) Once shaken for awhile (20-30 seconds or longer) start the water to swirl very gently in a counter-clockwise motion, make sure to keep the water moving the same direction and the slower you go the better your recovery will be. You will start to see the sands wash down to the bottom of the pan (6 o?clock position).
4) You can remove the spent black sands by holding the pan upright and dipping it into the catch basin only deep enough to wet the material you have washed down to the bottom.
5) I would then repeat this over and over until there is nothing remaining except the gold and the platinum.

Be very careful with the platinum, it is tricky to see at times because it doesn?t contrast as well as the gold against the black sands. It can be tough to distinguish at first, keep in mind it can be very small, but always 3 dimensional and will move around the pan easily.

I should also suggest that you don?t use a magnet to separate your material, the platinum is slightly magnetic and if chromite is attached it will remain charged and become very hard to separate from the black sands, no matter how careful you are you will capture fine gold in with the magnetics. If losing a little gold is ok then by all means use the magnet.

I think the proper panning techn. for getting down to concentrates is all over the net but final panning is something that is hard to find.
Take care, have fun, Chris

 

[ARCOMANDPURPLE]

Hi Chris
very good article......right on the money......WTG

 

[goldenboyofwa]

Woops ment to say the BOOK Recreational Prospecting For Fun And Profit

 

[aarthrj3811]

When starting a 2/3 full pan I put it under water and shake and twist it as hard as I can for a few minutes. By doing this all the material is semi floating and the gold goes to the bottom...Art