Panning for Gold in California

One of the most of tool employed for gold prospectors is the gold pan which can be considered as the most basic device employed in prospecting potential gold places around the states. Panning for gold in California is considered no only a business else a hobby which involves people with one interest: to find gold.

The pan can be tested under several conditions by placing a sample in a bucket, adding water to form a most compacted mass and putting it on a pan. Samples with gold particles of between small to big ones (nuggets) can be obtained. The exact amount can not be determined at the moment, but later can be analyzed in order to have a more complete idea of the finding. However, the next time will be possible to know approximately the gold content because you have a little of experience. Some samples can contain other minerals that have no any value. The most typical case is pyrite which can be identified as gold by the beginners. This mineral is called fool’s gold due present a nice yellow color.

Panning can be done under several field conditions on various locations of California, thus, samples of alluvium and stream sediments normally give positive results when they were panned on site. So the presence of gold was confirmed.

Obviously, the first field test is the most exciting experience due to the old films and comments on gold panning are present into the mind. Panning, is just to put a sample of the river or sand on the pan and wash the sample several times. The technique is easy and has been used for much time in the search for precious metals, mainly free gold particles. The panning technique can be applied on small and large concentrations of gold and silver particles. But also, it can be used with samples from veins or nuggets.

A special case for gold prospector is the presence of flour gold which must be looked for in black sands which can have present concentrations that would hopefully carry fine gold. Experience and dedication can tell us where the gold particles can be present without considering the fact that other failed in the same area. Even, when discriminating, however, the prospector could say easily: there are only non valuable rocks, but the most intrepid and passionate prospector will try to use all his skills and experience before giving up.

While some prospectors have little adventure spirit, other try to start a new field trip with the only idea of finding new gold by the old technique of gold panning. The pan has been designed to show the prospector that gold is present. It is important to have in mind that black sands are a potential carrier of gold particles. It means that if you get a good amount of black sand, the chances of finding gold by panning are very huge. The panning give the prospector a visual knowledge and skill as the main tools to be used at the moment of decide where the gold is waiting to be found.