Go Back to the Land with a Gold Pan: How to Pan for Gold

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Panning for placer gold in a rushing mountain stream.
Panning for placer gold in a rushing mountain stream.
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Moss on rocks can hold a treasure. 
Moss on rocks can hold a treasure. 
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The novice 49er's start up kit of necessary gold panning equipment
The novice 49er's start up kit of necessary gold panning equipment
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Pick up gold flakes with a moist Q-tip.
Pick up gold flakes with a moist Q-tip.
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Setting your strike in jewelry can enhance its appearance.
Setting your strike in jewelry can enhance its appearance.
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Gold flecks glittering in the pan.
Gold flecks glittering in the pan.
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Gold tends to settle on the obstructing river bank.
Gold tends to settle on the obstructing river bank.
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Heavy material (including gold) sinks to the
Heavy material (including gold) sinks to the "valley" of the pan.
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Every prospector's dream: the monster-sized nugget.
Every prospector's dream: the monster-sized nugget.

It would be hard to imagine a more exciting, pleasurable, and often lucrative occupation than gold panning. You won’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get yourself started in this pastime, either … and there’s plenty of the famous yellow metal still waiting to be found!

Back around 1849, gold panning was the major source of income for thousands of prospectors, and the average daily find was about half an ounce per person. If you could do as well today (and there’s no reason why you can’t! ), such a seemingly small amount of metal — which is, at the time this article is being written, priced at over $200 an ounce — would provide you with a pretty impressive day’s wages!

Gather Your Gold Panning Equipment

When you start out learning how to pan for gold, your most important piece of “mining” equipment is simply a good gold pan. Such a utensil can be as large as 18 inches across, but it’s probably best to start with a 12-incher … which will cost between three and four dollars and should be available at a nearby sporting goods store. When you buy a new steel pan, be sure to wash it to remove the protective coating, then heat it over a campfire or burner (but don’t let the metal get red hot) to darken the color and make gold easier to spot. Remember to let the “gold finder” cool gradually — because you can warp a hot pan by dipping it in water — and always keep this vital tool free from grease and oil.

There’s also a new plastic pan on the market that simplifies the art of gold panning a bit. In addition to being lightweight, the modern device has built-in ridges, which help to trap the gold. 

  • Published on Jul 1, 1979
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