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Panning For Gold

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How to start Panning for Gold

 

First thing is to try before panning for gold is to find out if any gold has been found in that river or stream before.
Gold usually occurs where there is quartz or lead or silver.
It's unlikely that you will just find nuggets of gold (although I did - once !) just by strolling along a riverbank.

Gold is heavy and tends to nestle into and behind larger rocks so dig the material you are panning from these areas and the bottom of shallow pools - anywhere where gold would sink to in fact.

Gold - the Pure Metal 

Gold always glows at you - and has an irresistable appeal to people everywhere. It's been the lure to the Gold Rushes in Australia,California,Africa,Dakota,Arizona and the Yukon. There are still places where you can just find nuggets on the ground and many secret hidden hoards from gold miners of the past. Legends abound of Spanish hidden treasures from the Incas and Aztecs - (one rumour is of a whole room of Gold)
If you visit the major museums of the world you'll see what the attraction is - remember the trasure hunters maxim - where on hoard has been hidden - another lurks nearby.
Pirates are said to have hidden their booty at many places - and sometimes these do get found.
If you want to go treasure hunting rather than gold panning then the answer is simple - RESEARCH - only through diligent research through dusty old books will you come across your treasure trove.
For a UNIQUE GOLD PROSPECTING MANUAL Click Here!
First find the subject of your quest and then read up as much as possible on the internet and follow that up with a visit (or visits) to a Major library.. that's how really successful gold seekers do it !

Gold Prospecting 

A gas-powered vacuum cleaner for use in gold prospecting
One of my many hobbies is recreational gold prospecting. I've been gold panning on my vacations for many years. It's a lot of fun. It's great exercise. I get to do it in really scenic locations. I have even found some gold. ...
Re: Gold Panning Advise
The wildhorse is full of trash,I meen trash you think is gold!for some reason ther is alot of lead in that area,even with a detector that can mask iron,you will still have a hard time anywhere there.My freind has a garrett inf...
Re: Gold Panning Advise
I appreciate all your help and advise. My next trip over the next few days will take me to Fort Steele and the Wild Horse River. I do want to see what's out there. Maybe I am asking this question too early in my "gold panning career". ...
Gold panning carried out at Marudi Mountain
Shoreham Resources has revealed further developments from its Marudi Mountain gold project in Guyana. Panning at the site has confirmed the presence of free gold in several mineralised zones. In addition, significant grades obtained by ...

This is how you pan for gold - 

First take your pan (a shallow pan with slightly rounded sides) and place a few handfuls of material you have dug from the riverbed or stream bed (that's where gold nestles) fill the pan with water by lowering it into the stream. Now swirl the pan counterclockwise and take out any large rocks but take a look at them in case they are nuggets !)
Then rock the pan from side to side gently..
Do NOT do this hard enough to wash any material over the side of the pan.

This has to be GENTLE !.
Remember Gold is HEAVY and the idea is to let the water gently wash the dirt out of the pan while leving the gold to settle below.

Let the stream current gently wash a layer of dirt over the edge of the pan. Gently rock the pan just enough to wash dirt over the pan edge a bit at a time. The faster you do this,the more gold you will throw away and we don't want to do this...
Keep doing this until you have maybe a thumbnail full of material in the bottom of the pan.
You should then be able to see flakes of gold which will usually clump together.. this is the exciting bit !
If there are flakes all across the pan then you haven't finished panning ! Wai till the dark sandy stuff washes away and you'll be able to se what you've got ..
You DID bring a bottle to put the gold into didn't you ?
Or a Jam Jar will do !
Please use a proper gold pan to get the best results.
I've tried plastic ones and they are really not as good.
You can buy a gold pan from any of the treasure hunting or metal detecting stores.

Gold Nuggets on eBay 

Real Gold just as it comes out of the ground !
Makes Fabulous jewelry ..... or gifts !

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Gold Panning Equipment 

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You really need a good Gold Pan - these are the best I've found.

Deluxe Gold Pan Kit

Amazon Price: $42.45 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $49.95

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Supersluice Gold Pan, 15"

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $9.95

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Hoffman's Rockhound Guide: Includes How to Pan for Gold

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $9.95

Usually ships in 24 hours

Metal Detectors on eBay 

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Books on FInding Gold 

Everything you need for treasure hunting

Placer Miner's Manual (Volume 1)

Placer Miner's Manual (Volume 1)

Contains the complete part 1 of Placer Mining in t more...1 point

Gold Miner's Handbook

Gold Miner's Handbook

One of the most comprehensive handbooks for the mo more...0 points

Midwest Gold Prospecting by Chuck Lassiter

Midwest Gold Prospecting by Chuck Lassiter

A fantastic book covering all aspects of recreatio more...0 points

Recollections of a Pioneer by J. W. (Watt) Gibson

Recollections of a Pioneer by J. W. (Watt) Gibson

Facsimile reprint of the rare original edition. Ve more...0 points

Arizona Highways, July 1980 (Gold Mines, Prospecting, Panning) (Vol. 56, No. 7)

Arizona Highways, July 1980 (Gold Mines, Prospecting, Panning) (Vol. 56, No. 7)

Articles include:

Bonanza Gold! Arizona's gilded ag more...0 points

Gold Photos 

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Dick Johnston, Boston Beaneaters, 1887 by trialsanderrors

Dick Johnston, Bosto...

Gold Panning equipment on eBay 

Go to them thar Hills - there's Gold Thar !

You won't find gold sitting in an armchair - its up in the hlls

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Gold Panning from YouTube vids 

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GOLD PANNING MACHINE

Runtime: 3:54 | 46250 views | Comments

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Backyard Gold Panning

Runtime: 2:14 | 32474 views | Comments

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Massive Gold Find Gold Prospec...

Runtime: 1:10 | 84811 views | Comments

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Gold panning tricks

Runtime: 3:51 | 8739 views | Comments

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Zlotoryja - Gold Panning Champ...

Runtime: 3:10 | 19159 views | Comments

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Rotapan.com Gold panning machi...

Runtime: 8:53 | 18585 views | Comments

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Gold panning in Idaho - Sluice...

Runtime: 3:47 | 3883 views | Comments

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Gold Prospecting Nugget find f...

Runtime: 2:56 | 20350 views | Comments

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Desert Fox Automatic Gold Pann...

Runtime: 3:31 | 8539 views | Comments

Deadwood - real or just a story ? 

Deadwood really was just like in the tv series - rough,tough and brutish (and that was just the showgirls !)
Although Miners brought in the gold,the people who really made the fortunes were the hotel and bar keepers and the hardware suppliers who sold them shovels.
The Deadwood Stage ran a regular gold run out of town and was just as regularly subjected to bandit attacks.
Gunmen regularly rode guard on the gold but it was still sometimes stolen... and is probably still hidden too !

Deadwood - just like it was 

Deadwood - The Complete Third Season

Saloon owner and Deadwood's puppetmaster, Al Swearengen (Ian McShane sustaining his brilliant peformance in the previous two seasons), works closely with incumbent lawman Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) on retaining the latter's seat. But Bullock himself has difficulty surrendering his penchant for taking unambiguous action and relying on few words, especially when he has to act like a politician and deal with people such as George Hearst (Gerald McRaney, playing the real-life father of William Randolph Hearst). Swearengen's rival, Hearst--a self-made industrialist who gained his fortune through mining--has every intention of overtaking Deadwood, with his eye particularly on the lucrative mine owned by Bullock's former lover, Alma (Molly Parker). (The violence Hearst employs to get to Alma's claim will stun many Deadwood fans.)

Amazon Price: $54.99 (as of 10/11/2008)

California Gold 

There's rumoured to be a hidden treasure right beneath the Hollywood Bowl (and they didn't find it in the foundations ?) This and several other treasure tales makes California one of the most interesting State to visit.Treasure tales abound - especially from Spanish Colonial Times. There are two lost treasures in the vicinity of Mission Santa Ysabel in the Santa Ysabel Valley.
The two Tujunga Canyons are good for finding Placer gold in the creeks.
In the San Gabriel Valley there are a number of tales about hidden treasure and this is a popular area for weekend prospectors.
To follow up California Treasure tales, first look up on Google where treasure HAS been found and then research that area. Where one treasure has been hidden, another is very likely to be hidden close by.
This is particularly true of past sites of battles,ambushes and similar mishaps - and people often hid their valuables somewhere safe and readily identifiable to them.
If someone knew they were in danger,they'd hide their gold or treasure so they could come back for it later.

Metal Detectors 

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You can find precious metals,coins and jewelry with a metal detector - Its easy !

Better detectors usually give much better ground penetration.

Bounty Hunter Fast Tracker Metal Detector

Dual-tone audio discrimination; motion all-metals mode
Automatic ground balance and audible low-battery alert
Built-in speaker and headphone jack
Measures 10 inches in length, 9 inches in width, and 57 inches in height
Requires two 9-volt alkaline batteries; five-year limited warranty

Amazon Price: $92.09 (as of 10/11/2008)

Usually ships in 24 hours

Minelab Explorer SE Metal Detector

Serious Detecting Features: New audio tone settings with the new Pitch Hold mode picks up even the faintest target signals and improves the recovery rate for the smallest or deepest good targets. New faster and more powerful micro processor. The Explorer SE is more responsive while using less power. Spend more time detecting; less time programming and recharging New menu structure gives easier access to key functions and makes the Explorer SE programming a breeze. Faster learning curve; easy to learn user interface. New audio modulated pinpoint mode makes target size and depth identification more reliable. Save valuable time recovering targets. Simplified Iron Mask coordinates 0-31 with full ferrous discrimination capability. Easy correlation of iron mask settings with digital readout values; simplifies the use of iron mask; and makes better use of this function. New Quick start settings makes the learning curve on the Explorer SE more rewarding. New finer threshold and volume adjustments perfectly match operating conditions. More accurate and comfortable settings. Large target coordinates and improved menu fonts in digital screen. Easy to read user interface. Improved threshold stability in noisy/trashy environments gives fewer false signals and covers more ground faster. Improved weight and balance with new lightweight waterproof coil. Comfortably detect for longer periods of time without fatigue.

Amazon Price: $1,298.97 (as of 10/11/2008)

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Bounty Hunter Sharp Shooter II Metal Detector

Amazon.com Review
Bounty Hunter's Sharp Shooter II detector offers the excitement and profit of metal detecting for advanced users, offering extensive features. The fully submersible, 8-inch Bounty D-Tech search coil can help you find treasures under water or up to 5 feet of earth. The Sharp Shooter II has four modes of operation, ranging from an all-metal detection to a Disc Notch mode that rejects iron and nails and two modes that emit different tones for varying kinds of metal. The detector's digital LCD gives both target ID and depth readout, controls for the four modes of operation, and a low-battery indicator. Users will also appreciate Ground Trac, which automatically balances the machine to the soil condition, and Bounty Hunter's comprehensive, easy-to-understand online tutorial and downloadable manual at www.detecting.com. The Sharp Shooter II has a built-in speaker and headphone jack and runs off of two 9-volt alkaline batteries. Five-year limited warranty. --Ariel Meadow Stallings

Product Description
8 Waterproof, Interchangeable coil LCD Readout System No Motion All Metal Mode of Operation Excellent Recovery Rate Discriminate Adjustment The Sharp Shooter II detector was designed with exact specifications to fill the needs of the avid Treasure Hunter. The LCD readout will indicate the probable target ID of each target being detected. With an excellent recovery rate, easy operation, and lightweight, the Sharp Shooter II is truly a Treasure Hunters dream.
The Sharp Shooter II combines ease of use with a visual reference that allows the user to determine what type of metal is being detected, whether silver or gold or lesser metals. Take aim at more treasure with the Sharp Shooter II.

Amazon Price: $243.14 (as of 10/11/2008)

Usually ships in 24 hours

Garrett Coin Digging Kit

Set consists of pouch and trowel
Leatherlike pouch measures 8 by 7 inches, hangs on belt
12-inch-long trowel made of plastic to prevent coin damage
Pouch has three pockets and small zippered pocket
Trowel's head shows soil depths from 1 to 5 inches

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/11/2008)

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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