3 Essential Pieces Of Recreational Gold Panning Equipment
While most people have seen depictions of others panning for gold, most new prospectors may be curious about how the process works today. Although it might seem simple, your afternoon of fun in the sun might be sidelined by a lack of progress if you venture out without the right equipment. Here are three pieces of recreational gold panning equipment, and why having these items around can be helpful.
1. Gold Pan Panning for gold is much easier when you can evaluate gathered material in small amounts, which is why gold pans are so crucial to have. Gold pans are used in conjunction with sieves, allowing materials to separate naturally as the user moves the pan around in a gentle, circular or shaking motion.
As you pan for gold, the gold pan allows heavier gold materials to fall to the bottom, where you can collect them before tossing back the other materials. When you shop for a gold pan, consider buying a complete set, which typically includes a few sizes of gold pans, sieves and even a magnetic separator to remove magnetic materials that aren't gold.
2. Magnifying Glass One common mistake many people make when panning for gold is mistaking other substances, such as pyrite, or "fool's gold," for gold. To make distinguishing between gold and other materials easier, invest in a high-quality magnifying glass. These inexpensive tools allow users to quickly and easily evaluate the sheen and texture of panned substances, making it easier to know what you have before you start celebrating.
3. Metal Detector Before the advent of metal detectors, prospectors relied on maps, hearsay and folklore to track the existence of gold veins. However, metal detectors make it easy to quickly and efficiently locate the existence of conductive metals, making it simple to streamline your search.
When using metal detectors, keep in mind that you may unintentionally start to dig for other conductive metals that may trigger the alarm, such as silver or even left-behind aluminum wrappers. However, if you can spot a large area that triggers your alarm, it could be a sign that you are digging in the right place at the right time.
Before you start prospecting for gold keep in mind that you need exclusive permission from landowners before you start your search. After you have a location in mind, contact the person in charge of the land to make an agreement regarding the details of your adventure.
