Ella Walter
Gold panning is a traditional mining technique that uses a pan to extract gold from a placer deposit. Gold pans come in various designs, with common features being a means of trapping heavy materials. Gold panning is considered a hobby for many, but it is still a source of income for some people living in parts of Alaska. While gold panning is not as popular as it once was, it is still practised in certain parts of the world, such as Nevada, California, Colorado, Michigan, and Arizona. Gold panning is also practised in Mexico, South America, and Japan, where traditional wooden pans are used.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Panning in mining | A simple method of separating particles of greater specific gravity, especially gold, from soil or gravel using a pan with water |
| How it's done | Fill a pan halfway with gravel, soil, and rocks from slower currents; immerse the pan in water; wet and stir the mixture; break up lumps of clay; pick out large stones; give the pan a shaking and gyratory motion to allow heavy particles to settle and bring lighter material to the surface |
| Continue the process until only heavy "black sands" and gold remain; dry the material and remove the gold | |
| Panning in photography | A photographic technique that combines a slow shutter speed with camera motion to create a sense of speed around a moving object |
| Typically done on a subject moving horizontally, such as a moving car or a running dog | |
| Can also be done vertically, such as tracking someone diving into a pool or jumping up and down | |
| Can be used to blur the background and convey motion in images | |
| Can be used to capture the atmosphere of a bustling city or moving vehicles at speed |
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What You'll Learn
Gold panning as a hobby
Gold panning, a form of placer mining, is a simple and inexpensive process that requires few tools, making it an ideal activity for hobbyists. All you need to get started is a gold pan, a sniffer bottle, a classifier (or sieve), a 5-gallon bucket, a pair of waterproof boots, and some warm socks.
Gold pans are typically made of metal or high-impact plastic and range in size from 10 to 17 inches (25 to 43 cm) in diameter, with 14 inches (36 cm) being the most common size. The sides are angled between 30° and 45°. Plastic gold pans are lightweight, durable, and resistant to rust, acid, and corrosion, while steel pans are heavier and stronger. The colour of the pan can also be a factor, as gold and black sand stand out in green, red, or black pans.
Once you have your equipment, you'll need to find a suitable placer deposit, typically in a stream where gold-bearing gravel and sand can be found. Dig behind and under big rocks, and look for cracks or crevasses in the rocks, as gold will fall into these cracks and be too heavy for the current to wash it out. Gold tends to sink as low as it can in the stream bed, so digging down to the bedrock is often a good strategy.
After finding your spot, fill your pan about halfway with gravel, soil, and rocks from the stream. Immerse the pan in the water and thoroughly wet and stir the mixture, breaking up lumps of clay and removing large stones. Shake and rotate the pan underwater, allowing heavy particles to settle and light material to rise to the surface. Tilt the pan at intervals to wash away the light surface material. Repeat this process until only heavy "black sands" and, hopefully, gold remain.
Gold panning is a slow and physically demanding process, but it can be a rewarding hobby, especially for geology enthusiasts. It is still practised in parts of Alaska as a source of income, and there are active gold prospecting clubs in places like California. However, it is important to be mindful of land designations and permissions when choosing a panning location.
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Gold panning as a source of income
Gold panning is a simple process that involves the use of a pan to extract gold from a placer deposit. It is considered a hobby for many, especially geology enthusiasts, due to its low cost and simplicity. However, gold panning is still a source of income for some individuals and communities.
In parts of Alaska, gold panning remains an essential means of income for locals. Similarly, in Mexico, South America, and Japan, traditional gold pans like the batea and yuri-ita are used, especially in areas with limited water access. Gold panning is also a source of income for some individuals facing economic uncertainty, as gold prices rise during such times.
The process of gold panning involves filling a pan halfway with gravel, soil, and rocks from slower currents in streams. The pan is then immersed in water, and the mixture is stirred and soaked to release gold from attached soils. This process, known as stratification, helps denser materials like gold sink to the bottom, while lighter materials are washed out. Gold panners may use pans made of metal or high-impact plastic, with the colour of the pan often chosen to make gold deposits easier to identify.
While gold panning is a simple and effective method for small-scale gold extraction, it has been largely replaced by more productive methods in larger commercial mining operations. However, gold panning remains relevant in places with limited capital or infrastructure and is an essential step in the assaying process to determine the amount of gold in mined materials.
Overall, gold panning can be a source of income, especially in areas where it is a traditional practice or during times of economic uncertainty. However, the income generated is dependent on the skill of the panner and the availability of gold deposits.
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Panning photography techniques
Panning is a photography technique that involves capturing moving subjects while conveying a sense of movement. It is created by combining a slow shutter speed with a sweeping motion of the camera that tracks the subject. Here are some tips for mastering the panning photography technique:
Camera Settings
Switch your camera to Shutter Priority (Tv) or full Manual (M) mode and select a slower shutter speed. The ideal speed depends on various factors, including the speed and distance of your subject, the lens you are using, and the desired amount of blur. A shutter speed of around 1/60 seconds is a good starting point, and you can lower it to 1/30 seconds or slower for more blur or increase it to 1/125 seconds for less blur. Additionally, make sure to turn off your image stabilizer unless you are using a lens with Mode 2 IS.
Composition and Background
When composing your shot, pay attention to the placement of your subject and the background blur. Look for a backdrop that contrasts with the subject to help it stand out. The overall colours of the background will be important as they will form the frame for your subject.
Panning Motion
During the pan, only the upper part of your body should move, so twist at the waist to smoothly track your subject. Keep your camera and yourself as stable as possible, minimizing vertical and tilt motions. Start tracking your subject before they reach your intended spot, and keep shooting until they have passed through it. Practice is key to perfecting your panning motion and capturing sharp images.
Practice and Creativity
Sports and wildlife photography are ideal subjects for practising panning techniques. Once you've mastered the technique, you can get creative by introducing light trails or experimenting with different scenes and subjects, such as capturing the atmosphere of a bustling city or your pet sprinting in a park.
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Panning photography equipment
Panning is a photography technique that conveys motion in images by freezing moving objects against a blurred background. It is achieved by swivelling a still or video camera horizontally from a fixed position, mimicking the motion of a person turning their head from left to right. Here are some equipment considerations for panning photography:
- Camera Settings: Panning photography often requires specific camera settings to achieve the desired effect. A slow shutter speed, typically around 1/30 to 1/80 of a second, is crucial for capturing motion blur. This longer exposure allows the sensor to gather more light and captures the streaking effect of moving objects. Shutter Priority mode is a useful setting as it lets you focus on shutter speed while leaving aperture adjustments to the camera, which is especially beneficial when photographing subjects moving in and out of variable lighting conditions.
- Tripods and Monopods: Stability aids such as tripods or monopods are invaluable for panning photography. They allow you to achieve smooth lateral motion by restricting vertical and tilt motions. Tripods, in particular, are recommended for beginners as they provide a stable base for practising the panning technique.
- Lenses: Equipping your camera with suitable lenses is essential for panning. Zoom lenses are a good option, starting with a wider focal length. Look for lenses with stabilisation features, such as optical mechanisms to reduce shake and vibration, as these can significantly improve your panning results, especially when using long lenses. Some lenses even have stabilisers specifically designed for panning motion.
- Autofocus: While not mandatory, using autofocus can enhance your panning photography. By combining autofocus with a slow shutter speed, you can better ensure that your subject remains sharp and in focus while the background blurs, creating a dynamic sense of motion.
- Continuous Shooting: This camera setting allows you to capture a rapid sequence of images. By pressing the shutter button before your subject reaches the intended spot and continuing to shoot until they pass through it, you increase your chances of capturing the perfect panning shot.
Remember that panning photography takes practice, and you may need to experiment with different equipment setups and settings to find what works best for you.
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Gold panning tools and methods
Gold panning is a simple method of separating particles of greater specific gravity, especially gold, from soil or gravel by washing in a pan with water. This technique is used in the assaying process to analyse portions of paydirt (processed mining material) for the amount of gold contained. Gold pans come in various designs, with common features being a means for trapping heavy materials during agitation and easily removing them at the end of the process. Some pans are designed for use with mercury, include screens, have sharp corners for breaking ice, are non-round, or can be used with or without water. The size of gold pans typically ranges between 10 and 17 inches (25 and 43 cm), with 14 inches (36 cm) being the most used size. The sides are generally angled between 30° and 45°.
Gold pans can be made of metal or high-impact plastic. Metal pans, such as Russia iron or heavy-gauge steel pans, are heavier and stronger than plastic pans. Plastic gold pans resist rust, acid, and corrosion and are often designed with moulded riffles along one side. Green and red pans are usually preferred among prospectors as both gold and black sand stand out at the bottom of the pan, although black pans are also used to easily identify gold deposits.
In the process of gold panning, the pan is first filled halfway with gravel, soil, and rocks from places where the current is slower, such as downstream of boulders or on the inner side of bends in a stream. The pan is then immersed in the water, and the mixture is thoroughly wetted, stirred, and agitated. Lumps of clay are broken up, and large stones are picked out. The pan, still underwater, is then shaken and rotated, allowing heavy particles like gold to settle and bringing lighter material to the surface. At intervals, the pan is tilted, and the light surface material is washed off. This process is repeated until only heavy "black sands" and gold remain.
Gold panning requires some equipment, including waterproof boots, warm socks, and gloves. Rugged leather gloves protect hands from blisters and scrapes, while rubber gloves shield them from cold water. Tweezers are useful for picking out larger bits of gold, and a glass or plastic bottle can be used to store them.
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Frequently asked questions
Panning is a technique where you move the camera as you press the shutter button. The resulting photos feature a sharp subject with a blurred background, conveying a sense of motion and speed.
Here are some tips to improve your panning photography:
- Practice! Panning takes time and skill to master.
- Use different lenses and experiment with shutter speeds to find the best settings for your desired effect.
- Focus on a small part of your subject, such as an animal's eye, and keep your focus on this point as you pan.
- Choose a background that helps your subject stand out, with at least two or more colours.
- Use a tripod or monopod for support if you're having trouble holding the camera steady.
Gold panning is still practised today, especially in parts of Alaska, Mexico, South America, and Japan. While it has been largely replaced by more efficient methods in commercial mining, it remains a source of income for many and is popular among geology enthusiasts due to its low cost and simplicity.
Gold pans are typically made of metal or high-impact plastic. Common sizes range from 10 to 17 inches (25 to 43 cm) in diameter, with 14 inches (36 cm) being the most used size. The sides are angled between 30° and 45°. Plastic pans are preferred by some prospectors as gold and black sand stand out against the green, red, or black colours.
In reverse panning, the photographer and their subject remain still while the motion of other elements in the frame creates a blurred background. This technique can be used to capture moving cars, animals, people, or even fast-moving clouds.
