Ella Walter
Gold panning is a fun hobby that can even be lucrative if you're lucky. If you're thinking of getting into gold panning, you'll need to get a gold pan. But which one? Gold pans come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. The best gold pan for you will depend on factors such as your level of experience, the type of material you'll be panning, and your personal preferences.
If you're a beginner, a standard-sized gold pan (between 14 and 16 inches) is a good option. These pans offer a balance of usability, portability and capacity. If you're panning with kids, or you want to reduce the strain on your body, a small gold pan (between 10 and 12 inches) might be a better choice. On the other hand, if you plan on processing a lot of material, you might want to consider a large gold pan (between 15 and 24 inches).
When it comes to colour, green pans are popular because they make it easy to see the gold and black sands in your pan. However, they can be easy to misplace in natural settings. Black pans show up gold well but can make it hard to see black sands. Blue pans are a good option for prospecting as they make it easy to see shiny gold while standing out against the outdoor backdrop.
In addition to size and colour, you'll also want to consider the type of riffles in your pan. Riffles are ridges that help trap gold while allowing other materials to be washed out. Large riffles are good for dealing with larger materials like river rocks, while small riffles are better for catching small pieces of gold, or fine gold dust. Many pans have a combination of large and small riffles, making them versatile for different situations.
Finally, you'll need to decide whether to go for a plastic or metal pan. Metal pans can rust and are magnetic, which can make it difficult to separate gold from other heavy metals. Plastic pans are lightweight and rust-proof, but they might not give you that authentic gold prospector feel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Size | Large (15" to 24"), Standard (14" to 16"), Small (10" to 12") |
| Colour | Green, Black, Blue, Hot Pink, Purple |
| Riffles | Large, Small, Both |
| Material | Plastic, Metal |
Gold pan size
Gold pans come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 10" to 24" in diameter. The size of the pan is important because it will be filled with rocks, sand, water, and hopefully gold, which will make it heavier. Therefore, the larger the pan, the more material you can process at once.
Large gold pans, ranging from 15" to 24", are ideal for those who rely on gold panning as their primary source of processing material. These pans allow you to process a larger amount of material in one go. However, they may not be the best choice for beginners, as they can be cumbersome and tiring to use for extended periods.
Standard-sized gold pans, ranging from 14" to 16", offer a good balance between usability, portability, and capacity. A 15" pan is the most common size and is considered the "Goldilocks spot" for most panning needs.
Small gold pans, ranging from 10" to 12", are perfect for children or for finishing cleaning gold concentrates. They are also great for panning paydirt, which is dirt that is known to contain gold.
When choosing a gold pan, a good rule of thumb is to measure the pan against your forearm. The widest part of the pan should fit between your elbow and the palm of your hand. If the top lip goes beyond your fingers, consider getting a smaller pan to reduce the strain on your body from hours of panning.
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Gold pan colour
Gold pans come in a variety of colours, including black, blue, green, hot pink, and purple. The colour of your gold pan is a matter of personal preference, but certain colours provide better contrast with small pieces of gold.
Shiny gold shows up well against a black pan, but the magnetic black sand that usually accompanies gold blends into it. Black pans are best for panning concentrates, after removing the black sands with a sluice box or gold cube.
Blue and green pans will clearly show the gold and black sands when you're out prospecting. Green is the most common colour for gold pans.
More "exotic" colours like hot pink and purple are growing in popularity. These colours can help highlight the gold when panning, and are also fun and different. However, very bright colours can cause eye strain after staring at them for hours, so they may not be the best choice for a long prospecting trip.
Gold pans are usually made of plastic or metal. Metal pans were used by the old-time prospectors and are more durable, but they will rust if not dried after use and stored in dry conditions. They also require preparation to remove factory oils, and gold can be harder to spot on a rusty pan. Plastic pans are lightweight, durable, and require no maintenance. They also come in a variety of colours, which can be helpful when panning for gold.
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Riffles
Gold pans with large riffles are good for sorting through a lot of material quickly but aren't very good at finding small pieces of gold. On the other hand, gold pans with small riffles are perfect for catching fine gold dust. If you're looking for a gold pan to take with you when prospecting, a pan with both large and small riffles will allow you to pan coarse material to catch gold nuggets along with finer sands to get the most gold recovery.
When choosing a gold pan, it's also important to consider the size and material of the pan. Most gold pans are made of plastic so they're lightweight, but you need to remember that it's going to get filled with rocks, sand, water and hopefully, heavy gold! This will make it considerably heavier, so size does matter. Standard-sized gold pans (between 14" to 16") offer the best combination of usability, portability and capacity, whereas small gold pans (between 10" to 12") are great for kids and for panning cons or concentrates. As for the material, plastic gold pans are more durable and have that old-time authentic feel, but they can rust and it's hard to see fine gold on a rusty pan.
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Metal or plastic pans
Plastic pans are a newer, more modern version of metal pans. They are lightweight, durable, and easy to grip while panning. They are also rust-resistant and come in a variety of colours, which can help make gold specks stand out. Plastic pans are also more affordable and come in different sizes. However, they can be compromised by exposure to the sun, and may crack or scratch over time.
Both types of pans will work for capturing gold, but proper panning technique is essential to ensure gold isn't lost.
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Gold panning locations
Gold panning is a form of placer mining where prospectors use a pan to extract gold from placer deposits in rivers, streams, or creeks. The practice dates back to the ancient Romans, but it became popular during the California Gold Rush in 1848.
Merced River, Mariposa County, California
The Merced River, located outside of Yosemite National Park, is a popular and easily accessible spot for gold panning. Mariposa County was part of "The Mother Lode", a stretch of land spanning the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, making it one of the key locations for gold prospecting during the California Gold Rush.
American River, California
The 119-mile-long American River, east of Sacramento, is another historic site for gold panning. For decades, prospectors have collectively found over 750,000 pounds of gold in this river. Auburn State Recreation Area on the border of Placer and El Dorado Counties is a popular spot where only gold pans are allowed.
Rye Patch State Recreation Area, Nevada
Nevada produces almost 75% of the annual US gold yield. While most of the land is claimed for private use, you can still pan for gold at the Rye Patch State Recreation Area in Lovelock, about 90 miles northeast of Reno. The gold found at Rye Patch can range from flakes to nuggets.
Lynx Creek, Arizona
Lynx Creek, located in central Arizona, is known to be one of the richest gold-bearing areas in the state. It is situated in the Prescott National Forest and has produced sizable nuggets as well as fine gold flakes. Lynx Creek is designated as a recreational area, so certain rules and regulations must be followed, such as no motorized equipment within 100 feet of any stream or riverbank.
San Francisco River, Arizona
The San Francisco River has been a popular spot for gold prospecting since the 1800s. Gold deposits can be found along the riverbed and its tributaries. One technique used here is crevicing, which involves using a metal detector to locate cracks or fissures where gold has settled. Panning is also a common method used to find gold along this river.
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Frequently asked questions
Gold pans come in a variety of sizes, from large (15" to 24"), standard (14" to 16") and small (10" to 12"). The size you choose will depend on your intended use. Large pans are good for processing large amounts of material, but can be heavy and cumbersome. Standard pans offer a good balance of usability, portability and capacity, while small pans are great for kids or for panning cons, or concentrates.
Gold pans come in various colours, including green, black and blue, as well as more exotic colours like hot pink and purple. Green pans are great for showing up gold and black sands, but can be easy to misplace. Black pans will make gold stand out but can make it hard to see black sands. Blue pans are a good all-rounder, clearly showing up gold and black sands without being too hard to spot.
Riffles are ridges in the bottom of the pan that help trap gold while allowing rocks, sand and other materials to be washed away. Large riffles are good for dealing with large materials like river rocks, while small riffles are better for catching fine gold dust. Many pans have a combination of large and small riffles, offering the best of both worlds.
Plastic gold pans are lightweight and rust-proof, whereas metal pans can rust and are magnetic, which can make it hard to separate gold from other heavy metals. Plastic pans are also better at showing up gold flakes. Metal pans can give you that authentic old-time gold prospector feel, but plastic pans are generally a better choice.
