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How to Pan Your Own Gemstones

Gemstones are found in various river basins around the world. The water flow brings the gemstones from the bottom of the river to the riverbeds. Many people pan for gemstones such as rubies or emeralds. Gemstones are found among coarse-grained rocks like granite and are made of feldspar and quartz. If you would like to pan your own gemstones, you can do it yourself with just a few tools.

Things You'll Need

Pan
Sieve
Storage container

Instructions

- 1
  Search on the Internet or ask around the community for a stream where gemstones have been found. Obtain a permit, if needed, to pan for gemstones in your location. Many places will offer you a day of panning for a small fee.
- 2
  Locate a part of the river that has slow water flow. You should find sand at the bottom of the water. The sand is a common identifier of a place where gemstones may be found.
- 3
  Place the sieve inside the pan and then dig about 8 to 10 inches into the bottom of the riverbed.
- 4
  Pull the pan out of the riverbed and shake the pan to separate the sand from the gemstones and gravel. Remove the gravel from the pan and look for any gemstones.
- 5
  Repeat steps 1 through 4 until you find gemstones. Place the gemstones on your storage container.

Gemology