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How to Pan for Gold in Northern California

Panning for gold can be relatively easy. Finding gold, however, is a different story. Prospecting for gold can take you back to the days of yore when pioneers traveled long distances into the mountains in search of streams where gold could be found. Knowing the process of locating good spots to pan in Northern California, safety considerations, and getting the right equipment can help prepare you for a day of panning for gold.

Things You'll Need

  • Pan
  • Tweezers
  • Plastic bottle or vial
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Instructions

    • 1

      Look for abandoned mines in northern California with streams or rivers, because this will increase your chances of finding gold by panning.

    • 2

      Locate a river or stream where you want to pan. Usually, gold may be found and extracted in places where the current has slowed down, such as a bend, in eddy pools, behind sandbars, or behind large rocks.

    • 3

      Submerge your gold pan and pull up sand from the stream or river. You may want to try filling it at different locations along the bank of the river or actually in the river, as long as you do not endanger yourself of being swept away by the current.

    • 4

      Swirl and jostle the contents of the pan as you look for any shiny gold flakes. As you shake, rotate, and swirl the pan, gold, which is a very heavy element, will slowly begin to settle in the bottom. Scrape sand off the top of the pan with your free hand after swirling it for a minute and continue the process until you have sifted through all the contents of the pan. Be sure to have a plastic bottle or vial to contain all your gold samples. You may also need to use tweezers to pick up some of the smaller pieces.


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