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How to Pan for Gold in the Water

The California Gold Rush that began in 1848 attracted hundreds of thousands of people who hoped to find gold in the California rivers and become wealthy overnight. Though the obsession over gold has died down significantly in the 160 years since the gold rush, panning for gold remains a popular activity that can serve both as an educational tool about United States history and a sometimes-lucrative venture for those still looking to "strike it rich."

Things You'll Need

Large pan
Shallow moving water source (river, stream)
Tweezers
Trowel

Instructions

- 1
  Locate a place on a riverbank where you would like to pan. Make sure the water is not moving too swiftly or too deep; a strong current, even in shallow water, can be dangerous.
- 2
  Transfer two scoops of gravel from the shoreline into your pan using a small trowel. Remove any large rocks.
- 3
  Place the pan underwater. Break up the contents of the gravel with your hands, kneading the dirt until silt rises to the surface of the water.
- 4
  Shake the pan from left to right quickly and somewhat forcefully while the pan is still underwater. This will cause rocks and larger pebbles to rise to the surface of the gravel. Remove the rocks and larger pebbles from the pan with your fingers. Resubmerge the pan and resume shaking it until all the remaining materials in the pan have a dark color and fine consistency.
- 5
  Empty the water from the pan, keeping the materials in the pan with your hands.
- 6
  Shake the pan in circular motions to break up the materials in the pan. If any gold is present in the materials, it will be easily visible, standing out from the darker sand and gravel.
- 7
  Remove the gold with tweezers and place it in a secure container.

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