How do you know if there is gold in a field?
Look for your panning material in the cracks of the rock, and around the bases of stones and rocks, where there is likely to be trapped gold. It is important to dig down as far as possible to look for your material, as the action of water has already begun the process of moving the gold particles in the ground.

Where to Pan for Gold?
Many countries are rich in alluvial gold, deposited by running water. If you have time to investigate an area and find the right location, you are likely to have more success. Look for your panning material in the cracks of the rock, and around the bases of stones and rocks, where there is likely to be trapped gold. It is important to dig down as far as possible to look for your material, as the action of water has already begun the process of moving the gold particles in the ground.

Principles of Gold Panning Techniques
Gold is one of the heaviest elements and therefore can be recovered using only gravity and a gold pan! Material containing rocks, sand, iron, and gold particles is agitated to separate the heavy elements (e.g. gold and iron) from the lighter material (e.g. sand, dirt, and rock). During the gold panning process, the gold essentially “falls” to the bottom of the pan. By taking your time to agitate the material in your pan, you will be able to separate out almost all of the gold you have available!

What is the purpose of the separators?
The separators are the graduated slots on the side of the gold pan that capture the gold as water containing sand and sediment flows through them. The 15-inch pan has both coarse and fine slots. Generally, the coarse slots are for separating larger material, and the fine slots are for separating very small particles.

Types of Gold Panning
There are two main techniques – wet gold panning and dry gold panning. Wet gold panning requires less skill to master as it creates a liquid suspension of the panning material. This aids the action of gravity, allowing the heavier gold to go quickly into the slots. You can dip the pan into water that is deep enough to submerge your pan and move it around.