When the subject of gold panning is approached, everyone seems to have their own idea of what the best pan is and the "correct" method of use is. Quite frankly, the use of a pan reguarding the method in which one pans is very subjective. Each individual seems to have their very own way of going about using it.
The gold pan is a tool in which material (dirt, rocks, clays, and other minerals) is moved about in the container so that it causes the heavier materials (iron minerals, gemstones, gold,etc.) to settle to the bottom portion of the pan and allow the lighter (less desirable) material to come to the surface where it can be discarded. This is a process called stratification, separating the material into layers. As the lighter materials are worked to the surface and washed out, it concentrates the heavier particals toward the bottom of the pan. Each has their own way of going about it. The idea is to create a slurry of material, getting it to mix all together in motion as to allow the heavier particals to settle down to the bottom of the pan.
Just to name a few popular motions, there is the "rotation", in which the pan is moved in a circular or oblong movement to get the materials stirred up. A "jiggling" movement with rapid side to side motion to create a settling of materials. Some utilize a "rocking" movement of the pan causing a side to side sloshing motion. The list can go on forever! Each method will have its own process of dispinsing of the lighter material from the pan.
The outcome of each procedure is similar. However, each method is different in its own way. Everybody is unique and each individuals panning methods are just as unique. As long as you are not dumpin out the precious metals and gems that you are so meticulously trying to keep and you are managing to retain them in the pan, you are doing it correctly. It is disturbing to hear people tell others "You're doing it wrong!" It might not be the way they would do it, but it might be right for you.
Experiment with different methods in a controlled environment like a wash tub and get familiar with whatever method you are comfortable with. To sum it up...the correct panning method is the one that best works for YOU.
Replies
No matter what technique you use, the key is to keep the material "suspended" for clasifying and let it "lock up" for a top wash.
Right, you don't want to be sloffing off material if there is still gold moving around the matrix, it could easily be dispensed along with the unwanted lights. After classifying, let the material settle before moving the top layers out of the pan (it only takes a second!).
Great post
Thats a good bit of info for the new folks. One of these days I will buy a camera that actually uploads movies via USB and do a couple fine and finish clips with the different finish pans. Kind of give an idea what the exact same motion and differing textures do. Wish something like that was around when I was struggling but back then a VCR camera was two suitcases lol.
I watched a couple of people I worked with do a tap and rock and tap motion and all I could do is ask for the black sand when they were done with it lol. The thing to do is get particles of various sizes and count them. some should be smaller than what easily is sucked up with vacuum tweezers. Then pan and finish pan into a catch basin several times, and count what was lost vs what was captured.
But it is all you and the motion you can consistently produce that matters. Like everything practice makes perfect. Very good write up.