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Stan Grist's Resources For

Gold Prospectors, Metal Detectorists, Treasure Hunters
and Explorers

http://www.stangrist.com
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Source for Success.
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ALLUVIAL GOLD PROSPECTING COURSE - PART 4 of 7

Contents: Introduction to Prospecting - Part C
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What equipment is needed to pan for gold?

Unlike many activities that require a sizable investment, gold panning is inexpensive. Most of the tools needed are commonly found around the home. The minimum equipment needed is:

1. A gold panning pan
2. Slotted Screwdriver
3. Paint brushes
4. Tablespoon
5. Garden shovel
6. Utility bucket
7. Small bottle

Optional items include a classifier, sniffer bottle, ice pick, garden trowel and commercial crevice tools.

Gold Pan:

Gold panning pans are available in some commercial locations or through mail order. The pans themselves come in at least two materials, black plastic and unpainted steel. Several pan diameters are also available. These pans are designed for the specific purpose of panning and it is highly recommended that they be purchased. The strength of the prospector should be the determining factor as to which diameter to choose. The larger the pan, the more material can be searched but it will be heavier. This disadvantage in weight is an advantage in the chance of success. The larger the amount of material searched, the greater the chance of success.

As to the pan material itself, each has their pros and cons. Steel is most often associated with the old time prospector. The prospector also could heat up food and water in his pan. If panning and heating water and food seems to make sense to you, then steel could be the better choice. Since many streams contain mercury either naturally or from previous mining operations, using a gold pan for cooking can be very dangerous. Both pan materials have their advantages and disadvantages and with a little thought the prospector will choose the style which best suits his needs.

Steel pans will sink while plastic pans usually float. If a steel pan is dropped in deep water, it will quickly sink to the bottom but it will stay put in shallow water and will not float away. If a plastic pan is dropped in fast water, it must be retrieved immediately or it may have to be chased for some distance.

Steel pans must be protected from corrosion or they will rust although some prospectors believe a thin layer of rust creates a rougher surface, which helps retain fine gold. The best way to prevent rust is to allow the pan to dry out when not in use. Leaving damp concentrates in a steel pan will cause it to rust rapidly.

New pans usually have a thin coating of oil to prevent corrosion. This oil can cause the loss of fine gold by adhering to the small particles making them float out of the pan. The oil can be removed by heating the pan at least until it turns blue and stops smoking. Paint thinner or other solvent may also be used. Steel pans may also be used to heat up concentrates to dry them.

The plastic pans are generally black, green or blue in color. Small gold flakes and black sand are more easily identified against the contrasting colored background. They do not corrode and are generally less expensive than the steel pans. A magnet may be used to remove magnetic black sand in a plastic pan.

They come in two basic shapes: the regular flat bottom and the drop center bottom. The drop center bottom retains the heavy material at the bottom and helps prevent it from moving up the side of the pan but it will make it more difficult to remove this material and pan down to just gold. The drop center pan is probably the best choice for beginners.

Various types of gold traps called riffles are often molded into the side of plastic pans. These traps usually cover about one third of the side to help keep the heavier material in the pan. They can look like stair steps or ridges. The stair step type will allow faster panning initially but at some point they will get in the way and the smooth side of the pan will have to be used to finish up. There will be less material left in the pan with the ridge type of riffle when this point is reached.

All the different varieties of gold pans have their advocates and those who find fault. It probably all comes down to which pan one starts with. Since they don't cost very much, it may be best to purchase two or three types and determine which pan is best for you. The extras may be used by family members and friends or as a "safety pan." A safety pan is placed under the pan being used especially when panning concentrates to catch any gold that may inadvertently slide over the lip of the pan. It may also be used to check panning technique by repanning the safety pan.

In the next lesson, we will discuss the other necessary equipment you should carry with you besides your gold pan…

ANCIENT DEPOSITS MODERN WEALTH

If you want to find alluvial gold in large quantities,
you have to find the ancient tertiary river channels.
They exist throughout all of the western Americas, from
Alaska to Chile. The vast majority of these deposits are
still virgin and unexplored. For more detailed and
extensive information about the ancient alluvial river
deposits and where to find them, please have a look at
my Ancient Deposits Modern Wealth Package. This special
package includes information and maps you won't find
anywhere else and reveals all of my "ancient river"
research, experience, discoveries and secrets.

Please visit:
http://www.stangrist.com/AncientChannels.htm for more information about the package.
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With the price of gold bouncing between $500 to $700 an
ounce wouldn't you love to find some with your metal
detector right now?

"Stan, Just wanted you to know about some success I had
recently. I live near San Diego. Last week I tried your
trick for finding jewelry at the beach. I found 5 gold
rings in one pocket in shallow water! This added up to
more than 1 ounce of pure gold. Thanks for that method,
it is brilliant. Sincerely, Jim Trottier, San Diego CA"

FIND GOLD CLOSE TO YOUR HOME

Did you know that gold is everywhere and that you don't
have to travel far away to find it? It can be found in many
different forms such as gold rings, gold coins, gold nuggets
and flakes, complex ores, circuit boards, old jewelry and
gold bars, to name a few.

Many people have written to me asking how they can find
gold close to their own home. I am very pleased to
announce my new report "Find Gold Close To Your Home."
This report is unlike anything you have ever heard of or
seen before. My new report teaches you how to even find
lost or hidden gold right at home, no matter where you live
in the world. You can find gold close to your home, around
your neighborhood, your city, or outside city limits using
the information and tips detailed in my new report.

Much of this information gathered from over 35 years of my own
and others' personal experience is now being revealed for
the first time. It is designed to maximize your chances of
success in finding gold. To get all the details or to order
'Find Gold Close To Your Home" please visit:
http://www.stangrist.com/FindGold.htm

Is It Possible to Making a Living Through Adventure?

If you didn't have to go to work everyday and could afford to travel anywhere in the world to discover gold, ancient treasure or a lost city, where would you want to go and what would you hunt for?

You can leave the rat race behind, live a life of adventure and freedom plus earn a great living at the same time - I did and I will show you how to do it step by step with my new 2006 epackage "Creating Wealth Through Adventure with the Stan Grist System" Find out more about my new system:

http://www.stangrist.com/CreatingWealthSystem.htm
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Copyright ©, 2002. http://www.stangrist.com.
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Published by Stan Grist and Susan Millar
(c) copyright 2002, Stan Grist, All Rights Reserved
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