How to Pan for Gold in Southwest Pennsylvania
- 1). Purchase a gold pan. Buy a 14-inch plastic pan for adults and a 10-inch plastic pan for children.
The pans used during the Gold Rush were typically steel pans that measured 16 inches wide at the top, 10 inches wide at the bottom and had a depth of 2.5 inches. Although these pans are still made, most prospectors use plastic pans today. - 2). Scout out the places known for producing gold in southwest Pennsylvania. It is unlikely to locate an unknown gold deposit, so go to places where gold has already been found. Northern York County in southern Pennsylvania is reported to have good prospects for gold panners. Specifically, the streams Stony Run, Fisher's Run, Beaver Creek-North Branch and Wolf Run have all produced large quantities of gold.
- 3). Pack waterproof rubber gloves and boots, go to the stream of your choice and position yourself on the shoreline.
- 1). Fill the pan with sediment material from the stream bed or crevices along the stream. Submerge the pan just below the surface of still or slowly flowing water.
- 2). Stir the contents by slowly shifting the pan back and forth or in a circular motion. The material should be completely saturated with water. Break up and dissolve dirt clods and clay. The heavier materials sink to the bottom while the lighter materials are sifted up and out of the pan.
- 3). Tilt the pan slightly so the less dense material floats out of the pan. Flatten the pan again and repeat the circular or back-and-forth shaking motion. Repeat this process until the lighter material has been sifted away and only heavy mineral concentrates and gold can be easily seen.
