Hawaii’s geologic makeup isn’t ideal for gold panning, but plenty of the western United States is. If you plan on taking a trip to Alaska, Colorado or Nevada and hope to do some prospecting, it’s important to pack accordingly. Without the necessary equipment, you’re far less likely to strike it rich.
To help you plan your big getaway, we’ve created a packing list. With the following items in your suitcase, you’ll be primed for a find, no matter your destination.
Gold pan. This one’s a no-brainer. After all, gold panning requires a pan. Mid-century models are usually made of metal, but modern versions are made of plastic and have built-in riffles. A riffle is a design feature that causes small barriers to water flow. When water enters your pan, the riffles allow heavy objects such as gold and sediment to drift to the bottom.
Shovel. Panning for gold requires patience and dedication. If you really want to explore a creek bed, you need a shovel to loosen gravel, dirt and sediment from the bottom. Breaking up the creek bed every 10 minutes or so is an effective way to increase your chances of finding gold.
Magnifying lens. Most gold found while panning is quite small. If you don’t have a magnifying lens on hand, it can be difficult knowing if you’ve found gold or another sparkly material like pyrite. Magnification enables you to take a closer look and make a determination.
Tweezers. Some particles of gold are smaller than a grain of sand. Therefore, it’s important you’re able to find and remove them from the surrounding gravel or sediment. Because your hands and fingers get wet while panning, we recommend a high-quality pair of tweezers. As you find gold, you can pick it up and put it in a small vial.
These four items can make your next gold panning expedition a great success. Have fun and good luck!