Gold Panning -- Backwash & Tap Method

[C0017A]

Thanks for viewing... I have had this video out there a while now for all to see, enjoy, learn. :) Yep, not the only technique, BUT it does work. Good luck in future panning adventures. Randy "C-17A" triple w (dot) goldadventures (dot) biz

[al648srobloxvideos]

Dang! IF only I had this information when I went to Coloma...

[HighV0LTAGEzZ]

BigCountry4570,

Thanks! I made it in 2008 to help a fellow panner out get more fine gold out of black sand when panning. Tried to e-mail it direct. File too big. Only way was to get a YouTube account and send him the link. Here we are 166,000+ views later! Crazy. Glad you liked it and hoped it helped. I have 170+ other short prospecting videos too. Enjoy! Randy C-17A triple w (dot) goldadventures (dot) biz

[bigcountry4570]

great video :-)

[jamesh20101]

Thanks man for uploading this I learn a lot from this video u explained it good thx post more videos

[LilLotspeich]

ramdomness is the way to go

[LilLotspeich]

boo!

[HighV0LTAGEzZ]

Carrieleonable,

Yep, there was a lot of fine gold in that pan of cons...the point was to try and give others a good way to separate fine gold from black sand with nothing more than a 10 1/2 inch Garrett's Gravity Trap finish pan. On the stream or at home, backwash & tap works... Cheers, Randy Witham C-17A triple w (dot) goldadventures (dot) biz

[carrieleonable]

thats lots man

[C0017A]

Mrbunglestuff,

Ha....that was me trying to keep my 11 year old son on point/on focus filming the video. I never really intended to post it on YouTube and go global with it. I sold some cons to a very senior gent who was have great difficulty getting all the fine gold out of the copious Georgia black sand, and try as I may to describe backwash & tap on the phone, no luck. I made the video, but was WAY to big to e-mail. So, I opened a YouTube account, sent him the link. My YouTube start! C-17A

[mrbunglestuff]

at around 3:00 somebody whispers "watch this" creepy, but on topic , thanks for sharing this method of panning. looks like real good concentrate.

[thefifthlord1]

Much easier to just dump the whole thing into concentrated nitric acid, wash completely, then dump it into hydrochloric acid, and wash the only thing that can be left is gold and other platinum group metals.

[C0017A]

Hobbes0331,

Hard to say w/o me seeing the look & action. The Kern River does have very fine flood gold in it. One good way to check for real gold (even tiny specks & micro flakes) is sun vs. shade viewing. Fool's gold, mica flakes, etc., will shine in the sun but go instantly dull in the shade. Real gold will have a nice gold luster in both. Real gold should tend to hold in the black sand and not move if you use little laps of water, not big washes. Pan some real gold to check the difference.

[Hobbes0331]

I have been trying to pan some stuff from the kern river in Cali. The black sand seems to stay and he flakes go away. Does that mean its fools gold?

[C0017A]

CAgoldprospector97,

Hmmm.......oil out of plastic gold pans? Well, I'd start by washing it in REALLY hot water and dish soap.  Scrub the heck out of it & rinse/dry several times. Then, take a really rough piece of 30 grit sandpaper and sand/scratch the entire inside including the bottom really well. Make it have cross sctarches on the sides and circular in the bottom so specks can hold ont to when panning. Use JetDry in your panning water to prevent fine gold float. Pan in clean water. Randy

[925dude]

I GOT GOLD FEVER

[rooshooter1977]

the key is........ you need a garrett 15in super sluice pan and detergent, you would have a much better result!

[C0017A]

Haynerbass,

Sorry my 12 year old son, who was shooting the video, didn't have the camera panned out a little wider angle, but yes.........I was tapping (rapping) on the far side edge/lip, 180 degrees out from my stomach, with that end elevated maybe 10 degrees, as I backwashed and tapped. I also take a 40 grit piece of sanpaper and REALLY scratch the inside of the bottom with circular scratches, and a crosshatch pattern on the sides so as to give the sinking gold a place to grab. Randy

[haynerbass]

What side were you tapping on? I'm guessing the top or far side.

[C0017A]

Fuugon,

Yes -- easy. Concentrates are the material that's left over from panning, sluicing, dredging gold bearing material, usually stream gravels, so as to catch most of the heaviest materials, like black sand, lead, iron, and other heavy stuff, that also usually has the heavy gold in it. One may dredge for hours, moving square yards of gravel to end up with a sluice box of heavy concentrates that may only be 1/2 a 5-gallon bucket. This is concentrates. Randy C-17A

[fuugon]

i dont under stand when you talk about concentrate dirt, can somebody explain me please????

[C0017A]

Willy4623,

GLAD to help! That was why I made it several years back...to help others overcome fine gold & black sand. Plz check out my web site and free Forum. Over 200 registered users on my Forum now. Lots to learn, share, chat about! triple w (dot) goldadventures (dot) biz Randy C-17A :)

[Willy4623]

Great vid. I show new panners this & encourage them to use the technique. It got me on my way into panning. Thanks heaps

[C0017A]

Lengarces,

Holy Cow...what a question. Honestly, it all depends. Panning out concentrates from your 4 inch suction dredge on a gold rich stream in CA, OR or AK........hmmm....maybe 1/4 ounce from a good hard day. Just hand panning gravel from any average fine gold creek in GA, IL, VT, NC.....maybe 100 specks & very small flakes. If you can snipe or crevice for gold stuck in bedrock cracks in CA, maybe 1 to 5 grams a day if you know how to do it & get lucky. Do it for the fun. Randy C-17A :)

[maxinpains]

@C0017A

NO DREDGE IN CALIFORNIA. 

[C0017A]

@maxinpains,

Yep, currently no dredging in Kalifornia (The People's Republik of), and hear there's open comment now to the Dept of Fish & Game. I sent my letter complaining about their OVERLY restrictive proposed new rules. EVERYONE needs to e-mail or send a letter complaining to the DFG now! Thanks,

Randy C-17A triple w (dot) goldadventures (dot) biz 

[maxinpains]

@C0017A

 lol As a full time Prospector I do understand your feelings. I make living with it. too...But Liife comes first much more than a tiny specks on colors in our Pan. Yeah, Our Oceans & Rivers , Water,Airs are really polluted by the mercury & heavy metals you name it..We got it inCA But i'm glad that they still let us "Go sign" with Good old Sluice & Panning. It's became hard work since then but If anyone don't like old style of prospecting then people should not quit day job.

[Lengarces]

How much money can a person make daily, on average, panning for gold ?

[maxinpains]

@Lengarces like $10 a day....good day...

[C0017A]

Pkrske,

Most will use the traps for initial panning, and then move to the smooth side for ultimate visibility & control, and see literally every speck. I let the specks move to about 1/2 way out the pan then resettle every time. Use JetDry in your panning water to break the surface tension to avoid fine gold float on the top of the water to was out, or fall out in the back of the pan. Save all your old cons for another day to repan/reprocess. Always gold in them! Randy C-17A

[pkrska]

I noticed that youy are using the side of the pan rather than the grooved part. Is there an advantage?

[C0017A]

Axdexter23,

Yep, and I use some coarse sandpaper, about 30 grit, to scratch the heck out of the inside of my pans, including the bottom, to gile the gold a place to grab and hold on to.  REALLY helps! Happy panning!

Randy Witham C-17A triple w (dot) goldadventures (dot) biz

[axdexter23]

Just tap it in. Give it a little tappy tap tap taparoo

[C0017A]

Mudswat,

Thank you very much... Glad I can help others recover more gold, especially out of pesky black sand, and not get too frustrated as well! Patience & perseverence are two hallmarks of successful prospectors. :)

Randy C-17A

[MUDSWAT]

Wow,

Your really good at that.. Best video on gold panning I have found very informative.

Nice Job !!

[C0017A]

Thedroppedsock,

Well...you can go to most any creek, stream & river and pan, and normally find heavy black sand, but you won't always find gold. Placer gold (free gold not in host rock) is heavy & collects in low holding points, like creek beds, due to gravity, water action, etc. Old saying is go where the oldtimers found gold. They only got some of it. Free gold & black sand usually collect together. Google up gold panning in your state, area. GPAA has a mining guide w/claims by state. Randy

[THEDROPPEDSOCK]

excellent video.. I don't know much about gold but can i go to any local stream/river and pan for gold as long as theres some black sand there

[C0017A]

Tom,

Hope it helps...

Don't be afraid to scratch the heck out of your pan. I use 40 grit paper & really put a crosshatch pattern all over the sides and bottom. My favorite finish pan I actually took a handful of creek gravel and scratched it until it is almost fuzzy. Now small flakes & micro specks grab & hold and wen they're 1/2 way out of the pan, I resettle and keep going. Happy panning! Randy C-17A triple w (dot) goldadventures (dot) biz

[spida817]

Randy...

I didn't know you had made this video.it's my fav. I put scratches on my pan because of this video... The little I know about panning , I learned mainly from this vid...

Good job..... TOM

[therealCanablisS]

love the vid,,,

[C0017A]

Bigdearmond,

Great observation......I use the larger 14 inchers for sample panning on the creek to check for any color at all, and for a rapid concentration of cons/material. BUT, if I am panning out known gold rich material/black sand, I prefer the smaller 10 or 10 1/2 incher with traps, like the Garrett's Gravity Trap 10 incher. I can pan smaller amounts faster, with less fatigue and way more control than a large 14 incher full of cons, black sand and water. My opinion only. Randy C-17A

[bigdearmond]

I was just wondering if the smaller diameter of the bottom of the pan makes the separation or tapping easier. I've always used the pans with larger diameter bottoms. Maybe I'll have to get one to try.

[C0017A]

With gold at $1,345 a Troy ounce that would be $43.25 a gram so 2 grams is $86.50 worth of gold. Randy C-17A triple w (dot) goldadventures (dot) biz

[rogelio391]

how much would that be worth?

[drumminghunter]

wow !/2 oz?

[C0017A]

@drumminghunter ,

No, that amount was about 2 grams of various fines I used for the demo.

Hope the video helps you and others not fear black sand or lose ANY fine gold in your panning/separation efforts.

Randy C-17A 3 w's dot goldadventures dot biz

[openarms332]

@drumminghunter u really think that was 2 oz ?

[Twicebakedtaters]

After watching magnets being used I prefer the backwash and tap method.

[feces100]

nice! that was a pretty good handful of dirt.

[biggrex]

or you can just use a neodymium magnet

[C0017A]

@biggrex ,

Yes, but be careful! I have a rare earth magnet rated N48, with 185 lbs of pull, and it will instantly grab such a clump of magnetite that it will trap gold in that clumped material. I recommend you dry the black sands, spread REAL thin on an aluminum tray or tarp, and wand the magnet over it about 1/4 inch to not lose gold. Plus, hematite will still have to be hand panned. Cheers, Randy C-17A

[biggrex]

@C0017A I agree

[C0017A]

@biggrex ,

Thanks. You obviously have some experience in this area. I hate to lose gold unnecessarily. No substitute your your own expert pannng skill with that dreaded black sand!

Randy C-17A 

[jessgo33]

tku, Iv noticed sometimes it dose get gold in their, I have found if I fill it with water, and shake it pretty hard underwater, the gold falls out. But I do like that for getting rid of the black sands. It makes clean up very easy. Jess

[jessgo33]

nice. I just learned how to reduce the black sands. I have a black magnet, but Im going to use that method for sure...

[C0017A]

@jessgo33 ,

I advise you to be careful when using magnets to pull out magnetite. I have tried different types and strengths and techniques, and have found the clumping of magnetite can capture gold in it when wet. IF you use a strong magnet, I recommend you totall dry the black sands, then spread them real thin on a sheet of plastic, paper or an aluminum tray, and then wand the magnet OVER the sand 1/4 inch or so, not in it. This will mostly leave the gold behind! Randy

[aldenalderon]

This Guy sounds like Will Forte AKA MacGruber

[aldenalderon]

This Dude sounds like Will Forte AKA McGruber

[nivek194]

where did you get the paydirt??

[nivek194]

where can I get the dirt/sand? And do I make any profit if I buy unpanned sand and sell the gold?

[C0017A]

@nivek194 ,

I sell it on my web site. Triple w dot goldadventures dot biz

Profit is had to gauge, but you'll always get the guaranteed amount and a little more. I have sold over 700 bags and nobody unhappy to date. :)

Randy C-17A 

[naghattjamil]

This is great because im going panning tomarrow at Coloma,(James Marshall Gold Discovery Park).We are also taking a hike,Im going to bring magnets with me because i've heard we can grab the magnetic iron black sand easier,Im also gonna

be walking on the spot where they found THE FIRST PEICE OF GOLD!!!

[ghostman3331]

thanksfor your informative video

[C0017A]

rhizomes,

Well, thanks but practice makes perfect, and I have learned from several old prospectors myself....I can't take full credit. We all learn and share and pass along what works and doesn't work! :) Keep panning, and I recommend you pan smaller amounts in a 10 inch finishing Garrett's Gravity Trap pan, use JetDry in your panning water to prevent fine gold "float", and practice the backwash n tap in the final part. Thanks & have fun! Randy C-17A goldadventures biz

[rhizomes]

you make it look so easy!! But I am getting better with lots of practice

[YTBYlover]

So ware are you "tapping"? Is at the gold spot just on the under side?

[C0017A]

@YTBYlover ,

I "tap" on the up tilted edge of the gold pan, and the action drives the heavier gold down through the black sand to the bottom of the gold pan, and all the little scratches in the plastic pan allow the gold, even micro specks, to grab the scratches and then walk up out of the black sand to the "top" or uplifted part of the pan away from you.

Hope this helps.

Randy "C-17"

[YTBYlover]

@C0017A Hey thanks.

[loil123456]

how much is it

[loil123456]

how much was it

[loil123456]

how much was it

[loil123456]

hi you did awsome

[refracturate]

excellent vid. thanks

[psychosolodiver]

You don't use a magnet to remove the black sand?

[3NUNS]

thankyou for that ... what you have shown us is expertise

[scorpiotoyou]

25,802 veiws no way!!! i cant even get that type of veiwing.. you make me sad man...lol great video!

[drivemakeshoot]

where did you get that paydirt

[chessmaster001]

where do you get your 'concentrate' do you just go to the nearest river or what?

[MellowYellowed]

nice

[head1rush7]

Can I ask where you got your concentrate? I have found one website seller so far that is fair. I'm trying another as we speak. It is a fun hobby even though you don't necessarily make money buying concentrate.

[C0017A]

ModernMaverick34,

You are obviously "the expert" on panning. Great! We'd all love to see how you do it so expertly...vice being so critical of others. Video plz... Remember, gold's where you find it, and whatever technique for prospecting/panning that works for that person, well, works for that person. I do wash my hands before hand panning fine gold to remove oils. "Quick" is always a relative term when dealing with black sand. This video was made for the newbie, not you. Good day. C-17A

[C0017A]

ModernMaverick34,

Apology accepted! No hard feelings here... There so many good techniques out there for panning, sluicing, dredging, etc. I watch everyone I can, and have "combined" many different demos and techniques into what works for me.  With well-washed hands and a lot of JetDry I find I can "push" the fine gold around real well, clean out the fine black sand, and end up with -100 mesh & smaller w/o any real loss. Best of luck & plz post some videos of your "gold adventures". C-17A

[ModernMaverick34]

You call that "quickly panning concentrates"? 6 and a half minutes of tappity-tap-tap-tap. Plus you were finger-fucking your gold too much, no one should have to scoot gold with their finger in order to help the black sand separate, that's a good way to lose your fine gold. Folks, the oil from your finger makes fine gold, like gold dust float away. Now he did use Jet Dry to counter-act this effect, but do not follow this method.... and please, don't molest the gold during the process.

[chestateegold]

this is golfingrobert. btw this guy's method is pretty good, i dont use it when panning but i use it for cleaning concentrates, which is what the method is for. it works really good. and c0017a, i think this guy thinks that you are showing this method for just general panning. but idk, not my place i suppose....

[B1u3Dr4g0n1]

I want to see him put 5 flakes in and have all 5 when he is done.....

[genleeiv]

great video but i am having issues and it is not working for me, the camera was a litttle close so i could not see where you were tapping, i assume it was about 180 from the other hand but are you tapping the bottom or the side?

[hugo1221]

thanks for this :)

[rocket1222]

Where do you get your concentrate from? Would love to get really involved with this!  Thanks for the videos

[jacobgp1]

sure, you could use a magnet. IT IS NOT SILVER< IT IS IRON. cool vid.

[Roddyoneeye]

Do you know about how much of that 'black sand' is silver ?

[golfingrobert]

i went to dahlonega this weekend on the yahoola creek and i didnt find one damn flake of gold in three hours of panning! of course that is liek my second time panning ever but still man grrrr

[ModernMaverick34]

Same thing happened to me Robert, I was in the Yahoola River too and like you, it was my second time also. I bet you went underneath the bridge where that rafting place is located, didn't you? That place has been picked clean. Don't give up, there are better places. Pay no attention to this guy's panning technique, it's all wrong.

[golfingrobert]

well, the place i went was right in the middle of yahoola park or whatever it is called. i have since learned the best place to go is on the chestatee river. I have since found around two grams of gold through multiple panning trips and two slucing trips. but i did go to the crisson mine/ consolidated gold mine and they had some retarded tecniques.i like my way :). but i geuss that is the only way to do it, your own way. :)

[dicidec]

i see ppl pour solution on the pan what is that and hows it work

[TJLphotos]

Basically it's soapy water, which breaks the surface tension of the water to prevent the light gold flakes to float away.

[sd2p4apops]

good demonstration to show finish but would have been more effective to start with 1/2+ pan of sluice cons instead of bagged cons

[prospectorpetecom]

pretty good technique.  Great video guys! Please check out mine too!

[astalavisitor]

i though black sand contains iron. So why not to use a magnet?

[kevinandkalina]

The iron sand could easily clump up with the small gold flakes, thus lifting away all the gold you just spent 20 minutes finding.

[suunt12]

Very cool, thanks for the vids.

[Squidcam]

god vid dousent work with micro fine stuff when u have extreamly heavey concentraits but most black sands will separate useing ur technece

[C0017A]

Rickb731,

Absolutely use some JetDry in your panning tub when panning for fine to very fine gold. I have found that about 40 mesh and smaller can float, especially if very small flakes. Some folks us dish soap, but I hate the bubble mess. Happy panning! C-17A

[C0017A]

Askanoldman,

Wow........very happy it helped you out! Not all my doing....I learned from many other prospectors over the years. I am just passing it along, for all to benefit from. Wash slowly, at 1 sand grain depth, and use a bright light (150W bulb in a reflector housing) and you'll see so much that you may have missed in the past! Watch out for those very small round balls/pieces of "light" gold that will try and roll away early on and get lost too! :) C-17A

[rickb731]

i was told to use jet dry to ease the surface tension of the water i havent tried it yet im going to wait till the spring

[TheRockinCactus]

great video : )

[C0017A]

Scorpiotoyou,

You just gave me the biggest Christmas present under my tree....being a customer happy with my cons! I started this part-time business hoping to do just that--offer a panning "adventure", where you knew what you were getting and felt like you had fun & got a square deal time after time. I want to get a bigger dredge soon, so I can move even more material, and sell even richer cons for everyone to share/enjoy! MERRY CHRISTMAS! C-17A :)

[scorpiotoyou]

hey coo17a, i just want to thank you for all the cons that i have bought of you over the last of the year, every time i get my order at the super fast delivery pace you send it, and i open it up and start panning it, i wind up spending all day at it having fun, and the amount of gold i get is always what you say it will be. never had any problems. thanks again! a happy customer.

[scorpiotoyou]

i use these tips, and have had great results.here in calif, black sand is very common and or super rich in it, and this tip helps. when you are sampling. i do recomend using a good pro pan like yours or a Garrett tho....

[C0017A]

Metallogeny,

Thanks for the comments! Nice to see tried and true techniques work for everyone....experts and beginners. Merry Christmas too! C0017A

[metallogeny]

Excellent technique. I run a small, commercial placer lab and can attest that this is exactly how the pros pan concentrates. Panning is still the best way to recover all visible gold from small samples. You wind up with a nearly clean product in a short amount of time. Nice and efficient.

[C0017A]

Thanks! The Georgia gold concentrates I sell have a LOT of heavy black sand in them. Panners often ask me how best to "get the fine gold out", so I try to share my panning method in this video. I learned from some great prospectors, not all my own technique...but it sure works.  Happy panning,

C0017A

[TreasureFiend]

Great video, very informative!!!

[riverbender]

EXCELLENT technique illustration R.!

Heavy Pans,

f.

[C0017A]

To clarify, you "tap" and on the top edge of the gold pan farthest away from you, with the pan tipped about 10 degrees, while you carefully backwash the black sand off to the "bottom" of the pan closest to your body. Tapping makes the heavier gold "walk" up the bottom, out of the black sand, so you can suck it up with your snuffer bottle. Easy!