Gold Panning — Backwash & Tap Method

April 29th, 2008 | by admin |
C0017A asked:


How to pan gold and use the “Backwash & Tap” method to separate fine gold from black sand. Use several drops of JetDry per gallon of panning tub water too.

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  1. 14 Responses to “Gold Panning — Backwash & Tap Method”

  2. By C0017A on May 1, 2008 | Reply

    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

  3. By rickb731 on May 3, 2008 | Reply

    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

  4. By C0017A on May 5, 2008 | Reply

    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

  5. By askanoldman on May 8, 2008 | Reply

    Thanks, CO. I use your method here in california and find it is about the most efficient way to sort the gold out of the black sand.

    I’m dealing with a lot of very fine gold here and am always amazed how even half a teaspoon of black sand can hide your gold. I had previously been giving up on my pans too early, but am now working the sand down to maybe one grain in depth.

    My little vial of gold is proof that your method works.

  6. By TheRockinCactus on May 11, 2008 | Reply

    great video : )

  7. By C0017A on May 13, 2008 | Reply

    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 :)

  8. By scorpiotoyou on May 17, 2008 | Reply

    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.

  9. By scorpiotoyou on May 18, 2008 | Reply

    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….

  10. By C0017A on May 18, 2008 | Reply

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

  11. By metallogeny on May 20, 2008 | Reply

    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.

  12. By C0017A on May 21, 2008 | Reply

    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

  13. By TreasureFiend on May 22, 2008 | Reply

    Great video, very informative!!!

  14. By riverbender on May 23, 2008 | Reply

    EXCELLENT technique illustration R.!

    Heavy Pans,
    f.

  15. By C0017A on May 23, 2008 | Reply

    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!

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