How to Pan for Gold in Pennsylvania

As strange as it may sound, many gold prospectors head to the creeks of Pennsylvania looking for the next big gold rush. Since the late 1800s, people have been finding gold throughout the state and have been continuously hunting for the valuable metal ever since. If you are planning a trip to the Keystone State in the near future and want to try your hand at striking it rich, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

Things You'll Need

• Gold Pan
• Small Pick
• Mini Shovel

Instructions

1. Learn the guidelines. Any visitor to the region would be best served to understand the rules and regulations of the region you are visiting to avoid fines and penalties that may be incurred. The practice of panning for gold has not changed a whole lot since the 1840s. However, panning in many of the state parks of Pennsylvania is strictly prohibited, including Gettysburg National Battlefield.

2. Make sure you have all the equipment to make your adventure a prosperous one. A few items any panner could not live without are the pan itself, a small pick and a mini shovel.

3. Find your "lucky" spot. Once you have reached the bank of the stream or creek (your "lucky" spot), dip your pan into the water and fill it with water, stones and dirt.

4. Sift away the water by moving the pan from side to side until only the loose sediment remains. If larger rocks remain in the pan, use the small pick to break it apart and search for any of the precious metal that might be buried on the inside.

5. Repeat the method of filtering the water from the pan, and be certain to examine even the tiniest of stones in search of the slightest sign of gold.

Tips & Warnings

• You should be very thorough in examining the materials left in the pan, looking for even the smallest flake of gold.

• The key to a successful gold hunt is to be diligent in your search and leave no stone unturned.If the creek bed is made up mostly of larger rocks, you may need to use the shovel to move the rocks and scoop large loads of the underlying soil directly into your pan.

• Many people are unaware of the riches that can be found in the creeks and streams of Pennsylvania, but if you are knowledgeable about the most gold rich areas, your gold hunts could be easier than you might imagine.

• Although it may be tedious, the process built the fortunes of many prospectors in the past