How to Pan for Gold on New Jersey Beaches

Gold coins are a possible find along New Jersey beaches.

Common wisdom says to pan for gold where gold has already been found. New Jersey beaches present an obstacle in this way, as there has been no record of gold discovery, other than sporadic instances of gold coins washing ashore after various storms or high tides. However, there are a couple of geological points of interest in the New Jersey Shore area that may mean a gold panning pursuit isn't entirely hopeless.

Things You'll Need

• Gold pan Tub of water Paydirt (soil, gravel, ore) A classifier/filter

Instructions

1. 

   Boardwalk on a Beach in northwestern New Jersey, an ideal location for panning.

   Choose a location. Because northwestern New Jersey is an extension of the Appalachian Mountains, in which crystalline rocks are found, it is possible that gold can also be found in this general area. Generally, sticking to northern beaches are best because of this geological fact.

2. 

   Paydirt may contain gravel, similar to that pictured here.

   Place paydirt (about four handfuls) in the gold pan.

3. 

   Have pan submerged in water at first, as pictured here.

   Lower the gold pan with paydirt into your tub of water. Shake the pan in a circular motion a little at first, without spilling any dirt.

4. 

   Tilting the pan away from the body allows for a better view of the material slipping out the pan.

   Tilt the pan, swishing water and dirt in and out, leveling pan again to shake a few more times so that all the lighter materials are eliminated. Repeat this process until only heavy black sands and gold remain.

5. 

   Silt and sand may be the last to be eliminated from the pan.

   Lift the pan out of the water and begin swirling it around on a tilt. Once all the water is eliminated, place the pan back in water, take it back out and swirl again until nearly all material is gone.

6. 

   Any gold pieces retrieved will typically be similar in shape to the one pictured here, though most likely much smaller.

   Repeat Step 5 to your satisfaction. Then, retrieve the pan from water, using the remaining water in the pan to separate the gold from the sand.

Tips & Warnings

• Since gold is heavier than water, it tends to get caught in slower-moving areas of water, usually around places with rocks and wood. This should help in choosing an exact location on the beach.

• Gold panning takes practice and may not always bring the results you envision.

References

• Dictionary.com: Paydirt
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection: NJDEP Geological Survey
• Life Studies: How To Pan For Gold- Simple Gold Panning Instructions
• NewJerseyShore.com: A Guide Serving Jersey Shore Towns
• GoldPanningSite.com: Gold Panning, Prospecting and Dredging Resource