Panning—Where to Start

[StoryWriter85]

I’m new to prospecting and am doing research for a novel. I've been told that when panning a creek, you’re supposed to start near the mouth and go up until you find flakes or dust…then keep panning upstream until you stop finding it.

Is this ALWAYS how it should be done? Or can people start in the middle and pan downstream until they stop finding deposits? Wondering if it can work both directions.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector, Waterproof Gold Detector, Pinpoint & Terrain Modes, Professional Metal Detector - Grab it through Amazon!

[Assembler]

I’m new to prospecting and am doing research for a novel. I've been told that when panning a creek, you’re supposed to start near the mouth and go up until you find flakes or dust…then keep panning upstream until you stop finding it.

Is this ALWAYS how it should be done? Or can people start in the middle and pan downstream until they stop finding deposits? Wondering if it can work both directions.

Best to follow the flakes and dust trail regardless of the creek / stream path today. This is true no matter the direction that you decide to go with first as far as the stream direction of flow today.

The key factor is when the trail of flakes and dust tail off or stops in general. If you can figure out the indicator rock that it is coming from you could start looking for that rock type and find a more consistent trail to follow with that rock source.

 

[arizau]

I’m new to prospecting and am doing research for a novel. I've been told that when panning a creek, you’re supposed to start near the mouth and go up until you find flakes or dust…then keep panning upstream until you stop finding it.

Is this ALWAYS how it should be done? Or can people start in the middle and pan downstream until they stop finding deposits? Wondering if it can work both directions.

The logic of panning upstream is that where the gold runs out is, that at that point or uphill nearby is where the original source deposit/is or was. That said, there could be more than one souce and it/they could be located somewhere downstream along the same drainage. Test panning along the hillsides, especially minor feeder drainages could lead to secondary source deposits.

 

[StoryWriter85]

The logic of panning upstream is that where the gold runs out is, that at that point or uphill nearby is where the original source deposit/is or was. That said, there could be more than one souce and it/they could be located somewhere downstream along the same drainage. Test panning along the hillsides, especially minor feeder drainages could lead to secondary source deposits.

My problem is, I wrote several chapters of characters panning downstream until they find gold. Now I think I made a mistake…so I’m trying to see if there’s any logical reason for them to go downstream so I don’t have to rewrite it.

 

[Assembler]

My problem is, I wrote several chapters of characters panning downstream until they find gold. Now I think I made a mistake…so I’m trying to see if there’s any logical reason for them to go downstream so I don’t have to rewrite it.

Panning down stream should show that there is more then one source to investigate from other separate feeder drainages.
With your novel you can point out that John Doe decided to go pan down stream to follow a richer source coming from say a smaller feeder creek drainage instead of the larger stream like what many will do. After all John Doe is having more fun following the larger flakes instead of the finer dust that is all through out the larger stream with a few flakes.

Anyone can find the colors in the larger stream however the flakes are coming for the most part from a feeder creek that John Doe decided to track to see if he can find the source is the point.

 

[DizzyDigger]

My problem is, I wrote several chapters of characters panning downstream until they find gold. Now I think I made a mistake…so I’m trying to see if there’s any logical reason for them to go downstream so I don’t have to rewrite it.

You didn't make a mistake at all. It's not unusual to start at a lower point in a stream where flakes are found, and then work your way back up the stream as you find larger, coarser gold.

Done it that way a bunch of time...you've got no worries.

 

[Chilli]

You didn't make a mistake at all. It's not unusual to start at a lower point in a stream where flakes are found, and then work your way back up the stream as you find larger, coarser gold.

Done it that way a bunch of time...you've got no worries.

I think by what im gathering is he found out after writing its best to start low, down stream and pan up.
But he wrote in his story they started upstream closer to the streams source and panned down towards its lower sections. Back to front from the general way, direction that is advised.

 

[Assembler]

I think by what im gathering is he found out after writing its best to start low, down stream and pan up.
But he wrote in his story they started upstream closer to the streams source and panned down towards its lower sections. Back to front from the general way, direction that is advised.

Not knowing how people will pan up the stream the green horn John Doe tried to jump the gun and just pan at the headwaters first and still found the finer dust gold there. Not giving up John Doe decided to travel on foot heading down the stream to a point where the bigger flakes started to show up right at the small creek that spills into the stream then making the decision to head up that small creek drainage to see if he can locate the source...............

I have no idea about all of the characters in the novel because I did not "Assemble" the chapters of the novel book.............LOL. With that being said perhaps John Doe decided to jump the gun and pan first at the head waters first? Perhaps there was a time limit for John Doe to find some good flakes?
Perhaps John Doe was part of some rush out there?

History shows that there tends to be some green horn prospectors that head out not knowing any better and still finding something worth claiming and working.

 

[Johnnybravo300]

Maybe he's prospecting for the best placer deposit.

 

[Assembler]

Maybe he's prospecting for the best placer deposit.

Yes as the stream is going to concentrate near each bend in the stream both the fines as well the larger flakes.

 

[Chilli]

Not knowing how people will pan up the stream the green horn John Doe tried to jump the gun and just pan at the headwaters first and still found the finer dust gold there. Not giving up John Doe decided to travel on foot heading down the stream to a point where the bigger flakes started to show up right at the small creek that spills into the stream then making the decision to head up that small creek drainage to see if he can locate the source...............

I have no idea about all of the characters in the novel because I did not "Assemble" the chapters of the novel book.............LOL. With that being said perhaps John Doe decided to jump the gun and pan first at the head waters first? Perhaps there was a time limit for John Doe to find some good flakes?
Perhaps John Doe was part of some rush out there?

History shows that there tends to be some green horn prospectors that head out not knowing any better and still finding something worth claiming and working.

Yep, heard of newbies first day out, common area, 20 meters from the car tries to ground balance, just noise, checks it out and a 10oz nugget. An odds game at times for sure.

 

[StoryWriter85]

Panning down stream should show that there is more then one source to investigate from other separate feeder drainages.
With your novel you can point out that John Doe decided to go pan down stream to follow a richer source coming from say a smaller feeder creek drainage instead of the larger stream like what many will do. After all John Doe is having more fun following the larger flakes instead of the finer dust that is all through out the larger stream with a few flakes.

Anyone can find the colors in the larger stream however the flakes are coming for the most part from a feeder creek that John Doe decided to track to see if he can find the source is the point.

Thank you, that helps a lot.

 

[StoryWriter85]

worries

Not knowing how people will pan up the stream the green horn John Doe tried to jump the gun and just pan at the headwaters first and still found the finer dust gold there. Not giving up John Doe decided to travel on foot heading down the stream to a point where the bigger flakes started to show up right at the small creek that spills into the stream then making the decision to head up that small creek drainage to see if he can locate the source...............

I have no idea about all of the characters in the novel because I did not "Assemble" the chapters of the novel book.............LOL. With that being said perhaps John Doe decided to jump the gun and pan first at the head waters first? Perhaps there was a time limit for John Doe to find some good flakes?
Perhaps John Doe was part of some rush out there?

History shows that there tends to be some green horn prospectors that head out not knowing any better and still finding something worth claiming and working.

The novel has a character who knows about prospecting. So he would know to start lower and pan upstream. So I think I just made a mistake.

He did find gold farther up this same creek in the past…so would it work to say he simply went downstream hoping to get lucky and find more flakes from another source?

 

[StoryWriter85]

gold.

Actually the characters in my book start mid-creek and pan downstream until they find something. That’s the mistake I’m worried about. They don’t go upstream.

The characters found gold farther up the creek in the past. So I’m wondering if it works to say they’re moving downstream to find a new source.

 

[russau]

Sample panning going down stream to me is the wrong way to go because you'll be stirring up (turbidity)as your working and you'll be looking into muddy water most of the time ! I like to do just the opposite and work facing towards the current and document the results as I go ! If done this way you'll see the fine gold in your pan if it is there !

 

[Assembler]

Sample panning going down stream to me is the wrong way to go because you'll be stirring up (turbidity)as your working and you'll be looking into muddy water most of the time ! I like to do just the opposite and work facing towards the current and document the results as I go ! If done this way you'll see the fine gold in your pan if it is there !

My point of view is that once John Doe hit the point in the stream where the large flakes of gold where showing up he may have even tossed the fine colors away.
At that point he just followed the large flakes up the small creek drainage. A little turbidity is normal if the time is during late winter / spring flooding in the stream that the panning is taking place?

 

[Assembler]

Yep, heard of newbies first day out, common area, 20 meters from the car tries to ground balance, just noise, checks it out and a 10oz nugget. An odds game at times for sure.

Sounds like this could be almost any green horn's luck and not someone who has been detecting for many years for sure luck.............LOL

 

[Assembler]

Actually the characters in my book start mid-creek and pan downstream until they find something. That’s the mistake I’m worried about. They don’t go upstream.

The characters found gold farther up the creek in the past. So I’m wondering if it works to say they’re moving downstream to find a new source.

There is a simple reason to head down stream and that is he / they where finding only just one or two large flakes of gold. The source for the large flakes is just one small creek feeding into the stream. Thus anyone would head down stream for the novel plot to thicken as the storyline moves forward.

 

[StoryWriter85]

Panning down stream should show that there is more then one source to investigate from other separate feeder drainages.
With your novel you can point out that John Doe decided to go pan down stream to follow a richer source coming from say a smaller feeder creek drainage instead of the larger stream like what many will do. After all John Doe is having more fun following the larger flakes instead of the finer dust that is all through out the larger stream with a few flakes.

Anyone can find the colors in the larger stream however the flakes are coming for the most part from a feeder creek that John Doe decided to track to see if he can find the source is the point.

I’m trying to understand. If a smaller creek is feeding gold into the large creek, wouldn’t they go upstream in the small creek? Why go downstream?

I’m very new to this, so I appreciate you helping me

 

[Assembler]

I’m trying to understand. If a smaller creek is feeding gold into the large creek, wouldn’t they go upstream in the small creek? Why go downstream?

I’m very new to this, so I appreciate you helping me

Most people would go upstream for the reasons pointed out. With that being said depending on the storyline perhaps the time is short and winter is coming soon. Perhaps as a green horn John Doe decided to jump to the head waters of the stream and not finding much in the pan other then fine dust makes the decision to move downstream. Most would at that point would head down stream to see if they could start hitting on the flakes of gold where it is entering the stream. Especially if John Doe knows the stream contains large flakes of gold from say a trip before.

There also could be a logistic reason to start at the headwater of the stream and that is trail or road access is best at the headwaters and perhaps the mouth of the stream both would be the best access points to test pan the stream. Boots on the ground is needed in between.

I did point out that John Doe headed down stream only on the stream and not the little feeder creek where the large flakes are coming from. The same is true if the source of the flakes is coming from a hill side into the stream. The panning starts for most in a stream heading to the source of better values even if the source is heading away from the flowing water.

I hope this helps as this is just ideas. There is no real single answer.