What Is The Best Prospecting Equipment You Have Ever Used?

[rainwolf75]

I am curious as to what you all would find to be some of the best equipment you have used and why it has worked out for you. Now for myself I would have to say the classic gold pans and the new hog pan simply bc of their versatility not to mention you can without any problem carry them anywhere due to their light weight.

 

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[N-Lionberger]

When I'm out at the mine its almost always on my hip or near by, can't say that about my pick or hoe.

 

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[Bonaro]

No matter what kind of method you use....sluice, drywasher, dredge or trommel, the final process is always a pan in your hand.
I swear by the LeTrap square pan. Its fast and efficient and I have worn out about a dozen of them over the years.

 

[Eu_citzen]

My batea, my geologists hammer, loupe and my knowledge.

The batea allows prospecting for both sulphides, gold and gemstones can also be found using it.
The hammer should be obvious, for sampling. The loupe for examining samples.

My knowledge for interpreting all the collected info.

 

[HappySwede]

https://www.facebook.com/abigail.myrickboudreau/videos/1729161013792996/

 

[gold tramp]

I have to say my little hand crank keene drywasher, that little sucker can set out in the weather all year never get used, take it out, it starts first crank everytime.

Only drawback my shoulder is finally wearin out.
GT,,,,,

 

[1637]

blue bowl,12volt keene dry washer,my dog.
brad

 

[ncclaymaker]

My kayak or jetski powered jon boat to get to river banks where outboards cannot go; a Gold Well sluice by Bernie to capture the fines without any addons; a large modified two handle wok instead of a plastic pan; and my biological door bell and early warning system, our Toler Retriever, Ruby the rescue dog.

 

[N-Lionberger]

My kayak or jetski powered jon boat to get to river banks where outboards cannot go; a Gold Well sluice by Bernie to capture the fines without any addons; a large modified two handle wok instead of a plastic pan; and my biological door bell and early warning system, our Toler Retriever, Ruby the rescue dog.

View attachment 1526379

have a picture of the modified wok?

 

[mendoAu]

O'K'.....this turned into a who's dog is cuter...
Here's bailey dog:

 

[RTR]

Did someone say Dog ?

 

[ncclaymaker]

No, but I'll unpack it over the weekend, shot a picture and post it. This pan doesn't wear out easily. The Teflon coating makes it work as good or perhaps better than some pans, worse maybe than others.

 

[ncclaymaker]

O'K'.....this turned into a who's dog is cuter...
Here's bailey dog:
View attachment 1526417

Not really, all dogs are a true mirror of their humans. They make us better than we would be without them in our families.

 

[ncclaymaker]

have a picture of the modified wok?

Since I have two pans, I unpacked the easiest to access. The ribs aren't like the mold injection products, as they cannot have any undercuts. I use an off the roll 1/8th inch steel cable as the riffles in the pan. The round shape of the cable is somewhat deceptive as the round shape does have an undercut to catch the fines in the pan. Works for me... not pretty as commercial pans but perhaps more effective due to the cable and its profile. The handle provides an easy means of clipping it to a belt or backpack.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Since I have two pans, I unpacked the easiest to access. The ribs aren't like the mold injection products, as they cannot have any undercuts. I use an off the roll 1/8th inch steel cable as the riffles in the pan. The round shape of the cable is somewhat deceptive as the round shape does have an undercut to catch the fines in the pan. Works for me... not pretty as commercial pans but perhaps more effective due to the cable and its profile. The handle provides an easy means of clipping it to a belt or backpack.

View attachment 1527057

Interesting. Some years back I did play a bit with "DIY" pans. What I found was hydrophobic surface coatings (i.e. oil-based lacquer) made panning for gold more interesting. Believe it made it easier. But also required more water, since it tended to roll off the surface easily! The gold, however, stuck to surface better.

When I needed riffles, a ribbed rubber matting worked well. Preferably big, deep ribbs. Glue onto the pan and you're good.

 

[johnedoe]

The best prospecting equipment I have ever used was somebody else's strong back and weak mind.........

 

[yotaboy86]

my fluid bed sluices are definitely my favorite and most productive equipment