Gold Washing

---
name: gold-washing
locale: caveman-ultra
source_locale: en
source_commit: 82c77053
fence_basis_commit: 82c77053
translator: "Julius Brussee homage — caveman"
translation_date: "2026-04-24"
description: >
  Alluvial gold recovery using panning, sluicing, and classification.
  Covers site reading (geological indicators, stream dynamics, pay streak
  location), panning technique, sluice box operation, and responsible
  extraction practices. Use when prospecting in an area with known or
  suspected alluvial gold deposits, sampling a stream to test for gold
  presence, maximizing recovery during recreational panning, or assessing a
  site's gold potential before investing more effort.
license: MIT
allowed-tools: Read
metadata:
  author: Philipp Thoss
  version: "1.0"
  domain: prospecting
  complexity: intermediate
  language: natural
  tags: prospecting, gold, panning, sluicing, alluvial, placer, geology
---

# Gold Washing

Alluvial gold recovery via panning + sluicing + classification.

## Use When

- Prospecting known/suspected alluvial deposits
- Sampling stream → test for gold presence
- Recreational panning → maximize recovery
- Assess site potential pre-invest

## In

- **Required**: gold pan (14-16 in, riffles)
- **Required**: stream/river/alluvial access
- **Optional**: classifier/screen (1/4 in mesh)
- **Optional**: sluice box (higher volume)
- **Optional**: snuffer bottle or tweezers (fine gold)
- **Optional**: vial w/ water (storage)
- **Optional**: shovel + bucket

## Do

### Step 1: Read site

Gold heavy (SG 19.3) → concentrates predictably. Read water + geology before dig.

```text
Where Gold Concentrates:

INSIDE BENDS:
Water slows on inside curves of a stream. Heavy materials
(including gold) drop out of suspension here. Sample the
gravel bar on the inside of bends.

BEHIND OBSTRUCTIONS:
Large rocks, fallen trees, and bedrock ledges create
low-pressure zones behind them. Gold settles in these
"shadow" areas.

BEDROCK CRACKS:
Gold works its way into cracks and crevices in bedrock.
Cleaning out bedrock cracks (crevicing) can be very productive.

PAYSTREAKS:
The heaviest concentration follows a line (paystreak) along
the inside of the bend, continuing from one inside bend to the
next. Experienced prospectors trace this line.

WHERE TO SAMPLE:
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Feature            | Sample Location                          |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Inside bend        | 1-2 feet above waterline in gravel bar   |
| Behind boulder     | Downstream side, in the calm pocket      |
| Bedrock exposure   | In cracks and depressions                |
| Stream confluence  | Where tributary meets main stream        |
| Old flood channels | Elevated terraces above current stream   |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+

Geological Indicators:
- Black sand (magnetite/hematite): gold's travel companion.
  Where black sand concentrates, check for gold.
- Quartz veins in surrounding rock: gold often forms in
  quartz veins; erosion releases it into streams
- Iron staining (rust-colored rock): indicates oxidation zone,
  which can host gold deposits
```

→ 2-3 promising sample locations ID'd by dynamics + geology.

**If err:** no indicators → sample systematically, 1 pan per feature (inside bend, behind obstacle, random gravel bar). Even 1 color confirms stream carries gold.

### Step 2: Classify + collect

```text
Collection Protocol:
1. Fill a bucket from your chosen sample location
2. Dig to bedrock if possible — gold concentrates on or near bedrock
3. If bedrock is deep, sample the bottom 6-12 inches of gravel
   (gold migrates downward through gravel over time)

Classification:
1. Place a 1/4 inch classifier over your gold pan or bucket
2. Shovel material onto the classifier
3. Shake and wash through — fine material drops into the pan,
   large rocks and gravel remain on top
4. Inspect oversized material briefly (nuggets can be caught
   by the classifier) then discard
5. Classified material is now ready for panning
```

→ Pan/bucket of classified (<1/4 in) material from geo promising location.

**If err:** can't reach bedrock → sample what accessible. Shallow less likely → still worth testing (floods deposit at depths).

### Step 3: Pan

```text
Panning Technique:

INITIAL WASH:
1. Submerge the pan in water (stream, bucket, or tub)
2. Break up any clay or cemented material with your fingers
3. Remove large stones by hand (inspect each for attached gold)

STRATIFICATION:
4. Shake the pan vigorously side to side (NOT circular) while
   submerged — this settles heavy material to the bottom
5. Tilt the pan slightly and allow lighter material to wash off
   the front lip
6. Shake, tilt, wash. Shake, tilt, wash. Repeat.

FINE PANNING:
7. As material reduces, you should see black sand concentrating
8. Reduce water flow — gentle swirling now, not vigorous shaking
9. Tilt the pan at a shallow angle and let a thin sheet of water
   wash across the concentrate
10. Gold (bright yellow, stays at the bottom) separates from
    black sand (dark, slightly lighter)

RECOVERY:
11. Use a snuffer bottle to suck up individual flakes/pieces
12. Or carefully pour off water and collect the concentrate
13. Transfer gold to a vial with water for storage

Common Errors:
- Circular motion washes gold OVER the riffles and out of the pan.
  Use side-to-side shaking for stratification.
- Too aggressive: panning too fast loses fine gold. Be patient.
- Not enough initial shaking: gold must sink to the bottom before
  you start washing off material.
```

→ All heavy (gold, black sand, garnets) in pan bottom. Gold visible bright yellow flakes/flattened grains/rarely nuggets.

**If err:** no gold after careful pan → location may not have it, or too fine (flour gold). Hand lens. Nothing → try new location.

### Step 4: Scale up w/ sluice (opt)

```text
Sluice Box Operation:
1. Set the sluice in running water at a slight angle (about
   1 inch of drop per foot of length)
2. Water should flow smoothly over the riffles — enough to move
   sand but not enough to flush the riffles clean
3. Feed classified material into the top of the sluice gradually
4. Let the sluice work — gold is trapped behind the riffles,
   lighter material washes through
5. Clean the sluice every 20-30 minutes:
   - Remove the sluice from the water carefully
   - Wash the riffle mat into a bucket or gold pan
   - Pan the concentrate to recover gold

Sluice Calibration:
- Too much water: gold bounces over riffles and is lost
- Too little water: material builds up and buries the gold
- Test with a lead split shot: drop it in the top of the sluice.
  If it is caught by the riffles, gold will be too.
```

→ Higher volume, gold in riffle mat → final pan recovery.

**If err:** no catch (lead shot) → adjust angle/flow. Should catch > quartz sand.

## Check

- [ ] Site read for geo indicators
- [ ] Material from promising location
- [ ] Classified before pan
- [ ] Side-to-side shake for stratification
- [ ] Black sand concentrate checked for fine gold
- [ ] Recovered gold → sealed vial w/ water
- [ ] Site left w/o significant disturbance

## Traps

- **Pan too fast**: impatience → fine gold lost. 5-10 min/pan. Speed = enemy.
- **Ignore black sand**: heavy black sand concentrating → gold likely (even if too fine to see).
- **Pyrite confusion**: pyrite lighter, brittle (breaks w/ pin), brassy. Real gold malleable + no tarnish.
- **Random sampling**: gold concentrates predictably. Middle of straight < inside bend.
- **Environmental damage**: respect waterways. No big holes, no mercury (illegal + toxic), fill test holes.
- **Ignore regs**: most need permits even recreational. Check local.

## →

- `mineral-identification` — rock + mineral types → geo indicators for gold-bearing