Gold Rush: Yard Panning Gains Popularity

　
　
With gold spot prices charting new highs every month, investors may define the economic environment as a gold rush. But not literally. In what is being deemed "yard panning", common folk are taking to their backyards with the tools of yesteryear in search of a precious, glittering fortune of nuggets. A brief pause seems necessary for you to stop laughing before reading further.
Yard panning had a short lived presence in the 1980's when spot prices for the metal reached the mid-$800 range, but with gold nearing $1400 and ounce, it should surprise no one that a certain demographic of special people are flashing the pans so to speak. Yard panning is performed on low laying streams, creeks, and yes, ponds.

　
Techniques are quite similar to the tried and true methods of panning, but here are the essential equipment and instructions for modern day yard panning.

14" or so gold pan
Snuffer bottle
Several glass vials with caps
Nugget cupsInstructions for gold panning are quite simple. First, shovel a generous portion of river or creek sand into your pan making sure to carefully remove the larger rocks and debris. Be careful not to accidently throw out a nugget in the process. Next, place your pan underwater with the sand contents still in the pan. Gently loosen up clumps of clay and hard sand without letting it out of the pan. With the gold pan still under water, slosh the pan to the left and right. The concept is that the heavier metals in your pan will sink to the bottom as you shake it back and forth. Soon you will have shaken everything off of the pan except for the heaviest black sand. In concept, this is where the gold, if any, will be waiting. Repeat these steps accordingly until you have filled your gold vials with flakes and hopefully nuggets.
There you have it. Gold panning 101. Sorry, you'll not strike it rich panning mud puddle in the burbs. But no one can stop you from laughing at people who are doing just that. Here is some literature on gold panning if you want to give it a try. Enjoy!
States to Strike it RichTrue prospecting for gold with claim rights is still possible in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming