Panning for Gold

Students simulate a gold rush by panning for “gold” (metal pieces or BBs) in a container filled with sand, pebbles, and minerals. They learn how the density of gold causes it to separate from lighter materials when shaken in water.

1. Fill a large container (plastic tub, pool, or sand table) with a mixture of sand, small and large pebbles, optional minerals, and magnetite until 2–4 inches deep.
2. Rinse with water, then add 3–4 inches of clean water above the mixture.
3. Sprinkle in gold pieces (or copper BBs) along with pyrite (“fool’s gold”).
4. Distribute gold pans or pie tins to students and have them scoop up a sample of the mixture while keeping the pan underwater.
5. Shake the pan vigorously back and forth for about 30 seconds to let gold settle at the bottom.
6. Remove larger pebbles that rise to the top and return them to the container.
7. Tilt the pan at about a 40° angle and dip it in and out of the water to wash away lighter sand and gravel.
8. Continue until mostly fine sand remains.
9. Swirl the pan gently in a circular motion to shift fine sand aside and reveal heavy gold at the bottom.
10. Pick up gold pieces with a dry fingertip and collect them in a vial or bag.
11. Repeat until finished; when done, add bleach to disinfect and drain the container for future use.

Gold Panning with kids - Coins for Amateurs:

📄 Gold Panning - Earth Science Week: https://www.earthsciweek.org/resources/classroom-activities/gold-panning/

📄 Panning for Gold Kid’s Activity - Learning Through Literature: https://www.learningthroughliterature.com/panning-for-gold-kids-activity/

• Add a variety of minerals such as quartz or garnet and have students identify them after panning.
• Use magnets to recover magnetite from the sand.
• Create a competition to see who can collect the most gold in a set time.
• Name the simulated river after a real gold rush location for a historical connection.

• Use only non-toxic materials for gold substitutes (such as BBs or beads).
• If using bleach to clean, ensure adult supervision and proper ventilation.
• Keep work areas dry and clear of spills to prevent slipping.
• Wash hands after handling soil, sand, or minerals.

• Why does gold settle to the bottom of the pan while lighter materials are washed away? (Gold is much denser than sand and pebbles.)
• How do natural processes create placer deposits? (Weathering releases gold from rock veins, and water transports and concentrates it in riverbeds.)
• Why might prospectors mistake pyrite for gold? (Pyrite has a shiny, metallic appearance but is less dense and more brittle.)
• What environmental impacts did historic gold panning and mining have on rivers and ecosystems? (Sediment disruption, pollution, and habitat destruction.)