Gold Panning

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Monday, August 4, 2008 --- 11:05 a.m.

MYRTLE POINT, Ore. (AP) -- Want to improve your prospects as a prospector? Take notes. You tip and tilt the pan gently. The water swirls around and around over the sand and small gravel at the bottom of the gold pan. If you have patience, perseverance and a sharp eye, the reward may be a tiny fleck or two of flashing yellow that the panner isn't likely to mistake for anything else.

At the North Bend Prospectors' booth at this year's Coos County Fair in Oregon, club members were teaching the uninitiated the art. It's not as easy as it seems. The gold settles to the bottom. The trick lies in getting everything else out so the gold is visible. It can take time. Club members are clear, gold panning is for fun, not for quickly getting rich.

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Posted by: Christopher Location: Nanuet, New York on Oct 4, 2008 at 04:47 AM
No, panning is not as easily accomplished as it is romantically described, but it sure pays! I followed up on information from wikipedia's Nanuet, New York site and panned 1.8 ounces from the Naurashaun Brook in the course of two days of backbreaking work (a total of 10.5 hours of active panning). Some of the golfers thought I was crazy, but there were no other people panning on the stretch of creek where I was.

Posted by: James Location: Santa Fe, NM on Aug 12, 2008 at 01:42 PM
When the gold bug is biting, no one is immune! The folks from the prospector's club were correct, panning is for fun and not a "get-rich-quick" gig. Please take the time to stop by my blog on recreational gold mining, "Bedrock Dreams," at http://auseekersfe.blogspot.com/.

Posted by: Web Producer Location: NBC 15 on Aug 4, 2008 at 04:15 PM
Edie: This is the best I could find: http://www.goldminershq.com/CLUBS/GOLD2.HTM Perhaps you'll have more luck. Good luck!

Posted by: Edie Mischke Location: Keizer Oregon on Aug 4, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Could you please give me a contact number or e-mail for the North Bend Prospector's Club as I am interested in joining. Thank you!

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