TO "PAN OUT" GOLD. 51 



film, which prevents them from being recognised, and also 

 from being capable of amalgamation with mercury until 

 they have been roasted or undergone some operation.* 



To " pan out " gold-bearing matter, the gravel, sand (or 

 rock powdered but not too finely), is placed in a flat bot- 

 tomed basin or pan, the diameter of which is about a foot, 

 and two or three inches wider at the top than at the bottom. 

 The pan, three-quarters full of ore, should be placed at an 

 inclined position under water, or else water poured into it, 

 and by shaking and agitating the contents of the pan by a 

 kind of oscillatory motion, the lighter portions of the ore 

 are allowed to run over the side of the vessel, until, after 

 much washing, the heavier particles, such as gold, iron sand, 

 &c., settle at the bottom. The iron sand, if magnetic, can 

 be separated from the yellow metal by a magnet, or else 

 can, when dry, be blown away by a gentle blast of air. In 

 Brazil a wooden vessel (a " batea ") serves for the " pan." 



A little preliminary practice in " panning out " will be of 

 use to any one who anticipates actual work. 



Place some powdered lead (or copper or iron pyrites) with 

 a good quantity of gravel or sand. Wash the whole with 

 water so that all soluble or easily suspended matter may be 

 got rid of, and thereby the separations may be more clearly 

 observed. Now fill the pan with a fresh supply of water, 

 and shake the whole round about, and chiefly from side to 

 side several times, to allow the heavier matter to settle down 

 (and out of view) underneath the gravel. By tilting the pan 

 a little away from the body, and still shaking it, the lead 

 will still seek the lowest level, and the water may be made 

 to wash some of the gravel over the rim (Fig. 35). By 

 several repetitions of these processes a skilful operator will 

 be able to get rid of all the matter except the lead. 



Supposing, however, that the beginner lacks the proper 

 adroitness, or is afraid of washing away the lead, he need 

 not carry the operation so far. But if, towards the laoo 

 stage, he finds a small quantity of, though sufficient, gravel 

 to entirely conceal the presence of the metal, then, by tilt- 



* All large stones or large grains should be removed from gravel 

 and sand, and clay should be well broken up and finely divided in the 

 water, before " panning out " is commenced. 



