Abstract: The present invention is a novel gold pan and associated method for improved yield of gold during the panning process. The gold pan has a continuous curved sidewall and a base, wherein the curved sidewall and the base are used for collecting gold. A portion of the curved sidewall has a plurality of ripples, each ripple having a ridge, an extending lip, and a cavity, the cavity is used for trapping black sand and gold particles, wherein a vortex of mixture of water, gravel, sand and more is produced in the pan and upon circulating and repeating of the pan, the gravels and blonde sand is rinsed out while leaving the black sand including the gold behind. The process does not require a user to keep looking in the pan during the panning process and improves the yield of the gold or other gemstones being panned.

Abstract: A pan for separating granular material may include a bottom wall and a sidewall. The sidewall may have an upper perimeter and a lower perimeter, and the lower perimeter may be coupled to the bottom wall so that the bottom wall and sidewall are watertight or otherwise configured to hold a volume of water. Preferably, the upper perimeter may be larger in dimension than the lower perimeter. A baffle plate may be coupled to the sidewall so that the baffle plate may be positioned between the upper perimeter and the lower perimeter. The baffle plate may have a proximal surface and an opposing distal surface, and portions of the proximal surface may contact the sidewall. A pocket may be formed between the bottom wall, the first baffle plate, and a portion of the sidewall that is between the bottom wall and sidewall.

Abstract: A classifier and concentrator sluice apparatus with recirculating water in a self contained unit for classifying, concentrating, and washing rocks, minerals, gems, and ore. The unit includes a water reservoir and water circulation system in a drum or a barrel or other container. The barrel includes an open top end and a water circulating pump and water supply lines for circulating water from the reservoir into a basin containing a colander having a selected mesh for separating aggregates by size. The tails including suspended solids and waste aggregate accumulate in the bottom of the tub for disposal.

Abstract: A gold pan having an acentric frustoconical configuration to enhance the material separation process.

Abstract: A metal detecting gold pan for speeding the location, identification and recovery of ferrous or non ferrous metals from parent materials. Metal detecting electronics and sensors in proximity to, connected by cord to, and imbedded in the body of the pan sense and identify metals inside or outside the pan. The metal detecting gold pan is used in the traditional manner, using either wet or dry methods for materials separation. Metals consolidating in the interior of the pan are electronically sensed and identified. Metal bearing parent material external to the pan may be located by using a sensor in the bottom of the pan. Time and effort to reduce overburden and identify materials is greatly reduced during the panning process.

Abstract: A gold pan (20) and classifying device for separating granular materials of varying specific gravities of generally rectangular shape including two substantially vertical side walls (21), two sloping side walls (22) with laminated plate (24) and edge (25) construction, a gold concentrating trap (33) at the bottom of the four walls with volume of less than one tenth of one percent of total pan volume, a bottom opening (23) and seal (28) for removal of gold concentrates from the concentrating trap (33) through the pan bottom while waste materials are retained in the pan (20). The unique design enables even a beginner to achieve proficiency in minutes while processing much more material than previously possible with existing pans, either with or without the assistance of a liquid medium and with little or no potential for losing fine gold.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting metal in materials is disclosed. The apparatus has, in combination, a sifter for sifting materials onto a metal detector plate assembly, the metal detector plate assembly having a metal detector plate in electrical communication with a metal detector alarm.

Abstract: An improved gold retrieving pan (10) that is used for either wet or dry gold panning. The pan (10) allows gold dust or gold nuggets to be expeditiously extracted from gold bearing sand. The pan (10) consists of an outer circular section (12) having an inner perimeter rim (18) that is integrally attached to an outer perimeter rim 28 of a shallow center circular section (24). Near the outer perimeter rim (28) of the center circular section (24) is located a gold trap structure (40) having an outward facing opening (42) and an inward perimeter edge (44). The edge (44) is attached to the surface of the center circular section (24). In front of the gold trap structure (40) is located a shallow, gold-setting trough (70) that functions in combination with the gold trap structure (40) to allow any gold dust and/or gold nuggets present in the gold bearing sand to remain within the confines of the gold trap structure (40) and the trough (70).

Abstract: The present invention is a gold pan with classifier which, when used in combination or independently thereof, provides a prospector with an apparatus that enhances metal recovery. The gold pan utilizes an elongated elliptical shape with inclined side walls of various heights with ribs and steps placed along at least a portion of each wall. The elliptical shape allowing a prospector to use the pan as a scoop or a catch basin. The classifier also employs an elongated elliptical or rectilinear shaped base which is operatively associated with the gold pan. In the middle of the classifier is a circular grid being concave and made of a cross hatched type screen wherein all parallel ridges are raised. The classifier sits on top of the gold pan in an interlocking fashion and can be used to shovel slurry into the classifier having a narrow undercut space to prevent slurry from entering the gold pan area directly but allowing water removal by titling the combination in any direction.

Abstract: A method of recovering gold from an ore containing micron gold or gold dust is disclosed. The gold is recovered by providing a silver coated surface, coating the silver coated surface with mercury, washing a mixture of ore and water over the mercury such that an amalgam of gold and mercury is created on the silver coated surface, removing the amalgam from the silver coated surface, and heating the amalgam. The same method may be used to recover platinum from an ore containing micron platinum or platinum dust and also to recover silver from an ore containing micron silver or silver dust.

Abstract: A gold pan comprising an elongate upwardly opening gold receptacle with a flat, finger-engaging central bottom wall, inclined end walls joined with and extending longitudinally outwardly and upwardly from the bottom wall and having upper outer transverse edges, and laterally spaced substantially vertical side walls join with and projecting upwardly from and between related edges of the bottom wall and end walls and having upper edges cooperating with the upper outer transverse edges of the end walls to define an upper rim about the pan; one side wall has an upwardly and transversely opening thumb-receiving recess in the central portion of its upper edge portion and said bottom wall has stop means defining finger-engaging surfaces at the exterior of the pan.

Abstract: A gold mining pan having riffle-like slits or grooves in the bottom and a device for separating the material contained in the slits or grooves from the remainder of a slurry contained within the pan. The pan may also include a device for removing the material contained within the slits from the pan.

Abstract: A gold panning and classifying method and system includes a generally rectangularly shaped gold pan having diverging side panels and a plurality of valleys and ridges in the front panel. A plurality of nesting classifying screens are included to effect a first separation of material into portions composed of equivalent size particles. The unique shape of the pan greatly enhances the gravity separation techniques for separating fine sands from gold and gold dust.

Abstract: A pan for separating gold or other precious heavy metals from wet sand or gravel is provided with a round bottom joined to obliquely rising sides at the circumference. Near the center of the bottom of the pan is an aperture leading to a trough which is formed integrally with the bottom and slopes downwardly therefrom. Within the trough is a ladder-like structure having a plurality of steps which collect the heavy metal particles from the dross.

Abstract: A device for separating particles of relatively high specific gravity from particles of relatively low specific gravity wherein the particles to be separated are suspended in a carrier fluid is provided. The device includes a truncated conical shaped surface extending outward from a flat circular bottom surface, the angle of incline of such conical shaped surface being such as to allow the carrier fluid to be swirled easily within the device without excess spillage. The truncated conical shaped surface of the device also includes stepped indentations for up to about one third of the circumference of the conical surface. Each of the stepped indentations include a first surface which is substantially perpendicular to the conical surface and a second surface joined to the first surface at an angle of 90.degree. and extending from the point of juncture with the first surface to points lying in the plane of the conical surface.