If you have ever gone panning, you would have noticed some black sand remaining at the bottom of your gold pan at the end of the panning process. These concentrates often build the hopes of prospectors and gold seekers. But are black sands a sign that you have found gold?
Black sand is not always a sign of gold. Oppositely, placer gold is commonly associated with black sand. Some elements, such as magnetite and hematite, often compose these concentrates. Other metals such as gold, platinum, and silver are only found in specific locations.
Let’s find out how to retrieve gold from black sand.
What Are Black Sand Concentrates?
Black sand concentrates are those materials that you are likely to notice at the bottom of your pan during the finishing stages of a well-performed panning process. Indeed, while panning, you will be separating the materials in the streambed. While doing so, the lighter elements will naturally flow off the pan, while the heavy ones will drop to the bottom.
Elements with high specific gravity include gold (19.3)[1], iridium (22.65), platinum (21.45), tungsten (19.3), silver (10.49), copper (8.96) and others. These will sink to the bottom of the pan if present in the mix of streambed materials you have selected.
These elements are much heavier than the surrounding material. For example, clay – commonly found along streambeds – has a specific gravity of 2.70 to 2.80. Unlike the elements we have seen above, these will tend to be carried away by the water during panning.
Since gold belongs to the group of elements that are likely to sink at the bottom, this metal is often associated with black sand when found in placer deposits. However, not all black sand concentrates will contain gold[2]. Indeed, this characteristic purely depends on the geological features of the area. If you are panning in a gold-bearing location, you are more likely to notice gold in the mix.
Prospectors should notice that, if black sand does contain gold, it will do so in the form of fine particles[3]. So gold-seekers should be equipped with the right tools for retrieving fine gold.
What Does Black Sand Contain
You will have several elements that compose the concentrate if you look at the black sand mix[4] in your pan. Depending on the characteristics of the streambed material you have selected, the black sand mix will include:
- Tungsten – a grey-white metal with a specific gravity of 19.25 and light magnetism.
- Pyrite – also known as Fool’s Gold, Pyrite is a yellow mineral often confused for real gold. It is made of iron sulfide, so it is magnetic and has a specific gravity of around 5.
- Titanium – a grey metal that is weakly magnetic and boasts a specific gravity of 4.5
- Zircon – A mineral famous for its blue color, it has a specific 4.7 and is not magnetic
- Magnetite – this rock mineral is known to be the most magnetic of naturally occurring elements. It has a specific gravity of 5.6.
- Hematite – this is a common iron oxide mineral with a specific gravity of 5.26. It is not magnetic.
- Rhodolite – a mineral known for its pink-red color and with a specific gravity of around 4
- Monazite – this is a brown phosphate mineral composed of variable materials. Its specific gravity can change between 4.6 and 5.4 depending on its composition.
Black sand concentrates are also where you will find other heavy, precious metals such as platinum, gold, and silver if these are present in that specific location.
The Characteristics of Black Sand
Black sand concentrates are the initial aim of any prospector undertaking a panning process. As you proceed with separating and suspending the lighter elements in the mix, the black sands will reach the pan’s bottom. Due to the particular blend of materials, black sand has specific characteristics that prospectors should keep in mind.
Firstly, a portion of the black sand will be magnetic. Elements such as magnetite, pyrite, and tungsten can be extracted using a magnet[5].
Additionally, heavier black sands – such as the ones composed by elements like tungsten and platinum – are more likely to follow the same path as gold[6]. Heavy black sands that behave like gold are a better indicator than gold could be nearby. Therefore, they should be followed along a streambed until a placer gold location is identified.
How to Separate Gold Particles From Black Sand
Once you have completed the gold panning process, you are likely to notice the black sand remaining at the bottom of your pan. Since this might contain gold in fine particles, it is essential to proceed in the separation of the elements present in it.
Some more expert prospectors can pan the black sand down to just gold particles. This can be an ideal solution, especially as gold, as a much higher specific gravity than most elements in the black sand. However, if you are not too confident in your panning abilities, the risk of losing precious gold particles might be high.
Therefore, most prospectors resort to other tools and strategies to extract eventual gold particles from the mix. In some cases, they even opt for storing the black sand away at the end of the panning process to analyze it later in a more controlled environment.
While time-consuming, this is the safest way of retrieving gold without risking losing such particles in the process.
Use of a Magnet
Using a magnet is one of the easiest and most accessible ways of eliminating the magnetic elements in the black sand concentrates. Prospectors magnets come in different shapes and varieties. They are ideal for picking up smaller particles of magnetic components such as magnetite.
Usually, these tools are equipped with a quick-release handle or lever that allows you to have more control over the operation. You can learn more about using a magnet by watching the video below.
Picking the Right Equipment
Since the gold retrieved among black sand concentrates could come in the form of fine particles, it is essential to be equipped with the right tools for this operation. Here are some tips that can help you pick the right pieces of equipment for your needs.
- Pan color
Picking the pan color should not be underestimated. Most gold pans on the market come in tones that make it easier to identify gold among the streambed material. However, if you have opted for a black gold pan, it might be challenging to analyze the black sand present in the mix.
If you still wish to use a black gold pan for your panning process, consider implementing your kit with a blue, green, or red device for the finishing stages of the operation. Since these last phases require shorter timeframes, you don’t need to worry about eye strain. However, a different pan color allows you to analyze the sand better.
- Fine or dual riffles
If you have been lucky enough to retrieve gold flakes and nuggets, you would have already removed them from the mix. This means that everything left among black sand concentrates now is fine gold. Having a finishing pan with fine riffles or at least a pan with dual riffles can help you retrieve such small particles of gold.
- Invest in a micro sluice box
If you prefer to analyze your black sand concentrates in a more controlled environment, you can store it away in a suction bottle and then use a sluice box for fine gold later on. This strategy minimizes the risk of losing precious particles.
Conclusion
While gold is often associated with black sand, not all black sand concentrates will contain gold. The composition of such concentrates depends on the characteristics of the streambed material you have decided to process. Black sands will include the heavier elements in the mix, such as platinum, silver, copper, and, in some cases, gold.