Get caught in the gold rush by sifting it yourself! Buy a concession and spend an afternoon in a stream holding your sieve. This activity can be rewarding if done right. Follow these steps to learn how to sift through sparkling rain.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Eliminate Stones and Moss
Step 1. Fill your sieve three quarters full with crushed stone
Dip it in the water so that it is below the surface.
Step 2. Shake it vigorously several times
Move it back and forth and then to the side. Make sure you don't shake too hard to keep the materials out of the sieve.
Step 3. Stop shaking and switch to very gentle circular motions
The crushed stone should begin to swirl inside the sieve. By doing this, most of the debris and clay will come off or melt. Remove moss and roots with your fingers, so you can be sure that any gold residue will remain in the sieve.
Step 4. Choose some pebbles
Check that they are clean by following the same steps. Repeat until these pebbles have been removed and attached debris (such as gold and sand) remained at the bottom of the sieve.
Part 2 of 4: Remove the finest sand and crushed stone
Step 1. Hold the sieve under water, making sure it is well submerged
Move it slightly away from you as if you want to take the current.
Step 2. Make it move from side to side
Make a slight forward motion as if you are going to blow an omelette (but don't complete the action with the sieve!). Be careful not to use too much force to move the surface of the sieve, or the lighter debris will come out.
Step 3. Return the sieve to its normal position from time to time
Shake it back and forth while it is in the water. By leveling and shaking, the gold will settle to the bottom of the sieve and the lighter material will surface.
Step 4. Repeat this process several times
When you finish this part, you should end up with about two cups of heavy material in the sieve. There should be no more pebbles or pebbles. The remaining materials are the heavy ones that have gone to the bottom. They are usually dark or "concentrated" sand and, if you are lucky, gold.
Part 3 of 4: Remove the Sand
Step 1. Raise the sieve all the way up
Make sure there is some water left, a couple of centimeters for example. Water is necessary because you will continue to separate the sand from the gold even by lifting the sieve from the current.
Step 2. Slightly bend the sieve towards you
Move the water and the material inside slowly, in a circle. By doing this, you will be able to check and see if there are any large nuggets that can be handpicked.
If you find them, place them in a separate container. It can be a special bottle from a store, or a jar you brought from home
Step 3. Immerse the sieve again
Repeat the steps of part three (alternating back and forth to leveling and shaking). Be sure to be very careful when you get to this point - if you shake the sieve too vigorously, you could lose the gold.
Step 4. Use a magnet if you have a plastic sieve
Remove it from the water by keeping some inside as suggested above. Place the magnet on one side and slowly let it move through the sieve. Black sand is magnetic and will be attracted. This process will quickly separate the sand from the gold.
If you choose the magnet, you can either collect the sand to throw it away or use a special bottle with a spout. These bottles have a tube at the top (like the eye drops, which you can use as an alternative). When you squeeze it, you create a vacuum. Once you release it, it will suck in whatever the spout is pointing at (in this case, gold and water). Your gold will stay safe in the bottle
Step 5. Pour the rest of the sand and gold into the bottle
Once you've sifted through everything you had, it's best to pour everything into the container. The safest way to do this is to place a funnel over the mouth of the bottle.
Step 6. You can also shout “Hurray
” once you have finally separated the gold from the rest of the debris. Now you are finally a self-respecting gold digger.
Part 4 of 4: Choose Where
Step 1. Go to a river or stream where you know there may be gold
Whether it's a place handed down in the family, one you've heard legends about or just the result of a moment's inspiration… there's usually some truth behind gold-related family stories. Even if you think a place that has already been sifted no longer has gold, know that it doesn't. Rivers and streams have small flakes or nuggets that are carried with the current from upstream deposits. Every winter, storms bring out more gold, which could be yours.
Step 2. Choose a location on a shore
The water must be at least 15 cm deep. If it is lower it may be muddy or full of leaves and other debris that would prevent you from seeing what is in your sieve when it is submerged.
Step 3. Choose a place with little current
The water should move fast enough to wash away the silt and debris you discard, but slow enough not to stop you from moving when the sieve is submerged.
Step 4. Also choose it to have large boulders or a fallen tree
It's optional of course, but the boulder will give you a place to sit and lean to lighten the day (legs and back will thank you).
Step 5. Find the sieve that's right for you
The standard ones are made of metal or plastic. Plastic sieves are better for beginners, as they are rust proof, lighter than metal sieves, black (which allows you to see the gold better), and may have ripples where the gold will stop easily.
If you use a steel sieve like it used to be, check that there is no trace of grease on the surface (if you use a new one, you don't have to worry about it). Remove the grease by holding the sieve over a camping stove with a pair of tongs and fireproof gloves. Heat it until it turns red, then dip it into water. This process removes the film of grease and leaves the sieve a dark blue color, making it easier to see the gold
Step 6. Learn how to use a filter
Filters can be placed on sieves to separate larger parts from smaller ones. Using a filter is not necessary but can be useful, especially when you have to sift gold from black sand.
Advice
- Try not to move the sieve too much. You will create a centrifugal force, which will cause the heavy particles (GOLD!) To move upwards and out of the sieve.
- If you can't find the gold, try again. If you keep making the classic hole in the water, move to another spot.
- Learn to distinguish alluvial deposits. It will help you find a good angle while avoiding getting fooled by mica (which looks like gold but has no value). Search for pictures on the internet.
- Don't be fooled by pyrite either - this mineral is made up of iron and arsenic sulfate and looks a lot like gold. You will be able to distinguish it from gold because it forms small crystalline cubes. Gold, on the other hand, is found in pieces of irregular shapes or in thin flakes.
