Gold Pan Raised from Steel Sheet, with Riffles

A gold pan is a wide, shallow steel pan, most often 14 inches (36 cm) across, with sides sloping at 30–45°. Shaken under water, heavy grains such as gold sink while light sand washes over the rim; riffles on one side catch the heavy grains. Raise a steel disc to a flat-bottomed pan, wire the rim and hammer riffles into one side. It also serves as a shallow washing basin. The picture: a steel gold pan with gravel, in a washing trough.