Gold Panning

We rented a car today so we could go to a working gold mine called Crow Creek Mine. It started during the gold rush and they still have most of the buildings. The family that takes care of the mine now, has lived there for 35 years without any electricity. They showed us how to pan. I learned that 1 oz. of gold is worth about $1,000. I also learned that gold will go to the bottom of the pan under the dirt because it is heavier. I also learned that you don't always get lucky and get nuggets. You get less gold than you would think. After 2 or 3 hours, I ended up with a vile with about 10 tiny flakes. It was really fun but I'm really tired now.  Now I want to learn more about silver.

Grani and me walking to Crow Creek.

Grani and me panning for gold.

You can't dig in the creek, only on the banks... then use the water from the creek to rinse about 10 times, then start to swirl it over and over. If there is gold, it will be heavier and stick to the bottom of the pan when the rest of the sand moves around. In order to get the flakes you have to dry off a finger and then just touch it. It will stick to your finger, then you can put it in your vile.

EXTRAS

It was rainy today and we could see the whole rainbow. Here's half of it, it was really beautiful.

I learned that these are called Devil's Clubs. The leaves are really big and the stalk is thick with spikes on them. In the fall, they get these really pretty berries on them.

Tomorrow is our last day and we're going to walk to downtown Anchorage to see the Alaska Experience Theatre.