SUBJECT:
RECREATIONAL HANDPANNING FOR
PLACER MINERALS
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The Mineral Tenure Act provides that hand panning in a
watercourse for placer minerals for recreational purposes can be carried out by an
individual without the necessity of holding a Free Miner Certificate (FMC). Hand panning
is a comparable activity to rockhounding and hiking.
The only specific restriction in the Mineral Tenure Act
governing where you may hand pan is the provision in section 9(2) which prohibits panning
on a valid mineral or placer title unless the person has permission from the recorded
holder of the mineral or placer title. Otherwise, a person may hand pan on most Crown land
including that within a No Staking Reserve established under the Mineral Tenure Act.
However, please note that hand panning should not be carried out:
- within a park, unless permission from the park warden or agency
responsible for the park is first obtained;
- on an Indian Reservation or Treaty Settlement Lands, unless permission is
first obtained from the Band; and
- on private property without the owner’s permission.
Hand panning means to wash mineralized earth and gravel
by agitation in a hand held pan so as to separate and recover those minerals or placer
minerals having the greatest specific gravity. No equipment other than a hand pan can be
used in recreational hand panning.
Use of equipment such as sluice box, rocker box, shaker
and suction dredge is strictly regulated in British Columbia. Such equipment must not
be used except on a valid placer title and then only with the approval of the District
Inspector of Mines.
For further information, please contact any Gold
Commissioner Office or the offices listed below:
