GOLD PANNING SORTING OF GOLD

B'LAAN ARE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF FULA BATO, TAMPAKAN. SOUTH COTABATO, MINDANAO.........B'LAAN MAN MANUALLY PROCESSED GOLD IN THE FULA BATO RIVER BY THE USED OF PAN MADE OF HARDWOOD. ONE OF THE SIMPLEST WAY TO EXTRACT GOLD, AND POPULAR TO THE B'LAAN PEOPLE, BECAUSE IT REQUIRES VERY MINIMAL EQUIPMENT TO GET STARTED. AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A PAN, A STREAM OR RIVER AND DETERMINED TO FIND GOLD. THEY PROCESS GOLD WITH MERCURY, A TOXIC METAL, RISKING A HEALTH DAMAGE FROM MERCURY POISONING. ONCE SUITABLE DEPOSIT IS LOCATED, SOME GRAVEL IS SCOOPED INTO PAN WHERE IT IS THEN GENTLY SHAKEN IN THE WATER, THE GOLD SINKS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN, WHILE WASHING AWAY LIGHTER STUFF THAT RISES TO THE TOP. ALL THAT IS LEFT IN THE PAN IS THE HEAVIEST MINERAL INCLUDING GOLD. THIS TYPE OF MANUAL PROCESSING ONLY YIELD ABOUT 30 OR MORE PERCENT OF THE GOLD THAT IS PRESENT IN THE ROCK.....

THE USE OF OLD PANS, IS CENTURIES OLD, BUT STILL COMMON AMONG B'LAAN PEOPLE WITH LITTLE FINANCIAL BACKING. THIS TYPE OF WORK, CAN PRODUCE ENOUGH FOR THE FAMILY INCOME. ITS NOT EASY TO FIND GOLD IN THE RIVER, CONSUMED A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF WORK.....................PHOTOS POSTED ARE MY COLLECTIONS................