Separate what is observed or established from what is proposed, hypothesized, or still being validated. Technical confidence is not the same thing as test evidence.
Strong language should only be treated as a claim when the record identifies the supporting test, observation, or validated specification.
Directly supported by a measured requirement, documented field result, or controlled test.
The best design decision now, still open to revision through prototyping, manufacturing, or testing.
A reasoned expectation useful for deciding what to test next—not a settled performance claim.
Record class: Active Build / Hardware / Gold Recovery.
Current evidence state: the Riverbone Pan is in active design-to-STL development. Geometry is being converted into printable engineering for physical testing; production material, final dimensions, and recovery performance remain open.
Problem
A gold pan looks simple because the physics happen in the user’s hands. That simplicity is exactly why bad geometry can hide for years. A pan has to help material stratify, let lighter material leave predictably, protect heavies during wash-down, and remain controllable when the operator is tired, cold, wet, or working fast.
Field obligation
The MR POCKET Riverbone Pan must make the wash sequence easier to read and repeat without pretending geometry can replace technique. The goal is not gimmicks. The goal is controlled material movement, useful riffle behavior, clean access to the final concentrate, and a shape that remains comfortable through repeated cycles.
Current engineering direction
The active concept uses a continuous trench-style recovery feature around the lower interior, larger primary riffles for aggressive early classification, smaller finishing riffles for controlled cleanup, and a slick-side transition intended to taper toward the pan floor rather than terminate in an abrupt ledge.
Those features are current development directions. Their exact depth, length, count, spacing, wall angle, and relationship to pan diameter are not final until the STL is printed and the wash behavior is tested.
What is established
- The Riverbone Pan is one of MR POCKET’s active physical hardware builds.
- The design priority is recovery behavior first, appearance second.
- The pan will be judged as a complete wash system: stratification, riffle exchange, concentrate control, cleanout, ergonomics, and repeatability.
What must be proven
- How quickly mixed material stratifies under realistic panning technique.
- Whether primary riffles clear gangue without unnecessarily disturbing heavies.
- Whether the trench geometry helps retain and organize concentrate or simply creates dead material.
- How the small finishing riffles behave with black sand and fine gold.
- Hand comfort, rim stiffness, wet grip, and repeated wash control.
- Cleanout behavior and whether any feature traps material that should leave.
- Production-material stiffness, wear, moldability, and dimensional repeatability.
Test standard
The pan should be tested against controlled feed rather than memory and excitement. Test material, gold mass, particle-size range, black-sand loading, wash sequence, recovery, tailings, cleanup time, and operator notes should be recorded so revisions can be compared honestly.
Release gate
The Riverbone Pan will not be marketed around recovery percentages or superiority claims until controlled testing supports them. A promising STL is not proof. A good first pan is not proof. Repeatable results across users and material are what move the program forward.
Decision: proceed to printable engineering and physical wash testing. No final material, dimensions, price, warranty, or release date has been locked.
Follow the Riverbone Pan development record for current program status. This equipment remains in development and is not offered for sale.