I hope panning for metals is a product of the 3.0 upgrade. It seems the coding could be similar to mining where as you would prospect a viable water sorce to indicate what, if any, minerals are present, water details. Gems in mining would be more easily found this way and lighter materials would not be present. Instead of there being the danger of mine collapse or gas, panning would stir up mud making it unseeable for a while or rocks dislodging in the current ruining a honeyhole. There would be no workers to haul nuggets away in the wilds but the pickings would be smaller than a mine, with the exception of gems. For the programers at least there would be no creating of tunnels and tools.. the water is already out there and all you need is a pan.
Bust out the longjohns and corn cob pipe