Would a miner be more likely to use the method of panning to find platinum or to find topaz?

A miner would be more likely to use the method of panning to find platinum rather than topaz. Panning is typically employed for separating heavier materials, such as gold and platinum, from lighter sediments in riverbeds. Topaz, being a crystalline mineral, is usually found in solid rock formations and is not typically recovered through panning methods. Thus, panning is better suited for locating dense metals like platinum.