How Does a Sluice Box Work?
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The Design
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A sluice box is a long channel with a bottom and two sides, used for separating gold from sediment in gold mining. Originally made of wood, modern boxes are often made of aluminum of fiberglass. Along the inside, bottom surface of the sluice box riffles, or ribs, are set perpendicular of the length at intervals along the box.
The Concept
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The sluice is placed in a creek or river and secured in place. The box must be on an angle to the creek bed, and adjustment is necessary to get the slope correct so that the water flow is not too fast, pushing along the heavy gold material, or too slow, not clearing lighter, worthless sediment. Sediment is placed in the front of the sluice. The water pushes the material through the sluice. Each riffle creates an eddy which slows the water flow, allowing heavier material to drop to the bottom of the sluice and remain trapped behind the riffle. Several riffles ensure that the heavy material has more chance of falling to the bottom as the flow is interrupted over and over.
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The Results
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If the sluice has the correct slope and water flow, the first sections will fill with the most material. As the water flow continues, lighter materials will be carried through the box. Eventually, only the heaviest materials will be left in the sections. Basically, the dirt and sediment will have been washed away from rock and minerals. The goal, of course, is to find the trace gold elements in the sediment. When operating properly, only the first few sections will contain the heavy material. Some very fine gold particles may make it down through several sections, but no gold should reach the last few sections.
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