What happens inside the sluice box?
A typical sluice box has one or more metal troughs, or runs, with cross bars on the bottom, called riffles. As the water passes over these riffles, little whirlpools are created behind each riffle, and the heavier gold particles fall to the bottom. Lighter particles are washed over the top of the riffles and out the end of the sluice box. A layer of mats under the riffles provides spaces where the gold particles become trapped. Back to top…
