Imitation gold nuggets for testing sluicing machines and the like, each comprising an inner body formed from a material with a specific gravity similar to gold, such as tungsten, and an outer covering formed from a material adapted to seal and protect the inner body, such that the imitation gold nuggets can be used repeatedly for testing the abilities and effectiveness of sluicing machines and the like in separating and capturing gold nuggets from ground material during operation.

Imitation gold nuggets for testing sluicing machines and the like, each comprising an inner body formed from a material with a specific gravity similar to gold, such as tungsten, and an outer covering formed from a material adapted to seal and protect the inner body, such that the imitation gold nuggets can be used repeatedly for testing the abilities and effectiveness of sluicing machines and the like in separating and capturing gold nuggets from ground material during operation.

A water recirculating system for power sluices includes a first filtration unit, a second filtration unit, and a third filtration unit. Each filtration unit is equipped with a debris catcher and a filter that to clean the dirty water that discharges from the power sluices. A tailings catcher is integrated into the first filtration unit to receives the dirty water that discharges from the power sluices as the first stage of filtration. Then, the debris catchers and the filters clean the dirty water as the first filtration unit is in fluid communication with the second filtration unit, and the second filtration unit is in fluid communication with the third filtration unit. Resulting clean water that enters into the third filtration unit is then pumped back into the power sluices thus allowing a quantity of water to recirculate through the power sluices.

A highbanker may be used with sluice mats to separate heavier metals from placer deposit. The highbanker includes a hopper assembly, a trough assembly, a brace member, and a plurality of legs. The trough assembly includes first and second trough sections. The first trough section includes a first surface and is pivotably connected to the hopper assembly. The second trough section includes a second surface, with the second trough section being removably attachable to the first trough section. The brace member extends between the trough assembly and the hopper assembly. The plurality of legs is removably attachable to the trough assembly. In an assembled configuration, the second trough section is attached to the first trough section so that the first surface and the second surface define a substantially continuous surface for accepting the sluice mats. In a nested configuration, the second trough section is nested within the first trough section.

A highbanker may be used with sluice mats to separate heavier metals from placer deposit. The highbanker includes a hopper assembly, a trough assembly, a brace member, and a plurality of legs. The trough assembly includes first and second trough sections. The first trough section includes a first surface and is pivotably connected to the hopper assembly. The second trough section includes a second surface, with the second trough section being removably attachable to the first trough section. The brace member extends between the trough assembly and the hopper assembly. The plurality of legs is removably attachable to the trough assembly. In an assembled configuration, the second trough section is attached to the first trough section so that the first surface and the second surface define a substantially continuous surface for accepting the sluice mats. In a nested configuration, the second trough section is nested within the first trough section.

Described are various embodiments of a continuous sluicing device, and method of manufacturing same. One aspect relates to a rotatable sluicing device comprising an inner trommel and an outer separating cylinder, wherein the outer separating cylinder comprises a rifled baffling portion disposed on an inner surface thereof. The rifled baffling portion comprises a helical collection riffle and one or more spiral fighting portions disposed near and substantially parallel to an edge of the helical collection riffle. Rotation of the inner trommel portion and outer separating cylinder urges lower density substrates to discharge from respective discharge ends thereof, and urges heavy particulate material in the helical collection riffle to move upstream for collection in a collection reservoir.

Described are various embodiments of a continuous sluicing device, and method of manufacturing same. One aspect relates to a rotatable sluicing device comprising an inner trommel and an outer separating cylinder, wherein the outer separating cylinder comprises a rifled baffling portion disposed on an inner surface thereof. The rifled baffling portion comprises a helical collection riffle and one or more spiral fighting portions disposed near and substantially parallel to an edge of the helical collection riffle. Rotation of the inner trommel portion and outer separating cylinder urges lower density substrates to discharge from respective discharge ends thereof, and urges heavy particulate material in the helical collection riffle to move upstream for collection in a collection reservoir.

Described is a conveyor sluice system useful for mining fine particles of target minerals, such as gold, that are difficult to collect and are therefore often discarded. Several conveyor sluice arrangements discussed herein use a textured belt that is wrapped around head and tail pulley rollers. Post hydrocyclone aggregate distributor feeds conveyor sluice slurry onto the textured belt near the head pulley roller. As the conveyor sluice slurry flows down the textured belt surface, concentrated aggregate (rich in target heavy minerals) settles and gets trapped in the belt texture. At least one belt cleaning rinse nozzle aims rinse water at the textured outer surface and sprays the concentrated aggregate out from the belt texture. A concentrate launder collects the rinsed off concentrated aggregate and pumps it to a finishing table where the target minerals are separated and collected.

Described is a conveyor sluice system useful for mining fine particles of target minerals, such as gold, that are difficult to collect and are therefore often discarded. Several conveyor sluice arrangements discussed herein use a textured belt that is wrapped around head and tail pulley rollers. Post hydrocyclone aggregate distributor feeds conveyor sluice slurry onto the textured belt near the head pulley roller. As the conveyor sluice slurry flows down the textured belt surface, concentrated aggregate (rich in target heavy minerals) settles and gets trapped in the belt texture. At least one belt cleaning rinse nozzle aims rinse water at the textured outer surface and sprays the concentrated aggregate out from the belt texture. A concentrate launder collects the rinsed off concentrated aggregate and pumps it to a finishing table where the target minerals are separated and collected.

A classifier device for separating heavy materials from a stream of water and lighter materials includes an upper deck above lower deck, each deck having entrance and exit sides. The exit side of the lower deck terminates in a plurality of apertures. An exit plate is disposed adjacent the exit side of the upper deck and elevated relative thereto. A trap compartment is disposed below the exit plate and receives a removable trap that has an open top side and a plurality of pipes that each have at least one fluidizing aperture and that are aligned with one of the apertures of the lower deck. A classification plate is included between the exit side of the upper deck and the exit plate for directing the larger light materials up and over the exit plate back into the stream of water. Smaller materials drop through the classification plate into the trap.