Sluicing was the use of running water to break down gold-bearing earth, and a sluice box was used to recover the gold. This drawing shows a simple, long, open-ended wooden box with transverse cleats, or riffles, tacked onto the base, and usually coarse matting placed between the riffles. When the earth and gravel was washed through the box, the heavier gold stuck in the matting, or behind the riffles.
Created: 9 March 2006, Last modified: 2 June 2006