3. High Banking: High banking for placer gold involves using a sluice box placed on top of a stream bank, which allows for a controlled flow of water over the material being processed. High banking for gold is also an effective and popular method for recovering gold from placer deposits. It is essentially a variation of sluicing, where a high banker is used to process larger volumes of material with greater ease and efficiency.
4. Dredging: Dredges are machines that can suck up gravel and sediment from the bottom of a river or stream. The material is processed through a sluice box on the dredge to capture the gold. Dredging for gold is another effective and highly efficient method for recovering gold from placer deposits, especially in areas with substantial gold concentrations.
5. Dry Washing: Prospectors use dry washers, which are machines that blow air over material to separate the gold from lighter materials like sand and gravel. Dry washing for gold is an effective method for recovering gold from dry desert or arid regions where water is scarce or not easily accessible. It is especially popular in areas with fine gold deposits.
6. Metal Detecting: Metal detectors are often used to search for gold nuggets or smaller pieces of gold in dry washes, desert terrain, and other areas. You can find a great selection of gold metal detectors HERE.
D. KEY ATTRACTIONS OF LOOKING FOR PLACER GOLD DEPOSITS OVER OTHER METHODS OF GOLD PROSPECTING
Part-time prospectors may find looking for placer gold deposits more attractive than other forms of gold prospecting for several reasons:
1. Accessibility: Placer gold deposits are often found in or near waterways, such as rivers, streams, and creeks. This accessibility makes them easier for part-time prospectors to access, as they don’t require expensive or extensive equipment or the need to dig deep underground.