A gold pan processes 1 bucket an hour. A sluice box processes 20. It is the force multiplier of the prospector. But if you set it up wrong, it becomes a "gold ejection tube."
The secret to a perfect setup is the water flow. You want the water to flow smoothly into the flare, creating a distinct "V" shape as it accelerates.
If the water is boiling and turbulent? **Too steep.** If the sand is burying your riffles? **Too flat.**
The Drop: Ideally, you want 1 inch of drop for every foot of sluice. This is the starting point. Adjust based on flow.
The Seal: Ensure water isn't flowing *under* your sluice. Use rocks/clay to dam the sides so 100% of the current hits your flare.
The Feed: Don't dump a bucket instantly. Feed steadily. If you overload the riffles, they pack up and act like a slide for gold.
Old school miners' moss is okay. But modern tech is better.
Never shovel raw dirt ("bank run") into a small sluice. Huge rocks will smash the gold out of the riffles. **Classify to 1/2 inch.** Use a bucket sieve. Uniform material size = Consistent flow = MAX recovery.
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Land access rights, safety conditions, and public fossicking zones change. You are solely responsible for verifying regulations with local authorities (DOC/Council/BLM) and assessing river safety before visiting. Paystreak.io accepts no liability for injury, fines, or trespassing. Never dig on private land without explicit permission.
✓ Information last verified: January 2026