How to Use a Gold Mining Sluice

Select a spot on the river that has a gravel deposit under or near a swift current.

Place the sluice in the water with the mouth pointing upstream. The bottom of the sluice should be submerged with only the top inch or two of the sides exposed above the water. The downstream end of the sluice needs to be slightly lower than the mouth of the box.

Slowly shovel gravel onto the mouth of the sluice. Remove any rocks that are too large for the current to push through the sluice by hand. Allow the current to push the gravel through the box and then add another shovel full.

Continue feeding gravel into the sluice until the backsides of the riffles are filled. When the riffles are filled, the sluice is ready for cleaning.

Hold the sluice level while removing it from the river. Carry it to the bank and set it down.

Place the discharge end of the sluice over a 5-gallon bucket. Remove the riffles and rinse them over the sluice and into the bucket.

If your sluice has a bottom pad or liner, remove it. Place the liner or pad in the bucket and rinse it with clean water.

Rinse any concentrate remaining in the sluice box into the bucket.

Reassemble the sluice and you're ready for another go at the river.