Cherokee Co. 9/25. Sluicing.

[rtenpin]

Got to my spot Sunday afternoon and was eager to take a stab at sluicing.

It was a booger getting set up and since it was my first time I was all worried about water flow: was it too fast/too slow/level etc.

Finally got to where I thought things were right and set up. I had a nice "V" shape in the top of the sluice.


I went and dug a few shovels and then set about putting the classified dirt through the sluice. I tell ya, I was scared I was gonna loose stuff out the end.

After a few scoops through, here's what I saw:


Looked promising and my fear was somewhat alleviated. It is so different than panning. With a pan there is some immediate feedback. Heck, some immediate gratification even! With the sluice, ya just gotta trust that the sluice will do its job.

I kept at it for a few hours but I was wearing out and it was getting late. I had to walk 2x the distance with 3-4x the material. Guess I'm gettin' old. Then I realized I still had to go through whatever was in the sluice!

The key thing I was not anticipating was taking home my cons. I'm not set up to run concentrates/ black sand so I tediously cleaned the 1/4 bucket a table spoon at a time. Geesh!

All in all, not a bad take for the day I'd say but not as much as I did just panning last week. I may have been set up improperly or I may not have been following any gold streaks.



At any rate I had a good time and I am pleased with the results. I do like the immediate gratification of panning though. It's kinda relaxing too. Sluicing seemed to make me a little worrisome.

Here's my total findings since I started on 8/27. I hope to make the wife and my daughter something nice someday.



Tenpin

[enamel7]

You've got a good spot there. Plenty of shine!
HH
enamel7

[Gramps43]

Damn Tenpin I'd be camp'n on that spot like a mother hen on her clutch. That is some very nice color, the rains have started here in the PNW so I reckon it's over for this year.

Gramps

[rtenpin]

Damn Tenpin I'd be camp'n on that spot like a mother hen on her clutch. That is some very nice color, the rains have started here in the PNW so I reckon it's over for this year.

Gramps

Sorry about the rains up there Gramps. No need to camp The property belongs to my daughter's godmother. It is literally just a couple hundred feet to the back door.

[Gramps43]

So cool wish I had a situation like that, I gotta drive mucho miles to get to gold bearing areas in the SW and central parts of the state.

Y'all take care,
Gramps