What does the expqnded metal do?

mike(swWash)

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Yes and no.
The effect is to create many smaller capture vortexs for the gold to drop out into instead of just a few full width ones. However since they capture differently than traditional riffles, it's a good idea to use a combination of the 2 with a couple traditional type up top and expanded on the bottom end to expose the slurry to
more than 1 type of flow interruption for the heavies to fall out.
You can go to the Gold Hog website for some good explanations for using different layouts. That being said I have complete faith in his mat designs to accomplish the best recovery rates possible.
 

KevinInColorado

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Some advocate leaving the bigger riffles to the lower end of the box. First give the small stuff time to settle then use the riffles for nugget traps further down. Big riffles up top just keeps the fine gold stirred back up into suspension.
 

No gold in NY

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Some advocate leaving the bigger riffles to the lower end of the box. First give the small stuff time to settle then use the riffles for nugget traps further down. Big riffles up top just keeps the fine gold stirred back up into suspension.

Basically all I deal with is fine gold in VT and NH. Would you suggest I remove some of the upper riffles from my Keene sluice?
 

okbasspro

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More times than not the material dictates the setup. In my 4” Proline I have several different setups. I use a over under setup in Oklahoma. I use the stock setup in Texas and 12# expanded on my Arizona claims. Set your equipment for the area your working what works for me on my claim may cause you big losses on yours.
 

Goodyguy

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Is it just a "riffle" of a sort?

It acts as a medium to help break up and stratify material allowing finer gold more areas to settle out while sending larger gravels on down the sluice.

Also don't overlook/underestimate the rock washing action as dirty gravels tumble over the expanded metal mesh.

GG~
 

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johnedoe

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If all you are dealing with is fine gold put a high banker together.
Wash and classify out all the oversized stuff and set the sluice up for fine gold ...
Which means get rid of the riffles.
You want a smooth laminar flow over something like deep V mat or Goldhog UR or motherload......
 

IMAUDIGGER

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Some advocate leaving the bigger riffles to the lower end of the box. First give the small stuff time to settle then use the riffles for nugget traps further down. Big riffles up top just keeps the fine gold stirred back up into suspension.

That would be an interesting box..fine gold at the top and nuggets at the bottom?! Never seen it before.

Have installed some fancy engineered rubber mat below traditional expanded steel and miners moss. The mat at the end of the box was always empty. Hmm
 

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N-Lionberger

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If you have nuggets any kind of riffle will do especially in a river sluice. If all you expect to encounter is fine gold your better off cutting all but the top and bottom riffles out and run the expanded unhampered. I put big expanded in mine it.

image1 (3).JPG
 

No gold in NY

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If you have nuggets any kind of riffle will do especially in a river sluice. If all you expect to encounter is fine gold your better off cutting all but the top and bottom riffles out and run the expanded unhampered. I put big expanded in mine it.

View attachment 1671604

Did you find that the big expanded was better than the small?
 

N-Lionberger

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How I like to run it works like a champ. I think the term on here is gorilla mining.
 

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Mine Shaft

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I am running carpet under heavy expanded metal no riffles i was told to do it that way. I am happy with the way it works i guess, i have only run it 4 times and it produced my first gold one piece was about .060dia and 5 this size (.) i hope it traps the bigger stuff lol.
 

No gold in NY

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N-Lionberger

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Fast water, rough classification to reduce carry weight or shovel feed straight bank run, pitch out the big rocks by hand. I think thats what it is I could be wrong.
 

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Goldwasher

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Fast water, rough classification to reduce carry weight or shovel feed straight bank run, pitch out the big rocks by hand. I think thats what it is I could be wrong.
Yep its how you actually get good gold with a small sluice
 

Johnnybravo300

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Expanded metal looks basa$$ and gives the sluice its lateral strength and flexibility. Has nothing to do with catching gold. Dont listen to anyone. They just want your gold.
 

Goldwasher

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Expanded metal looks basa$$ and gives the sluice its lateral strength and flexibility. Has nothing to do with catching gold. Dont listen to anyone. They just want your gold.


Dude.. it is the only thing even used in hundreds of large operations. For recovery.

There are whole studies on it.

My hi banker and production stream sluices run with it and get excellent recovery..

Nothing to do with catching gold? Really:laughing7:
 

akflyer

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Dude.. it is the only thing even used in hundreds of large operations. For recovery.

There are whole studies on it.

My hi banker and production stream sluices run with it and get excellent recovery..

Nothing to do with catching gold? Really:laughing7:

Pretty sure the comment above yours was dripping with sarcasm. I speak it pretty fluently myself.
 

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