I gathered some more moss the other day and need to clean it. Normally I scrub it on a 1/4 mesh bucket classifier, but I'm open to ideas on other methods.
I usually clean it in my pan and put it back on the spot I took it from,
just because it takes time for moss to grow in the first place.
If its brought home let it dry and most of the dirt will just fall out easily.
then burn it and pan the ashes, you'll be surprised at the gold you'll find...
I just dip it in a bucket of water or my pan and shake it out, then put it back where it was.
It doesn't pay to rip out moss and it's not a good for the creek when ya do it in a big quantity but it can be a handy prospecting method when in a hurry to cover ground. It will almost always catch a little flood gold over the years if theres gold there.
My experience with black sand and fine gold in various species of moss is that most is released with agitation in the wet state but some is also released in the dry state. After I have agitated and washed all my moss from the season, I spread it out over large cooking sheets and let it dry completely in the sun, then agitate it dry and it is amazing how much more very fine material (and gold) comes out in the dry state. Burning the dry moss releases even more into the remaining ash.
Thanks for the input guys. I did a grab sample on my way out from sluicing. Only a five gallon bucket worth and started drying it on the shop stove last night.
Beach High Banker, Sweep Jig, Whippet Dry Washer, Lobo ST, 1/2 width 2 tray Gold Cube, numerous pans, rocker box, and home made fluid bed and stream sluices.