classifier and screen sizes

[stilllookin]

Hi, I am new to this and any forum for that matter. This is a first. I love to read the various posts on this site. There probably has been a post dealing with screen and classifier sizes but I have not found it. I see many times +30 -30 etc. What does the plus and minus mean? Thank You in advance.

 

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[dunc]

The mesh # is how many squares per linear inch in the classifier. So 30 would have 30 squares per linear inch which would obviously be bigger than 50 mesh.

 

[dunc]

I was actually going to start a new thread but I can probably post this question here. I have found a creek that is producing nothing but flour gold. I have never found anything that won't go through a flour sifter when I do my cleanup. My question is what is the smallest classifier I should be using before sluicing. This is in the ca. mother lode and I am getting everything from pebbles to large rocks in every shovel full if that matters.

I want to classify it down as much as possible without wasting too much time or losing too much gold.

 

[stilllookin]

Thanks dunc
The thing I don't understand is the plus and minus sign preceeding the size. Are you saying a +50 woul be maybe a 30? It sounds like where you are a 1/2 classifier would be good for you. But I'm in Vermont and we don't look for anything larger than a pin head.

 

[AU Seeker]

Stilllookin,

The +/- means, if you use a #4 (approx. 1/4") classifier, anything that is still in the classifier is the +, anything that goes through the classifier is the -.
Usually you would start with depending on your gold say a #2 (approx. 1/2") classifier (start with the next size larger than the biggest gold that you are mining/finding) and continue through the the different sizes up to 100 to 400 mesh when doing your final cleanups, anything smaller than 400 mesh is not worth the time it takes to recover the gold unless you have a commercial operation and mining micro gold, and then you would be recovering the gold with chemicals.

Most people don't use anything smaller than 100 mesh.


Skip

 

[stilllookin]

Thank You Skip
I would never have guessed what the +/- would have meant. In my situation I classify with #4 for my small sluice, run the concentrates through a 30 and finish with a 50 for the blue bowl. It seems to work ok. I don't believe I'll ever find a nugget so big it won't go through a # 4 but will keep checking.

Wayne

 

[Sam Burgin]

The finest sluice known to man for capturing fine gold is the Popandson sluice. The end. Period.

It captures 97% of everything down to 150 mesh. The most researched sluice on the planet.

All you need is a slope of an inch or so per foot, moderate water flow, and classify down to 2 mesh, 4 mesh is better.

Sam

 

[mumsituk]

Re: classifier and screen sizes I'm in Adirondacks, NY!

Hey,
I'm in Indian Lake, NY. 30+ miles to VT border. I'm still looking too! I have read that Rutland & Windsor County are the best shot for chance of finding color. I'm also retired and have dredging experience in CA. Call 518-648-0456 or [email protected]. Hope to hear from you! Gene

 

[utah1066]

Here is a link wow look at this show and it will show you how to and what to buy, have fun
Walt
http://www.prospectingchannel.com/motherlode.html

 

[calisdad]

The finest sluice known to man for capturing fine gold is the Popandson sluice. The end. Period.

It captures 97% of everything down to 150 mesh. The most researched sluice on the planet.

All you need is a slope of an inch or so per foot, moderate water flow, and classify down to 2 mesh, 4 mesh is better.

Sam

Thanks for the heads up Sam. Great read with stats here: http://gpex.ca/smf/index.php?topic=4159.0

 

[vtgoldprospector]

My current prospecting is focused in Vermont where the gold is typically smaller grains. I find as a good balance for big enough to catch the gold but small enough to eliminate much of the refuse without having to screen my a$$ off is a #2, a #4 then a #12. It nicely reduces the volume with very little risk of loosing gold. Additional screening smaller than a #12 becomes time consuming and risks a loss of some of the pickers or sub-pickers. Optimally, reduce it to a #4 or #12 and pack it out. Doing the panning/processing at home is easier and always yields better (less loss).


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