Processing black sand deposits

[Kamorle]

Here's what I got out of a shovel full, I'll go through the tailings tomorrow and see what it missed.

 

[sidvail]

That was one shovel? Damn! You've got better sand than I do. I get that much out of 2 buckets.

 

[Kamorle]

That was one shovel? Damn! You've got better sand than I do. I get that much out of 2 buckets.

Is your gold ultra flat though? This stuff likes to flutter, the smaller flakes are easier to catch in the sluice and easier to pan also. The bigger flakes seam to often escape.

 

[sidvail]

Very few flakes for me. All of mine are -30's as I classify for my miller table. I have found a few flakes in my +30,s but not many. To be fair though, I run my material through my bazooka, or classify to 1/4 inch for my Angus Mackirk first. This concentrates 2 buckets down to a couple of cups of black sand. Then I run it through my table. For the really fine stuff, you can't beat it.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/gold-prospecting/359090-miller-table.html

 

[Kamorle]

Went through the tailings from the S1 no gold to be found I guess its doing the job. I'll see how much material I can put through it over the next few days.

 

[Timmy Tom]

About the gold cube. I am not an expert but the cube will catch gold so small that I have to use a 17 x magnifier lens to see it. I can see -100 gold with my naked eye. I got into a black sand deposit and I could only run 5 buckets an hour. I guess the weight of the BS took a little longer to clear off of the top plate. I did not want to over feed it.

TT

 

[russau]

but panning those 5 buckets of black sand would have taken you days to do! and then youd have to redo them again to capture the fines you missed the first and second time! 1 hour aint so bad! i really like my Gold Cube!

 

[Timmy Tom]

I am fully satisfied with the gold cube. I just pointed out that running heavy sands will slow down production a little. I am thinking about adding a shaker for feeding it instead of my trommel. I have some R&D to do this summer.

TT

 

[Hoshnasi]

I use a Ca. Bucket Concentrator.

I reduces the panning.

 

[jcazgoldchaser]

I keep coming back to fluid beds. Anyone remember this?



I was daydreaming,.. I mean working,.. and had this thought about the 2 bucket method...



What if you make something like that hydrocon, but you add jets to spin the water in the bucket like the 2 bucket method?

 

[chlsbrns]

What if you make something like that hydrocon, but you add jets to spin the water in the bucket like the 2 bucket method?

I used a bio diesel funnel to create a vortex in the funnel. It recirculates the water with the lighter cons leaving the funnel. It works great!

55 Gallon Steel Drum Cone - Easily make a cone bottom tank!

 

[jcazgoldchaser]

I used a bio diesel funnel to create a vortex in the funnel. It recirculates the water with the lighter cons leaving the funnel. It works great!

55 Gallon Steel Drum Cone - Easily make a cone bottom tank!

I think I know what you're saying, but I'm not sure. You load cons into a vortex in the bio diesel funnel?

There was something similar to this/that on a manual pump website. I'll have to see if I can find it. Sort of a double funnel arrangement where material would be screened into the inner funnel, drop down and flow up and out the outer funnel. It was more about an innovative manual pump that could be used in those African villages you see on late night tv commericals.

[edit]
http://www.ecologics.co.nz/gravity-concentrator.php



The pumping action of the foot powered water pump is like a pulsing jig. There's some videos, but they're not utube:
http://www.ecologics.co.nz/downloads.php

 

[chlsbrns]

The funnel is very large and holds about 8 gallons of water. I drilled two 1 1/2" holes & attached bulkhead fittings. One hole has a 90 degree fitting. This is where the water is pumped in creating the vortex. The other hole is where the lighter cons exit into a bucket. The bucket is in a tub. A small electric pump is in the tub to keep the water circulating. The funnel is supported by another bucket.

When I get a chance I'll take a picture of it.

 

[jcazgoldchaser]

The funnel is very large and holds about 8 gallons of water. I drilled two 1 1/2" holes & attached bulkhead fittings. One hole has a 90 degree fitting. This is where the water is pumped in creating the vortex. The other hole is where the lighter cons exit into a bucket. The bucket is in a tub. A small electric pump is in the tub to keep the water circulating. The funnel is supported by another bucket.

When I get a chance I'll take a picture of it.

Sounds interesting! With it finally cooling off out there, I may have to get back to some ideas with 5 gallon water jugs.

 

[socalocmatt]

I have a CA Bucket Concentrator but rarely use it anymore. I was using it for anything +20 but now I just classify to different sizes and do a quick look or quick pan. I do use a large magnet and blue bowl for 50, 100, and -100 mesh. Even though it does take longer, I do like the blue bowl. I like to clean cons the day I get back or following day (except for -100). Since I'm usually pretty wore out by then, the blue bowl gives me a little time to relax and drink a couple beers while the bowl does its thing.

Then again, I'm not cleaning thousands of pounds of cons. Just whatever my gold hog mats grab which usually fills a small tupperware after a weekend run.