Abstract: The highest percentage gold recoveries occurred at mines which screened their feed to minus one inch, used both expanded metal and angle iron riffles on top of nomad matting for every sluice run and fed their runs at recommended feed and water rates. Expanded metal riffles are efficient at recovering placer gold particles finer than 1 mm while angle iron riffles are more efficient at recovering those greater than 1 mm. Slick plates allow gold particles to segregate to the bottom of the pay gravel slurry where they are more readily available for recovery by the riffles.

Additional field testing of existing placer operations should be conducted to expand the knowledge of gold recovery at a greater variety of deposit types and recovery equipment such as hydraulic riffles.

Authors: Clarkson, R.

Map Scale: 1 : 0

Citation: Clarkson, R. , 1991. Selected excerpts from placer gold recovery research. In: , , Indian & Northern Affairs Canada/Department of Indian & Northern Development: Exploration & Geological Services Division.