Gold Mining Methods

There are several ways to mine for gold. Some methods highlight old-time techniques, while others embrace the use of modern technology.

Popular gold mining methods include:

• Pan, Shovel and Cradle – This old-fashioned, physically intensive gold mining method is a popular technique used for prospecting. Cradles, often made from wooden boxes, are rocked in a vigorous motion back and forth. Gold is a heavier material, meaning it collects on the cradle base matting.
• Sluice Boxes – Sluice boxes or riffles were once main methods used to recover gold. Known as Long Toms, these terraced, long boxes were used to wash gold-bearing gravel. The boxes progressed with additional lips, ultimately trapping heavier metals and allowing lighter materials to wash away. This type of method relies on the use of running water, such as creeks or small dams.
• Sluicing – Sluicing is a common method that relies on water being piped through narrower ducts, which ultimately leads into hoses. These nozzles contain spray jets that help to wash gold-bearing materials down into the sluice boxes.
• Hydraulic Engineering – Hydraulic elevators were designed to allow alluvial gold to be easily mined. This type of gold is often covered by significant amounts of gravel. These elevators are similar to giant vacuums, allowing gravel and water to be sucked in and then placed on terraces. This form of gold mining exposes large areas of riverbeds.
• Hard-Rock Mining – Many hard-rock gold mines follow quartz veins. Underground mining is an expensive mining technique, which requires tunnels to be blasted and cave-style roofs to be adequately supported. With this method, quartz is recovered, crushed and cyanide is used to expose the gold.
• Dredging – Many miners use suction dredges. These are powerful vacuum-type suction hoses that place materials on a floating recovery system. Heavier pieces of gold then separate from other streambed materials, such as gravel. Dredges come in two main types: a hookah system or a venturi jet.

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Loan packages are submitted online and once initial approval is given, borrowers are placed in direct contact with investors and funding source options. MineLoans doesn’t charge upfront fees and only collects fees upon project funding.