What Is a Sluice Box?

• A sluice box is one of the oldest prospecting devices still used today. It is an artificial channel that uses water pushing sediment over a series of riffles to separate heavier materials from lighter sediments like soil, clay and sand. Most sluice boxes are about 1-foot wide by 3 to 6 feet long.
  
  

Design and Build

• A wooden sluice box is the easiest to build. Create a channel of with three sides (bottom and two uprights). Leave about 1 foot prior to installing the first riffle as an area to load sediment. Use square slats of about 1-inch high as riffles. Install the riffles across the channel at 6-inch intervals. These will create small eddies as the water passes, pushing sediment, allowing heavier materials to get caught behind them.
  
  

Using the Box

• Flowing water and gravity are the keys to the sluice box. Place the box in a stream so that it is angled downward. The correct angle will take a little experimentation. You want the water to flow fast enough to push the lighter sediment, but slow enough to allow the heavier gold to settle behind the riffles. Load sediment into the front of the sluice box and let the water push it through.
  
  

Optional Materials

• Depending on your handyman skills, you may want to utilize other materials for your sluice box. Wooden boxes will become water logged and heavy with use and, eventually, the water will wear down the riffles. Aluminum and plastic are excellent alternatives for building.