Surf Washer

There are not a great number of sea beach placer deposits that have been mined with a lot success. The main producers have been in the area of Nome in Alaska. However gold is in addition known to take place in some other shorelines along the states that edge the Pacific. There have been some interesting methods that have been created to take advantage of the action of the surf in getting golf from these deposits. Surf washers are somewhat alike Long Toms only they are shorter and wider. These can get used, obviously, but only when the surf is at the right height. These have been designed so that when a wave comes in and rushes up to the sluice, it washes the material from the screen box and when it goes back, it carries it over the riffles and plates. It is possible for one man to take care of two surf washers and is able to obtain around eight cubic yards every eight to ten hours. One example of a very simple surf washer consist of a sluice that is riffled, that is three to four feet wide and anywhere from eight to ten feet in length, this is then placed on the edge of the water so that the waves that are coming in wash through it to the top end and then go down under the lower end. These sluices are made out of boards that are nailed on both ends to sills, and this can be kept down in place with rocks. The sides of the surf washer are usually around five inches in height and the riffles can be made out of inch square strips that are spaced around an inch apart from each other. The lower areas are transverse riffles, and the center area is longitudinal. It is better for the box to be set at eight or ten inches for every twelve feet. One thing that can bring about good results if quicksilver is utilized in the riffles. If one has a strong surf, the washer will treat that which two men are able to shovel. There are obviously times when this will need to be done slowly as well.