Sluicing for Gold in Michigan

[@OldSneelock]

I use to work with a guy who panned for gold as a hobby. He said moving the rocks on the bottom caused the gold to settle under them and burrow out of reach. I wondered about a dredging type of operation a gasoline trash pump and some 2" hose to suck the dirt out around and under the rocks then dump to a sluice. He got me thinking about gravel operations. Another guy who worked for me use to run a rock crushing mill. The rocks were sorted and sold by size. I wondered about finding one of thos operations and setting up a sluice in the waste water runoff from the mill. A former neighbor runs an ocean gold dredging operation in Alaska. The rig processes tons of sand and separates the gold. Even in Michigan if you can lower the effort and expence of processing by going where the gold naturally settles it might be less of a net loss hobby. 😆😎

[@SilverSleuth]

Old Sneelock's Workshop thanks for the comment! I’ve often wondered about the gravel pits around here with those bigger rocks, and what else might be there with them. Panning and a sluice is all we can use in Michigan. If we could dredge here, I would be moving loads of material. You know the saying, the more material you move the more gold you can recover. We are hunting for silver and copper tomorrow. Hoping the hunt goes well!

[@OldSneelock]

@@SilverSleuth I checked after you mentioned restrictions. No powered sluicing. Limits on how much can be found. Pretty much shuts down my ideas. 😕

[@lanceweissert8528]

I'm from muskegon.michigan was going to get into doing this exact same thing keep up the good work

[@SilverSleuth]

Lance Weissert I used to keep my boat in Muskegon. Great port to fish out of!!! Not a lot of gold in Michigan, but there is gold here.

[@lanceweissert8528]

@@SilverSleuth what river in west Michigan would be my best bet to try????

[@SilverSleuth]

Lance Weissert any section in a river/creek with coarse gravel/rocks will have gold. Zoom in on google earth and look at the rivers/creek in the area you want to prospect.

[@SilverSleuth]

Lance Weissert I went to another river yesterday and found a rocky area. I found gold in this rocky area. Look for the rocks and you will find the gold. 😉

[@lanceweissert8528]

@@SilverSleuth I am going in morning I'll lyk if I find anything

[@tazyt3388]

Good vid mate not a bad spot too a little more flow would help shift the gravels maby consider some perforated mesh to keep it moving hope you find more mate good luck cheers

[@SilverSleuth]

tazy T thanks for the comment!!! I was thinking I had to much flow. I will funnel more water in the next time I go. I went back to that spot on Thursday and ran 6 buckets of classified material through the dredge. Unfortunately, my camera didn’t record during the clean out.

[@tazyt3388]

@@SilverSleuth good stuff you gotta try running it steeper if you can't get more flow it's great fun experimenting and seeing the results good job getting yella too many try and don't .I've had my cams flat or left em home so many times but film what u can it's the trips that matter more .great hobby to do aye cheers

[@tjprospecting4541]

Hey bud nice video... I dont run any rifles... Just a deep v matting... Seems to clear the rocks good and less cons to look through... Hope the tip helps... Keep the video's coming