Sieves Set for a Bucket

This setup features a series of stacked sieves mounted inside a container (bucket) designed to facilitate initial sorting and processing. This method is commonly used for basic particle separation, particularly useful during black sand preparation—an essential step where heavier minerals like magnetite are separated from lighter materials such as quartz.

Important Terms in Gold Prospecting:

1. Sieves/Bucket: Used for separating particles by size through shaking or agitation.

2. Particle Separation/Black Sand Preparation: The process of isolating heavy mineral concentrates, including black sands that may contain gold.

3. Magnetite/Silica (Quartz): Magnetite is a magnetic iron ore often found with placer deposits; silica refers to quartz and other silicate minerals used as reference for density separation in prospecting.

4. Panning: A simple technique using water flow through sediment, allowing denser materials like gold particles to settle at the bottom of a pan.

5. Sluice Box/Long Tom: Equipment that uses flowing water and riffles (grooves) within its structure to trap heavier minerals while lighter material is washed away.

6. Mercury Use in Gold Prospecting:

   • Historically used for amalgamation, where mercury binds with gold particles forming an alloy making it easier to recover fine gold dust or flakes from sedimentary deposits.
   • However, due to its toxic nature and environmental impact, the use of mercury is strongly discouraged worldwide.
   • Start Your Own Gold Mine forbids mercury usage!

7. Placer Deposits: Naturally occurring accumulations of valuable minerals formed by gravity separation duringsediment movement in streams and riverbeds; a primary target for prospectors seeking gold nuggets or flakes.