Gold dredging
 

I dredged Alaska on a 10 inch dredge and never had less than 1.5 ounces per day.

It was a Precision. Had a boat. Cleaned up every day with a jig.

Had about 100 workin days. 2 divers, 4 hours each and a dredge tender on top.

The high grade was exsposed fractured bedrock, that you could suck up 2 feet deep worth, as it was fractured and rotten. I was amazed.

And ran it with a single vw motor as we only went as deep as 6 feet.

Re: Gold dredging
 

Also, we thru very few rocks, as the river was not boulder bound.

Suction was great. and we went to 10 feet Max.

Re: Gold dredging
 

Do you have pictures. Love to see how it works.

E-A

Re: Gold dredging
 

See how what works?

Re: Gold dredging
 

I'd guess the Dredging rig and stuff you were describing above....

Re: Gold dredging
 

I dont have a scanner or a digitsl camera to put in the computer.

Maybe I should get up on that. The wife can do it , but shes away at the University workin on her phd. shell be home soon , I'll ask her to help.

You can PM me if you want more info.

Re: Gold dredging
 

was it your own claim? or public use land?

how was that water temp? freeze your butt off?
:proud:

Thats a pretty good haul, worth an extended summer vacation up north during the summer, pay for the trip and then some.

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Re: Gold dredging
 

4 people splitting up 1.5 ounces a day? Seems like a small reward for the amount of work. Or, was the 1.5 ounces your cut?

Re: Gold dredging
 

The most popular type of dredge consists of a float system on which is mounted a gasoline engine (or two), a high pressure water pump, a "jet" or "venturi" system that together with the high pressure water pump creates trememdous suction in the suction hose that is used to littlerly vacuum up bottom materials, low-pressure air compressors to provide air to the diver(s), and a sluice box designed to separate out the most dense materials and wash the lighter ones back into the water.

The "size" of a dredge is determined by the inside diameter of the suction hose. Thus the 10" dredged mentioned above has a suction hose that is 10" in diameter...and it is very dangerous. It will suction and break a divers arm if it's inadvertently stuck in front of the nozzle.

One and two person operations utilize 2-5" dredges. Size to use is determined by the distance and type of terrain over which it has to be moved to get it to the "creek", and by how much water is available in the waterway to be worked. The bigger the dredge the more water it takes to operate it.

4" is the most popular for "weekend" and "recreational" miners, and is the largest size dredge a person would want to use in a single man operation -which is never advised. 6" size dredges and larger IMO are commercial dredges. 8" & larger dredges are actually barge-like...you can walk around on 'em.