All About Sluices, Highbankers & Pneumatic Systems for Gold Recovery

Introduction

Mechanical recovery systems let you process more gravel than a pan alone. In Oregon, sluices are the most common, highbankers expand where water flow is limited, and pneumatic systems serve specialized low-water or fine-gold situations.

Choosing the right system depends on water availability, transport limits, and the size of gold you expect to recover.

Key Points

Sluices are the backbone of placer recovery

A sluice uses moving water to separate heavies from lighter material. Proper angle and water velocity are critical. Too much flow and gold blows out; too little and the riffles clog with sands.

Match the sluice length and riffle style to your target gold size. Expanded metal and miner moss are excellent for fine gold, while deeper riffles hold coarse gold in fast water.

Highbankers add control when water is scarce

Highbankers use a pump to deliver water to a raised sluice. This allows you to work away from the river and control water volume. In Oregon, they are useful on benches or exposed bars where you can pump from a pool.

Highbankers require more gear and fuel, so they are best when the pay is consistent and worth the setup time.

Pneumatic systems target fine gold and concentrates

Pneumatic recovery systems use air or vibration to separate fine gold, often in a controlled box or table. They are effective in arid conditions or when water is restricted.

These systems shine during cleanup stages or in areas where fines dominate. They are not as efficient for bulk processing but can recover gold that a standard sluice misses.

Setup matters more than brand

Even the best sluice fails with poor setup. Focus on leveling, feed rate, and matching material size to the riffle structure. A correctly tuned budget setup beats an expensive rig that is misaligned.

Test with known black sand and adjust the flow until heavies settle in the first third of the sluice.

Tips

• Classify material to a consistent size before feeding any system.
• Use a level to set the sluice angle; start at 1 inch drop per foot.
• Watch for gold in the first riffles to confirm proper flow.
• Clean up regularly to avoid packing riffles with clay.
• Bring spare matting and clamps for field repairs.

Conclusion

Sluices, highbankers, and pneumatic systems each solve a different prospecting problem. When you match the system to your water access and gold size, you maximize recovery and minimize wasted effort. Start with a solid sluice setup, then scale to highbankers or pneumatic systems as your locations demand.