What is alluvial gold mining?

Precious gold deposits are commonly found in alluvial deposits, or in the sand and gravel of river and stream beds, and are the subject of alluvial mining.

An area well protected from the flow of water is a good location to find gold. Over time, alluvial gold deposits occur when a river runs through ground that is rich in gold. The water erodes the surrounding rocks due to its comparative low density, but the gold being heavy resists movement and gradually settles in the bed.

The first step in the environmentally friendly process of mining gold is to separate the dredged river bed material from the small sand faction where the gold is found. Physical separation techniques such as screening and gravity separation are used to separate the gold from the mineral fraction.

Alluvial gold mining is the process of extracting gold from placer deposits, which are formed by the accumulation of gold particles in rivers, streams, and other water bodies. This type of mining involves using simple tools such as pans, sluice boxes, and dredges to separate gold from the surrounding sediment and gravel. Alluvial gold mining is typically carried out in areas where gold has been eroded from its original source and deposited in concentrations within riverbeds or floodplains. It is often considered less environmentally disruptive than other forms of mining, as it does not require extensive excavation or the use of chemicals.