The basic procedure was to place some goldbearing materials, such as river gravel, into a shallow pan, add some water, and then carefully swirl the mixture around so the water and light material spilled over the side. If all went well, the heavier gold nuggets or gold dust
Modern gold extraction techniques such as heap leaching is a new method of treating low grade gold ore by piling it into an outdoor heap, then sprinkling cyanide solution over it. Within a few weeks, the cyanide will have dissolved the gold and it runs down a sloping, impermeable pad into large sluices.
May 05, 20170183;32;Let's take the guesswork out of it with these timetested mining methods. Most prospectors depend on luck, rather than skills and knowledge to find gold. Let's take the guesswork out of it with these timetested mining methods. 77 Gold Prospecting Tips How to Find Gold Like a Pro. Rare Gold Nuggets. May 5, 2017.
Miners from Sonoran Mexico had a technique for pulverizing gold ore that required no water for the initial stages of gold processing. Called the arrastre, this system consisted of an upright axle with large spokes. Horses or mules, hooked to the outside edges of the spokes, pulled them around and around.