Question for you beach miners -- salt water

[Bodfish Mike]

Thinking of doing a small recirculating set up, the creek I was using last year
Is not flowing yet -- so have any of you used salt water in your set up.
I'm aware salt water has more buoyancy but was thinking it would all be relative.

Stuff Ill be working it's on clay

Set up Ill be using

 

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[mytimetoshine]

Thinking of doing a small recirculating set up, the creek I was using last year
Is not flowing yet -- so have any of you used salt water in your set up.
I'm aware salt water has more buoyancy but was thinking it would all be relative.

Stuff Ill be working it's on clay
View attachment 1534468
Set up Ill be using
View attachment 1534469

Interesting thought. It never occured to me that salt water would float more gold but it makes sense

 

[trdking]

Time to start bringing a salt shaker with ya

 

[Bonaro]

Salt water is about 2.5% heavier than fresh water, due to the dissolved salt. It is also slightly thicker (viscous). Salt water will do a couple things to your process. First, the gold will be slightly more buoyant so it could float the smaller gold more easily. The increased viscosity will also tend to put the gold in motion to a slightly higher degree. These are very small changes and if you just slow down your process a bit you should be fine.

If you collect your saltwater from the surf it will be loaded with living and dead organic matter. This can goo up the process some. If you dig a hole in the sand and collect the water that seeps in, it will be will be a lot cleaner than the foamy surf water. Dont forget a shot of Jet-Dry.

 

[et1955]

Thinking of doing a small recirculating set up, the creek I was using last year
Is not flowing yet -- so have any of you used salt water in your set up.
I'm aware salt water has more buoyancy but was thinking it would all be relative.

Stuff Ill be working it's on clay
View attachment 1534468
Set up Ill be using
View attachment 1534469

An object floating on salt water has more buoyancy versus the same object on fresh water but it also depends what dissolved solids are in the fresh water too. If possible please clarify your question, are you going to be beach mining or are you going to add salt to fresh water to run your recirculating system.

 

[johnedoe]

Think Nome.........

Saltwater works just fine. It is a little foamy but if you have your equipment dialed in you will be just fine using saltwater. Try to minimize the splashing in the transition from spray bar to sluice surface to reduce the bubbles.
I was in Nome for a couple years back in the early 80s....... If I only knew then what I know now.....

Looks like pretty good sand too..... Keep us updated on your results.

 

[goldhog]

Good video to watch...
Ray and the boys are on the beach and only work salt water and have mostly 100 - 300 mesh gold.
I think in this video he ran 6 hours and got 19 grams.
Doc

 

[johnedoe]

Good video to watch...
Ray and the boys are on the beach and only work salt water and have mostly 100 - 300 mesh gold.
I think in this video he ran 6 hours and got 19 grams.
Doc

That's great but we can't do that kind of production down here.......... The powers that be would be craping down both legs...... Their's and ours.

 

[Bodfish Mike]

Thanks for all the advice gentleman --- however I don't think I'll use salt water because as of last night my rain gauge
has recorded 3" and it's still raining so the little creek should be running.
Thanks again for the tips
cheers Mike

 

[johnedoe]

It's always nice to know you have options.......