Sluicing in the Tanana District, Alaska, circa 1904 (AL+CA 6010)

Caption on image: Sluicing in the Tanana District.
PH Coll 413.Album 2.28
A sluice box is essentially a man made channel with riffles set in the bottom. The riffles are designed to create dead zones in the current to allow gold to drop out of suspension. The box is placed in the stream to channel water flow. Gold-bearing material is placed at the top of the box. The material is carried by the current through the volt where gold and other dense material settles out behind the riffles. Less dense material flows out of the box as tailings.
Subjects (LCTGM): Miners--Alaska; Sluices--Alaska; Mining camps--Alaska; Group portraits