The simple sluice box is not used much in the desert since these are placed in a stream with running water. However these form an integral part of other equipment such as rockers, high bankers and dry washers. The material to be run is usually passed through a classifier before putting it in the sluice. The type, size, shape, angle and spacing of the riffles depend on the usage and manufacturer. There has been some research into riffle design, for instance “An Analysis of Sluicebox Riffle Performance”, 1990 – by R. Clarkson, P. Eng. – New Era Engineering Corp., can be downloaded from the Yukon Geological Survey Publications page or ordered as a reprint. Several other publications are also available for download.
