Pike's Landing in College in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

Sluice Box

"Fairbanks Gold Rush"

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 18, 2024

1. Sluice Box Marker

Inscription.
Long Tom Long Toms were a type of sluice box that was very common in the old mining areas. They were set at a steeper angle than the standard sluice ox, so they were good for areas that had limited water. These were often very long and were used by multiple operators who would shovel material into the box.

Since they used less water, long toms were more labor intensive. Operators would have to manually break apart dirt and clays, remove rocks, and other debris.

How it Works 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 box where gold and other dense material settles out behind the riffles. Less dense material flows out of the box as tailings.

How the Early-Day Miners Sluiced for Gold During the major gold rushes of the 1800 & 1900s, the miners did not have the conveniences of modern design and technology like we have today.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Things like the modern sluice box that we use today were not available to them, so generally it was much more labor-intensive to set up a placer mining operation. While today's sluice boxes are lightweight and portable, the old-timers often had to spend considerable time setting up their placer mining operations.

They generally built them using the only material available to them while they were in the field, which was wood. They would build long sluices anchored in place and would have some type of riffles, generally pieces of wood perpendicular to the flow of water to catch the gold.

Once an area was worked out, they may have salvaged the material and transported it to nearby placers, but often they would just abandon them in place. These old sluices are now rotted away, and have left behind thousands of square nails.

Erected by Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 64° 50.035′ N, 147° 50.897′ W. Marker is in College, Alaska,

Sluice Box and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 18, 2024

2. Sluice Box and Marker

in Fairbanks North Star Borough. It is in Pike's Landing. It can be reached from Pikes Landing Road. Marker and mock sluice box are near the covered entrance to the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4477 Pikes Landing Road, Fairbanks AK 99709, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Alaska Railroad Corridor,

in the Athabascan Region,

and in Interior Alaska.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Welcome to Fairbanks (a few steps from this marker); Alaska vs the "Lower 48" (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Welcome to our Chef's garden! (about 300 feet away); Historic Fairbanks (about 400 feet away); Reindeer & Caribou (about 400 feet away); Pipeline (about 400 feet away); Cordelia Karshner (about 500 feet away); Laura Foster O'Flanagan

Mock Sluice Box image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 18, 2024

3. Mock Sluice Box

(about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in College.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 23, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 582 times since then and 142 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 23, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.