MP-1979.111.184 | Sluicing, Blake's Claim & party, Buster Creek, Nome, Alaska, 1900
Sluicing, Blake's Claim & party, Buster Creek, Nome, Alaska, 1900
Edwin Tappan Adney
1900, 20th century
Silver salts on film - Gelatin silver process
16 x 21 cm
MP-1979.111.184
© McCord Museum
Description
Keywords: event (534) , History (944) , Industry (942) , Photograph (77678)
Keys to History
There is a sluice-box on the left in this picture, but the three men are using a rocker box. This was used where water was scarce, or in dry periods, because it took less water than a sluice-box. Water and dirt were poured into the top of the box, which was then rocked back and forth. The water and dirt would fly out, leaving the gold at the bottom. The principle was the same as the gold pan, only on a larger scale. It was a very early technique in North American gold mining.
Source : Off to the Klondike! The Search for Gold [Web tour], by William R. Morrison, University of Northern British Columbia (see Links)
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What
These are two of the basic tools used in placer mining: a sluice-box and a rocker box.
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Where
The men are working on Buster Creek, Alaska.
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When
The photo dates from the gold rush to Nome, 1900.
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Who
H. L. Blake and his partners are pouring gold-bearing dirt into a rocker box.
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