A power sluice, sometimes called a highbanker or hibanker, is a piece of gold prospecting equipment that uses a pump to force water through a sluice box to mimic the natural flow of a stream. Sometimes a hopper box with spray bars and a classifier screen (or grizzly) is employed. The gravel is added slowly by shovel into the hopper box and washed over a classifier screen to remove pieces of rock that are too large to go through the sluice.

The water pump can be either electric or gas powered. If the unit is designed to catch and recirculate the water it is called a recirculating power sluice, or recirculating hibanker. These are generally powered by 12 volt batteries available at Walmart for around $19.

Benefits of highbankers:

Rather than haul material to the water, you can bring a lightweight, efficient power sluice to the source. The power sluice can work remote placer deposits hundreds of feet away from the water source. In the case of recirculating units they can be operated in desert areas with very little water.

The typical hopper design washes clay and debris with a high pressure washing spray bar and all washed material becomes classified to less than 1/2 inch for impoved recovery of smaller gold. The spray bar may be equipped with a water valve for ease of controlling the flow in the sluice.

The sluice box itself is constructed like a normal stream sluice except it is equipped with an adjustable independent leg support system that enables the power sluice to be assembled on any type of terrain in a matter of minutes.

Combination Dredge / Power Sluice:

If a power sluice uses a high pressure gasoline engine it is relatively easy to adapt it so that it can also function as a small dredge. Combining the popular power sluice and portable dredge creates an efficient recovery system that can be used in most any situation. Typically these dredges have 1 1/2 to 3 inch suction nozzles and are designed to work in shallow water without the need of underwater diving equipment or air compressors (hookas).

The sluice box may also be modified for dredging with deeper Hungarian style riffles to accommodate the increased water flow and velocity. Other modifications can include adding miners moss or special carpets and ribbed rubber matting to catch fine gold.

See more highbanking for gold tips below.

Highbankers and small recirculating sluices from Gold Buddy and Micro-Sluice are available below.

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