Make your own mind up on .......................

[Joe S (AK)]

I do not endorse nor criticize this product - I just want to put these found-on-youtube-videos on Dream Mat for others to see and hope that folks like you might share some mid winter thoughts on it.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... mat+sluice

Have you used it yourself?
Like it or not?
Heard good or bad things on it from others?
Got thoughts on it for your specific ground?
I've seen it at Mining Shows but never have used it myself.

Whada you think? Inquirin' Minds Want To Know.

Joe

[Slatco]

I know some guys use it for cleanups from their commercial ops and like it. Have not had the chance to try it myself.

[chickenminer]

One of my gripes with the standard Gold Cube is the loss of gold I experienced with anything over
16 mesh. I always screened to 20 mesh before running through the Cube and was always pleased, except for
the tedious job of cleaning out the gold filled trays!! That conveyor belting does not like letting go of fine gold!

Last summer I replaced the standard mats on two trays in the Cube with Dream Mat. I was impressed with the
recovery even using the Cube suggested feed of 8 mesh, something I would never do with the standard mats!
The Dream mats are staying in the Cube.

I have not used any of the Dream Mats in the main boxes of my washplant, only in my cleanup operation.

Just my 2 cents on the subject.

[Geowizard]

My two bits worth,

I don't confuse commercial mining with recreational gimmicks. Time is money. I don't spend time fiddling with and "testing" all of the possible dream machines, dream mats etc. on my dime.

Life is too short and money is even shorter! Gold mining is a mature science at this point. Our forefathers found what worked,and went to work!

- Geowizard

[Fleng]

First of all thanks Joe for posting this product. It seems to offer a very practical alternative to other concentrating surfaces. Being light and flexible it would travel very well. I found this video comparison to the Gold Cube conveyor matting interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-TqQz24Vck

I'll probably try it in my trip to Nome this year.

[Joe S (AK)]

Well Sir, I've been there and done that on the "...trip to Nome" thing. Beach mining or possibly GPAA?
You would be well advised to bring two VERY fine mesh classifiers (at least one 40 or 60 mesh one) and search out someone when you arrive to teach you how to pan all over again. Also - bring a few heavy gauge, medium trash can liner bags and a couple of large USPO "Flat Rate" shipping boxes. Last I heard was that there was a 70 pound limit on those boxes and carefully double bagging (with duct tape) dry ultra, ultra, ultra concentrates will help with EXTREMELY time consuming pan-outs. Just send the ultra, ultra, dry cons back from the post office in "downtown" Nome just before you leave. Realize you will be searching for just Black Sands (locally called Ruby Sands due to the presence of Garnet powder) to run through your equipment. If I was going back the Gold Hog mats would be high on my list.
If you work the beach consider trying the barrier vegetation (which acts like Miners' Moss during storm surges). At that boundary area storm wave water brings slurry up and the vegetation slows the surge coming in just enough that Gold drops and the returning slowed water washes the light sands back to the beach and the sea. Look for Ruby Sand "lenses" or "shadows" in drift wood piles and around larger rocks.
If you want more "hard learned tips" PM me.
Best of fortune!
Joe

[Fleng]

I appreciate those suggestions and anyone else who might like to chime in.

[Joe S (AK)]

Fleng - My contact info just sent - somehow it never made it in my earlier long and windy PM to you.

Joe