The idea behind sampling is to minimize risk. Therefore, under many circumstances, it is wise to first verify that a viable deposit exists on a property before a substantial investment is made into production equipment.

So generally-speaking, a production operation costs more to set up and involves more gear and supplies to move around and put into place. The logistical infrastructure to support a production operation is usually more substantial and costly than what would normally be required to just go in somewhere for a short sampling program.

Production-equipment is commonly larger and is more expensive to purchase and move around. Generally, the idea is to minimize investment into a particular mining property until a viable deposit has been located and verified. Then you launch into a production program to recover the gold or other valuable minerals from the deposit. How to outfit a suction dredging project, to a large degree, comes back to how you would answer the following questions:ġ) What am I trying to accomplish ( sampling, production, or both)?Ĥ) How much of a budget is available for acquisition of equipment and for operational start-up costs?Ī gold (and/or gemstone) mining project basically should to be looked at in two separate steps: First you sample to locate a viable deposit.

1.5 inch suction dredge nozzle