Funnel box

nounStandard termMining

A tapered wooden or metal vessel used to settle out fine ore particles from a water slurry.

A gravity separation apparatus used in mineral processing to collect finely crushed ore suspended in water. As the slurry enters the wide top of the funnel, the water velocity drops, allowing heavy mineral grains to sink and concentrate at the narrow bottom discharge, while lighter waste flows over the rim.

Heard on the job

Adjust the flow rate into the funnel box so we don't wash the fine gold straight over the lip.