This historic occupation involves washing river gravels and sands to separate heavy cassiterite from lighter waste rock. Streamers rely on the natural action of flowing water to concentrate the valuable minerals in valleys and drainage basins. Their work often leaves behind distinctively reworked riverbeds and piles of washed cobbles.
Heard on the job
The old streamers worked this valley floor down to the bedrock back when tin prices were booming.
Related terms
Streamwork
A surface mine where miners extract heavy minerals from alluvial deposits.
Tossing
A traditional mineral processing technique that separates heavy ore from lighter waste by violent agitation in water.
Vanning
The manual process of washing crushed ore on a shovel to evaluate its mineral content.