Trunk

nounStandard termMining

A wooden flume or sluice box used to wash fine ores and separate them from waste mud.

This traditional processing apparatus consists of an inclined trough where a stream of water washes crushed ore. The flowing water carries away lighter waste slimes while the heavier, valuable mineral particles settle to the bottom. It is an early form of gravity separation heavily used in historic tin and gold surface operations.

Heard on the job

Keep the water flow steady through the trunk or you'll wash all the fine gold right out the tail.