Freddy Dodge and Juan Ibarra Overhaul Aging Wash Plant in Eastern Nevada

Old Chute Replaced with Modern Sluice System

In Eastern Nevada, Freddy Dodge and Juan Ibarra were called in to help miner Mike upgrade his 20-year-old wash plant, which was failing to retain fine gold. The core issue stemmed from a narrow 9-inch steel chute that channeled material too quickly for gold to settle. To solve this, Freddy replaced it with a 22-inch sluice box, giving the gold more room and time to separate from the slurry.

The new sluice included expanded metal riffles, which significantly improve fine gold capture by slowing water flow and fanning out the material. The upgrade marked a complete transition from a simple transfer chute to a fully functional gold recovery sluice.

Debris-Clogged Trommel Modified with Spray System

Another critical problem was the dewatering trommel. It was heavily clogged with debris, allowing fine gold to be carried up the conveyor belt and lost with the tailings. To address this, the team installed a high-pressure spray bar to flush out packed material and keep water circulating through the punch plate and rotating barrel.

Freddy also tapped into Mike’s water supply, modifying the main line with valves and hoses to ensure sufficient pressure reached the spray bar. This addition greatly improved the cleanliness of the material before it reached the sluice runs.

Final Sluice Upgrades for Fine Gold Recovery

At the end of the wash plant, the “final chance” sluices were underperforming due to nugget riffles that packed up easily and allowed fine gold to flow over. Freddy replaced these with custom fine gold riffles made from expanded metal to increase retention.

The new riffles were tested and adjusted to ensure optimal clearance and flow. Despite time constraints, the team completed the upgrades before a planned 4-hour production run.

Test Run Results: 37% Increase in Gold Recovery

After the overhaul, the plant was run for four hours to test the impact of the modifications. The results were substantial. A previous test yielded 1.6 ounces of gold. After Freddy and Juan’s upgrades, the same duration produced 2.2 ounces—a 37% increase in recovery.

Extrapolated over a 100-day season, the upgraded plant could now recover up to 440 ounces of gold, potentially worth over $340,000. The improvements not only salvaged Mike’s season but positioned him for long-term profitability.