Mining in Manitoba 

Hydraulicking 

Surface Mining Methods

• Panning

• Sluicing

• Dredging

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In hydraulic mining, or "hydraulicking," a stream of water under great pressure is directed against the base of the placer gravel bank using pipes and large nozzles called giants. The water caves the bank, disintegrates the gravel, and washes the broken material to and through sluice boxes situated in convenient positions downslope.<./p>

Hydraulic mining totally disturbs large surface areas, puts much loose debris into the drain age system, and involves large surface water runoff that may cause substantial damage downstream. Many of the western States passed laws years ago to closely control "hydraulicking," and few substantial deposits of placer gravel remain that could be mined economically within the restraints of this legislation.