Placer mining is a method of digging up rocks and soil from old stream deposits, using water to separate rocks from gold nuggets and flakes. Prospectors used flat pans to find enough gold to establish a claim. Sluice, riffle, and rocker boxes were used to work claims that showed promise. Deposits around Breckenridge were particularly rich with gold and lent themselves to more mechanized methods of placer mining. The sluice, riffle, and rocker boxes were built into boats that were floated on their own ponds. By using mechanical arms, buckets…
