Mining it old school

This artist’s concept of the dredge used in mining gold in the Scott River Valley is based on a 1930s postcard illustration. The hull and 120-foot stacker conveyor totaled about 100 yards in length. The hull had a 10-foot draft. At the front of the barge, a 76-unit rotating bucket line dug up the river bottom and as much of the shoreline as possible, sometimes re-routing the river in the process. Electric power was provided by a hydroelectric plant located 60 miles away. The dredge handled up to 9,000 cubic yards per day in three eight-hour shifts. Richard S. Moore of Callahan, Calif.-based Moores Gravel provided information about the gold dredging operations and equipment.

Carl Emigh is a freelance writer specializing in the construction materials market.