Panning: This was the simplest and most common method. Miners would use a shallow pan to sift through loose soil or gravel, allowing the heavier gold particles to settle at the bottom. They would then carefully separate the gold from the other materials.
Rocking: This method was similar to panning but involved using a larger, rocker-type device. The rocker was filled with soil or gravel and then rocked back and forth to separate the gold.
Sluicing: This method involved using a long, inclined sluice box filled with water. Miners would shovel soil or gravel into the upper end of the sluice, and the flowing water would carry the lighter material away, leaving behind the heavier gold particles.
Long-Tom: This was a variation of sluicing that used a longer and wider sluice box. It was often used in areas with less water flow.
Hydraulicking: This method used high-powered streams of water to break down and wash away large amounts of soil and gravel, exposing the gold beneath.
Drift Mining: This method was used to extract gold from underground veins or seams. Miners would dig shafts or tunnels into the earth and then use various techniques to extract the gold, including drilling and blasting.