wash ((v.))

Placer Mining

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

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1†v.

separate gold from gravel by using water.

Quotations

1862

I got some drifters and started to wash. The black sand was hard to get out of the gold.

1913

For it was on that very little stream he had washed his gold, and there his claims were situated.

1963

Panning is a simple method of recovering placer gold, but it becomes laborious if any yardage is washed.

2v.

mine by the placer method.

1900

All summer he fought mosquitoes and washed the sure-thing bars of the Stuart River for a double grub-stake.

1959

Henry said it was up to him to make a good showing and find the best places for the kids to "wash". . . .