Technical Description: A gold-trapping blanket (also called a gold sluice blanket or gold recovery mat) is a specialized mineral recovery material used in small-scale and industrial gold mining to capture fine and coarse gold particles from slurry or flowing water. It is typically made from durable synthetic fibers such as polypropylene or polyester, designed with a dense, textured surface (often ribbed, looped, or flocked) that enhances the trapping of heavy mineral particles. The blanket is commonly installed in sluice boxes, gold concentrators, or washing channels where water flow carries crushed ore. Its structure allows lighter materials like sand and gravel to wash away while heavier gold particles settle and become embedded in the fibers due to gravity and hydraulic action. Gold-trapping blankets are widely used in artisanal mining, alluvial gold recovery, and mineral processing operations due to their high efficiency, low cost, and ease of use.

Operation: To operate a gold-trapping blanket, it is first securely fixed inside a sluice box or recovery channel, ensuring it lies flat and is properly aligned with the direction of water flow. Crushed ore mixed with water (slurry) is then fed into the system. As the slurry flows over the blanket, the water velocity carries away lighter waste materials while heavier gold particles are trapped within the fibers of the blanket due to gravity and friction. After a set operating period, the system is stopped, and the blanket is carefully removed. It is then washed in a separate container to release the trapped gold concentrate, which is collected for further refining. For best results, the blanket should be cleaned regularly to prevent clogging and maintain high recovery efficiency, and the water flow rate should be controlled to balance effective separation and retention of fine gold particles.