more soil questions, noob strikes again! Options

[fenixsmom]

So I've been digging at this river for a few days and I've noticed some interesting soil deposits. I'm wondering if they are even worth my time. In one area there is an eroding man made rock slide area that backs to a willow covered plain. I went digging into it today and found a decomposing vegitation/mud/black sand layer underneath there I found a rusty sandy lome layer. It seems to be untouched by others judging by the red stained rocks I went through.
There is another section I played in across the river where there is a dark black sand area that has black stained rocks with silver streaks running through the stones. Above the dark sand area is a normal river sand layer.
Do either of these sound like it's better to dig through? Or if I need to provide more information?

[swizz]

Nice! That one has very similar proportions to my mount, very nice. Sometimes they're snakey when they get that big, great catch!
Generally speaking, a river or creek sluice will not serve you well as a final processing (home) sluice. Each are designed for different classes of material and entirely different flow rates.
I have a very good little gutter sluice that was made for final processing. It came with nice rubber Keene riffle matting, about 4" wide. It runs well on any small 12V bilge pump and can be set up recycling water on a big RubberMaid tub or something, even 5gal buckets. It's designed for #30 mesh or smaller material and spoon-fed. Works really well but only for final processing the #30 or smaller concentrate collected from a river sluice.
I don't use it anymore and will gladly donate it to your pursuit, but only IF you can get your better half to git ya a river sluice.
... or cash in your loose change and spring for an inexpensive Angus MacKirk creek sluice for the field, under $50 and work great.... "drop-riffle", no carpeting or mat to fuss about.
just kidding about forcing your hubby to git ya a crick sluice - I'll gladly send you this processing sluice. I really don't use it anymore in my process and it's collecting dust. It begs to go to a new home and I think you'd get some use out of it. All you'd need is a small 12V pump which you could power at home with a battery or battery charger.
It's yours iffn you want it.