Nugget Trap Mats

The Nugget Trap Mat is designed, by Samuel Morgan, with deep, aggressive riffles that create powerful vortex action to capture and hold nuggets, pickers, and fine gold. Engineered for serious prospectors who demand maximum recovery in high-flow conditions.

Built with heavy-duty construction to withstand rugged river environments, this mat excels at trapping coarse gold while maintaining excellent fine gold retention. The specialized riffle pattern creates multiple capture zones that prevent gold from washing downstream.

Made in the USA with premium materials for long-lasting performance in the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sluice boxes does this mat fit?

The Nugget Trap Mat is designed to fit our sluice boxes with removable mat systems, including the Gold Tester Mini Sluice, Golden Moss 3.0, Golden Tsunami and Gold Country. Check the variant options above for specific dimensions to match your sluice box interior width. The mat can be trimmed if needed for custom sizing.

How deep are the riffles?

Our Nugget Trap Mats feature deep riffles specifically engineered to create strong vortex action. The riffle depth is optimized to capture nuggets and chunky gold while maintaining excellent fine gold recovery. The aggressive design works best in moderate to high-flow conditions.

What material is this mat made from?

This mat is constructed from heavy-duty, UV-resistant material designed to withstand harsh river conditions, rocks, and constant water flow. It's built to last multiple seasons of hard prospecting use.

How do I clean out the gold?

To clean your Nugget Trap Mat, remove it from your sluice and place it in a clean bucket or tub. Gently agitate and rinse with water to release the gold and black sand concentrates. Work slowly - the deep riffles hold material securely, so take your time to ensure complete recovery.

What water flow rate works best?

The Nugget Trap Mat performs optimally in moderate to high-flow conditions. You want enough flow to create good vortex action in the riffles without washing material over the top. Adjust your sluice angle to achieve a steady flow where you can see the riffles working but material isn't being pushed downstream.

Can I use this mat with fine gold or just nuggets?

While the name emphasizes nugget capture, this mat excels at recovering both coarse and fine gold. The deep riffle design creates multiple capture zones - the aggressive riffles trap nuggets and pickers, while the vortex action holds fine gold and flour gold in the lower zones.

Do I need to use miner's moss or carpet underneath?

The Nugget Trap Mat is designed to work as a standalone matting system. However, some prospectors choose to add miner's moss or ribbed carpet underneath for additional fine gold insurance, especially in known fine gold areas. This is optional based on your preferences and local conditions.

How do I install this in my sluice?

Simply cut the mat to fit your sluice box dimensions if needed, then lay it in your sluice with the riffles running perpendicular to water flow. Secure the edges to prevent lifting. Some prospectors use small screws or clips at the corners. Make sure the mat sits flat with no gaps where gold could escape.

Is this mat suitable for dredging operations?

Yes, the Nugget Trap Mat works well in dredge sluices. The heavy-duty construction handles the higher volumes and flow rates typical of dredging. Many dredge operators use this mat in their sluice boxes for superior gold recovery.

How often should I clean out the mat during a prospecting session?

This depends on your material volume and gold concentration. In rich areas with heavy black sand, check every 30-60 minutes. In lighter material, you can run longer. Watch for material building up over the riffles - when you see concentrates starting to wash over instead of dropping into the riffles, it's time to clean out.