Finding the perfect gold mat for capturing gold flakes is not always easy. However, the Dream Mat sluice’s patented Vortex technology is designed to retain the finest of particles. Learn more about how it works in the sections below.
The Vortex Dream Mat Sluiceis engineered to make use of hydro cyclone cells. This incredible design directs fine and large particles upward into the mat rather than downstream, thus escaping the bottom of the sluice box.
Please keep reading to learn how the dream mat sluice works and why it is being deemed the best sluice mat for fine gold. You’ll also discover how much the Dream Mat costs, how to set the Dream Mat with a compatible portable sluice box, and the various options available.
What Is The Vortex Dream Mat Sluice?
Table of Contents
The Vortex Dream Mat sluice is a polyurethane sluice box mat that uses advanced fluid dynamic principles to capture and hold gold flakes. The mat’s design breaks the flow of migrating particles to create reverse fluid dynamics that allow the mat to retain more gold, preventing it from escaping toward the bottom of the sluice.
You’ll notice that The Dream Mat Sluice looks pretty different from other types of miner’s moss, carpets, and mats.
The Dream Mat Sluice Design
- Special Design: The design features ridges on the surface that look much like the crests of waves. This feature creates valleys that catch gold particles and direct their flow upwards toward black sand to hold until finishing.
- Fine Material Collection: Below each crest is a small hole where the material is collected.
- The dream mat sluice pattern continues from top to bottom.
Why Is The Vortex Dream Mat So Effective?
How Does The Dream Mat Sluice Work?
The fluid dynamics of the dream mat sluice redirect gold particles upward by creating a counter-clockwise flow of migration. This design capture gold higher up in the mat and prevents it from slowly traveling downward and eventually exiting, compared to horizontal, traditional flow created by other mats.
The engineering is brilliant. The little waves on the sluice are mini hydro-cyclones commonly used in mining equipment to separate coarse and fine particles according to their size and density.
What sets the Dream Mat apart is that the design allows materials to flow back upwards. This system permits fine gold particles more opportunity to accumulate in the cells rather than flowing down and out of the sluice.
4 Tips For Using The Dream Mat Sluice
The Dream Mat Sluice is simple to set up and use, as you’ll see in the section below.
1. Find A Suitable Stream Or River
As you will see in the sections below, the dream mat is available in various sizes for every operation. In general, the fluid dynamics of the Dream Mat work best in a stream where there is proper flow (which you can test using the methods in this section.)
When gold sluicing, you should look for indicators to help ensure you have success while prospecting. Things like the color of the soil, mineral deposits, and bends in the creek are some signs to locate. For more advice, review the post: What To Look For When Panning For Gold | 5 Helpful Signs
2. Use A Dependable & Compatible Sluice Box
Dream Mat also manufactures bare sluices that are compatible with its mats. You will need to either find a suitable sluice or handcraft one yourself.
3. Set Up The Sluice To Ensure Proper Water Flow
Familiarize yourself with local regulations before doing anything else. It may even be a violation to disturb fish habitat by moving streams in some areas. Then, set up the dream mat as you would any other sluice.
- Find proper water flow and speed by making a small dam with rocks and pebbles in the stream bed.
- The appropriate angle for sluicing is typically 5-7 degrees of slope.
- Fill the sluice with water up to the top of the sides.
- Test flow rate by dropping material into the inlet. Most particles should wash free in 3-5 seconds. The heaviest particles will settle into the cells.
For more tips for using a sluice box, check out the post: How To Use Sluice Box | 3 Important Tips For Proper Set Up
4. Clean The Mat By Running It Upside Down
Clean-up is pretty simple. Just be sure to place a bucket and pan at the base of your sluice. This process allows you to collect any material that may have slipped under the mat.
How To Clean Out The Vortex Dream Mat Sluice
- You should be able to free the mat from the metal sluice by pulling up the edge and inlet ends of the mat.
- Transfer the mat, facing upwards, to a flat surface to the side while you clean out the metal sluice.
- Spray water down the metal surface of the bare sluice, collecting the water and material in a bucket at the base of the sluice.
Then you will take the bucket and the mat and transfer them to a plastic tub. Use a plastic tub to avoid losing any material. You can clean out the dream mat by simply turning it upside down into the tub. Then pan for gold, as you would normally.
4 Options Are There For The Dream Mat Sluice?
There is no shortage of choices when it comes to Dream Mat sizes. It’s imperative to know how to select the right sluice and mat if you’re a beginner. Learn more about the most popular Vortex Dream Mat products in the section below.
4 Vortex Dream Mat Sluice Options
Mini Mat 6×16
| Price | $38.95 |
| Compatible With This Sluice | Dream Mat 6 x 24 Bare Sluice |
The 6×16 Mini Mat is primed for ¼” -⅜” screened runs. Combined with the 6×24 Bare Sluice, it works excellent for backpack mining in remote locations. The affordability and low maintenance demands also make it suitable for beginners.
Dream Mat 12X35 Big Foot Sluice W/Vortex
| Price | $178.95 |
| Compatible With This Sluice | Sluice Included |
The 12×35 Big Foot Sluice is a good sluice for various conditions. Dream Mat makes its Big Foot series sluices short enough to achieve optimum slope drop quickly.
The 12″ wide sluice size is typical for gold prospecting applications.
Dream Mat 10×36 Vortex
| Price | $119.95 |
| Compatible With This Sluice | Sluice Not Included, Mat Can Be Cut To Fit The Dimensions Of Any Bare Sluice 10″ or smaller, Click Here To Check Out The Top 5 Best Portable Sluices |
The 10×36 Dream Mat is an excellent way to go if you already have a bare sluice and want to customize your equipment. The rubber material of the Dream Mat is easy to trim at home, and the 10 x 36 size makes it suitable for most applications.
6″ Mini Power Sluice Kit + Mini Dream Mat
| Price | $284.91 |
| Compatible With This Sluice | Entire Sluice Kit Included |
The 6″ Mini Power Sluice Kit is a great starter’s choice because all the necessary sluicing equipment is in the packaging. No need to match a bare sluice with a suitable mat.
A 12-volt 1200 GPH pump and a sluice stand also come with it so that you don’t have to worry about funneling the set-up to reach optimum slope drop and flow rate.
Final Thoughts
The patented design and technology of the Vortex Dream Mat can help you capture the finest gold particles. The mats are compatible, easy to clean, and surprisingly affordable.
To shop additional sizes like the 12X36 combo, Click HERE.
