Definition

A gold shaking table is an inclined, riffled gravity separation deck that uses a reciprocating stroke and a flowing water film to stratify mineral particles. Dense particles such as liberated gold migrate into concentrate collection zones, while lighter gangue is carried to the tailings side.

Working Principle

Slurry is fed onto the deck near one corner. Wash water flows across the deck surface. The deck oscillates longitudinally, and its inclination creates a directional water flow.

Three forces interact:

1. Deck motion — the asymmetric stroke moves particles forward with each cycle

2. Water flow — transports lighter particles down the slope

3. Gravity and particle density — dense particles settle into the riffles and resist transport

Gold, with a specific gravity far higher than quartz or common gangue, behaves differently from light particles once it is liberated. The result is a fan of separation bands across the deck: heaviest material at the concentrate edge, lighter material toward the tailings edge.

Benefits

• Produces a high-grade concentrate suitable for final recovery or further refining

• Low water and power demand compared with many other separation methods

• Visible separation bands make operation and adjustment easy to observe

• Effective for fine and medium-sized liberated gold

• Reduces the mass of material needing downstream treatment

• Simple mechanical design with predictable maintenance requirements

Applications

Alluvial and placer gold. A sluice box performs roughing on large volumes, and the table cleans the resulting concentrate.

Gravity concentrate upgrading. Jig and centrifugal concentrator concentrates are cleaned on tables to raise final grade.

Hard-rock gold circuits. After grinding and liberation, tables can recover coarse free gold ahead of flotation or leaching.

Small-scale and modular plants. Small gold wash plants frequently include a table as the final cleaning stage.

Tailings re-treatment. Tables can recover residual liberated gold from gravity tailings where liberation is adequate.

Material Comparison

Application Comparison

Industry Application Matrix

Selection Guide

Match the table to the ore, not to a catalog dimension.

Ask these questions before selection:

• What is the target capacity in tonnes per hour?

• Is the feed alluvial material, a gravity concentrate, or crushed hard-rock ore?

• What is the gold particle size distribution?

• Has the gold been sufficiently liberated?

• What concentrate grade and recovery are required?

• How much water is available on site?

• Will the table run standalone or inside a complete gold processing line?

Deck dimensions and nominal capacity alone do not describe how a table will behave on a specific ore. Representative testing is the practical way to establish the right size range and operating window.

Procurement Guide

Required information: ore type, feed size distribution, clay content, target capacity, water availability, target concentrate grade, and recovery expectation.

Drawings and specifications: deck dimensions, riffle configuration, drive type, stroke range, water requirements, and installation footprint.

Material selection: deck surface and riffle material should match feed abrasiveness.

MOQ and lead time: confirm with the supplier based on configuration and destination.

Packaging and shipping: deck assemblies are sensitive to distortion; confirm crating and handling requirements.

Inspection standards: check deck flatness, drive alignment, and water distribution before commissioning.

Supplier evaluation checklist:

• Can the supplier test your ore and recommend parameters?

• Can the supplier explain liberation requirements for your deposit?

• Does the supplier provide spare riffles and deck components?

• Does the supplier have experience with your ore type?

• Can the supplier support commissioning and operator training?

Failure Analysis