Abstract: A system and method for separating an electrically conductive particulate material, such as gold, from other materials. A ferromagnetic core is formed in a torroidal-like shape and is provide with a gap. A coil is wound around the core and an alternating current is applied to the coil to induce an alternating magnetic field at the gap. A stream of particles is directed into the gap. The frequency of the alternating current is set according to the specific resistivity of the particulate material which is to be separated from the rest of the material and according to the size of the particles which are to be separated from the rest of the material. By properly adjusting or setting the frequency of the alternating magnetic field, the first particles are imparted a trajectory which is different than the trajectory of the second particles in the particle stream.