Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating heavy materials from ore, the apparatus having a hopper or sluice box open at its top and defining a discharge opening on one side. Spaced, parallel pipes extend across the hopper adjacent, but above, the bottom of the sluice box, the pipes having holes which direct the water sidewise toward the adjacent pipes. The holes of adjacent pipes are staggered with respect to each other. Shields or spreaders, disposed over the top portions of the pipes, protect the pipes from the ore which is charged into the open hopper, these spreaders directing the ore between the sprays of water to produce a slurry which passes out of the side discharge opening over a riffle or extractor, providing a downwardly inclined series of spaced parallel, transversely extending, upright barriers which snare and retain the heavy materials, such as gold and black sand. A plurality of these sluice boxes and ripples are juxtaposed on the flat bed of a truck. A common pump supplies water to the sluice boxes.