A massive machine used to collect
gold ore from water filled pits. The machine was built like a boat, with a long chainsaw like arm, with
Dredge Buckets attached. These buckets are larger than
car seats, made of iron. The arm scoops up the ore and deposits it on a long
sifter, built into the machine. The machine is about size of a
large house, built like a
barge. The
sifted ore is then taken to a
larger refinery, where the
gold is more precisely taken out.
These
Dredges were used commonly in
Alaska (esp.
Nome) during the
gold rush, and many of them can still be found, lying decrepid in random ponds in the country side. The
dredge buckets have been removed in some cases and used for other tasks, such as a
flower bed.