I came across this story about hydraulic sluicing operations in the Yukon. It has some interesting vision of a method we are unlikely to see in operation again in Australia. As well as gold, there are all sorts of interesting fossils in the permafrost!
http://tlas.nautil.us/video/245/gold-mining-for-profit-and-paleontology
http://tlas.nautil.us/video/245/gold-mining-for-profit-and-paleontology