Yabby Pumping For Gemstone Wash

[Lokstok]

Hi Folks,

I am in Tassie and about to purchase a yabby/bait pump to try to get into 'those spots' for potential gems where my shovel struggles to go. Does anyone else use a standard yabby pump for gathering wash for gem fossicking?... Am I wasting my money? Do they block up or fail easily? Just keen to get in a bit deeper without all the leeches hanging off my face ...it's not a good look apparently :8 :8 :8 :lol:

Cheers,

L&T.

 

[Ramjet]

No reason it won't work. I and others have used them for crevassing for gold. I found it worked well. Some have been modified. Check the link below. The blue adaptor is to convert a yabby pump to a bilge pump. Smaller opening for getting into small crack etc.

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=4066

 

[Twapster]

Should work, and last time I was gem hunting I was baron of sapphires until I shoveled under water and under a boulder. The spade was too wide to get into the cracks so I cant see why sucker pump isnt a good unit to try in those spots. A golf ball would fit inside a yabby pump and thats around 700 carat, so makes sense you could suck up a cracker!

 

[excalibur63]

Lokstok, Hi,

I haven't used a yabbi pump,as they rely on suction from the mud etc to "pull" material up the tube, given that most of the material in those crevices are alluvium I thought it wouldn't work too well.

Over the last two years or so, I have made and modified two different types of suction pumps ( there are examples on YouTube for reference). Unfortunately with very limited success, two main issues, suction & volume. To create enough suction reduction of intake diameter is required, with quite a large body (main suction chamber), actually 100mm dia. About the size if my trench shovel. It won't fit into the crevices. If the intake nozzle is too long, then this in itself restricts the volume. It's a catch 22 situation. However I'm happy to bring them along for you to try out.

Cheers
Gordon

 

[Wally69]

The proofs in the pan

I did get some PVC reducers from bunnings to make the suction more powerful and to fit into smaller spots. it works ok but if my technique is not quite right I do loose some material out of the tube on the way to the bucket. A good rubber is essential as any air leakage = loss of material

The bilge pump idea may be worth investigating.