Mid-Scale Commercial Platform

The 12-Inch Jet Suction
Placer Dredge

A versatile mid-scale commercial jet suction dredge for operations that need greater throughput and consistent fine gold recovery at commercial scale. Handles up to 250 cubic yards per hour with recovery down to .006 fine gold.

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  • Up to 250 cu yd / hr
  • 6,000 yd / day
  • Recovery to .006 fine gold
  • Custom-built to your site

12″

Suction Pipe Diameter

250

Cu Yd / Hr Capacity

.006

Fine Gold Recovery

2,000:1

Concentration Ratio

  • Dredge equipment construction3
  • Dredge equipment construction and assembly at Shell Dredging1
  • 15-inch commercial suction dredge under construction4
  • 15-inch commercial suction dredge under construction3
  • Dredge equipment
  • Dredge equipment construction4
Overview

The 12-Inch Shell Dredge System

The Shell 12-inch dredge handles an average of 250 cubic yards of material per hour, or 6,000 yards per day. The unit digs by sucking water and gravel through a 12-inch pipe using a unique jet principle that moves material without a conventional sand pump.

Water and material are dumped into a flume and washed over a grizzly. Sand and mineral particles feed into the concentrator while gangue goes to tailings. Upon completion of the cycle, mineral particles are concentrated at a minimum ratio of 2,000:1, producing a concentrate with significant recoverable gold value per ton.

Like all Shell dredges, the 10-inch is designed and custom-built to adapt to your individual property needs — configured around your water conditions, material type, depth, and production goals before construction begins.

12-Inch Dredge Specifications

Suction Pipe Diameter

12 inches

Processing Capacity (avg)

250 cu yd / hr

Daily Throughput (avg)

6,000 yd / day

Fine Gold Recovery

.006 fine

Concentration Ratio

2,000:1 minimum

Cutter-Head Pressure

5,000 PSI

Sand Pump Required

No

Custom-Built

Yes

Ideal Applications

Who the 12-Inch Dredge Is Best For

The 12-inch platform is suited for operations that need mid-scale commercial throughput with the same fine gold recovery performance as the larger Shell platforms.

  • Commercial placer operations that need more daily throughput than the 10-inch platform and are not yet at the scale requiring the 15-inch system.
  • Operations scaling from smaller equipment looking to increase production capacity while maintaining Shell’s integrated fine gold recovery performance.
  • Varied material conditions — the 12-inch platform offers flexibility for operations working across different material types, water depths, and seasonal access windows.
  • Mine operators benchmarking larger systems — the 12-inch is a proven mid-scale option for operators who want Shell’s commercial performance before committing to a 15-inch platform.
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The Shell 12-inch platform handles an average of 250 cubic yards per hour, or 6,000 yards per day under normal operating conditions. Actual throughput will vary based on material type, water conditions, and site specifics.

A conventional suction dredge relies on a sand pump to move material through the pipe. Shell’s jet principle uses water pressure to create suction and transport material without a pump — reducing mechanical complexity, maintenance costs, and points of material loss.

Shell’s concentrator/classifier system recovers gold down to .006 fine at a 2,000:1 concentration ratio. This level of fine gold recovery significantly outperforms conventional sluice box or trommel setups, which commonly lose fine and flour gold to tailings.

Yes. Every Shell dredge is designed and built to your individual property requirements. We configure the system around your water conditions, material type, depth, access constraints, and production goals before construction begins.

The three Shell platforms differ primarily in suction pipe diameter and throughput capacity. The 12-inch sits at 250 cubic yards per hour. See the full model comparison on our Dredges overview page.

Requirements vary by configuration and site. Contact Shell Dredging to discuss your specific operation — we’ll help you understand crew, power, water depth, and site access requirements for the 12-inch platform in your context.

Also Available

Explore Other Shell Dredge Platforms

Not sure the 12-inch is the right fit? Compare it against our other commercial platforms.

10-Inch Dredge

Up to 150 Cu Yd / Hr · 4,800 Yd / Day

Shell’s entry commercial platform — the same jet suction technology and fine gold recovery at a more compact scale.

View 10-Inch

15-Inch Dredge

Up to 400 Cu Yd / Hr · 9,600 Yd / Day

Shell’s flagship large-scale platform. Currently the largest suction dredge in Alaska — 123 feet long with 500 KW on-board power generation.

View 15-Inch
View Full Model Comparison

Contact Us for the 12-Inch Dredge

If you’re evaluating the 12-inch platform for a placer mining operation, Shell Dredging can help you work through the configuration, site requirements, and production expectations. Every system is custom-built — tell us about your project.

Get in Touch

Colorado HQ
303-278-1272
Alaska Office
907-519-7888
Email
info@shelldredging.com
Request a Consultation