Entry Commercial Platform

The 10-Inch Jet Suction
Placer Dredge

A production-capable commercial jet suction dredge for operators who need Shell’s proven fine gold recovery in a more compact, accessible platform. Handles up to 150 cubic yards per hour with recovery down to .006 fine gold.

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  • Up to 150 cu yd / hr
  • 3,600 yd / day
  • Recovery to .006 fine gold
  • Custom-built to your site

10″

Suction Pipe Diameter

150

Cu Yd / Hr Capacity

.006

Fine Gold Recovery

2,000:1

Largest Suction Dredge in Alaska

Overview

The 10-Inch Shell Dredge System

The Shell 10-inch dredge handles an average of 150 cubic yards of material per hour, or 3,600 yards per day. The unit digs by sucking water and gravel through a 10-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 are fed into the concentrator, while gangue is sent 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.

The 10″ Suction Dredge is best suited for operations in predominantly sandy material where consistent feed can be maintained. In areas with heavy rock content or more challenging material, the 15″ platform is the better fit and, in many cases, the only practical option for maintaining production.

10-Inch Dredge Specifications

Suction Pipe Diameter

10 inches

Processing Capacity (avg)

150 cu yd / hr

Daily Throughput (avg)

3,600 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

Five Decades of Dredge Engineering

The 10-inch platform is suited for operations that need proven jet suction performance in a more compact, accessible commercial platform.

  • Smaller commercial placer operations that need production-grade equipment without the scale commitment of a larger system.
  • Operations new to jet suction dredging looking to prove out Shell’s technology at a workable entry scale before committing to a larger platform.
  • Sites with tighter access constraints — waterways, creek systems, or pond configurations where a more compact platform is operationally appropriate.
  • Fine gold recovery priorities — operations where the primary concern is recovering flour and fine gold that conventional sluice or trommel setups are leaving in tailings.
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The Shell 10-inch platform handles an average of 150 cubic yards per hour, or 3,600 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 10-inch has a capacity of 150 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 10-inch platform in your context.

Also Available

Explore Other Shell Dredge Platforms

Not sure the 10-inch is the right fit? Compare it against our other commercial platforms.

12-Inch Dredge

Up to 300 Cu Yd / Hr · 7,200 Yd / Day

A step up in throughput for operations that need greater daily material volume and consistent commercial-scale recovery performance.

View 12-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 — 65 foot platform with 500 KW on-board power generation.

View 15-Inch

Contact Us for the 10-Inch Dredge

If you’re evaluating the 10-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