Nestable highbanker

A highbanker for use with sluice mats to separate heavier metals from placer deposit using water, the highbanker comprising:

• a hopper assembly for accepting placer deposit and water;
• a trough assembly for receiving placer deposit and water from the hopper assembly, the trough assembly comprising:
• a first trough section comprising a first surface, wherein the first trough section is pivotably connected to the hopper assembly;
• a second trough section comprising a second surface, wherein the second trough section is removably attachable to the first trough section;
• a brace member comprising two brace arms;
• and
• a plurality of legs removably attachable to the trough assembly;
• wherein the highbanker may be arranged in an assembled configuration or a nested configuration;
• wherein in the assembled configuration, the second trough section is attached to the first trough section so that the first surface and the second surface define a substantially continuous surface for accepting the sluice mats, the brace member engages with the hopper assembly, and each of the brace arms engages with both the first trough section and the second trough section;
• and
• wherein in the nested configuration, the second trough section is nested within the first trough section.