Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Gold Sorter

🎯 Role Definition

The Gold Sorter is responsible for visually and mechanically separating gold and other precious metals from ore, concentrates, and tailings using hand-sorting techniques, optical and sensor-based sorters, and gravity separation equipment. This role requires meticulous attention to detail, consistent application of quality control and safety procedures, and the ability to document, communicate, and escalate sample and equipment issues. A successful Gold Sorter will support throughput and recovery targets while minimizing contamination and material loss.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Mining Labourer / General Plant Operator
Panning or Assay Assistant
Mineral Processing Assistant

Advancement To:

Senior Sorter / Lead Gold Sorter
Assay Technician or Metallurgical Technician
Process Technician or Plant Supervisor
Quality Control / Production Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

Optical/XRT Sorting Technician
Equipment Maintenance Technician
Inventory & Materials Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform meticulous hand-sorting and manual separation of visible gold and high-value mineral particles from ore, concentrates, and sluice outputs using tweezers, magnification tools, pans, and trays, ensuring minimal loss and maximum recovery for each shift.
Operate, monitor and adjust sensor-based sorting equipment (optical sorters, X-ray transmission (XRT) sorters, near-infrared sensors) to optimize recovery rates and reject percentages while following manufacturer guidelines and process recipes.
Conduct gravity concentration processes using shakers, sluice boxes, centrifuges, jigs, and tables; set and tune flow rates, feed rates, and deck parameters to maximize gold capture and minimize carryover.
Prepare and bag assay samples accurately, labeling with batch IDs, weights, and sample location metadata; complete chain-of-custody documentation and deliver samples to the assay lab on schedule.
Inspect incoming ore and concentrate feed visually and via instruments for impurities, tramp metal, and foreign matter; segregate suspect material for additional processing or assay.
Accurately weigh, record and reconcile sorted gold concentrates, tailings, and rejects using calibrated scales; maintain daily and shift logs in both paper and electronic formats for audit readiness.
Perform routine pre-shift and post-shift equipment checks, including conveyor belts, feeders, vibratory screens and sorter optics; log maintenance needs and coordinate with maintenance teams to minimize downtime.
Follow and enforce strict safety procedures including PPE usage, lockout-tagout (LOTO), confined space rules, and chemical handling protocols when working with reagents and cleaning agents.
Execute quality control checks at defined intervals (e.g., subsample assays, visual inspections) and implement corrective actions when recovery or purity metrics fall outside specified tolerances.
Troubleshoot and resolve common sorting issues such as misfeeds, sensor blockages, false positives/negatives on optical systems, and mechanical jams, escalating complex issues to engineering or maintenance.
Calibrate and clean optical and sensor heads, conveyors and weighing systems to maintain detection sensitivity and measurement accuracy; document calibration events and results.
Maintain high standards of housekeeping in the sorting area, including spill management, dust control, and proper segregation of high-grade material to prevent contamination and theft risk.
Apply basic metallurgical knowledge to recommend processing adjustments (e.g., particle size, moisture content) that improve sorting efficiency and gold liberation.
Monitor and manage the flow of material through the sorting line to maintain consistent throughput, avoid overloading downstream processes, and achieve daily production targets.
Adhere to site security procedures, including restricted-area access, material handling protocols, and reporting of suspicious activity or inventory discrepancies.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives by recording process metrics, suggesting workflow optimizations, and supporting trial runs of new sorting algorithms or equipment settings.
Train, mentor and supervise junior sorters and temporary staff on sorting techniques, safety protocols, and quality requirements to maintain consistent team performance.
Collaborate with assay laboratory staff, metallurgists and process engineers to analyze recovery data, reconcile assays, and refine sorting parameters based on analytical feedback.
Record and report production, recovery and reject statistics daily and weekly; present concise summaries to shift supervisors to support decision making and KPI tracking.
Manage consumables and small spare parts inventory for sorting equipment; request replacements proactively to avoid unscheduled stoppages.
Follow environmental and waste-handling procedures for separated tailings, chemical residues and cleaning agents; ensure compliance with site permit conditions and local regulations.
Support night/shift handovers with clear verbal and written communication about ongoing issues, material locations, and equipment status to ensure continuity and safety across shifts.
Participate in security and audit procedures related to precious metal handling, including assisting with inventory counts, reconciliation and documentation required for internal and regulatory audits.

Secondary Functions

Assist in inventory reconciliation and secure storage of sorted concentrates and samples; support periodic stock takes and discrepancy investigations.
Contribute to the continuous improvement program by documenting process deviations, proposing corrective actions, and participating in pilot tests for sorter settings and new equipment.
Help coordinate scheduled maintenance windows with maintenance teams to facilitate preventive maintenance and minimize production impact.
Support training programs by developing short job-aids, checklists and visual guides for hand-sorting best practices and safety procedures.
Assist metallurgists and process engineers with ad-hoc sampling requests and sample preparation for troubleshooting and efficiency analysis.
Participate in safety committees and toolbox talks, providing frontline feedback on hazards and practical mitigations.
Maintain digital and paper records in the company’s production management systems and help improve data entry consistency and accuracy.
Provide coverage for related roles during short-term absences (e.g., feed operator, sluice operator) when trained and authorized.
Engage in cross-functional improvement teams to identify opportunities to reduce losses, improve gold recovery, and optimize labor allocation.
Support on-site audits by providing documentation, process descriptions and evidence of compliance for sorting, handling and QC processes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Visual gold and heavy-mineral identification with microscopes and hand lenses; aptitude for detecting subtle color, texture and shape differences in ore and concentrates.
Operation and tuning of sensor-based sorting systems (optical sorters, XRT, color cameras, NIR) and understanding of basic sensor calibration principles.
Gravity concentration know-how: sluice box setup, table/shaker tuning, jig operation and centrifuge management to maximize free-milling gold recovery.
Sample preparation and chain-of-custody procedures for assay submission, including correctly splitting and labeling samples to preserve integrity.
Basic instrumentation & measurement skills: calibrated weighing scales, flow meters, and conveyor speed controls.
Mechanical troubleshooting: clearing jams, adjusting feeders, replacing wear parts, and performing first-line maintenance on sorting conveyors and vibratory feeders.
Knowledge of workplace health & safety protocols specific to mineral processing (PPE, LOTO, dust suppression, chemical handling).
Recordkeeping and production reporting in digital systems or spreadsheets; ability to log recovery metrics and produce shift reports.
Understanding of basic metallurgical principles (liberation, particle size distribution, moisture effects) and their impact on sorting efficiency.
Use of metal detection and electromagnetic separation devices and familiarity with tramp metal prevention practices.
Basic computer literacy: entering data, running simple reports, and reading process dashboards.
Awareness of environmental handling procedures for tailings, reagents and hazardous materials used in sorting areas.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and visual acuity for identifying fine particles and subtle differences in concentrates.
Strong situational awareness and adherence to safety-first mindset in a high-value materials environment.
Clear verbal and written communication skills for shift handovers, incident reporting and cross-functional collaboration.
Dependable time management and ability to prioritize tasks under production pressure to meet recovery targets.
Problem-solving orientation with a practical, results-driven approach to reducing material loss and improving throughput.
Team player attitude with experience training or mentoring less experienced staff.
High integrity and trustworthiness given the secure and valuable nature of sorted materials.
Flexibility to work rotating shifts, overtime or weekend schedules as required in a 24/7 processing environment.
Openness to feedback and iterative process improvement; ability to adopt new technologies and procedures quickly.
Strong observational and data-interpretation skills to convert QC and assay feedback into actionable operational changes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or equivalent (required).

Preferred Education:

Certificate or diploma in Mineral Processing, Metallurgy, Mining Operations, Mechanical Technology or a related trade school qualification.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Mineral Processing / Metallurgy
Mining Engineering Technology
Industrial Maintenance / Mechanical Trades
Geology (applied context)
Occupational Health & Safety (site-specific certification)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0–3 years for entry-level Gold Sorter roles; 2–5+ years for mid-level positions or those operating advanced sensor-based sorting systems.

Preferred:

Prior experience in a mineral processing plant, small-scale mining operation, or with bulk ore sorting equipment.
Demonstrated experience handling precious metals, completing assay submissions, and maintaining secure sample custody.
Experience operating optical/XRT sorters, gravity concentrators, and related feed/transfer equipment is highly desirable.