Our Team  Our Story

Encouraged by friends and family, Sid decided to share his invention with the world.Sid's brother Larry, a seasoned fabricator with over 30 years of experience, joined him in manufacturing the Mini Jigs. Sid and Larry’s childhood friend Colby, who runs a video marketing business, also saw the potential of the product and helped bring it to a broader audience. Together, they launched Riverdance Gold Mining.

Riverdance Gold Mining began as a spark of inspiration during a family camping trip in 2019.

Sidney Wood and his wife Nat bought a camper, and while Sid enjoyed relaxing, he quickly realized he needed an activity that he and the kids would love—and one Nat would approve of too. Drawing on his childhood experience prospecting with his brother Larry at their family’s gold claim in the Talkeetna Mountains, Sid decided to create something truly unique: a portable mineral jig. Growing up, Sid and Larry watched their grandfather build Alaska's first multi-stage mineral jig, an eco-friendly and massive machine that sparked Sid's love for prospecting.

Sid wanted to create something just as efficient but much smaller and more portable. After realizing that the “portable” jigs on the market weighed over 200 lbs and cost thousands of dollars, Sid decided to build his own. In the heart of a slow Alaskan COVID winter, Sid started tinkering. By spring, with the help of silicone, PVC, and a lot of creativity, the first Riverdance Mini Jig was born.It wasn’t the prettiest, but it worked—and that was just the beginning.

Offering prospectors a lightweight, portable, and highly efficient tool with a 95% catch rate, all weighing under 20 lbs. From a garage-built prototype to an international product, Riverdance Gold Mining is proud to provide modern prospecting tools with a nod to its Alaskan roots.

Today, the Riverdance Mini Jig is sold worldwide