Hydraulicking is a type of aqueous mining, which has been used extensively for placer deposits. It involves using high pressure fluids to erode banks and loose material. The fluids are shot from a hydraulic "monitor" or nozzle. It has been used to mine gold, tin, diamonds, titanium, tungsten, platinum, chromite, sand, gravel, phosphates, coal, and magnetite.

Due to environmental consequences, including contamination of water resources and huge water requirements, hydraulicking is not often used in developed countries anymore - except where environment problems can be avoided. In phosphate mines, for example, all water streams are carefully controlled and kept on site.

Figure: Hydraulicking employs the use of high pressure water jets to erode material.