The agent used in a jig that consists of the heavy fractions in the coal that behave in some respects like a dense fluid. The pulsation of the water or the motion of the screen keeps the bed open or in suspension during part of the cycle so that heavy minerals entering the jig can settle into the bed. Lighter materials cannot penetrate the jig bed and therefore are forced to remain in the upper part of the jig and eventually discharge over the top. Other agents in use are lead shot, iron punchings, iron shot, pyrite, and magnetite.