The table is vibrated longitudinally by a mechanism, using a slow forward stroke and a rapid return, which causes the mineral particles to "crawl" along the deck parallel to the direction of motion .The minerals are thus subjected to two forces that due to the table motion and the flowing film of water at right angle to it. The net effect is that the particles move diagonally across the deck from the feed end and, since the effect of the flowing film depends upon the size and density of the particles, they will fan out on the table, the smaller, denser particles riding highest towards the concentrate launder at the far end, while the larger lighter particles are washed into the tailings launder which runs along the length of the table.