A Data Miner Builds A Power Sluice

October 2012 by Greg Mast

Data mining involves processing huge amounts of digital information to find hidden patterns and financial relationships. To executives, the findings are like gold, but on the weekends, I prefer seeing the real thing in the bottom of my pan.

Small-Scale Hard Rock Mining With Water Recycling

March 2015
Once I have established the presence of gold in the sample, I collect five-gallon bucket quantities of the rock material for processing back at my shop.

A Few Tips and Tricks for Beach Mining

June 2015
When you think about the extremes to which a miner will go to get a little gold, it occurred to me beach gold could be "easy pickings."

Using Google Earth and Other Maps

November 2012
Last month, one of our readers requested an article regarding the possible use of Google Earth for prospecting research. It was a good idea, so here it is.

Excavator Testing Wet Placer Ground

April 2013
The excavator or backhoe has become the tool of choice for testing placer ground. These machines are the best way to explore and sample a placer deposit if the ground is not too wet or frozen and bedrock is not beyond the reach of the machine.

Proper Spacing of Placer Sample Sites

September 2013
The zone of influence of each sample must be carefully considered when deciding how far sample sites should be spaced from each other.

Understanding Large Gold Deposit Types: Discovering New Mines

November 2018

The other opportunity that I see is in seeking unusual types of deposits. Specifically, the prospector would be searching for the stuff no one (or almost no one) is searching for. These deposits are effectively hiding in plain view.

The Smell of Gold—Part I

June 2015
Some claim they can smell gold. This may be, but when I take a whiff of gold, I smell dirt, rotten eggs, garlic or just nothing: my nose is everything but sensitive.

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