Small Mining Operations
Advancements in Non-Toxic Gold and Silver Leaching
January 2019 by Chris Ralph
The non-toxic thiosulfate is actually the medical antidote given to people for cyanide poisoning. By accomplishing both neutralization and metals recovery, this process creates an economic and environmentally attractive process.
Ask the Experts
Setting up a gravity dredge
Gold in Guyana—Part I: Porknocking on the Puruni River Road
In part one of this two-part series on gold in Guyana, I describe artisanal mining efforts currently winning alluvial gold from small-scale placer operations located along the lower Puruni River and its tributaries.
Small-Scale Concentrating and Recovery Methods
The first step in my recovery process after milling the ore to the desired size is to table it. On this particular ore, I get good results milling it to minus 100 mesh.
Determining The Optimal Crushing Size for Gravity Recovery
It’s not easy to figure out what is best without testing, and so a certain level of confusion has developed about how small the ore ought to be crushed.
The Smell of Gold—Part I
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.
PLP Update: The Path for Legally Re-Starting Suction Gold Dredge Mining in 2021
Present conflicts and realizations having to do with dependence on China have illuminated the fact that suction dredge miners have a vital role to play and are an ignored and untapped domestic resource—until now.
Putting Together A Small Free Gold Mill—Part II
There are many smaller old hard rock mines out there—more than you might think. There are some small hard rock properties that are even open to be claimed if one does the right amount of research to find them.
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The Bawl Mill
• Ask The Experts - Need advice on melting gold
• Ask The Experts - Can gold be found with sugary, crystalline quartz?
• Making A Big Discovery
• More On Gold Indicators—What to Look For
• The Underground Mining Adventure Continues
• Alaska Gold: Lisianski Inlet's First Bonanza
• Route Planning Using GPS
• The Mineral Range Districts of Utah
• Gold Prospecting for Better or Worse: Stupid Is As Stupid Does
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
