All Articles
An Unusual Death in Downieville's Gold Rush
May 2000 by Richard H. Peterson, PhD
While women were extremely rare in the early California gold camps, their relative absence did not always guarantee their safety or protection if they happened to be of Mexican nationality. The most memorable, graphic example of this tendency took place in Downieville, seat of Sierra County located on a fork of the Yuba River.Additional articles that might interest you...
Never Take Safety for Granted
August 2012
In retrospect, I can now see that the thoughtless breaking of one of my safety rules regarding not dredging alone was to be a lesson I won’t soon forget.
In retrospect, I can now see that the thoughtless breaking of one of my safety rules regarding not dredging alone was to be a lesson I won’t soon forget.
Today's MSHA
April 2012
We all know that it was never Congress’ intent to regulate gold panners and other individual mine operators through MSHA. In fact, I believe the concept of owner-operated mines with no employees was so strange a concept to the lawmakers that they never even thought there would be a need for such an exemption.
We all know that it was never Congress’ intent to regulate gold panners and other individual mine operators through MSHA. In fact, I believe the concept of owner-operated mines with no employees was so strange a concept to the lawmakers that they never even thought there would be a need for such an exemption.
Melman on Gold & Silver
July 2016
The “battle lines” are being clearly drawn. By the time you receive this issue both party conventions will take place within just a few weeks and there will be only four months until the final vote.
The “battle lines” are being clearly drawn. By the time you receive this issue both party conventions will take place within just a few weeks and there will be only four months until the final vote.
Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
September 2001
Placer PGMs in Alaska
January 2000
The state of Alaska is huge, over twice the size of Texas, with most of the population in just a few towns. The northern third of the state is north of the Arctic Circle, and vast regions are only sparsely populated.
The state of Alaska is huge, over twice the size of Texas, with most of the population in just a few towns. The northern third of the state is north of the Arctic Circle, and vast regions are only sparsely populated.
Oil Seeps in Arizona
December 2003
Compared to California, Arizona has virtually no oil seeps. But, the great Permian Basin of West Texas has virtually none either. Arizona has something that neither California nor Texas have, and that is public lands that are open for leasing. The northern half of Arizona has more seeps and is thus of greater interest, but it would be foolish to disregard the southern half because giant oil and natural gas fields could underlie some of the broad desert valleys.
Compared to California, Arizona has virtually no oil seeps. But, the great Permian Basin of West Texas has virtually none either. Arizona has something that neither California nor Texas have, and that is public lands that are open for leasing. The northern half of Arizona has more seeps and is thus of greater interest, but it would be foolish to disregard the southern half because giant oil and natural gas fields could underlie some of the broad desert valleys.
The Cemetery Rush
January 2003
In 1893, Jerry McAuliffe led a team of prospectors east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and found the famed Kanowna goldfield. On their first day on the field, they picked up a total of more than 300 ounces of gold nuggets from the ground. As the rush began to increase in momentum, other prospectors found patches of nuggets simply lying on the ground near rich outcroppings of reef. In very quick time, hard rock miners were tearing into the rich reef lines...
In 1893, Jerry McAuliffe led a team of prospectors east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and found the famed Kanowna goldfield. On their first day on the field, they picked up a total of more than 300 ounces of gold nuggets from the ground. As the rush began to increase in momentum, other prospectors found patches of nuggets simply lying on the ground near rich outcroppings of reef. In very quick time, hard rock miners were tearing into the rich reef lines...
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The Bawl Mill
• Guest Editorial—Sentaor Craig of Idaho Looking Into MSHA Complaints
• Guest Editorial—Changing the Rules
• Gold Prospecting on Sixmile River
• Serpentine in California
• Town Hall Meeting in Sierra City, California
• Picks & Pans: Tips for Nuggestshooting—How to Increase Your Gold Finds (Part II)
• Metals and Precious Stones in Wyoming
• Looking Back
• Gold at Dale, California
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
• Melman on Gold & Silver







