How To
How to Melt Your Own Gold
March 2012 by Chris Ralph

Finding Gold with a VLF Detector—Part II

Fine Gold Panning Without Using Mercury
The technique I will describe is a much safer alternative and it works. It’s a fine-gold panning technique that eliminates the need for mercury amalgamation of most placer samples.
Why Assaying Placer Gold Deposits Doesn't Work
Let’s set up a thought experiment: Suppose you had some material that ran one ounce per ton gold, which is generally considered high grade to fantastic grade depending on the circumstances.
The PIGMI—a DIY Crevice Tool

Hunting Down Paystreaks
When I teach people about finding gold, I often explain that it is helpful to think of any river or stream that carries gold as being something like a sluice box.
Exceptions to the Rules: Re-Thinking Prospecting Rules of Thumb
Looking at the exceptions to the basic rules is sort of an advanced prospecting discussion, but the readers of ICMJs Prospecting and Mining Journal are plenty able to handle it.
Tips for Detecting Nugget Patches

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The Bawl Mill
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• Legislative and Regulatory Update
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• Fine Gold Panning Without Using Mercury
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Revised Dredge Regulations Published for California—Pure Garbage
• Xmet Aims for One Million Ounces