Small Mining Operations
How to Refine Silver—Pt II
October 2019 by Roger Neuscheler
Silver recovery from low-level solutions is frequently done in a cell that has a cathode with 2 to 5 or more times the surface area as the anode.
Underwater Reclamation
Working underwater certainly has its challenges, but since I wanted to learn how to blast underwater, I just needed to dive in headfirst and take charge of the operation.
All About Trommels and Screens for Placer Gold Recovery
The right speed accumulates only the heavy materials and allows all of the lighter stuff to flow through. This optimum speed is dependent on the size of the gravel you need to move through the system.
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.
PLP Update: How to Restore The Rights of Suction Dredge Miners
A two-pronged approach is necessary to restore suction dredging; federal preemption needs to be established as addressed above via petition; and clarification from the EPA is needed to establish that no Section 402 permit is necessary when there is no “addition” of a pollutant.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
- NEPA comments due
- Update on latest US Supreme Court suction gold dredging appeal
- Washington State tries to restrict suction gold dredging
Finding Gold in Tailing Piles

What About Palladium?
Palladium may well be an underexplored element and therefore an opportunity for prospectors and geologists. This is because they are often less than obvious and other than the native metals, a chemical analysis of samples is required to identify PGM-enriched rocks.
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The Bawl Mill
• Ask The Experts - Do you have more info on Silver Peak?
• Ask The Experts - Forest Service blocking claim access
• Green Valley's Fine Gold Patch
• Hard Rock and Placer Gold of Manhattan, Nevada
• Gold Prospecting for Better or Worse: Powerless
• Revisiting Old Haunts
• Where to Start: Advice for the Beginning Detectorist
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
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Legislative and Regulatory Update
• PLP Update
• MSHA Moves Ahead on Silica RFI But Leaves All Options Open
• Traders At JPMorgan Chase Indicted For Rigging Metal Prices