Prospecting & Detecting
Imagining the Ultimate Prospecting Adventure
May 2019 by Chris Ralph
I recently found myself wondering what would be the ultimate prospecting adventure. What would be the most amazing thing if I had no restrictions or limitations?
Twenty Minutes on a Five-inch Dredge
The first thing I realized was this was not a toy—this thing had power and I needed to really pay attention. I got into position, took a deep breath, and pushed that monster into the hard pack.
Uphill Battle Continues for California Dredgers
There are currently three controlling agencies or entities over suction dredging in California—and you can make that four if the state legislature decides to further muddy the waters with additional legislation to block suction gold dredging in the state.
Ask the Experts
• What to prospect with on the Klamath River
A Generous Lesson on Detecting Bedrock
The signal I was hearing was coming from a vertical bedrock crack on the bank of the creek. I removed my backpack, took out my crevicing tools and started to clean out the crack when I saw a glint of gold.
Resurrecting An Old Hard Rock Mine
There were nice sections of vein material at the end of several drifts, like they just stopped work one day and walked away.
A New Prospecting Spot
Once indicators start showing up along or below a contact I start to get excited. When I have shale, and outcroppings of diorite with iron-red, gritty soil and some clay thrown in, I really get lightheaded. I may be a mile away from the nearest diggings but that’s okay. I just found a spot that could provide some nice nugget hunting.
Prospecting for Diamonds in Kimberlite
Kimberlite is very difficult for geologists to find, let alone prospectors and rock hounds. This is because kimberlite is rarely exposed on the surface and few people know how to identify the rock.
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The Bawl Mill
• Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Ask The Experts - Who owns this historic mill and how do I handle possible mercury contamination?
• Ask The Experts - Sampling and assays
• The Geology of Diamond Deposits
• Keep Watch for The Unexpected
• Resurrecting An Old Hard Rock Mine—Gold At Last!
• Gold Prospecting for Better or Worse: Cold Gold
• Gary It's There
• Following the Clues
• A Generous Lesson on Detecting Bedrock
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
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