It's Another 'Ben Day'

April 2020 by Ray Mills

I looked over and saw Ben on his knees, digging at the edge of the Manzanitas, almost underneath them. I thought back to the previous weekend when we were planning this trip—that day had been a “Ben day.”

Sniping for Drought Gold

August 2014
There are not a lot of tools needed to get out and take advantage of the situation. Other than my wetsuit, I typically travel light with a gold pan, maybe a pry bar and a few crevice cleaning tools.

Mud Men: Pocket Miners of Southwest Oregon Part III

April 2011
The amount of gold in the traces from the low-grade scattered veinlets may be much more than the traces from the small but rich pocket, at least until the pocket hunter closes in on the rich pocket. Further confusion arises if the prospector stumbles across a placer deposit on one of the higher peaks.

Buyer Beware! Counterfeit Metal Detectors

August 2013
When I was recently in West Africa, I got to see and play with my first, phony, Chinese knock-off metal detector.

Gold Placers in Italy

August 2018

Gold is a fairly widespread mineral in the Italian Alps and in the Northern Apennines. It is found both in primary mineralization and in past and recent floods.

It's Hard to Find Gold!

October 2013
...even the best prospectors have times when they do not find gold. It is all about taking chances against tough odds and succeeding.

A New Prospecting Spot

October 2016
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.

Maitland Bar Nugget to Go On Display

January 2016
The box sat in a hallway and employees began using it for impromptu cricket games, no knowing what it contained.

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