Kennecott Copper Mine, Kennecott, Alaska

October 2017 by Jack Geck

For approximately 30 years, the mines produced good ore, some so rich it was simply sent straight to bagging, bypassing milling and loaded directly on the rail cars.

Prospecting for Copper—What to Look for on the Outcrop

August 2020

For the prospector, knowing what oxidized hydrothermal alteration looks like in the field is an important exploration tool.

Prospecting for Pegmatites

July 2015

…in some cases pegmatites have produced individual mineral crystals that are enormous, attaining lengths of over 40 feet long, and many of the world’s largest mineral crystals are examples that were found within pegmatite deposits.

Researching Mineralized Areas

December 2015
There are a load of ways to do research, and I’m going to talk about how I do it—maybe you’ll get some ideas that will work for you, too.

The Tombstone Silver-Lead District, Arizona

April 2016
In 1877, a prospector named Ed Schieffelin discovered silver in “the middle of nowhere” and staked two claims: “Tumbstone” and “Graveyard.” Soon a town and mining district were organized and acquired the name “Tombstone” after making a spelling correction.

Gold of the Iditarod Mining District, Alaska

March 2014
It was the middle of winter and the valley was covered in snow, making prospecting a matter of sinking shafts in the ground.

Gold of Plumas County

November 2010
Plumas County has a rich heritage of gold mining, much of it from placer deposits that can still be searched and panned today. Being at the far northern end of California’s famed Mother Lode, it is quite often overlooked by those searching for gold today—really a well-kept secret after all of these years!

Mass Wasting & Gold Deposits

February 2018

Not all of these slides and debris flows will produce results, but if you search for these while prospecting in your gold producing areas, then you can increase your odds of finding new gold.

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