Prospecting & Detecting
New Research Tool for Miners in Wyoming
September 2018 by Scott Harn
The Wyoming Geological Survey released an online interactive map...
How To File A Mining Claim
Filing claims is actually quite easy, though there are a number of pitfalls that you should watch out for. Over the years, I have made just about every mistake you can with a mining claim, and have learned a few things to watch out for along the way.
PLP Update: Back to The 'Swamp' on Behalf of Small Miners
We spent the morning in a meeting with one of the higher-ups at the US Forest Service. I presented him with 412 complaints received from our readers, along with a summary of the complaints to make his job easier.
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.
Where Should I Start?
Digging in the right spots will produce excellent results, like this group of nuggets taken by the author while metal detecting during the last few months. The biggest nugget is over an ounce.
Cold Water Gold
It was June 2011, and my wife Fran and I with Grandson Lucas and good friend Ernie Cruz were attempting to get to our gold mining claim on the Middle Fork of the Feather River about ten miles from Quincy, California. Rain had poured down in the previous few days and the road in a large number of low places was under water. Following two hours of slugging through the mud...
Trip to “The Swamp” on Behalf of Small Miners
Besides the EPA issue, our major priority is to work on the proposed amendment to the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act (S 145), a bill proposed in the Senate by US Senator Dean Heller (R-Nevada).
What Have You Got to Lose?
It’s accepted knowledge that wet methods will recover more fine gold than dry methods and processing the gravel as a whole will get more gold than only using a metal detector. The question is how much more?
Subscription Required:
Ask The Experts - Why is there no detector signal with pyrite?
• Ask The Experts - Need assaying advice
• Ask The Experts - Can you tell me anything about the Cherry Creek District in Nevada?
• Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Understanding Skim Bar Placers
• Detecting Canyon Bedrock in The Sierras
• Mining Journal Receives Honor
• Gold Prospecting: For Better or Worse
• PLP Update
• Have We Hit 'Peak Gold'?
• Old Mine Sites and New Technology
• What Happened to The Gold Prospecting and Mining Summit?
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices







