Perception of Mining vs. Reality

May 2015 by Chris Ralph

Testing Ores for Free Gold

December 2011
I get a number of questions from people about testing and treating hard rock ores. The simplest way, but also an expensive one, is to just have an assay test done by an independent assay firm. As an alternative...

Gold Refining In The Ancient World

March 2015

One thing that stood out for me is that Agricola was very specific about the type of metal or wood in the implements and vessels that were to be used.

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!

The Verde Copper-Gold-Silver-Zinc District, Jerome, Arizona

October 2012
When I was a student in the College of Mines at the University of Utah, the Verde district was used as an exploration model for “submarine volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits.” So I looked forward to visiting this district and the town of Jerome in central Arizona in the spring of 2012.

$50 Million in Gold From 1857 Shipwreck Approved for Sale

March 2018

The gold is all for sale. Just one tiny coin alone could go for $1 million because of its combination of rarity and the history behind it...

Picks & Pans: Gold Recovery in Placer Mining Operations

August 1999
Two of the major factors affecting the profitability of a placer mining enterprise are the relative efficiency of the mining equipment, and the rate and percentage of recovery obtained while conducting mining operations.

Mineralized Faults and Contacts in the Search for Gold

January 2016

Fault zones and rock contacts are important because the vast majority of gold and silver deposits, as well as those of many other metals, are formed by hot, mineralized water solutions.

Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill   • Ask The Experts   • Ask The Experts   • California's Mother Lode Quartz Veins   • Key to Successful Prospecting: Confidence   • What To Look For—And Look Out For—In A Placer Mineral Report   • Additional Note on Bluff's Beach   • Surface Indications Of Quartz Adularia Epithermal Deposits   • Montana’s Rosetta Stone: Discovering Mines In The Treasure State   • Partnering for Tax Savings   • Over The Divide: Charles Lewis Garrett   • Piggin' for Gold   • Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices   • Melman on Gold & Silver

Free:
Legislative and Regulatory Update   • Update on MMAC & PLP