Prospecting & Detecting
Prospecting for Pegmatites
July 2015 by Chris Ralph
…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.
Additional articles that might interest you...
How Long Does It Take to Find and Recover An Ounce of Gold?
June 2019
Some ask if a prospector can collect an entire ounce in a day. It is possible; I’ve done it before.
Tips for Effective Drywashing
January 2011
Back in October I read with great interest Chris Ralph’s article on the use of a metal detector while drywashing, and I wholeheartedly agree—I wouldn’t even consider going drywashing without using a metal detector in conjunction...
Back in October I read with great interest Chris Ralph’s article on the use of a metal detector while drywashing, and I wholeheartedly agree—I wouldn’t even consider going drywashing without using a metal detector in conjunction...
Sierra County Gold—Part II
January 2014
...we will continue our examination of the rich streams and mining districts, and then take a look at some of the big nuggets that have been found here.
...we will continue our examination of the rich streams and mining districts, and then take a look at some of the big nuggets that have been found here.
Finding Gold in Tailing Piles
December 2014
Old mine workings and tailing piles can represent opportunities on many levels, from the chance to simply find a nugget on up to the commercial reworking of the old tailings for profit.
Old mine workings and tailing piles can represent opportunities on many levels, from the chance to simply find a nugget on up to the commercial reworking of the old tailings for profit.
Revisiting the Rocker Box
August 2016
The first location we worked was a small, dry ravine cutting through many mineralized zones in an area where some hard rock mining had taken place in the past.
The first location we worked was a small, dry ravine cutting through many mineralized zones in an area where some hard rock mining had taken place in the past.
Diamond Prospecting in Indiana
January 2015
My first personal experience with placer diamonds was on a gold prospecting trip in Indiana about 8 years ago, when a fellow prospector was cleaning his gold concentrates.
My first personal experience with placer diamonds was on a gold prospecting trip in Indiana about 8 years ago, when a fellow prospector was cleaning his gold concentrates.
Getting Started
June 2017
He excitedly told me he was going mining and wanted to know where he should go, how to do it, and so on. After he calmed down, I got excited. “I need to go!” was my response.
Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill
• Ask The Experts
• Ask The Experts
• Trail to Treasure
• The Smell of Gold -- Part II
• Hard Rock University: Expensive Hobby or Real Business?
• The Reason We Fight
• My Great Nevada Adventure
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices







