History & Geology
Rare Silver Nuggets And Their Origins
March 2018 by Michael Roney
Silver nuggets have been described as “ultra-rare,” “prized” and “unique.” Naturally occurring silver nuggets are rare enough to suggest caution when purchasing. Fakes have reportedly been produced and misrepresented for sale as genuine specimens.
All About Garnets
I get a lot of questions from prospectors about garnets, their value and what they tell us about the geology of some types of mineral deposits. So I thought it would be a good idea to take a closer look at the lowly garnet and learn a bit more about it.
Gold Deposition and Gradients of Placer Streams—Part I
When placer miners from the gold rush era began experimenting with the slope of their sluices, they must have pondered the ideal slope for trapping gold in a creek bed too. Logic suggests the same is true for streams...
Exploring and Mining for Uranium
For a time uranium was more popular with prospectors than gold, but this is no longer true, and it has been decades since it was common to see individuals armed with Geiger counters out in the field.
Butte, Montana—The Richest Hill on Earth
I recently had the opportunity to spend a day exploring around Butte, Montana and was amazed by the amount of mining that has taken place there. The old-timers called Butte “the richest hill on earth” and had pretty good reasons for doing so.
The Preacher of Sheeps**t Flats
It seemed that the preacher always gave the same answer to anyone who asked where his gold had come from. His answer was, “If you know your gold, you can find it. However, you will have to find it the hard way, the way I found it.”
Understanding Large Gold Deposit Types: Discovering New Mines
The other opportunity that I see is in seeking unusual types of deposits. Specifically, the prospector would be searching for the stuff no one (or almost no one) is searching for. These deposits are effectively hiding in plain view.
Nevada's Lithium Boom
When prospecting for lithium, after confirming for macro attributes through research and field work, including examination of surface geology, the main tool is an accurate lithium assay.
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The Bawl Mill
• The Wild Rush To Find More Cobalt—Part II
• Trash! A Hindrance Or Hot Spot For Hidden Gold?
• Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Re-Opening Nevada’s Relief Canyon Mine
• PLP and MMAC Update
• New Rules For Taxing Pass-Through Income
• Sulfides and Intergrain Gold Wire Nuggets
• Man Who Died In Yellowstone In 2017 Was Looking For Hidden Treasure
• $50 Million in Gold From 1857 Shipwreck Approved for Sale
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
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PLP To Address Needs Of Small Miners With Proposed Amendment
