All Articles
Researching and Staking Mining Claims
December 2006 by Chris Ralph
One of the greatest opportunities still available to Americans is the opportunity to stake and own your own mining claim. Much of the Western US consists of lands that are open to claim by any US citizen...
Dredging Below the Homestake
What better place to dredge for gold in the early 1970s than downhill from the largest gold mine in the US? Gold prices were rising, and it was a good time and place to shop for a prospect.
18 Acquitted in Massive Brussels Diamond Heist
The massive 2013 theft, in which tens of millions worth of gems were stolen from the hold of a departing Swiss-bound plane, had all the hallmarks of an “Ocean’s Eleven” operation. And it still might still get a Hollywood ending.
Elections May Bring Rush to Republic of Congo
Elections in the Republic of Congo may bring a mining boom to a country that has been ravaged by wars and corruption.
Melman on Gold & Silver
The hoopla is over, the spectacular shows are just a memory. The fact is, we're stuck in the 2000s whether we like it or not! And the sad—or glad—reality is that changing the year's first number from a "one" to a "two" hasn't really changed anything other than giving us oldtimers some minor irritation now and then until we get used to things.
Ask The Experts
• Is there a single book that covers most aspects of mining and recovery?
Ask The Experts—Amalgamation
Q: Exactly how does amalgamation work? Does it “melt” the gold (or copper, or silver, etc.) and form an alloy? If one leaves a piece of gold in mercury, will the entire sample become an amalgam (combination) of gold and mercury? Or does it only affect the surface...
PLP Gets the Key!
I am an electrical contractor and a Board Member of Public Lands for the People (PLP). I have clients, a husband and wife, who own private property in the Los Padres National Forest. There are two ways to access their property. Both are pilots and able to fly in via small plane or helicopter, which for me was an exciting perk of working at this property.
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