Small Mining Operations
Simple Mine Surveying With Basic Hand Tools
April 2021 by Keith Bowen
…there is an easy way to create a reasonably accurate map without any fancy instruments.
River Dredging vs. Creek Dredging—Part II
While river dredging in fast water, don’t be afraid of being swept out of your dredge hole by the current. If this happens—and it most certainly will in fast water—there is no need to panic. Don’t try to swim against the current because you will waste much energy in an effort to conquer the river. Just let it take you downstream.
Resurrecting An Old Hard Rock Mine—A Series of Small Victories
…we cheered and high-fived each other as the ore cart slowly crested the top of the headframe, then picked up a bit of speed on the short downhill section and came to an abrupt halt, ejecting its contents of ore…
Hard Rock 101: Breaking Rock—Part I
What do you do when you’ve located a promising deposit of gold or gemstones, but it’s trapped in solid rock?
Prospecting for Copper—What to Look for on the Outcrop
For the prospector, knowing what oxidized hydrothermal alteration looks like in the field is an important exploration tool.
Selenium, Mercury and Suction Dredging—Studies Contradict CA State Water Resources Board
Federal and state regulatory agencies often cite mercury and methyl mercury in our waterways as a major factor for further restrictions on placer mining, and on suction gold dredge mining, in particular. However, these regulatory agencies are minimizing selenium and its neutralizing effects.
The ABCs of XRF
Fast forward to present day and the XRF has come of age. Pull the trigger on the hand-held device and you get a nearly instant assay of the surface of a rock.
Selecting A Low-Risk Region To Explore, Mine or Invest
“The evidence is clear—mineral deposits alone are not enough to attract precious commodity investment dollars...”
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The Bawl Mill
• Ask The Experts - What is the “blue lead?”
• Ask The Experts - Can an Ohm meter find gold in pyrite?
• Ask The Experts - Can you tell me about this mining district?
• The 10-Ton Boulder: Expanding Grout Demolition
• How Deep Can That Detector Go?
• Dredging Do's and Don'ts
• Emails Confirm--FBI Was Looking for Gold at Pennsylvania Dig Site
• Gold Prospecting for Better or Worse: Tuck and Roll
• Preparing For The 2021 Mining Season
• Drywashing for Desert Gold—Part III
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
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Legislative and Regulatory Update
• PLP Update
• Administration Offers Up Conflicting Goals and Executive Orders
