The Birthday Nugget Patch

June 2017 by Fred Mason

Down around 10 or 12 inches I hit a large cobble that appeared to be one type of hot rock for this area. I thought bad things about the new technology until I checked the rock.

Prospecting for Gold in Baja California

April 2015
It was one of those awkward situations as we walked, fatigued and too thirsty to speak a word.

Guinea Africa: Gold, Ebola, and A Monkey Barbecue

November 2014
Doubters be informed, yes, there is gold in Africa—lots of gold—and all the good and bad that comes with it.

How to Stake Your Own Mining Claims—Part I

March 2016

Many new prospectors start out prospecting in public areas and club claims, and this is perfectly fine, but the next step in the progression of becoming an experienced prospector is to locate and stake your own mining claims. 

Proper Spacing of Placer Sample Sites

September 2013
The zone of influence of each sample must be carefully considered when deciding how far sample sites should be spaced from each other.

Romancing the Rock

July 2013
With the exception of well-established operators with proven reserves and years of field experience, the high price of gold brought a flood of speculators, con men, and real estate brokers into the mix who were not previously engaged in the gold mining market.

Bedrock Nugget Hunting: Tools of the Trade

January 2018

As a guide to those who are thinking of taking up this activity or those who currently practice this trade, I have created a listing of the primary tools and equipment I use when nugget hunting.

Prospecting Underground: Use Caution

April 2011
In underground placer work, the contact point of the bedrock tunnel and the gravel is a very weak point and always has to be timbered. The bedrock here is thin, fractured, and the gravels loose from many years of oxidizing.

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