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The Business of Mines—Consider Your Tax Deductions Now
May 2007 by Mark E. Battersby
Uncle Sam, the not-so-silent partner of every miner, dredger and prospector is willing, using our tax laws, to help reduce out-of-pocket expenditures necessary to acquire business assets and property. In addition to the well-known depreciation deduction, however, the tax laws permit tax write-offs for other, less tangible business assets. The best time to explore and lock-in many of these overlooked and misunderstood deductions is now, well before the end of the tax year.Melman on Gold & Silver
On a similar vein, while the number of new non-farm jobs created rose by a modest 156,000 in September, it must be pointed out that Goods Production Payrolls rose by only 10,000 jobs while much lower paying service jobs accounted for the other 146,000.
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• Where would I find a map for the Western states on high silica sand deposits?
Understanding Hard Rock Mining: Terms and Methods—Part I
While most small-scale prospectors and miners focus their energies on placer deposits, most large mining companies put their efforts primarily into hard rock mining. Although many miners may see these as two separate worlds that can never meet, a better understanding of hard rock mining for small operators can be very helpful in many ways.
The Swift Shore Mine 1862—Present
Michigan Bluff is an old mining town dating back to the 1850s. It is located in Placer County, about 25 miles northeast of Auburn, just past the town of Foresthill. It sits on the very edge of a mountain, with the Middle Fork of the American River flowing about 1200 feet lower at the bottom of the canyon.
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Old-Time Mining Geology Books
Geology books are best used by geologists, but many of the old-time books can be understood by most anyone who has an interest in rocks and minerals. Certain words or phrases may stump the layman, but just skip those parts and go on to the portions of the books that are easily understood. Some of the old-time mining geology books should be in every small miner’s collection.
A Long Dry Spell
Just three weeks ago one of our prospecting team members decided to go back to this location on his own. He had a new detector and wanted to try it out some.
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The Bawl Mill
• Ask the Experts—Where can I find plans for a home-built suction dredge?
• Ask The Experts—Can you help explain the ratings in Melman On Gold & Silver?
• Recovering Values from Black Sands
• Typhoon Exploration—Junior Mining Company Moves Forward in Quebec
• Kalgoorlie, Australia—Born of Gold
• Colorado Court Rules on Cyanide Ban
• Selling Your Gold—Where To Start
• Exploration, Development and Taxes
• US v. Donald Eno—IBLA Rules in Favor of Miner
• Miners Clean Washington Rivers and Streams
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes, Mineral & Metal Prices
• Looking Back
