History & Geology
The Downieville Gold District
January 2011 by Chris Ralph

California: The Land of Big Nuggets—Part I
The nugget sat there in plain sight, though it was covered in dirt, while hundreds of people had passed that way every day.
Prospecting for Diamonds
Let’s take a look at diamonds and diamond mining and see how they form, how they are used beyond just jewelry, and what leads geologists to find diamond deposits.
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.
The Pearce Mineralized Area, Dragoon Mountains, Arizona—Part II
There are many prospects within the known mineralized area and along the margins of the mineralized area that should be examined for gold and silver.
The Wild Rush To Find More Cobalt—Part II
In this second part on cobalt, I will take a look at the various types of cobalt deposits and how you can prospect for them. Who knows—perhaps the next big cobalt strike will be yours.
Perception of Mining vs. Reality

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