The Highs and Hazards of Desert Prospecting

June 2022 by Dan Stanton

We hit on a good spot the last time we were at this location and we made up our minds that we weren’t going to let hurricane-like winds stop us.

Cold Alaskan Gold—Part II

October 2012
I decided to focus my attention on some exposed bedrock that was along a little stream only about 100 yards from our cabins. My very first pan full of gravel showed several nice small flakes that were just big enough to be picked up with my fingers. That first pan showed that indeed there was some very nice gold to be had here...

Fault Zones and Prospects

June 2011
As we walked back we were just reaching the point of where the faulting should be and there, covered with deep grass, was very faint evidence of an old road going up the mountainside! What was that old road doing there?

Detecting for Gold in Nevada

April 2014
Within a few minutes I got my first signal and dug out a small flake about three grains.

What About Palladium?

January 2020

Palladium may well be an underexplored element and therefore an opportunity for prospectors and geologists. This is because they are often less than obvious and other than the native metals, a chemical analysis of samples is required to identify PGM-enriched rocks.

California State and US National Panning Championships

November 2014
Over 200 panners competed in this two-day event to decide who was the best of the best.

Detecting Strategies for Heavily Forested Areas

December 2016
Looking for nugget laden bedrock in forested mountain regions, you first need to explore the banks of the gold-bearing streams and look for the bedrock that is exposed as this is your starting point.

A Few Tips and Tricks for Beach Mining

June 2015
When you think about the extremes to which a miner will go to get a little gold, it occurred to me beach gold could be "easy pickings."

Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill   • Why The Paper Change?   • Ask The Experts - When do I use detector discrimination?   • Ask The Experts - Is gold found in limestone?   • Ask The Experts - Can pyrite crystals be the same color as gold?   • How to Use BLM’s New Mineral and Land Records System   • A Short But Productive Hunt   • Blast from the Past: Jeff Casserly Tells His Own Story   • Old Dog(Fighter), New Trick   • Talking Metal Detectors with Brent Weaver of Garrett   • Strategies for Detecting Heavily Pounded Areas—Part III   • EPA Recommends Against Reissuing Permit for PolyMet Mine   • Just Feel The Heft of It   • Proposed Nebraska Mine Has Sizeable Deposit of Rare Elements   • Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices   • Melman on Gold & Silver

Free:
Introducing ICMJ’s New Owners: Josh and Sherrie Reinke   • Legislative and Regulatory Update   • PLP Update