Prospecting & Detecting
The Hunt for Remote Canyon Gold
November 2014 by Don Robinson
A large, 8-pennyweight piece popped out of a very small crevice where the water had been extremely swift in the winter, leaving no visible gravel.
Prospecting and Mining Old Mine Sites
In some places valuable ores can be found within the waste material of mine dumps, sorted ore piles, and detrital vein matter at the surface. Though many of these old mine sites can be an excellent source of gold, not all are created equal.
Small-Scale Processing of Hard Rock Ores
Depending on the ore and if significant sulfides are present, a hard rock miner may be able to get away with simply using a flux to digest the other minerals that may be present.
Tips and Tricks
I cleared the connector by poking a small Phillips screwdriver through it. To ensure the bore was clean, I dunked the connector into some water and then blew it clean with my shop air compressor.
Sniping for Gold—The Next Best Thing to Dredging
I poked my head out of the water and said, “You won’t believe what I am going to show you!”
The Sunbaker
My hunch was that the gold is coming down the apron, falling off to both sides and into both gulches. I say that because the gold we found previously has the same characteristics and color across the entire area.
Prospecting Underground: Use Caution
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.
Get The Lead Out!
If you do the math, it equates to about $1,500 of heavy metal value per three-hour dive. This is good wages, and you are doing a service to the environment by removing this toxic metal.
Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill
• Gemstones to Die For
• The Dredge Report
• Guinea Africa: Gold, Ebola, and A Monkey Barbecue
• Geobotany: Plants Associated With Mineral Deposits
• Why Did This Silver Mine Close? Pt II
• A Golden Summer
• California State and US National Panning Championships
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
Free:
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• What Can I Do to Save My Mining Rights?
