All Articles
The Iola Mine Group, Montgomery County, North Carolina
January 2005 by Sam E. Phifer, P.G.
The Iola mine group is made up of four once active gold mines, the Iola, Washington, Golconda and Uwarra gold mines. Although this group of mines were some of the most productive gold mines in North Carolina for a number of years, and according to published records, some of the best managed, they had a relatively short life span for reasons unknown.Gold in Suriname
Suriname is a former Dutch colony on the north coast of South America, with an area of 63,000 square miles and a population of 450,000. Indians inhabited the region when Spaniards first sailed the coast in 1499.
Exploring Placers with Auger Drills
Augers can be used effectively for placer exploration with certain limitations.
Ask The Experts
• Reason for adits rather than shafts?
Legislative and Regulatory Update
Every prospector and claim holder should be aware of the court decision USA v. Shumway (96-16480) from the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals filed December 28, 1999.
Melman on Gold & Silver
One of the consequences of the weakening economy and the sharp declines in NASDAQ securities was a sudden weakening of the US Dollar (see chart of D-Mark). As investors began to pull their funds out of the US and return the funds to their native lands, this resulted in sales of the dollar, reducing it in value.
Mining for Gemstones and Mineral Specimens
It is better in a gem and mineral mining operation that the driller, blaster and mucker be the same person in order to be able to predict placement of the desired mineral enriched pockets.
Grandfather John's Notes
In June 1997, a story I wrote was printed in the Journal titled, “His Name Was John.” Occasionally Grandfather John jotted down notes about his life in America and in the mines. He planned to give these mementos to his sons. The only time he wrote home was to let his wife know when he was booking a trip back to Italy. He sent whatever money he could from his pay in the Argonaut and Kennedy mines in Jackson, California. Mailing letters was expensive, as was everything else.
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The Bawl Mill
• Convention Report
• Interview with Congressman Gibbons on Mining Law Reform
• The Art of Finding Coarse Gold Part II—Pocket Hunting for Residual Placers
• Gold Canyon Resources Targets Gallium
• Tucson Mountain Chaos
• Picks & Pans: Auburn Ravine Gold
• Suit Filed to Stop Mining in Northern California
• Niobium and Tantalum
• Effectively Using a Detector and Drywasher for Placer Gold
• Mining Companies Use Conservative Valuations
• Company Notes
• Accident at Robinson Mine Leaves Two Dead
• Looking Back
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices







