Small Mining Operations
The Miner’s Switchback
May 2018 by Bilbo Kringle
Common thought is the switchback slows the velocity of the rushing water and gold drops out from the cut bank to a fill gravel bar within or below the switchback. I am not going to disregard that model; however, I hope to improve upon it.
Recovering Fine Gold with Oleophilic Adhesion
Oleophilic means "affinity to or attracted to oils," and this includes gold an diamonds.
Placer Channel Sampling
Sampling gold placers can be rewarding, but remember to treat the samples so you are not high grading or low grading your results. Learn the rules and apply them so your samples are accurate.
The Smell of Gold -- Part II
While mapping, I also found rock chips in the soil that were characteristic of the same wall rock alteration that occurs adjacent to the known lodes in the greenstone belt.
Good Assays and Bad
The high prices for gold and silver are exciting and certainly have revolutionized the prospecting and mining scene. New interest in gold and silver mining is springing up from every corner, from individual prospectors armed with gold pans to exploration and mining companies working to set up multimillion dollar commercial operations producing hundreds of thousands of ounces per year. The idea of getting riches from rocks is one that motivates a lot of folks all over the globe. It’s an exciting time, but this excitement brings out another side...
The Underground Mining Adventure Continues
Our group of independent miners have been busy crafting a uniquely designed ladder/ore cart track from the bottom of an 85-foot mine shaft in a historical hard rock mine.
Addressing EPA Overreach: What Dredgers Need to Know
Sixteen to One Gold Mine: Unique Challenges and Potential Rewards - Pt I
Many of the Sixteen to One’s challenges arise from its unusual geology and the pocket characteristics of the ore deposits.
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The Bawl Mill
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• Our Readers Say
• Putting Together A Small Free Gold Mill
• Feds Sue California over Sales of Public Lands
• Legislative and Regulatory Update
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• Metal Detecting Old Hard Rock Mine Dumps
• Because I Said So
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