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.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
- NEPA comments due
- Update on latest US Supreme Court suction gold dredging appeal
- Washington State tries to restrict suction gold dredging
The 10-Ton Boulder: Expanding Grout Demolition
Imagine you have located a source of virgin placer ore containing immense gold value. Now imagine that there is a 10-ton monolith of extremely hard gneiss in between you and payday.
Memories of Shirttail Creek, Northern California
…for a few hours, we fervently dug for gold. After we did a cleanup, I couldn’t believe the amount we got.
Finding Gold in Tailing Piles

A High Price to Pay

All About Trommels and Screens for Placer Gold Recovery
The right speed accumulates only the heavy materials and allows all of the lighter stuff to flow through. This optimum speed is dependent on the size of the gravel you need to move through the system.
My First Carolina Nugget
On my weekends off I spent many hours dredging the Second Broad River from Cane Creek Road up to the headwaters. I used a three-inch dredge with air and graduated to a five-inch with air.
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The Bawl Mill
• Ask The Experts - Is this a significant cobalt find?
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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
• What To Do When Gold Recovery and Assay Values Differ
• Metal Detecting Old Hard Rock Mine Dumps
• Because I Said So
• Hecla Fights Bad Actor Label in Montana
• Prepping For A New Season of Gold Hunting
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
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