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The Old Dutch Cleanser Mine
January 2003 by Dr. Ralph E. Pray
The naturally occurring white scouring powder called Old Dutch Cleanser, originally from Kern County, California, is a household helper known throughout America. As a sink, stove, and tub cleaner, the abrasive pumicite is one of...
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.
Persistence Leads to Over a Pound of Gold
I have figured out over the years that the winning combination is hard work, persistence, knowledge, and a little luck. This leads me to describe one of my best finds ever, a “honey hole” of placer gold, if you will.
Picks & Pans: Gold Recovery in Placer Mining Operations
Two of the major factors affecting the profitability of a placer mining enterprise are the relative efficiency of the mining equipment, and the rate and percentage of recovery obtained while conducting mining operations.
Ask The Experts - Skim Bar Placers article clarification
Millie's Tailings
Hardy goldminers enjoyed creating nicknames for their cronies.
Melman on Gold & Silver
Man O Man, if politics isn’t the strangest game! First, we had a Presidential election that wasn’t over the night it’s over, but instead dragged on for weeks on end before “Dubya” was declared the winner. Then we had the Senatorial contest in Washington that dragged on for more weeks before the Democratic candidate won that squeaker, reducing the Senate to a fifty-fifty proposition with the Republicans having a minuscule edge by virtue of the Vice President being of their party.
A Break in the Weather
Back at the entry point of the mine, we took turns slowly crawling down the slope leading into the mine portal with our metal detectors, hard hats and flashlights. The mine was hand dug and is about 75 yards long.
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The Bawl Mill
• The Ferris-Haggarty Copper-Gold Mine, Grand Encampment District, Wyoming
• Directory of Active Mines in Arizona Available
• Picks & Pans: Gold Prospecting on the East Fork River, Alaska
• Beryllium in Nevada
• Company Notes
• The Cemetery Rush
• Border Silver
• Grandfather John's Notes
• ICMJ's 12th Annual Photo Contest Results
• Tiffany & Co. to Open Plant in Northern Canada
• The Patio
• Looking Back
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
