History & Geology
The Strange History of the Utica Mine
January 2016 by Staff
In the summer of 1854, John Selkirk, a discouraged placer miner who was down on his luck and ready to go back to Massachusetts, tied his mule up in a gulch north of what is now downtown Angel's Camp.
Prospector's Guide to Rock Breaking and Blasting
The holes were overloaded with explosives, but I didn’t know it. I was just a green mining engineer fresh out of school and told to watch as the experienced miners set the charge.
All About Pyrite
Most prospectors learn early that pyrite is fool's gold...but the truth is it can be an excellent indicator mineral for gold and in many cases does contain small amounts of gold.
Rock and Formations of the Mother Lode Gold Belt
The faulting, folding and shearing that occurred in the Mother Lode belt has created zones of structurally weak rocks or contacts between different types of rock, which has been favorable for the deposition of gold bearing ores.
Prospecting for Surface Flood Gold Placers on Low and Intermediate Gradient Streams
Sample panning is a very important method used to find the richest parts of a flood gold deposit before setting up equipment and running material.Critical Metals: Copper
From time to time I’ve been doing a series on critical metals and how important they are to our complex and technological society. This month we are going to take a look at copper, and how important that metal is to our modern lives.
One of the Richest Beaches Ever Mined
Everyone has heard of the golden beach at Nome, but Nome did not have the richest beach.
Heavy Sands Mining
Lately my mind has been involved with group 4 of the transition elements, namely titanium, zirconium, and hafnium. They all have similar chemical properties. Of greatest interest to economic geologists and miners is that these valuable elements often occur together in sands.
Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill
• Ask The Experts
• Ask The Experts
• Ask The Experts
• Ask The Experts
• Detector Prospecting Accessories
• Electrum: Gold and Silver Together
• Drywashing Arizona Gold
• Mineralized Faults and Contacts in the Search for Gold
• Sunshine and Gold
• A Successful Trip Through Gold Basin
• Oregon Miners File for Summary Judgment
• The Significance of Nuggets in Placers
• Forest Service Seeks to Lock Miners Out in South Dakota
• Maitland Bar Nugget to Go On Display
• Company Says Central Idaho Project Feasible
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices







