History & Geology
The Wisdom of Mark Twain—And Tales of Cheating the Unwary Prospector
June 2012 by R. V. Larson
I (enjoy) Twain’s description of a gold mine, “A hole in the ground with a liar at the top.” Some humor here? You bet, but I’m sure he meant it to be a real eye opener as well.The Gold, Silver and Base Metal Mines of Eureka, Nevada

How To Identify Minerals
There are a number of characteristics that are used when one identifies a mineral. Each characteristic gives an indication as to what the mineral might be, and the combination of them will point to what it is.
Exploring and Mining for Uranium

Placer Gold Deposits in the Western States
…to see the huge differences between the gold production amounts of the Western States, let’s look at the gold production—both hard rock and placer—of these 13 states up to the present.
The Bawl Mill
• Do as I say, not as I do...
• By the numbers...
Blast from the Past: Jeff Casserly Tells His Own Story
I have been finding nuggets all my life, beginning in Sierra County 50 years ago, and believe me they don’t pop up out of the ground like mushrooms when they see me coming and say, “Here I am and take me home.”
Alaska's Cripple Creek Mining District
If developed with metal detecting in mind, this virgin ground could be a bonanza for nugget hunting.
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The Bawl Mill
• Our Readers Say
• Iowa Hill District
• Gold Deposition and Gradients of Placer Streams—Part I
• Pursuing Rare Earths in Wyoming
• The Mole
• Prospecting for Copper Ores—Part I
• Repair / Replace Tax Rule Changes
• Colorado Mining Association Appeals Roadless Ruling
• Ganes Creek Hits 10 Years—Part II
• Fifteen and Counting
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
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Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Bigger and Better—Gold Prospecting & Mining Summit Recap