Our Readers Say
April 2004
• Re: "Designation of Critical Habitat Provides Little Additional Protection to Species"
• Re: "Fair and Balanced? If You Have the Cash"
• Re: "The Joy of Prospecting"
• Re: "Texas Hill Country Gold"
• Re: "Designation of Critical Habitat Provides Little Additional Protection to Species"
• Re: "Fair and Balanced? If You Have the Cash"
• Re: "The Joy of Prospecting"
• Re: "Texas Hill Country Gold"
Legislative and Regulatory Update
April 2004
• Important court decisions that affect miners
• Move to repeal I-137
• Comments needed tin southern California
• Important court decisions that affect miners
• Move to repeal I-137
• Comments needed tin southern California
Wyoming—A Land That Time (And Explorationists) Forgot
April 2004
Wyoming is a vast state, covering nearly 260,000 km2 of surface area, which houses fewer people than most cities (less than 500,000 call Wyoming home). The state has no state income tax, is driven by taxes generated by the oil and gas...
Wyoming is a vast state, covering nearly 260,000 km2 of surface area, which houses fewer people than most cities (less than 500,000 call Wyoming home). The state has no state income tax, is driven by taxes generated by the oil and gas...
Two Arrested in Alleged Mining Investment Scheme
April 2004
The US attorney’s office indicted Diana Flaherty, of Las Vegas, and Michael Gardiner, of San Diego, in connection with a securities fraud scheme. According the indictment, Flaherty, and her husband Robert (now deceased), had managed Phoenix Metals USA II. Gardiner is identified as a company shareholder.
The US attorney’s office indicted Diana Flaherty, of Las Vegas, and Michael Gardiner, of San Diego, in connection with a securities fraud scheme. According the indictment, Flaherty, and her husband Robert (now deceased), had managed Phoenix Metals USA II. Gardiner is identified as a company shareholder.
Wall-Rock Alteration
April 2004
Wall-rock (country rock) alteration is found in all hard-rock mining districts and has been caused by hydrothermal solutions in the past history of the region. The zones of alteration have a bearing on where one might drill for ore bodies. The weekend prospector does not have the tools nor knowledge to block out ore deposits, but he can narrow down his search dramatically by understanding the zones of wall-rock alteration that he sees.
Wall-rock (country rock) alteration is found in all hard-rock mining districts and has been caused by hydrothermal solutions in the past history of the region. The zones of alteration have a bearing on where one might drill for ore bodies. The weekend prospector does not have the tools nor knowledge to block out ore deposits, but he can narrow down his search dramatically by understanding the zones of wall-rock alteration that he sees.
Melman Reports From PDAC—News About India, China, and a Potential Shortage of Nickel
April 2004
PDAC’s (Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada) annual convention held each spring in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is generally regarded as the largest and most impressive annual gathering of the mining industry in the world.
PDAC’s (Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada) annual convention held each spring in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is generally regarded as the largest and most impressive annual gathering of the mining industry in the world.
Picks & Pans: Family's Identity Forged Working Nevada's Gold
April 2004
My mother stands in the desert, a hot wind kicking up puffs in the sand around her feet. She’s staring hard at the rusted buckets, weathered boards and mine shafts scattered throughout the sagebrush, concentrating, and I can tell she’s not really here. Not here now, at least. She is here 65 years ago. And this is not a long-abandoned ghost town at the end of a dirt road in one of Nevada’s endless stretches of nowhere.
My mother stands in the desert, a hot wind kicking up puffs in the sand around her feet. She’s staring hard at the rusted buckets, weathered boards and mine shafts scattered throughout the sagebrush, concentrating, and I can tell she’s not really here. Not here now, at least. She is here 65 years ago. And this is not a long-abandoned ghost town at the end of a dirt road in one of Nevada’s endless stretches of nowhere.
Researching Suitable Areas to Detect for Free-Milling Gold
April 2004
For hundreds, even thousands of years, gold has brought forth the worst as well as the best in the cultures of the world. It has pitted country against country, man against man, and brother against brother. There are countless tales...
For hundreds, even thousands of years, gold has brought forth the worst as well as the best in the cultures of the world. It has pitted country against country, man against man, and brother against brother. There are countless tales...
A Working Arrastra
April 2004
If everything you see, the men, the animals, the crude mechanism that grinds gold from rock, everything around you, looks to be from centuries ago, if the mysterious sound you hear is pure history and the smell around you is primitive, if the earth beneath your feet quivers with untold strangeness; and, the taste in your mouth sweeps time out of mind then, if all of this happens at once, if every one of your five senses has taken you into the past, then you’ve traveled back in time.
If everything you see, the men, the animals, the crude mechanism that grinds gold from rock, everything around you, looks to be from centuries ago, if the mysterious sound you hear is pure history and the smell around you is primitive, if the earth beneath your feet quivers with untold strangeness; and, the taste in your mouth sweeps time out of mind then, if all of this happens at once, if every one of your five senses has taken you into the past, then you’ve traveled back in time.
Training Videos From NIOSH
April 2004
Mining safety professionals can take advantage of training videos provided by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Mining safety professionals can take advantage of training videos provided by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
The Golden Highway—Amador County
April 2004
Leaving sprawling Calaveras County, California, and heading north, the next county along the Golden Highway (Hwy 49) is tiny Amador County. Packed into it’s roughly twenty-five mile stretch of the historical roadway are some of the most charming, scenic towns that will be encountered along the whole way. This stretch was also home to some of the richest gold placers during the gold rush, a fact not lost on those who still try their hand at panning and dredging today.
Leaving sprawling Calaveras County, California, and heading north, the next county along the Golden Highway (Hwy 49) is tiny Amador County. Packed into it’s roughly twenty-five mile stretch of the historical roadway are some of the most charming, scenic towns that will be encountered along the whole way. This stretch was also home to some of the richest gold placers during the gold rush, a fact not lost on those who still try their hand at panning and dredging today.
Prospectores Unite in Washington State
April 2004
West coast prospectors and dredgers gathered for an informal meeting following the Washington Prospectors Mining Association tradeshow in late February to discuss common problems and solutions inherent to the group.
West coast prospectors and dredgers gathered for an informal meeting following the Washington Prospectors Mining Association tradeshow in late February to discuss common problems and solutions inherent to the group.
Flexible Circuits Possible From Gold Wire
April 2004
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University said they have constructed electronic circuits that can stretch like rubber. Possible uses include wearable electronics or artificial nerves.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University said they have constructed electronic circuits that can stretch like rubber. Possible uses include wearable electronics or artificial nerves.
Looking Back
April 2004
Excerpts from California Mining Journal, our original title, published 50 years ago this month.
Excerpts from California Mining Journal, our original title, published 50 years ago this month.
Melman on Gold & Silver
April 2004
This past month certainly had its share of attention-grabbing headlines starting with the overwhelming wins by (presumed) Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry of Massachusetts. He effectively swept aside all opposition in a series of Democratic primary election wins from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
This past month certainly had its share of attention-grabbing headlines starting with the overwhelming wins by (presumed) Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry of Massachusetts. He effectively swept aside all opposition in a series of Democratic primary election wins from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The Bawl Mill
May 2004
• National "Perk" Service
• Can't see the forest through the trees
• Outsourcing the sauce
• I'll be there in "spirit"
• National "Perk" Service
• Can't see the forest through the trees
• Outsourcing the sauce
• I'll be there in "spirit"
Economic Analysis on Critical Habitat for Bull Trout
May 2004
The US Fish & Wildlife Service has released the economic analysis and reopened the comment period for their proposal to designate critical habitat for the bull trout in 18,469 river miles and 532,721 acres of lake and reservoir habitat across the Western states.
The US Fish & Wildlife Service has released the economic analysis and reopened the comment period for their proposal to designate critical habitat for the bull trout in 18,469 river miles and 532,721 acres of lake and reservoir habitat across the Western states.
Prospecting for Copper
May 2004
This article deals with copper exploration, but it is relevant to exploration for other minerals. I will use the geology of the Copper Creek area in Pinal County, Arizona, as an example.
This article deals with copper exploration, but it is relevant to exploration for other minerals. I will use the geology of the Copper Creek area in Pinal County, Arizona, as an example.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
May 2004
• Comments needed for Washington's Buckhorn Mountain
• Rep. Gibbons goes to bat for Nevada
• More land acquisition on the way?
• IBLA rules in favor of miner
• Comment on critical habitat proposed in the Mojave Desert
• Comments needed for Washington's Buckhorn Mountain
• Rep. Gibbons goes to bat for Nevada
• More land acquisition on the way?
• IBLA rules in favor of miner
• Comment on critical habitat proposed in the Mojave Desert
US Mining Industry Outlook Brighter
May 2004
Smaller exploration and development companies, many of which were international, were driven out of the US during the Clinton era and are now looking for signs that it’s safe to come back. Policy changes, rising metal prices, a weakened dollar and a more positive hiring forecast may be the most attractive set of signs the industry has seen in years.
Smaller exploration and development companies, many of which were international, were driven out of the US during the Clinton era and are now looking for signs that it’s safe to come back. Policy changes, rising metal prices, a weakened dollar and a more positive hiring forecast may be the most attractive set of signs the industry has seen in years.
