The Guyana Highlands
October 2004
The Guyana Highlands referred to here are a tropical upland area that extends from French Guiana on the east to Colombia on the west, with elevations reaching 9,219 feet. It occupies a vast and remote region between the Orinoco River on the north and the Amazon River on the south. There are mountains, tablelands, mesas, and swamps, largely impassable to those on foot.
The Guyana Highlands referred to here are a tropical upland area that extends from French Guiana on the east to Colombia on the west, with elevations reaching 9,219 feet. It occupies a vast and remote region between the Orinoco River on the north and the Amazon River on the south. There are mountains, tablelands, mesas, and swamps, largely impassable to those on foot.
Prospecting with a VLF-Type Gold Detector
October 2004
Although I found my first detected nugget on a hard rock mine dump using an early VLF/TR coin hunter, it was by “following the dry washers” and detecting old tailing piles that I soon packed a metal 35mm canister with small sub-grain to...
Although I found my first detected nugget on a hard rock mine dump using an early VLF/TR coin hunter, it was by “following the dry washers” and detecting old tailing piles that I soon packed a metal 35mm canister with small sub-grain to...
Freegold Ventures' Golden Summit Project
October 2004
Massive area-wide forest fires left the air near Fairbanks, Alaska looking like a London fog and smelling like the residue of a fireplace late this August as I left the airport on a recent visit to Freegold Ventures Ltd.
Massive area-wide forest fires left the air near Fairbanks, Alaska looking like a London fog and smelling like the residue of a fireplace late this August as I left the airport on a recent visit to Freegold Ventures Ltd.
Picks & Pans: Working the Crevices
October 2004
The crowbar can be a valuable mining tool. Crowbars come in all shapes and sizes. For moving large boulders and large chunks of bedrock, the longer 3½ footers work well. Then if you really get in trouble, there’s the long pry bar.
The crowbar can be a valuable mining tool. Crowbars come in all shapes and sizes. For moving large boulders and large chunks of bedrock, the longer 3½ footers work well. Then if you really get in trouble, there’s the long pry bar.
Molybdenum
October 2004
Molybdenum, referred to as “molly” by miners, is a white metal that is alloyed with iron to form hard, tough and strong steel. It was first used in World War I for armor plate on ships. Nowadays, molybdenum is routinely used to harden structural and tool steel, and to reduce corrosion.
Molybdenum, referred to as “molly” by miners, is a white metal that is alloyed with iron to form hard, tough and strong steel. It was first used in World War I for armor plate on ships. Nowadays, molybdenum is routinely used to harden structural and tool steel, and to reduce corrosion.
2004 California State Gold Panning Championships
October 2004
One hundred eighty-one gold panners flocked into the old mining town of Foresthill on Memorial Day weekend, all with the objective of proving just how good they were. This was the Wild West all over again, and the shootout at OK Corral was nothing compared to the smoke and fire these contestants put up to determine who was the best of the best—and the best were there to compete, too.
One hundred eighty-one gold panners flocked into the old mining town of Foresthill on Memorial Day weekend, all with the objective of proving just how good they were. This was the Wild West all over again, and the shootout at OK Corral was nothing compared to the smoke and fire these contestants put up to determine who was the best of the best—and the best were there to compete, too.
Company Notes
October 2004
• Washington Group Int'l
• Robinson Nevada Mining Co.
• Little Squaw Gold Mining Co.
• Newmont Mining Corp.
• Compania de Minas Buenaventura
• Washington Group Int'l
• Robinson Nevada Mining Co.
• Little Squaw Gold Mining Co.
• Newmont Mining Corp.
• Compania de Minas Buenaventura
Why Environmental Groups Prefer Kerry
October 2004
President Bush signed Executive Order 13352, “Facilitation of Cooperative Conservation,” on August 26, 2004. The order instructs the departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce and Defense, and the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out their activities in a manner that “takes appropriate account of and respects the interests of persons with ownership or other legally recognized interest in land and other natural resources” and to “properly accommodate” local participation.
President Bush signed Executive Order 13352, “Facilitation of Cooperative Conservation,” on August 26, 2004. The order instructs the departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce and Defense, and the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out their activities in a manner that “takes appropriate account of and respects the interests of persons with ownership or other legally recognized interest in land and other natural resources” and to “properly accommodate” local participation.
The French Mines of El Boleo
October 2004
Volumes have been written on the subject of mining in Mexico ever since the first Spanish conquistadors undertook to strip bare the newfound land in the 6th century. Gold and silver, which attracted Cortez and the Spanish Inquisition, was there for the taking, and the fabulously rich mines of Guanajuanto, San Miguel de Allende, Zacatecas, Real del Monte, San Luis Potosi, Durango and Taxco, among others, became famous throughout the New World and Europe.
Volumes have been written on the subject of mining in Mexico ever since the first Spanish conquistadors undertook to strip bare the newfound land in the 6th century. Gold and silver, which attracted Cortez and the Spanish Inquisition, was there for the taking, and the fabulously rich mines of Guanajuanto, San Miguel de Allende, Zacatecas, Real del Monte, San Luis Potosi, Durango and Taxco, among others, became famous throughout the New World and Europe.
Looking Back
October 2004
Excerpts for CMJ published 50 years ago this month.
Excerpts for CMJ published 50 years ago this month.
Melman on Gold & Silver
October 2004
The world received a sad reminder of just how dangerous and threatening terrorism has become as more than three hundred people—most of them children—died when Russian troops and police stormed a school that had been taken over by terrorist rebels from the breakaway province of Chechnya in the Russian city of Beslan. This act was followed almost immediately by the bombing of the Australian Embassy in Indonesia with nine dead in that attack. And, if mankind’s craziness wasn’t enough...
The world received a sad reminder of just how dangerous and threatening terrorism has become as more than three hundred people—most of them children—died when Russian troops and police stormed a school that had been taken over by terrorist rebels from the breakaway province of Chechnya in the Russian city of Beslan. This act was followed almost immediately by the bombing of the Australian Embassy in Indonesia with nine dead in that attack. And, if mankind’s craziness wasn’t enough...
The Bawl Mill
May 2011
• From makers to takers
• Ministry of Mother Earth
• Where not to invest
• From makers to takers
• Ministry of Mother Earth
• Where not to invest
Why Haven't They Mined This Claim?
May 2011
Improvements in mining equipment and techniques, along with a higher gold price, make many mining properties profitable today that may not have been in the past.
Improvements in mining equipment and techniques, along with a higher gold price, make many mining properties profitable today that may not have been in the past.
Ask The Experts—Where can I find information on the Abby mine?
May 2011
Q: I would like to know where I can find information on the Abby mine located at Hildreth, CA.
Q: I would like to know where I can find information on the Abby mine located at Hildreth, CA.
Ask The Experts—Is it possible for a mountain range to have good lode gold deposits and yet the area streams not carrying like deposits of gold?
May 2011
Q: Is it possible for a mountain range to have good lode gold deposits and yet the area streams not carrying like deposits of gold? Or do the two go hand-in-hand?
Q: Is it possible for a mountain range to have good lode gold deposits and yet the area streams not carrying like deposits of gold? Or do the two go hand-in-hand?
Ask The Experts—How do you amend a placer claim?
May 2011
Q: How do you amend a placer claim?
Q: How do you amend a placer claim?
Ask The Experts—What happened to the BLM web site geocommunicator.gov?
May 2011
Q: What happened to the BLM web site geocommunicator.gov? We cannot get mining claim info any more. Can you write about this? Or if you did what volume and number? Thanks for keeping the ICMJ alive and well.
Q: What happened to the BLM web site geocommunicator.gov? We cannot get mining claim info any more. Can you write about this? Or if you did what volume and number? Thanks for keeping the ICMJ alive and well.
The Ups and Downs of Geologic Faults
May 2011
Faults are fractures, breaks and broken zones in the Earth’s crust where one side of the break has moved relative to the other, and they come in many different varieties.
Faults are fractures, breaks and broken zones in the Earth’s crust where one side of the break has moved relative to the other, and they come in many different varieties.
One Question, Forever Unanswered—Did He Really Find the Gold?
May 2011
This was one of those stories where you have no doubt that the person telling it believes it to be true. But was it?
This was one of those stories where you have no doubt that the person telling it believes it to be true. But was it?
Fountain of Youth Gold
May 2011
Across and downstream of our operation was a large pile of huge boulders. It was logical to think that water forces may have deposited gold in and around these boulders. We moved our dredge over and started pulling the rock pile apart.
Across and downstream of our operation was a large pile of huge boulders. It was logical to think that water forces may have deposited gold in and around these boulders. We moved our dredge over and started pulling the rock pile apart.
