PLP Interim Rule Raffle
February 2005
The Forest Service issued an Interim Rule on July 9, 2004, to require a Notice of Intent or Plan for mining activities that cause little or no disturbance to public lands under Forest Service jurisdiction.
The Forest Service issued an Interim Rule on July 9, 2004, to require a Notice of Intent or Plan for mining activities that cause little or no disturbance to public lands under Forest Service jurisdiction.
California Miners Locate Rich Pocket of Specimen Gold
February 2005
Over fifty pieces of dendritic gold, ranging from 1 gram up to 2.5 ounces, were recently discovered at a mine in the Allegheny Mining District in Northern California.
Over fifty pieces of dendritic gold, ranging from 1 gram up to 2.5 ounces, were recently discovered at a mine in the Allegheny Mining District in Northern California.
The Lucky Shot Mine
February 2005
I hobbled around on the broken up, sorted rock pile. Watching where I stepped, I kept my eye open for quartz with a gray-blue color imbedded throughout the samples I picked up.
I hobbled around on the broken up, sorted rock pile. Watching where I stepped, I kept my eye open for quartz with a gray-blue color imbedded throughout the samples I picked up.
BC Premier Heralds "Golden Decade" in Forestry and Mining
February 2005
British Columbia is poised for a “golden decade” in forestry and mining, Premier Gordon Campbell says.
British Columbia is poised for a “golden decade” in forestry and mining, Premier Gordon Campbell says.
Drywashing for Eluvial Gold in the Desert—Using a Portable Drywasher and Hand Tools
February 2005
Often the gold being recovered by drywashing is too fine to be recovered by metal detecting. For every “detectable” nugget found, there could be hundreds of smaller flakes of non-detectable size. Thus, for those that “read the ground,” and snipe for areas of favorable placer concentration, drywashing will continue to be both an inexpensive...
Often the gold being recovered by drywashing is too fine to be recovered by metal detecting. For every “detectable” nugget found, there could be hundreds of smaller flakes of non-detectable size. Thus, for those that “read the ground,” and snipe for areas of favorable placer concentration, drywashing will continue to be both an inexpensive...
Claim Filings Up in the Northwest
February 2005
Higher gold prices have led to a doubling of mining claims in the past year in Oregon and Washington.
Higher gold prices have led to a doubling of mining claims in the past year in Oregon and Washington.
Canadian Officials Foresee Little Impact From Mine
February 2005
Canadian regulators said they have found no significant environmental impacts from a proposed British Columbia mine near the Alaska border.
Canadian regulators said they have found no significant environmental impacts from a proposed British Columbia mine near the Alaska border.
Coeur d'Alene Mines Sees Future in Bolivia
February 2005
Coeur d’Alene Mines newest silver project has found a home in a historic Bolivian mining district.
The company will build a $135 million open-pit mine at the base of Cerro Rico, the “rich hill” that was the site of a 1545 silver strike.
Coeur d’Alene Mines newest silver project has found a home in a historic Bolivian mining district.
The company will build a $135 million open-pit mine at the base of Cerro Rico, the “rich hill” that was the site of a 1545 silver strike.
The Golden Highway—Nevada County
February 2005
Highway 49—the “Golden Highway”—heads northeast out of Placer County into a stretch of Nevada County that is almost as busy as it was during the Gold Rush. The neighboring towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City are still booming—a beautiful location to live in the Sierra foothills.
Highway 49—the “Golden Highway”—heads northeast out of Placer County into a stretch of Nevada County that is almost as busy as it was during the Gold Rush. The neighboring towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City are still booming—a beautiful location to live in the Sierra foothills.
The Bawl Mill
April 2011
• Two steps forward, several billion steps back
• No daylight "savings" in DC
• China invades Washington, DC
• Center gives new meaning to "protection"
• Two steps forward, several billion steps back
• No daylight "savings" in DC
• China invades Washington, DC
• Center gives new meaning to "protection"
A New Look at Old Mines
April 2011
Exploration companies are actively looking for properties with profitable potential, even if the ground was once cast off as too low in grade to be economically viable. This is especially true in states that are reasonably friendly toward...
Exploration companies are actively looking for properties with profitable potential, even if the ground was once cast off as too low in grade to be economically viable. This is especially true in states that are reasonably friendly toward...
Mining Claims—What to Know Before You File
April 2011
During the initial assessment year (the year of location), the claim maintenance fee must be paid at the time the notice of location is filed with the Bureau of Land Management. Failure to pay the claim maintenance fee will void the claim.
During the initial assessment year (the year of location), the claim maintenance fee must be paid at the time the notice of location is filed with the Bureau of Land Management. Failure to pay the claim maintenance fee will void the claim.
Prospecting Underground: Use Caution
April 2011
In underground placer work, the contact point of the bedrock tunnel and the gravel is a very weak point and always has to be timbered. The bedrock here is thin, fractured, and the gravels loose from many years of oxidizing.
In underground placer work, the contact point of the bedrock tunnel and the gravel is a very weak point and always has to be timbered. The bedrock here is thin, fractured, and the gravels loose from many years of oxidizing.
Proposed Regulations for California Suction Dredging
April 2011
One of the most asinine proposals in the SEIR is to require miners to state when and where they will be dredging. This information would be accessible to the public, which would make them prime candidates for getting their homes burglarized while they are out mining.
One of the most asinine proposals in the SEIR is to require miners to state when and where they will be dredging. This information would be accessible to the public, which would make them prime candidates for getting their homes burglarized while they are out mining.
Small-Scale Concentrating and Recovery Methods
April 2011
The first step in my recovery process after milling the ore to the desired size is to table it. On this particular ore, I get good results milling it to minus 100 mesh.
The first step in my recovery process after milling the ore to the desired size is to table it. On this particular ore, I get good results milling it to minus 100 mesh.
5th Circuit Ruling May Benefit Miners
April 2011
This ruling comes at an opportune time, just as suction dredge miners are dealing with new proposed regulations in several western states. Be sure to cite this case when you provide comments on the regulations!
This ruling comes at an opportune time, just as suction dredge miners are dealing with new proposed regulations in several western states. Be sure to cite this case when you provide comments on the regulations!
Indicator Minerals for Gold & Silver
April 2011
In this article, we’re going to take a look at the minerals that contain gold and silver, and how you as a prospector can identify them in the field.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at the minerals that contain gold and silver, and how you as a prospector can identify them in the field.
Mud Men: Pocket Miners of Southwest Oregon Part III
April 2011
The amount of gold in the traces from the low-grade scattered veinlets may be much more than the traces from the small but rich pocket, at least until the pocket hunter closes in on the rich pocket. Further confusion arises if the prospector stumbles across a placer deposit on one of the higher peaks.
The amount of gold in the traces from the low-grade scattered veinlets may be much more than the traces from the small but rich pocket, at least until the pocket hunter closes in on the rich pocket. Further confusion arises if the prospector stumbles across a placer deposit on one of the higher peaks.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
April 2011
• Oregon dredging bill defeated
• California bill would exempt dredgers from permitting
• Possible ESA listing
• Washington State tries to impose more fees on miners
• Oregon dredging bill defeated
• California bill would exempt dredgers from permitting
• Possible ESA listing
• Washington State tries to impose more fees on miners
Melman on Gold & Silver
April 2011
Somehow, we received the impression from these two gatherings and from other conversations that bureaucrats in general are simply not aware of how difficult it is to raise capital to finance mining operations and how important it is for newer companies to show true progress in order to receive further financing.
Somehow, we received the impression from these two gatherings and from other conversations that bureaucrats in general are simply not aware of how difficult it is to raise capital to finance mining operations and how important it is for newer companies to show true progress in order to receive further financing.
