How to Make a Rock Sled for Dredging
When my “anonymous” friend told me the rock tub was probably a hundred miles from where he safely stashed it, I decided to build another sled and improve on my old design.
How to Stake Your Own Claim—Researching Mining Claims
Once you have determined that the land is locatable, the next step in the claim research process is to determine if the land has already been claimed by a previous locator.
Volume is the Key to Success
While recovery rates are important, they must necessarily be secondary to the volume of material processed. Running more material at lower recovery rates is generally preferable to increasing the efficiency of the system.
Shaker Tables for Processing Hard Rock Ores
Most placer equipment is really made with gold in the 30 and larger mesh sizes in mind, though if carefully used can often get reasonable recovery down to the 50 mesh size.
Hand Panning Micro-Fine Gold
Once you get down to the black sands or a few tablespoons of material, the technique changes dramatically.
Sampling, Hydro-Shocking & Cleaning Quartz-Gold Specimens
Many specimens have a small amount of gold and are not pretty to look at. There is a nifty way to give them a makeover and make them much prettier than they were when you found them.
The PIGMI—a DIY Crevice Tool

Detecting Basics: Lose the Bad Habits Not the Gold

Underground Mining: Getting the Ore Out

Ask The Experts: Equipment to break up heavy clay
Q: I am looking for a “trommel machine” that doesn’t separate anything but clay slurry from rock hard clay.
What Have You Got to Lose?

How to Upgrade Your Pocket Plunger

Ask The Experts: Should I remove someone else’s claim post from my claim?
Q: Can and should you remove their poles and notice right then and there or should you wait until you have convinced them of their trespass?
Ask The Experts: Question about resolving a quitclaim error
Q: I am in the process of filing an appeal with my lawyer, but am seeking more “expert” advice in the arenas of “mining claims” and BLM jurisdiction.
Moving The Big Rocks

Attention to Detail - Part II

Ask The Experts: How do I identify gold in hard rock that may be mixed with other metals?
Q: Aside from the softness scratch test and other methods of identification, what feedback would you have on identifying gold in hard rock that may be mixed with other metals that affect its color?
Ask The Experts: Is there a safe DIY alternative to cyanide or mercury for extraction?
Q: With safety as a given, what can the average miner, or Joe-blow greenhorn do to identify and extract some metals or minerals with off-the-shelf products or natural ingredients?
Ask The Experts
Which comes first, claim filing or staking?
A New Method for Handling Stubborn Gravity Middlings
