From reading the land to setting up your equipment
Where Should I Start?
October 2015
Digging in the right spots will produce excellent results, like this group of nuggets taken by the author while metal detecting during the last few months. The biggest nugget is over an ounce.
Digging in the right spots will produce excellent results, like this group of nuggets taken by the author while metal detecting during the last few months. The biggest nugget is over an ounce.
Ask The Experts
September 2015
What are the steps for filing a mining claim?
What are the steps for filing a mining claim?
From Curiosity to Mine Owner
August 2015
His brother’s friend showed him a vial of gold that originated from his family’s mine in Honduras. Within two weeks Ernie had flown to Honduras to get a first-hand tour of the historic mine and the primitive operation underway to recover the gold.
His brother’s friend showed him a vial of gold that originated from his family’s mine in Honduras. Within two weeks Ernie had flown to Honduras to get a first-hand tour of the historic mine and the primitive operation underway to recover the gold.
Hard Rock University: Expensive Hobby or Real Business?
July 2015
Improper sampling techniques lead to more avoidable heartache than almost anything else in micro mining.
Improper sampling techniques lead to more avoidable heartache than almost anything else in micro mining.
The Smell of Gold—Part I
June 2015
Some claim they can smell gold. This may be, but when I take a whiff of gold, I smell dirt, rotten eggs, garlic or just nothing: my nose is everything but sensitive.
Some claim they can smell gold. This may be, but when I take a whiff of gold, I smell dirt, rotten eggs, garlic or just nothing: my nose is everything but sensitive.
A Few Tips and Tricks for Beach Mining
June 2015
When you think about the extremes to which a miner will go to get a little gold, it occurred to me beach gold could be "easy pickings."
When you think about the extremes to which a miner will go to get a little gold, it occurred to me beach gold could be "easy pickings."
The Basics of Froth Flotation
June 2015
I thought it might be worthwhile to take a look at the basics of this important mineral separation technique and how a miner can use it to recover the values out of an ore.
I thought it might be worthwhile to take a look at the basics of this important mineral separation technique and how a miner can use it to recover the values out of an ore.
What To Look For—And Look Out For—In A Placer Mineral Report
May 2015
Buying a placer claim or investing in a placer mining property comes with plenty of financial risks. You need as much information as possible about the mineral deposit in order to minimize those risks.
Buying a placer claim or investing in a placer mining property comes with plenty of financial risks. You need as much information as possible about the mineral deposit in order to minimize those risks.
Montana’s Rosetta Stone: Discovering Mines In The Treasure State
May 2015
This is the intelligent way to start modern prospecting. The value of literary research yields challenging outings, specimens, history and geologic research.
This is the intelligent way to start modern prospecting. The value of literary research yields challenging outings, specimens, history and geologic research.
Piggin' for Gold
May 2015
Take a look at the picture—it’s pretty simple and you can build it yourself.
Take a look at the picture—it’s pretty simple and you can build it yourself.
Ask The Experts
April 2015
• Making a noisy dredge more quiet
• Making a noisy dredge more quiet
Ask The Experts
April 2015
• Two questions: Is fool's gold magnetic? And how do you go about filing a miing claim?
• Two questions: Is fool's gold magnetic? And how do you go about filing a miing claim?
Tips for Detecting Nugget Patches
April 2015
Certainly many other successful nugget hunters have mentioned these methods; hopefully I can add to or clarify these methods.
Small-Scale Hard Rock Mining With Water Recycling
March 2015
Once I have established the presence of gold in the sample, I collect five-gallon bucket quantities of the rock material for processing back at my shop.
Once I have established the presence of gold in the sample, I collect five-gallon bucket quantities of the rock material for processing back at my shop.
Ask the Experts
February 2015
• How to find info on a particular mining claim
• How to find info on a particular mining claim
Ask the Experts
January 2015
• How do I clean up gold encrusted with iron-sulfides?
• How do I clean up gold encrusted with iron-sulfides?
Ask the Experts
January 2015
• How do I get mining claims appraised?
• How do I get mining claims appraised?
How to Field Evaluate A Placer Property
January 2015
If there is misleading wording anywhere, it will be in the sample data and in reserve/resource estimates.
If there is misleading wording anywhere, it will be in the sample data and in reserve/resource estimates.
Ask The Experts
December 2014
• Determining the amount of gold in a specimen
• Determining the amount of gold in a specimen
Geobotany: Plants Associated With Mineral Deposits
November 2014
Science has shown, over the past few centuries, that there is a direct correlation between certain plants and their geophysical surroundings.
Science has shown, over the past few centuries, that there is a direct correlation between certain plants and their geophysical surroundings.
