November 2004 (Vol. 74, No. 3) $3.25
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The Bawl Mill
• Corectting misteaks
• It pays to resign -
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Interior appropriations
• New bull trout plan released
• Comments needed -
Editorial: Montana's Controversial Rock Creek Mine
Throughout history, the demand for commodities has been constantly increasing. It is difficult to envision a reversal of this trend. Between China and India alone, roughly two billion people are on the verge of becoming middle class consumers. Good or bad, this is called progress, and it seems inevitable. -
First Load of Concentrate Leaves Reopened Ruth Mine
Five years after depressed copper prices forced the Robinson mine to shut down, the first truckload of concentrate pulled out in what its new owner sees as a renewal of the facility and Ely-area residents hope is a rebirth of the region. -
Uranium Industry Enjoys Rebound as Prices Nearly Triple
Watching a computer screen, Pat Drummond monitors a complex system of pipelines and vats that produce 55-gallon drums of uranium, weighing 600 to 1,000 pounds each, ready to be shipped to nuclear power plants across the globe. -
BLM Warning About Purchase of Mining Claims on the Internet
In a dramatic reversal of policy the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has posted the following on the huge internet auction house, eBay. Mining claims are currently being offered on eBay with prices ranging into the millions of dollars and apparently the BLM is concerned that many of these claims may not have mineral values that reflect their huge asking prices, be improperly filed, or have one or more of the many other problems that can affect mining claims. -
Determining the Amount of Gold in a Quartz Specimen
Many prospectors who find specimens of rich quartz with visible gold often wonder about the gold content of their specimens. Pieces with significant visible gold can sometimes be found at hard rock mines, by prospecting... -
Placer PGMs in Coon Creek, California
Lower Coon Mountain is located in the Klamath Mountains, some 10 to 15 miles east of Crescent City (pop. 4,400), which rises to an elevation of 2,841 feet. It is heavily forested except for a few areas that are underlain by serpentine. The mountain, which trends northeast, is bounded on the north by Craigs Creek, and on the south by Coon Creek. -
Getting Your Float Circuit Layout Right
Commissioning is going well; ramp-up targets are all being met and the General Manager is happy. You arrive at the plant in the morning and start reviewing the night shift logs. What you discover is the night shift had to reduce feed to the mills... -
Pick Up Austria's New Coin—If You Can Lift It
The Austrian Mint recently unveiled its new coin—a 68-pound, 24-carat gleaming gold disc worth about $500,000—touting it as the world’s largest and a powerful investment tool. -
New Prospecting Guides Available Online
Every year prospectors and rock hounds search Wyoming for gold, gemstones and other attractive rocks and minerals; the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) has now made this hunt easier. -
Police Extend Detention of Newmont Executives
Five executives from the American mining giant Newmont will continue to be jailed while facing pollution charges in Indonesia, police said, despite test results that show “normal” mercury levels near a former gold mine. -
Picks & Pans—Drywashing and Detecting in Southern California
The late George Elwood, of Johannesburg, California, was well known for helping anyone in need. As a matter of fact, I originally met George when he went out of his way to help me with a flat-tire problem. -
Over The Divide—Merwin (Merv) H. Hemp
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of one of our long time members and tireless workers, Merwin H. Hemp. -
The Boludo Placers, Sonora
The Boludo placers described here include gravels that have been listed under many different names, including Altar, Golden Triangle, Llanos del Oro, San Francisco, and Trincheras, among others. The placers are on desert flats at the northwest end of Sierra Santa Rosa, about 2,600 feet above sea level. It is in a region of northwest-trending mountain ranges separated by broad desert valleys. -
The Golden Highway—Placer County
Leaving El Dorado County and crossing the middle fork of the American River, the next county along Highway 49, the “Golden Highway,” is Placer County. The county also owes its name to the mining heritage of the gold rush. -
Northwest Miners Rally a Success
This year’s rally worked extremely well with over twenty exhibitors and four seminars on various aspects of mining running throughout, as well as active river demonstrations of equipment. The hands-on approach, allowing people to try the suction dredges and power sluices, recovered well-distributed fine gold. -
Mine Threat Just a Stunt to Criticize Land Laws
An environmental group has staked a claim to mine 20 acres of land next to a posh subdivision near Hayden Lake, Idaho, to illustrate how antiquated the nation’s mining laws have become. -
MINExpo 2004 Convention Report
Unquestionably, the first impression received from touring the exhibition areas at “MINExpo International 2004,” sponsored by the National Mining Association and held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from September 27-30, is one of sheer size. While other gatherings are delighted to host a couple of hundred exhibitors and attract three or four thousand attendees... -
Looking Back
Excerpts from California Mining Journal, our original title, published 50 years ago this month. -
Melman on Gold & Silver
What a month! One day we were keeping our eyes on the turbulent, hurricane-filled skies over Florida as the seemingly endless array of powerful storms continued on, then we were watching the televised Presidential debates, and all the while we were being inundated with a relentless barrage of stories regarding crude oil, gasoline and heating oil as their prices roared ahead with a vengeance...