All Activity
This stream auto-updates
- Earlier
-
Thom joined the community
-
Need name of older mining equipment mfr in Labec, CA
1RetiredMiner posted a topic in General Mining Questions
I'm trying to identify two pieces of equipment, a Jaw Crusher and an Impact Mill. Both were made by a mfr operating in vicinity of Frazier Park, CA back in the late 1960's to 1970's. Mfr used alum foil type nameplates and they have weathered off. The color of both is navy-blue. All of the construction was from steel plate, bar &/or rod, welded together, with no cast parts. As I remember it the mfr made other stuff, like shaker tables with fiberglass decks, force amalgamators, hammer mills, etc. He also did custom ore sample milling demonstrating his shaker tables and mills. He had to have been in in his late 50's, or older, when I visited one time in middle 70's. Can any of you old timers remember that far back to help me? He might have (read that probably did) run ads in California Mining journal when it still had a yellow cover. Does the CMJ have a morgue going that far back, or any body that might have old copies from that time frame that might have his ads? -
1RetiredMiner joined the community
-
-
Yardsalegold joined the community
-
Torch Assay Folks
Dwight Williams - LNW replied to Dwight Williams - LNW's topic in Assaying, Testing and Refining
At a 30,000' objective interpretation, I would tend to agree with you. However, the Torch Assay itself is a very accurate method of determination of noble metal concentrations. The inaccuracies which can and do occur regardless of the method used to perform precious metal values is solely based upon the material and methods used to sample the so described sample. I, for one, have a basic opinion on anyone's assay for claim evaluation as about as worthless as used toilet paper. Anybody who is selling a claim or providing an evaluation of a claim with even the word "Assay" is either a fool or a liar. Any Assay is only as accurate as of the material and process in which is used to perform the Assay. Even if you have multiple Assay houses perform a reasonably same value assessment, it still really has no bearing upon the actual value of the ground that you are attempting to mine. For example, in my pictures below, this is a mine we had sampled and eventually ran. The vein is about 42-48" across, the vein being any values above .05 OPT. The extremely high concentration is only about 1/8" wide stringers. However, looking at the ore body, I would have not expected the high concentration to be where it was found. By using the Torch Assay method, which included well over 100 Assay's within a 42" span, we were able to accurately determine the values and map them accordingly. If we had used standard Fire Assays, which we do as well, we would have a tremendous amount of cost, labor, and time, and that's us doing this ourselves. For a small miner relying upon an outside Assayer, they would have been looking at well over $6,000 and a lot of time spent. Using the Torch Assay method provides an ability to perform testing directly on site at the exact specific ore you are looking at that moment. Every ore body is different, however more times than not, the gold values are usually running in small areas within the vein; unfortunately, it's hard to extract 1/8" veinlets from the mountain. This mine we have been able to recover around 2.75+ OPT by following the specific vein features. The reason I chose these pictures specifically, is because you would generally follow the color bands to accompany the concentrations. However, this particular vein we have continued to track, and the gold concentration moved sideways outside of the color bands, something I haven't' generally seen before. Using the Torch Assay method allowed us real-time assessment without having increased cost in material removal and processing and then determine later that we weren't' high grading as had been planned. Anytime I perform a multitude of Torch Assay's and narrow down the values; it is then always followed up with multiple Fire Assay's. Anything less, in my opinion, would be unprofessional as well as unproductive and costly. -
That is the question. After a few years of research and prospecting, I have found an old abandoned claim, that looks promising. This claim has been officially declared as abandoned by the state, and on the states abandoned mine registry. After looking for a week I have found no corner markers, nor location marker, in addition the metes and bounds method required to describe the location was not met. However, the BLM reports that the claimant is sending in his $155.00 every year and is an "active" claim. After paying a mining attorney to review all the paperwork and other pertinent info, I was told that it is an invalid claim, as state law says that if a mine ia abandoned the claim is no longer valid, and can proceed with filing a claim over the other claim. Per State Law, "Rights of relocator. The rights of a relocator of any relocated abandoned or forfeited mining claim date from the posting of the relocator's notice of location on the claim, and while the relocator is performing the acts required by law to perfect the location, the relocator's rights may not be affected by any reentry or resumption of work by the former locator or claimant." The terms “abandoned and void”, “null and void,” “void ab initio” and “forfeited” have the same effect in these regulations. What do you think? File a claim or not? And why or why not?
-
James ( Jim ) Beckwourth Museum and Cabin
Reno Chris replied to Smithsgold's topic in Prospecting Adventures
Been a lot of years, but I took my daughter there once. Chris -
Torch Assay Folks
Reno Chris replied to Dwight Williams - LNW's topic in Assaying, Testing and Refining
Torch assays can be a rough,ballpark type of tool in estimating precious metals concentrations. They will not be accepted by companies looking to purchase any claims you have staked. -
I had it set up and running pretty good I just seem to never have the free time to run it !!!!! How's yours doing ?
-
James ( Jim ) Beckwourth Museum and Cabin
Smithsgold replied to Smithsgold's topic in Prospecting Adventures
-
Beckwourth Museum The James Beckwourth Museum is a well preserved 1850`s log cabin, believed to be the third such cabin built by James Beckwourth as a trading post and `hotel` in the Sierra Valley. The cabin is constructed of `V` notched logs of the type used in the area where Beckwourth grew up. Just some of James Occupation's, blacksmith, frontiersman, trapper, fur trader, explorer, wrangler, soldier, courier, wagon master, gambler, rancher, hotel keeper, trader, store keeper, rancher, author, scout
-
Hi Folks, I'm a new member here but have been subscribing and watching the forum for many years. I've been seeing the decline in activity, so I thought I would join and help stimulate some activity, as long as my gold ain't' stolen while I'm here posting, all will be good. 😁 I have been curious as to how many of you know of and use Torch Assaying? I trained under the late Charles Butler and have not seen hardly any indications, at least in public areas of people performing their own torch assays. It has been the most valuable asset in my bag of prospecting tools that I have to date and just wondering who else is using this invaluable process. Happy Prospecting, Dwight
-
Small Miner's Amendment to NDAA
Scott Harn - Editor replied to Robert P Miles's topic in News and Announcements
Thanks Robert. -
Small Miner's Amendment to NDAA
Robert P Miles replied to Robert P Miles's topic in News and Announcements
I have just read the full text of the NDAA Proposal for the second time and urge all other members to do the same (at least once). Do try to get the word out to other small miners as to the outstanding work being done on our behalf. I am 74 and as excited as I am about the progress made, I am sorry to see that these agencies will be given up to two years in many cases to "right the ship". As with many of you, I have been fighting this wrong since 1994. That being said, I sincerely thank PLP, Scott Harn, and Clark Pearson. -
Reviews On Vortex Dream Mat
Khrysos replied to Bigga-Digs's topic in Sluicing, Highbanking and Dredging
We have had great success w/ mines in Australia actually eliminating their cyanide leach, because the Dream mats were capturing such a high % that what was left over to leach was unprofitable. Plus we are seeing huge success w/ beach miners who are feeling compared to the standard conveyor belt matting, its night & day. We have crusher companies mounting the crushers on top of the sluices & liquidizing the crushing in a single run getting great fine gold recovery. We have wash plants in Alberta reducing their cons w/ before finial clean w/ great results, reducing the finishing load by 10x. In short it has been very interesting to see the market acceptance of the Dream Mat in fine gold recovery. -
Chris : Thanks for the comments. I agree that the transport is the big issue. I know of several deposits on BLM that could produce big tonnage, but after dust and smoke settles good possibility that the transporter is only one that comes out on top. I think China buys it too, but on other side of the earth. Another possibility might be someone that uses it for something besides steel, and possibility of trucking to somewhere closer.
-
Yes, the ash can be treated with Litharge and the contained gold captured like in a fire assay. A process of cupellation will then free the gold from the lead. As you say that requires incineration and you definitely dont want something like a torch which will then blow away all the gold bearing ash, leaving you with nothing.
-
Up higher in the creeks there far above town were some decent sized nuggets found in the early days but I am not sure about locations close to Dawson, and we dont know how far from Dawson you really are looking at.
-
Private land lease document example needed
Reno Chris replied to Nathan J's topic in General Mining Questions
Honestly, I am confused by your question. There are some rare circumstances where private property does not include mineral rights and those mineral rights can be claimed as an unpatented mining claim. Normally this is on ranch land. However, the owner can prevent you from working the property as he has surface rights. My suggestion would be to first find out the actual status of the property first, then consider what the possibilities are. Many of these ranchers would not receive miners on their land easily. -
Most gold is carried in solution as a acidic sulfide solution. Sometimes calcite can neutralize the solutions enough to drop gold out of the solution, but also iron can displace the gold, and drop the gold out of the solution. Aqua regia is not a naturally occurring substance, so it cannot be the cause that dissolves gold in nature.
-
Manganese is a low price commodity, with raw ore values at only a couple of dollars a pound. Buyers are interested in large bulk sources of hundreds of tons, not really something a small prospector could supply easily. Most consumers of manganese in the US are associated with steel manufacturing in the eastern US, so long haul transport of the ore by rail would also be needed. This is why small operators just dont have the ore and capital to get involved with the manganese market.
-
As far as the use of an electric demolition hammer, that is one that is so borderline that it would be something up to the local BLM authority to interpret. One of the difficult things about the rules and regulations is that they are vague and open to considerable interpretation. Some officials will interpret the rules generously and others will interpret them restrictively. If its something you want to fight over, talk to an attorney. If its something where you just want to avoid confrontation, do it quietly. If its something you want to know, as k the local BLM authority, but try to get it in writing, as you may find one official tell you one thing and a second official tell you something completely different. I'm not certain of the reference in an article you are referring to, but we have a number of issues on line and they can be researched to view more than a decade of back issues if you sign up for on line access.
-
How are things going with that recirculating sluice? I am about to try out one that I made myself.
-
Metal Detecting an Old Homesite Join Jeff as he Metal Detects an Old Homesite looking for hidden Treasures. Hope you enjoy the video and Thanks for watching !!!! Jeff
-
Like with many prospectors there always comes a time when seeking answers from those who have "been there", helps. While I'm in Arizona, these two questions may or may not be location specific. 1. In placer mining does the use of a small electric demolition hammer constitute mechanized earth moving when used for the sole purpose of loosening dried placer ground rather than by pick and shovel? 2. I remember reading here within ICMJ, something about digging in stream/creek channels and "high/low" water marks but cannot seem to locate the article or thread. As always, input would be appreciated and would not be taken as legal advice. I simply want a starting point when having a discussion with BLM AZ. Great magazine and wonderful people as well! DLDOYLE
-
Hi All, I am new to this forum but have been a member for a while. I love all the hard work and good insights that go into this community. I thought I might start with a quick question on lease agreements. We are looking at proposing a placer mine lease here in Montana on private land. I assume that if it is unpatented that we need to work with the landowner and get a claim underneath it to start? My main question is does anyone have a good Lease agreement template for small acreage mining operations (2 - 5 acres)? If not, any guidance on how to prepare one of these would be greatly appreciated. Best, Nathan
-
Recirculating Sluice Testing a Recirculating Sluice and the April Update on what we have going on . Sneak peek at our next video !!!! Hope you enjoy the video, Jeff
-
APMA for Suction Dredging in AK
Glen Oates replied to Easy goer's topic in Larger Scale Placer Mining Operations and Equipment
Back when I spent a lot of time in the water, I had an APMA. As I recall, the application takes 5-6 weeks to get returned to you. So, send it off early. Be sure to include a sketch of the area that you intend to work. Might have changed, but I also remember calling the water board to get the water use permit.
