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The Fire Within
October 2002 by Dave Varabioff
I can’t remember the exact day, but I do remember I was 11 years old when my father Charlie Sr. took me prospecting for the first time. That’s the day the fire and passion for gold was first ignited in me. I was born and raised in Grand Forks, British Columbia, and was lucky enough to have a gold bearing creek about 10 miles from our home.MMAC & PLP Update
We are quite pleased to report there are some courageous miners who have taken the time to learn their rights and have gone back to dredging while knowing they could be unlawfully harassed at any time by law enforcement…
Drywashing for Fine Gold
When working fine gold placers with a drywasher, there are some natural variables that can be beneficial as well as others that can be a hindrance to achieving good recovery.
Ask The Experts—Amalgamation
Q: Exactly how does amalgamation work? Does it “melt” the gold (or copper, or silver, etc.) and form an alloy? If one leaves a piece of gold in mercury, will the entire sample become an amalgam (combination) of gold and mercury? Or does it only affect the surface...
Why Haven't They Mined This Claim?
Improvements in mining equipment and techniques, along with a higher gold price, make many mining properties profitable today that may not have been in the past.
Looking Back
Excerpts from California Mining Journal, our original title, published 50 years ago this month.
VCIs for Environmentally Safe Maintenance
A new preventative maintenance program utilizing environmentally friendly Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors (VCIs) is becoming a reality in major mining operations today.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• "Not a pollutant"
• Thank you Senator Sessions
• California suction dredging
• EPA uses secret email accounts
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The Bawl Mill
• Our Readers Say
• Placer Gold in Idaho
• Working the Belmont Mine Butte, Montana—1953
• Simple Sluice Design
• Cobalt and Nickel in Missouri
• Sunshine Mine Video Brings Back Painful Memories
• Hardrock Detecting
• Gold Garbage: Scams New & Old
• Company Notes
• Picks & Pans: Confessions of a Professional Nuggetshooter
• Gondwana Gold and Diamonds
• Looking Back
• Ghost Towns of Washington County, Utah
• 2002 California State Gold Panning Championships—Foresthill, California
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
• Melman on Gold & Silver
