Category Archives: Modern gold mining

Mining a coyote hole

Posted on June 23, 2011 by John Putnam

The gold deposits in many places, especially in dry diggings, could be very deep, reaching down to the bedrock, and a well or shaft had to be dug to reach the pay dirt. When these holes were too deep for … Continue reading →

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What are wet and dry gold diggings?

Posted on June 23, 2011 by John Putnam

In the early days of the gold rush miners worked the gravel bars and streambeds where water to wash the gold from the ore was plentiful and readily available. But soon some of the richest deposits were found in ravines … Continue reading →

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Modern mining with a long tom or sluice

Posted on June 21, 2011 by John Putnam

Placer mining hasn’t changed that much since the time of the 49ers. Sure, you drive close to some of the many good spots to look for placer gold but you will still have to walk into the river and carry … Continue reading →

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Modern claim jumping

Posted on June 21, 2011 by John Putnam

One night early in January of 2009 the owner of a mining company waved down a sheriff’s deputy on the road near his mining claim. Using night vision equipment the officer then saw three men with flashlights working in a … Continue reading →

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The sun sets on California gold miners

Posted on June 20, 2011 by John Putnam

With the huge rise in the price of gold, mining was poised to become a significant contributor to an economy desperate for help when the two year ban on suction dredge mining ended later this year. Now most miners expect … Continue reading →

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Gold miners help clean up rivers

Posted on June 15, 2011 by John Putnam

Joseph C. Greene, a former research biologist for the US Environmental Protection Agency, in his plea from February 2010 for Governor Schwarzenegger to veto the anti-suction dredge gold mining legislation, made a number of key points that seem to have … Continue reading →

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Who owns the gold in California?

Posted on June 12, 2011 by John Putnam

There are still millions of dollars of easy to mine gold in California, most of it on public land. The mining laws are clear. All gold and other valuable metals belong to us, the public, in contrast to Russia or … Continue reading →

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Millions in gold still lies in California’s rivers

Posted on June 8, 2011 by John Putnam

California’s attempt to ban suction dredging for gold in the rivers and streams of the Sierra foothills will be costly to an already fragile economy. Gold has been washing down these rivers for untold eons. Because it is heavy it … Continue reading →

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California gives gold miners the shaft

Posted on June 6, 2011 by John Putnam

Dredging for gold, that’s the problem. It ruins the rivers they say. It kills the fish. It’s going to drag up all the harmful chemicals leftover from the gold rush. So say’s California. You picture in your mind a monstrous … Continue reading →

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