Paul Black Greenhorn Posts: 
| 24 May 2015 05:38 PM |
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Oh yeah...forgot completely about the garage sales. I'll start checking them out again.
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Paul BlackGreenhorn Posts:
| 24 May 2015 05:45 PM |
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Thanks for the news, Leo...though with my luck I would find all the counties in favor of the ban. 
Didja hear? The Sierra Fund is still dredging in Cali and are being paid with our tax $$$ to do it. I'd do it for free! |
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Leo Lorenz Basic Member Posts:486
| 25 May 2015 08:19 AM |
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Paul, many of the counties are in Northern California. And some along the Kalamath River. Hey someone should go and see what the Sierra Club is actually doing when they are dredging. Do you have any more specific information like where they are doing it as locations? I would like to know if they are finding and keeping gold that is getting sucked up. I think they are doing this as a guise for other reasons.....like to take the gold before others and can get it and also make money for the club......not that they really need it to fund their activities....but I bet whatever they do find they likely put into their own pockets, so that they cant be accused of dredging for "gold". Convenient denial..
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MIKE AULTGreenhorn Posts:
| 25 May 2015 04:51 PM |
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I agree that a 5 gallon bucket is too heavy when full, and I think square or rectangular buckets much more efficient, space wise. But, almost every real restaurant gets all kinds of thing in food grade 5 gallon buckets. They often will give the empty ones away for free just to get rid of them. They may smell like pickles for a while, but they're free! Every time I see someone with those orange or blue buckets that they paid for I just shake my head in disbelief.
Mike
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William Hall Buzzard Posts:649
| 26 May 2015 03:33 PM |
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Two things I'd like to add,
1- Dredging is not banned, Let me say that again.
Dredging is not banned,the efn state that makes you buy a permit to dredge has decided not to sell said permit, that's what is banned, selling permits, in the states mind, no permit no dredging. How many folks drive without a license, how many hunt without a license, how many fish without a license ?
It is not a fed ban, infact you can dredge federal lands without the feds caring, it's the state and that's where a large rub starts. Its the states fish and wildlife people that interfere with that.
Its all on the efn state. The only time the fed cares is when you sell your gold, they want their cut, that's it for small time operators.
2- Save your money on the hand dredge that has anything but an open end. No valves, no hoses, no flapper valves, no check valves, no nuttin. Just keep your bucket close. Suck it in, blow it out into a bucket.
One of my partners bought the hand dredge with the hose and bucket, a complete waste of money. He had it out one time, aint seen it again.
I ran circles around him and found more color in less time. 
Bill |
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Paul BlackGreenhorn Posts:
| 30 May 2015 06:18 PM |
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Leo...Sierra Fund in this case, not Sierra Club. Our illustrious governor is even on the Sierra Fund board. Funny how that works out, huh?
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Paul BlackGreenhorn Posts:
| 30 May 2015 06:23 PM |
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William...right you are on all counts. The most that State Police can get you for currently would be dredging without a permit. If they press it like they used to (unlikely) would they still take your equipment and vehicle like they used to?
Thanx...I'l save my $$$ on the fancy hand dredge with all the bells & whistles. If I need one I'll just go to the plumbing supply and make a simple one. |
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Leo LorenzBasic Member Posts:486
| 30 May 2015 09:16 PM |
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Thanks Paul for the correction. How about this?? This is from the Sierra Fund website and shows what they are truly doing...."Remediation of legacy mine sites can be expensive, and sometimes metals other than mercury are found. The Sierra Fund and a variety of partners are exploring the marketing potential of metals obtained in the restoration of the environment, in an effort to recapture the costs of remediation, and fund future restoration projects. “E3″ in our title stands for “environmentally sound, economically viable and ethically produced.” Note: this is from their so called "E3 Gold Initiative". Ok so this is how you fight this nonsense. I am going to go apply for a 501 C non profit organization and state that our primary purpose is to clean the environment and rid the streams creeks and rivers from mercury. Also to preserve the lands. We will get donations from large corporations and publicize the work being done to restore the environment. Use the money to make land purchases in order to protect the land. Hire professional fund raisers. And also allow recreational miners full use of the properties. I see the scam being perpetrated and 2 can play the same game. The Sierra Fund knows how to game the system, and folks you too need to use the same tactics as well.
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Benjamin CrainBasic Member Posts:351
| 31 May 2015 03:47 PM |
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I have a feeling they are also a part in the new EPA Clean Water Regs that are going to effect every property owner in the US, maybe GPAA can file for similar permits and achieve the same goal, after all we have been doing it longer than they have and they are basically stealing our rights and shutting us down.
Very good idea Leo, it would take a little restructuring but can be done. We did it with my old Motorcycle club and had no problems, I don't see why we can't broadcast that the GPAA is not only cleaning the rivers but cleaning up behind all the idiots polluting the land. If Sierra Fund is using it's new found mineral wealth to pay for it's outings than so can we. But I am certain somebody is getting rich somewhere, I trust Sierra like a trust a fart while having food poisoning.
Members of the GPAA are already non-for-profit because most of us will spend more money on our activities than we will receive in resources, and we are all volunteers that receive no money for our work.
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CHRISTOPHER REEDGreenhorn Posts:3
| 31 May 2015 09:49 PM |
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I get 6 gallon bleach buckets from local jail free. A friend is a guard. They go through tons on the stuff and buckets are tough  |
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Paul BlackGreenhorn Posts:
| 01 Jun 2015 01:20 PM |
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Leo. You might be interested to know that the Sierra Funds latest paperwork shows that they have recovered about 300 ounces of gold and about 3 ounces of mercury (the thing they are supposed to be going after). Some professional prospectors reportedly stopped by, told them they weren't properly set up to catch the most mercury and offered to set their rig up properly. They were told to get out. Personally, I think they are just out for the $$$, not the environment. Thanks a lot, Gov (& bureaucrats, too.)
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Benjamin CrainBasic Member Posts:351
| 01 Jun 2015 03:57 PM |
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Does anybody know what the best way of disposing of mercury is? When I worked at a Hospital in Dallas running a Nuclear Medicine Department I had to go in when I first started and inventory all of our Radioactive Long-Life sources. I learned they were in the cooling facility behind the main building and proceeded to get my staff to come in on a Saturday to inventory and swipe test them all for leakage. We went in and the room was at least 130 degrees. We would drag the bags out of the super heated room and survey them and then return them back into storage. But in there was this large trashcan that was so heavy it couldn't be moved, so I lifted the lid and looked down at least 20 gallons if not 30 of Mercury. I immediately told my staff to evacuate and closed the lid and then reported it to our Radiation Safety Officer. I looked into ways of disposing of that much mercury and as far as I know to this day it is still there, even after I left I don't think they ever figured a way to dispose of it meaning it is probably still there.
I have never seen that much mercury in one place in my life, but an old mercury miner told me they used to take a small push boat into the mine everyday because the pool of mercury had grown so large they couldn't walk through it anymore, and he just so happens to be the first person I have ever met that had "Mad Hatter's Disease".
So if you collect mercury while mining or stumble across something like that who do you call to have it picked up?
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Leo LorenzBasic Member Posts:486
| 02 Jun 2015 08:56 AM |
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Wow 20-30 gallons of mercury is tough to get rid of. I checked into this last year as I knew a guy that had accumulated some from his manometers that were used in testing aircraft instruments. I found that the places that would take it want to charge by the pound. And all they do is collect money on both ends. They charge you money to take it from you, and then make more money reselling it. Something wrong with that idea for me. I read where a girl was cleaning out her fathers things after he passed, he was a prospector, had a good bit of mercury, and she placed an advertisement on Craigslist to get rid of it and it caused her BIG problems. Local EPA found out, wanted to fine her for improperly disposing of hazardous material, improper storage, no permits, ect. You can see where that would go. I dont know where the story ended, but it didn't seem good. Gee, storing that much mercury in a shed with high heat would have made for a toxic environment in that room.
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James HendersonGreenhorn Posts:21
| 02 Jun 2015 12:53 PM |
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Paul, as Ben mentioned and I came to find out the hard way last January, a partner is the most valuable prospecting advice. I was in Colorado, above 9500', prospecting alone when I slipped and fell less than a foot. I cracked the two bones on the outside of my left ankle and broke the fibula on my left leg. I was thirty feet down in a stream bed and my truck was 50 yards from the top of the crevice. I crawled thru cactus and over rocks to get up the crevice and then had to crawl to my truck. It was 6 miles down a mountain road before cell phone signal was available and I could call my wife to send an ambulance. I thought I had it all figured out. My wife knew the general area that I would be prospecting and if I did not call her before dark, she would send the Sheriff's Dept. to locate me. I always carry bear spray and a hand gun but if you break your leg, you don't want to be in the Colorado mountains in January, waiting to be rescued.
I know longer prospect alone and it is one of the reasons that I decided to join the GPAA.
On a lighter note, I have classifiers in 5 or 6 different mesh sizes. If running a recirc setup, I like placing a 1/10" classifier on top of a bucket and run the capture thru the sluice again.
I don't have as much as experience as a lot of the people on here (8 years), but you'll find out more of what you need as you gain experience.
Hope this is helpful.
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Paul BlackGreenhorn Posts:
| 02 Jun 2015 01:35 PM |
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Oh yes, James, I'm big into redundancy. 2 people in 1 vehicle is in no way redundant. 3 (or more) people in 2 (or more) vehicles is. Fortunately, my local chapter has an outing or 2 nearly every month so I'm up to my hips in partners.
Classify...then rerun. Got it.
I have to stop asking questions...seems like half the GPAA has commented so far. 
Thanks again. CFMS show and meeting coming up in Lodi. A chance to buy some more tools & such. Woohoo. |
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DON EVANSGreenhorn Posts:
| 02 Jun 2015 03:11 PM |
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Hi guys, just read this whole post, good advice on ALL counts. As far as a hand dredge I have built a few, the first one I bought leather cups on eBay for the plunger they work great after they swell up (soak the whole thing in the water for a few minutes) I built one for my outings coordinator & I had found 2" rubber fender washers with a 1/4" hole in the middle at my local Ace hardware, I stacked 4 of those with a steel fender washer on both sides & a ny-lok nut, as you tighten the nut & squeeze the rubber it makes for a very tight seal. I did buy one way valves for mine from "Red" over at "Gold N Sand" & I ran a 1 1/4" hose to a bucket but instead of putting a 90° fitting into a bucket lid I just cut a 1 1/4" hole in the side near the top & fit a barbed fitting in it & a 45° fitting inside the bucket to direct the material down, it works great!
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DON EVANSGreenhorn Posts:
| 02 Jun 2015 03:14 PM |
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I'm in So. Cal. & am too waiting on the ruling that is supposed to come down June 23rd but I just built me a 2 1/2 dredge/highbanker & I'm taking it to Arizona to dredge this weekend (I'm also an AMRA member & I'm going to their claim that has a large creek).
I'll post the results when I return next week!
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Tonya MosigGreenhorn Posts:
| 07 Jun 2015 12:26 PM |
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Hey, Paul
I, like you, needed a bit of help getting outfitted. So, I went online and looked through tour operators pages. Mostly Fishing Tour Operators, due to their exposure to water. All in Alaska. I use to be a travel agent. I have insider knowledge on where to find gear info I guess. I'm now sharing it with whomever reads this. Each site lists "what to bring." I got a TON of GREAT info from this one
http://www.epicanglingadv...a-fishing-trip-gear/
I HIGHLY recommend reading it. Ebay gave me some major discounts on exact items recommended. Also since it's "off season" for the clothing/gear companies the clearance pages were great!!!!!!! Let me know what you think.
I'll be in Alaska July 11 thru July 26th this year. When are you going?
Tonya |
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Tonya MosigGreenhorn Posts:
| 07 Jun 2015 12:45 PM |
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Mike is a friend of mine and my Oklahoma Chapter 21 President. He and Red Wilcox designed the cube after four years of trials. They went so far as to order dirt from all corners of the world. They run it through to try the different consistencies in Gold Bearing soil across the Globe. It's beyond impressive.
Mike is a retired Aerospace Engineer. The man knows how to design something. You can see more of his videos on his face book page or at http://www.goldcube.net/
That cube is a huge TIME saver!!
Tonya |
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Paul Louly New Member Posts:81
| 08 Jun 2015 02:05 PM |
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Hello all! It's really great to see everyone involved and being so helpful with our new members (and experienced ones too!) Funny enough, we are actually looking to update the online store, and this post was a real help in getting it going. We've also started a new forum thread for everyone to list their favorite and essential prospecting products that they need whenever they go out. Feel free to continue the discussion their as well, and more importantly list out your prospecting essentials that we should consider carrying in the store. We won't be able to carry any specific brand names just yet, but generic tools and products will definitely be considered. Thanks again for all your support and good advice! http://www.goldprospector...unity/Forum/aft/1019 |
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