A Treasure of Free Gold Prospecting Equipment Plans and Commentary-- I gold prospected in Arizona 15 years. Am on a budget working on success mining. If you want gas money, cut corners to get to the claims. I began homemade equipment in 2008. First just looked at other folks' equipment; copied on my own. Took tape measure to a meeting or an outing & measured parts. I looked for plans on the Net. Posting commentary on free plans is offered. URLs are here too.
Friday, January 06, 2017
Wednesday, January 04, 2017
Arizona Gold Placers and Spanish Legends
Here is my latest article tying together Spanish lost mine legends and proximate locations of actual gold finds in Arizona. Arizona has had a long mining history, and while the amount of gold discovered by the Spaniards in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries may not have been huge (much more silver was discovered than gold), the 19th century began a boom. The state is full of placer locations that recreational prospectors who belong to clubs may enjoy. There are only 2 publicly accessible placers in the state. But the dues for club membership range from $75 and up. There should be plenty of clubs with yearly fees that are acceptable to most.
http://hubpages.com/education/19th-Century-Gold-Prospecting-in-Arizona
http://hubpages.com/education/19th-Century-Gold-Prospecting-in-Arizona
Sunday, January 01, 2017
Arizona Geological Survey Gold Information for Download
U.S. Geologic Survey
Publications for Download
Gold Placers and Placering in Arizona, reprinted 1981, E.D. Wilson. (Bull 168)
Arizona Lode Gold Mines and Gold Mining, revised 1967, E.D. Wilson, J.B. Cunningham and G.M. Butler (Bull 137)
Gold: Properties, Use, & Market Conditions, 1969, R.T. Moore (Bull 180)
Exploration and Development of Small Mines, 1954, H.E. Krumlauf (Bull 164); Outdated but historical treatment of small mine development.
One Hundred Arizona Minerals, 1955, R.T. Moore (Bull 165)
Gold and Copper Deposits near Payson, Arizona, 1925, C. Lausen, E.D. Wilson, (Bull 120)
The Copperstone Mine: Arizona’s New Gold Producer, 1988, J.E. Spencer and J.T. Duncan (AZGS Fieldnotes, v. 18, #2)
USGS Finds Gold in the Silver Bell Mountains, 1988, J.E. Spencer and D.A. Sawyer (AZGS Fieldnotes, v. 18, #4)
Minerals and Metals of Increasing Interest: Rare and Radioactive Minerals, 1953, R.T . Moore (Bull 163)
Pegmatite deposits of the White Picacho District, Maricopa and Yavapai Counties, Arizona, 1952, R.H. Jahns (Bull 162)
Geology and Ore Deposits of the Oatman and Katherine Districts Arizona
Geologic Map of the Oatman District, Mohave County, Arizona
http://www.azgs.az.gov/minerals_gold.shtml
Gold Placers and Placering in Arizona, reprinted 1981, E.D. Wilson. (Bull 168)
Arizona Lode Gold Mines and Gold Mining, revised 1967, E.D. Wilson, J.B. Cunningham and G.M. Butler (Bull 137)
Gold: Properties, Use, & Market Conditions, 1969, R.T. Moore (Bull 180)
Exploration and Development of Small Mines, 1954, H.E. Krumlauf (Bull 164); Outdated but historical treatment of small mine development.
One Hundred Arizona Minerals, 1955, R.T. Moore (Bull 165)
Gold and Copper Deposits near Payson, Arizona, 1925, C. Lausen, E.D. Wilson, (Bull 120)
The Copperstone Mine: Arizona’s New Gold Producer, 1988, J.E. Spencer and J.T. Duncan (AZGS Fieldnotes, v. 18, #2)
USGS Finds Gold in the Silver Bell Mountains, 1988, J.E. Spencer and D.A. Sawyer (AZGS Fieldnotes, v. 18, #4)
Minerals and Metals of Increasing Interest: Rare and Radioactive Minerals, 1953, R.T . Moore (Bull 163)
Pegmatite deposits of the White Picacho District, Maricopa and Yavapai Counties, Arizona, 1952, R.H. Jahns (Bull 162)
Geology and Ore Deposits of the Oatman and Katherine Districts Arizona
Geologic Map of the Oatman District, Mohave County, Arizona
http://www.azgs.az.gov/minerals_gold.shtml
Friday, December 30, 2016
The Richest Gold Placers in Southern Arizona, Greaterville
This notation features an overview of the Greaterville Placers of Arizona.
In 1874, the Greaterville placers were discovered by a guy named A. Smith. For a number of years they were mined by 3 different companies. Until 1989, the area was privately owned. But then the government swapped land for this 3000 acre area and made it part of the Coronado National Forest.
Southeast of Tucson there is a town by the same name, Greaterville. The town lies 9 miles north of Sonoita at the foot of the Santa Rita Mountains. The gulches that exist there encompass 72 square miles. There are 15 gulches that have produced flake and nuggets. It is the richest placer gold in southern Arizona. The bedrock has ups and downs that form natural riffles where the gold is trapped. I have worked such areas and have found that clay frequently is deposited in these areas also along with gravel.
The origin of the gold is higher up in the Santa Ritas. The Yuba, St. Louis and Quebec mines are at the source. It is found in porphyry which is frequently the source of gold in Arizona. Porphyry is usually a red cast rock with great numbers of veins of quartz running all through it.
I found myself jumping from URL to URL to read about this place. It's a typical western story of Indian attacks, hard people, the value of water, and dreams of wealth that didn't exactly pan out. For current photos, see http://nuggetshooter.com/articles/GreatervilleKentuckyCampbyStan.html
http://tucson.com/news/local/mine-tales-the-ghost-towns-of-greaterville-and-kentucky-camp/article_5027b9be-71dc-5951-b11d-665737ef5309.html
http://www.azgs.az.gov/Mineral%20Scans/gold_bull168_ocr.pdf
For beautiful photos and a map of the area, see http://www.mindat.org/loc-35769.html
Friday, November 25, 2016
Monday, November 21, 2016
Monday, October 31, 2016
Corbin Writes A Good Tale, Senner's Gold in the Superstitions is a Winner!
First, let me say that this book has been panned. The two folks who cared to write reviews of the book gave it one star. That is like saying forget it to the public. Now, I bought the book on Amazon and I enjoyed it. It was definitely not a one star book. If you are a Southwest enthusiast, from Arizona in particular, or you have gold fever and believe there are untold places in Arizona and the Southwest which have not belched out evidence of gold to the old prospectors, then I say it is well worth the $3.00 for the read - indeed, it is worth more.
I read this in two nights and didn't turn the light out because it was boring. I turned the light out because I had had a big day prospecting, and at nearly 70, age interferes with reading time! I really think this book has been done a disservice. The author, Helen, the wife of former AG of Arizona, Bill Corbin, has written something worth note.
As an Arizonan, I favored Bill Corbin. My bias passes to his widow who has written a good tale. Hey! Share it with your Southwest officiants and see if I am not correct. By coincidence, Happy Halloween from the management!
https://www.amazon.com/Senners-Gold-Pounds-Goldfield-Superstitions/dp/1879029022/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1477972314&sr=8-2&keywords=senners+gold
I read this in two nights and didn't turn the light out because it was boring. I turned the light out because I had had a big day prospecting, and at nearly 70, age interferes with reading time! I really think this book has been done a disservice. The author, Helen, the wife of former AG of Arizona, Bill Corbin, has written something worth note.
As an Arizonan, I favored Bill Corbin. My bias passes to his widow who has written a good tale. Hey! Share it with your Southwest officiants and see if I am not correct. By coincidence, Happy Halloween from the management!
https://www.amazon.com/Senners-Gold-Pounds-Goldfield-Superstitions/dp/1879029022/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1477972314&sr=8-2&keywords=senners+gold
Monday, October 03, 2016
All About Black Bear Hunting in Arizona: Guides, Information, and Trophy Type
Some states have seen local extinction, sometimes called
extirpation, of black bear from the Midwest to the East.
However black bear still live in many U.S. states,
Canadian provinces, and Mexico to the extent that they
are not classified an endangered species anymore. Black
bear are also found in wooded areas in Arizona. The
often big, lumbering black bears seem to locate
themselves south of the Colorado River in Arizona.
Various guiding services in Arizona provide guided hunts
for black bear during specified hunting dates. All
possible dates are as follows (see,
http://www.azgfd.gov/regs/springregs.pdf for
restrictions during this period): 2015 SPRING BEAR
DATES: March 20 - April 30. A hunt in the spring can be
had only by permit through a bonus or draw point system.
The hunt in the fall requires the purchase of tags
(over-the-counter) which do not specify a particular
legal hunting area. That is, if you want to take a bear
in the fall, a non-permit bear tag lets you go to ANY
specified bear area, referred to as a unit (in Arizona)
for the hunting of bear.
As you may see, the permitted season is somewhat
restricted. Harvesting black bear must be carefully
controlled. The Forestry Service monitors the stock and
provides the greatest opportunity possible for sport
hunters.
Arizona Indian reservations also have a hunting season
on their tribal lands. The White Mountain Apache Tribe
is located in an area in the central east part of
Arizona, and lies 194 miles north and east of Phoenix,
the capitol. The reservation covers three different
Arizona counties: Apache, Gila, and Navajo. The
reservation is an expanse of 1.6 million acres, while it
is the location of its former home on the Fort Apache
Indian Reservation. A hunter does not have to get a
state license to hunt on Apache land. He only needs a
tribal permit which can be purchased on the reservation.
If you want to hunt on Apache land for bear, a guide is
REQUIRED. It has been reported that hunts with guides
can run $1000 a day or more. However, as will be pointed
out again, the success rate is high, and the quality of
bear is top notch.
On the Apache Reservation at San Carlos, black bear are
usually foraging prickly pear fruit, while others are
looking in elm and white oak for acorns, or grazing for
manzanita berries and juniper berries, all of which are
found in the local foothills.
Black bear in Arizona in years of lower rainfall will
gravitate toward the lower desert to munch on prickly
pear cactus fruit. In years of high precipitation,
acorns and berries are plentiful in the higher levels
and they spend more time there. Hunters notice that the
bears still will move to the lower desert floor
searching for cactus fruit, but not nearly as much as in
very dry seasons. And what's more, realize that the
Apache Nation has its own places within the reservation
divided into areas.
Grizzly bears are often featured seen swatting at the
water fishing for salmon. This is not the behavior of a
black bear in Arizona. Most of the time the black bear
will eat the items listed above. In addition, as they
migrate to the lower desert foraging, they find mesquite
beans a delicacy.
To be acquainted with the Apache protocol call
(928)369-8-5087 or (928)338-4385 ext 228 or connect to
this URL for a map of the area:
http://www.wmatoutdoors.org/ , or write to: White
Mountain Apache Tribe Game & Fish Department P.O. Box
Whiteriver, AZ 85941.
Most of the guided hunts utilize spot and stalk or
predator calling. Rifle and bow hunts are both allowed
in the state of Arizona. These hunts in general are not
highly known for quantity necessarily, but for the
QUALITY of the black bears. Many are fully mature black
bears. Depending on the time of year, they can have
somewhat different colors. I have read of cinnamon,
brown, black, chocolate, and even more variations of
dark color being pointed out by hunters. These bears get
the moniker of cinnamon black bear, etc.
Of the 72 separate areas the Arizona Game and Fish
Department has subdivided the state into for hunting,
some don't allow black bear hunting. As mentioned
earlier, though black bear do come down from the
mountains seeking food during harsh times, the bear
populations flourish in the forested areas. But one
thing that is interesting about bears and Arizona is the
placement of mountains. Though higher altitudes full of
desert growth are referred to as the high desert, it
isn't unusual to see a huge mountain in the middle of a
dry lower desert floor. Rising up 1000's of feet, these
mountains have heavily forested areas where black bear
may live - particularly in southern Arizona. This does
not necessarily mean that it is legal to hunt bear
there. The hunter has to be informed about the units
that allow black bear hunting. When bear move to the
lower levels of the area it is referred to as the low
desert.
At certain times (specific dates determined by the state
authorities) a phone call must be made to decide if the
harvest quota has been met. If it has, that particular
season ends. If not, it continues. These phone calls are
required of each hunter. Reminder note: hunters may hunt
unimpeded up to that specific date when calls need to be
made. It cannot be emphasized enough that the quality of
bear in Arizona is very high. These regulations make
sure that enough quality black bear will populate the
area for the next season. This is hearsay, but what I
have gleaned from articles is that most of your
experienced hunters understand. To be fair, a phone
call after a specified date is not that restrictive.
Decisions about the hunt dates are made with
consideration to black bear reproduction schedules (once
every 2 years) and the reporting of the taking of a
female bear. The reporting is carefully analyzed through
a eco-evaluation system and a 48 hour required time
period for telephone reporting of the harvesting of a
female. Though I have tried to give exact information,
since this is an article, I recommend calling Arizona
Game and Fish for particulars. I can give you the number
that hunters need to call to make sure the hunt is still
on: 1-800-970-BEAR. Within ten days there is also a
physical inspection of the bear by authorities.
Baiting bears is illegal in Arizona. Covering a food
source area that the bears like is reported as the best
way to hunt black bear. Then, stalk and call is utilized
with the response of the bear highly unpredictable. I
repeat, the bear's reaction is highly unpredictable!
Some will charge, some will act as if curious, some will
wonder off, but the emphasis is on unpredictable! A GOOD
pair of binoculars with a tripod should be a priority,
while a scope for spotting can be useful, too.
For Arizona state regulations go to www.azgfd.gov.
Detailed information about the black bear season in the
Arizona units is available there and at
azgfd.gov/h_f/hunting. For current bear hunt draw
regulations see azgfd.gov/h_f/hunting_rules. This site
also informs of NO HUNT areas in Arizona.
You can hunt near a water hole in Arizona but must be at
least 1/4 mile from a camping/inhabited area. In the
fall it is generally dry in Arizona. From forum reports,
I have found that there is some common local advice.
Positioning yourself on a hill overlooking a watering
hole can be productive. You have a large range of area
to detect movement, and, of course, in dry weather (and
any other time for that matter) the black bears come
down to drink. Be cognizant of the fact that rules
change. This information was correct to my best
knowledge as of date of publication.
The three greatest reasons for hunting black bear in
Arizona include record potential, big body size, and
color phase. Hunting the black makes you work for the
kill, energizes you, and rewards you with a fine
specimen. It also has the possibility of winding up
being the best hunt of a hunter's life!
For additional general information, see
http://www.azgfd.gov/video/BlackBears.shtml
For more bear season information, see
http://www.azgfd.gov/regs/springregs.pdf
Thursday, September 08, 2016
A History of Gold Mining in Arizona
The United States purchased from Mexico in 1848 and 1853 areas of what is currently known as Arizona. This is when appreciable efforts to mine where made. Spanish and Mexican miners had minded for silver.Placer gold was brought to churches by Indian who had converted. These contributions to the church were from dry gravels and sands in selected areas of the Arizona desert.
The areas after 1853 that were accessible to miners where in Tucson and Tubac in the southern part of Arizona. when the civil war began circa 1861, it was no longer safe to mine. Add in the threat from Apache raids and mining was halted until post civil war.
See http://www.westernmininghistory.com/articles/37945/page1
The areas after 1853 that were accessible to miners where in Tucson and Tubac in the southern part of Arizona. when the civil war began circa 1861, it was no longer safe to mine. Add in the threat from Apache raids and mining was halted until post civil war.
See http://www.westernmininghistory.com/articles/37945/page1
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