The Alaska News-Miner
The Occasional Newsletter of the Alaska Prospectors and Miners Association
P.O. Box 423, Willow, Alaska 99688
http://alaskagold.findhere.com/
Email: freegold@bigfootDOTcom (You know what to do).
Vol 1 No. 2 March/April 1999
In this issue: Get those applications in already! Have you submitted your permit applications for this season yet? Better hurry! The later you submit the longer the agencies take. Also: Do I Support Mining In Alaska? By Steve Herschbach. And of course, the usual stuff.
SPECIAL NOTICE: As this is the online version of the newsletter, there will be inclusions and updates posted here, up to the time of the next issue release. Updates, if any, will be posted here.
Most recent update: 14 April 1999
DID YOU KNOW? The origin of our modern name for Friday has its roots in the Norse god of love and fertility, the equivalent of the Roman goddess Venus. Her name was Frigg'.
Welcome New Members! Garry Bernard, Mesa, AZ. David Bernard, Chatfield, MN. Chad Kaska, Palmer, Alaska. Derek Kaska and Jenny Jackemeyer, Eagle River, Alaska. Steve Herschbach, Anchorage Alaska. If your name isn' t listed, or if you haven' t received your membership packet, contact me and I am sorry to be so slow. This AMPA thingy takes up a bit of time.
More Recommended websites:
The I.R.G.P.A. (Internet Recreational Gold Prospectors Association) is located at: http://www.homestead.com/IRGPA/IRGPA_ns4.html.
630 pound Gold Nugget? See fer yerself at: http://www.gold-net.com.au/goldmag/feb99/default.htm#13
Alaska Mining and Diving Supply: http://www.akmining.com
And of course our 'new' home: http://alaskagold.findhere.com/ I intend to post lots of photos and stuff there.
Readers Write! Hey Dude! I don' t know if I mentioned it, but the newsletter is great! Not only informative but very funny! Especially the Y to K deal!! And thanks for the promo! I'll run a copy of it to dad this week. I am sure he will enjoy it as well. The site is looking great as usual!!!
Some email from Microsoft From: System Administrator To: freegold@bigfootDOTcom Subject: Undeliverable: Customer Service Your message To: support@microsoft.com Subject: Customer Service Sent: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 00:11:44 -0800 did not reach the following recipient(s): support@microsoft.com on Thu, 4 Feb 1999 00:12:35 -0800 The recipient name is not recognized Recipient Unknown From: The Yentna Mining Association of Alaska To: support@microsoft.com Subject: Customer Service Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 00:11:44 -0800 Actually, the correct subject line should read "Customer Service-The Lack Thereof", for I have been trying for 2 days to get onto your site to download updates to your products, particularly for MS Word. (portions deleted) If this is the kind of "support" for MS products that I can expect, then it seems wise for me to seek a competitors product. Indeed, after many frustrating attempts to use your "Write Us" part of your page, I simply decided to try this. I don't really expect a reply from you anyway. I just wanted to say goodbye! Sincerely, Dennis R. Garrett (Excerpted from an actual email exchange with M$)
Please take a moment to tell us a little about yourself. We are starting a database of the members and it will help us if you would give us some information. The data will be useful if, for example, a member posts a notice that he or she would trade some mechanic work on their equipment for a week at their claims. Please also include questions you would like to see. The list, like the organization, must remain fluid and dynamic.
Internet Recreational Gold Prospecting Association Introductory FAQ-Also referred to as The Internet Recreational Gold Prospecting Association was formed December, 1997. It is currently the goal of the club to establish and maintain a database from which members can contact other members for help, education, travel suggestions, destination ideas, the sharing of resources (where to go, when to go, what you will need, etc) using the internet as the medium of contact, and WORLDWIDE in scope. Sort of a list of gold prospecting / treasure hunting & buddies" that you can rely on, and can visit no matter where in the world you travel, whom you can count on to help when help is needed. Our first ever newsletter was sent out (via email) in late January, 1998. Volume 2 was sent out late summer, early fall, 1998. While newsletters used to be sent to current members, with our new website, members will be able to access the newsletter any time they wish, rather than deal with a rather large email. Our newsletters detail items available only to members, such as invitations to other members properties, outings, discounts on merchandise or other clubs, accommodations, facts about our hobby, informative write ups on how to do various gold related skills, etc. No matter what type of prospecting you do, be it metal detecting, recreational drywashing, recreational dredging, rock-collecting, etc., our goal is to have some member who is familiar with that area, or that equipment, who is willing to help. Why not join us? The larger we become, the more we share, the more opportunities are available to us all; (and the better organized we are, the better it will be for our hobby. Membership forms are currently available on the public access page, (see link at bottom of this message) and sometime in the future, a self-attending one will be available. There is another Website, maintained by one of our members where he has a forum set up, some pictures, etc. Till we're ready, it's the only place you can post questions, etc. The URL for this site is: http://members.aol.com/recmining/index.htm Look for the golden buttons! Currently, we have members who have all offered their help that hail from Alaska, Australia, the continental United States from coast to coast and in between, Canada, Northern Europe, South America, and many others. Cumulatively, the members literally have hundreds of year' s experience, all of which they are willing to share. Sharing of your skills and knowledge is the only requisite we have. We will share what we know, and we ask that you share what you know when the need arises. One of the club's FAQ's will also be posted regularly (usually on weekends) in the alt.mining.recreational newsgroup, should you need it for reference or information. This is also where most of the member dialogues occur, and is also your first point of contact to other members! We hope to see you soon! If you need additional information, please post your questions in the newsgroup, and we will answer as soon as possible! Thank You! Phil Hontz, Founder and President, I.R.G.P.A. (Reprinted with permission from http://www.homestead.com/IRGPA/FAQ1.html )
Product Review : Tables Often referred to as " shaking tables" , these devices are used mostly for cleanup or upgrading of concentrates of precious metals, but they are also used in a variety of other mineral processing applications. They are usually one of the very last steps in the mineral processing circuit. We will review 2 models which are representative of the common types of tables. Tables are, like their more familiar namesake, flat, but they are not always rectangular. Some are roughly diamond shape. Regardless of their shape, they share the same principle of operation. They take advantage of the high specific gravity of gold as contrasted to the lighter black sands and other minerals. The surface of the table is shaken or bumped by some means, usually an eccentric wheel driven by a small electric motor. A thin film of water is directed over the table during operation which assists in washing away the lighter material. Tables usually produce several grades of product, ranging from very low-grade waste to very clean placer gold. Tables are more or less size-intolerant, which is to say that particle size of the feed should be within a narrow range. This will increase recovery and speed the operation. The first table we will review is the Micron Mill Wave Table. The table comes in several models. The model we tested was said by the manufacturer to be especially suited for fine precious metal recovery from black sand concentrates. We had several types of black sand to test the machine under differing circumstances. Prior to conducting the tests, we dried, screened, and weighed the material by size fraction. The table is well made, clean design, and easy to set up and operate. It is also easy to make adjustments to the stroke speed and length and water flow. And the results are readily apparent. Its surface is ungrooved and has several transverse bars that fit tightly against the surface. I won' t go into the manufacturers statements about how the table works, as this is a product review, not a discussion of theory. The table preformed as advertised, effecting an acceptable recovery of extremely fine gold from even the heaviest black sand concentration, although the greater the quantity of black sand per given volume, the longer the processing took. At the 200 mesh fraction of very heavy (specific gravity >5) black sands some packing was observed, and had to be freed manually. I left it to run on its own while I worked elsewhere in the lab, and it ran unattended without any problems. At the coarser sizes (40 to 100 mesh sizes) the table was quick, and we removed the gold while the table was operating with a specially-adapted wet/dry shopvac. It was interesting to watch the gold emerge from the line of black sand and travel upstream. I think that with a few accessories the table could be useful for a wider range of mineral processing applications, and I would recommend one to anyone with an application. The next table is a " Gemini" table. This table is intended for coarser gold recovery, but it also does well at finer sizes, provided that the material is sized before processing. I used this table for 1 season at the mine, and tested a variety of materials on it. The frame is made of heavy-guage steel tubing, and the table is made of wood. The surface of the table is grooved, and the grooves, which are a flattened U shape, are angled and of variable depth. They are quite effective at channeling the gold particles away from the concentrates. Overall, the table is well made, simple to setup and operate, and simple to adjust and maintain. (continued) As in the test of the Micron table, the test material was dried and screened. The sizes initially were quite close, for example - 20 to +30 mesh; -30 to +40 mesh, -40 to +60 mesh; -60 to + 100 mesh, and - 100 to +200 mesh. The - 200 mesh material, or all the material passing a 200 mesh screen, was quite small. The table was effective in the recovery of gold from black sands, and the middlings, the material between clean gold and tailings, contained a very small amount of gold. The table processed the material very quickly, and I would say that (depending on the percentage and type of black sands) one ton per hour is feasible. I processed several hundred pounds of high-grade concentrate rapidly. I would recommend one to anyone with an application.
Who Owns Alaska? Ever wonder why there is so much land in Alaska, yet it seems like there is no place to do things ? Consider the following: Two-thirds of all the land in Alaska, or 242,796,000 acres, belong to the Feral Government. Most of that is locked up. The state owns over 104 million acres, with 3.3 million acres of that designated as state parks. That leaves a lot for us, potentially. But the state isn' t selling. The grand total, after the Native corporations and everybody else, is .003%. That is how much land is in private ownership. How about asking your local representative why this is, and why the State doesn' t offer some of this vast holding for sale?
Do I Support Mining In Alaska? By Steve Herschbach. This is a question every miner, commercial or recreational, needs to ask. I am a life-long Alaskan who has been involved in mining since I could hold a gold pan. I see mining from many angles; as a mining claim owner and operator, as a business owner selling mining equipment, and as someone who appreciates Alaska's beauty and wants to protect it. Although I make money at it, I mine primarily for the enjoyment and adventure of it. My main tools are suction dredges and metal detectors. I just want to have fun finding gold! I also have never had a love of politics. Like many, I just want to do my thing. Unfortunately I have become aware over the years that mining is something our grandchildren may not be able to enjoy. In my younger years, it seemed I could go where I pleased and mine how I wished Times are changing. A couple years ago I became deeply involved in a fight to prevent the EPA from shutting suction dredging down in Alaska. Though one might say we won the fight, and are still dredging today, now a permit is required for all suction dredges. New rules and restrictions seem to arise every day. Miners have a serious problem. Compared to the environmental lobby, we are poorly organized and do a poor job of representing our interests to the public. This is particularly true of the small and recreational miner. I have found miners to be great complainers, but that many do little to support our industry. I hear complaints about the various mining organizations, and have voiced a few myself. I complain as a supporting member of these organizations, and I spend what time and money I can to help improve things. What truly frustrates me are those who complain, but do nothing to help! (continued) Ask yourself this question - "how much of my time and money did I give to support mining in Alaska this last year"? I'm not talking about what you did to insure you could mine. What did you do to help insure that all miners will be able to operate in the future? If most miners cannot give the proper answer to this question, then we are truly doomed to be a dying breed. Please, help us help ourselves. Do something to support mining every year. Most importantly, join one of the clubs or organizations that support mining. These vary from "fun clubs" to serious political organizations, but what is important is to organize so that our numbers count. Any group is better than none. Stop complaining that someone does not do enough for you. Get in there, and help make it better yourself! The Alaska Prospector and Miners Association is a new organization that deserves your interest and support. The Alaska Prospectors and Miners Association was formed for the following purposes: 1. To provide an organization for the Professional and Recreational Miners, Prospectors, Claim Owners, Rockhounds, and other recreational users and landowners, that would insure that the rights of the members are protected and the concerns of the members are addressed before the local, state, and federal governments; and to provide a network and forum for the members to trade ideas, equipment, and otherwise assist one another. 2. To promote an improved perception of the mining industry in general through public outreach programs such as tours, education, and workshops. 3. To assist researchers and disseminate information relating to the responsible exploration, development, production, and reclamation of the mineral deposits of Alaska. 4. To work with other organizations that support responsible resource development. These worthy goals truly deserve your support. APMA President Dennis Garrett needs all the help he can get, for running an organization of this type can be a time-consuming and thankless task. Be a part of the solution. Join and support as many mining organizations as you can. Simply being a member is helpful, for your dues help pay expenses for others to do the work, and membership numbers count when talking to politicians. Getting personally involved is better. A few hard workers seem to bear the burden for us all, and they need your help. By not acting, you are supporting the environmental lobby! Get more involved and help support mining. Today!
Thank you, Steve Herschbach
Steve is on the Board of Directors of the Alaska Miners Association, and is a member of the Gold Prospectors Association of America, the Chugach Gem & Mineral Society, and the Alaska Treasure Seekers Society. He is also a founder and owner of Alaska Mining & Diving Supply in Anchorage. Visit his Website at http://www.akmining.com
Coming Next Issue: How-To's . ____________________________________ Contributors: Please submit articles ready to include in the Newsletter in a standard format. We reserve the right to edit submissions based on length or offensive content, but you will be notified of any proposed changes prior to the release of the newsletter.
Other News You Can Use http://www.cnn.com/TECH/specials/hackers/cyberterror/ Bracing for guerrilla warfare in cyberspace 'There are lots of opportunities; that's very scary' April 6, 1999 Web posted at: 2:29 p.m. EDT (1829 GMT) By John Christensen CNN Interactive (CNN) -- It is June, the children are out of school, and as highways and airports fill with vacationers, rolling power outages hit sections of Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington and New York. An airliner is mysteriously knocked off the flight control system and crashes in Kansas. Parts of the 911 service in Washington fail, supervisors at the Department of Defense discover that their e-mail and telephone services are disrupted and officers aboard a U.S. Navy cruiser find that their computer systems have been attacked. As incidents mount, the stock market drops precipitously, and panic surges through the population. Unlikely? Hardly. The "electronic Pearl Harbor" that White House terrorism czar Richard A. Clarke fears is not just a threat, it has already happened. Much of the scenario above -- except for the plane and stock market crashes and the panic -- occurred in 1997 when 35 hackers hired by the National Security Agency launched simulated attacks on the U.S. electronic infrastructure& The rest of the story at http://www.cnn.com/TECH/specials/hackers/cyberterror/
For Sale: I appreciate your response and the opportunity to advertise my mining claims that I have for sale. Here is some information on them: 28 Mining Claims, federally patented. 40 acres each. Located in Township 26N, Range 22E of the Copper River Meridian, Alaska. It is in the Boundary area close to the Canadian border. Registered in Fairbanks as Blue Butterfly and Triple "D" Mining. ADL numbers 561105-561125 and 541542-541546, 540773-540775. Sample drilling has been completed with very positive results around Cherry Creek and Turk Creek. Anxious to sell! Call (248) 399-1150. Will consider sub-leasing.
Classified Rates: Depends on what you' re selling. APMA members may place an ad for free.
The Final Word Thus concludes yet another newsletter. I hope we all think about the issues raised in this edition, and that thought condenses into action. In coming issues I will include samples of letters you can write to your representatives to let them know that the Recreational and Small/Family miner, the Prospectors, the Rockhounds, and all other outdoor users are a voting force to be heard! I also will propose ways we can revive the Gold Rush Centennial celebration, and do it right this time.
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