OK, so I am running a little late after lovely April 15th.  Well, now I need to get back to helping you find some gold to keep the government running along with your fat taxes from the big gold you find, because I am sure that you report every single ounce you find.

Oregon has had significant gold production over the years.  This document is a solid twenty-three page historical document on gold mining in Oregon.

Oregon has a lot of things going for it, because lots of the state has plenty of water.  Also, there is lots of government land which makes it easy to find places to file a claim.

Check it out!

Oregon Gold Mining

As many of you know I’m a big believer that most of the significant gold is actually found during your research and museums are an often overlooked place to do research, particularly if you are stumped.  I have found that looking at museums often give me a better feel for a project than say just reading or searching for information online, because the museum displays give you both an overview of mining in a given region, but also specific details about mining techniques, equipment, and production that you may not have known.

photo credit: nerdcoregirl

More importantly, even if you know all of the information in the exhibits, seeing the information explain in visual form may help spark some ideas you had never considered about where you might want to prospect and other research ideas.

Also, some of the old gold mining equipment might really be useful to you, because the old timers used a variety of methods that we no longer use for a variety of reasons.  However, you might be able to use your equipment a little more effectively or perhaps decide to build a piece of your own gear.  Most of the old stuff tends to be heavier and harder to use, but it depends on your situation.

Anyhow, here is the link for Mining Museums

Strike It Rich!

OK, usually I give you leads that you can use to make a little money if you study the detail, but today I am tossing you a clue to keep you from losing money.  There is no doubt that you can get scammed if you buy a claim or even invest into a larger commercial mine.

This document was put together by the Arizona Department of Mines and Minerals to help people avoid getting scammed.

It also has some clues about where you might want to go prospecting.

Check it out!

Arizona Gold Mining Scams