Speaking of Mining . . .in Calif.

[Sierra Sam]

I was poking around as I sometimes do looking at GOLD posts on YouTube and came across this fellah's "wash plant" (fancy highbanker) and couldn't help but to notice the small excavator loading dirt into the thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xv6vCPAXZI

Now, first off I begin to think of how much more expeditiously I could move dirt with a nice little excavator, rather than the shovel-breaking, leg cramping, finger smashing method I've grown so fond of over these many years.

Next, I begin to wonder if the state of Kaleefornee, in particular, Amador County, would allow me to move dirt in such a manner, for the purpose of "Prospecting", or would it fall under "Mining" processes? AND, if it was considered "Mining", would it be a royal pain to pursue and/or cost preventative with regards to a permit perspective?

The claim I primarily work has a small seasonal creek which flows only a few months, if that, with enough water to support a sluice only part of THAT. Having said that, despite the obvious lack of spawning fish, I'm sure folks from CA DFG would pop out from behind a rock somewhere if a costly permit wasn't hanging from a tree close by.

Now I know that I am allowed to move up to 50 yards of dirt of a single project without a permit. My question is - How much dirt can I move before my "prospecting" crosses into "mining" territory? And is it a costly, time consuming, bureaucracy-intensive battle to move dirt with a machine?

[Hoser John]

NOI-notice of intent. Are you in forest circus or BLM lands? ,the particuliar forest designation is EXTREMELY important and scenic, wild/scenic/preserve,national recreation area etc etc. MUCH mo' info needed to give any truthful answers. John

[russau]

Sam ,prospecting is looking for a location to dig gold. mining is digging gold once you found a good location. dont let them play with words at our expense! i dont think a person could put a limit on the amount of material you dig to determine the seperation between prospecting/mining!

[Hoser John]

Posted 26 January 2013 - 05:42 PM

THE BEST NEWS A MINER CAN GET FROM USFS..... whoot whoot...........



Based on information in this document and the project record, I have determined this project is not significant in either context or intensity (40 CFR 1508.27), that no extraordinary circumstances affecting resource conditions exist (36 CFR 220.6), that this project may be categorically excluded from documentation in an EA or EIS, and that it meets all the criteria outlined for 36 CFR 220.6(e)(8) Short-term (one year or less) mineral, energy, or geophysical investigations and their incidental support activities that may require cross-country travel by vehicles and equipment, construction of less than one mile of low standard road, or use and minor repair of existing roads.



The rationale for my decision is based on: 1) the proposed action fully meeting the criteria for Categorical Exclusions, 2) the proposed action meeting the purpose and need, 3) the findings related to extraordinary circumstances, discussed below, 4) the project’s consistency with laws and regulations, including the Forest Plan, 5) the on-the-ground review and discussion with resource specialists, and 6) my review of the Biological Assessments (BA), Biological Evaluations (BE), and specialists’ reports.



If ya want I can PM/email ya plans info or bonds link also. Second ya fire up equipment life gets complicated-John

[Sierra Sam]

John- The map says "USA" above and "USA" below, which, I think, refers to BLM, but the area in between is privately owned and I have signed permission to dig.

Bonds?

I think I may be getting WAY over my head wanting to use a machine rather than sweat and shovel.

Russau- I'm not exactly digging because I know it's a spot guaranteeing results. I mean, it's still a crap shoot and has everything to do with luck, rather than a store bought assay saying X amount of material moved means Y return. So it's still "prospecting", right?

[russau]

yep! some people dont know the differance and dont bother to find out.

[Ornery Cuss]

Hey SS,

Good to see another Amadorian here.

I am what you regulars would call a weekender to Amador Co., have a cabin, summer home, piece of property just up the hill from Daffodil Hill.

Spend time over on the Moke from time to time, Pipi Valley, Sutter Crk, just above Tiger Crk power house at the swimmin hole took my nephew out just to show him how to pan and some spots I would rather not mention here. Tried Sutter Crk back when the new 49 bridge went in, was able to use the access road they had cut into the hill side, man its a long ways down, got nuttin which didnt surprize me, still had fun.

Found my first real nugget at the swimmin hole on Red Corral Rd, I so wanted to stand up, yell and scream, but with all the people around I kept my mouth shut.

That county is tough to find runnin water late in the season as you well know.

To your question, the county wants to see plans if any grading what so ever is to happen, and your right the DF&W would be very intrested if you are doing any grading near a creek, dry or not.

I would suggest keeping a low profile and my mouth shut if you proceed.

Maybe we could meet for a cup of coffee or a cool one sometime. Been in the area for near 55 years, we could compare notes.


OC

[Hoser John]

Amen OC as talkn' the talk is NOT walkn' the walk and a world a difference indeed in them actions taken. OUR business is now everybodies business, or so they ^%$#@ well think so anyhow. Same question again .if the Private property is surrounded by forest circus or blm or is it within any national forest land designation will mandate procedings as ez-ok-or oh crappola-see OC as local and ALL areas are treated different,illegal but all treated differently by bureauratz in accordance to local ilk-John

[Sierra Sam]

John-
It is not within any national forest land designation, or"forest circus"(?) or blm. Forest Circus? Is that a bona fide miner's term for a National Forest or something?

Ornery-
I've dug there on the Moke just up from the swimmin hole off Red Coral Rd. A fun place to bring the family, but it was hot and I half expected one of the dogs to get snake bit climbing over those biggass rocks. Couldn't get down far enough to do any good that day. I understand it's a good place for trout.
Also tried a place off 88 near Pine Grove years ago and darnnear bought a place above Grinding Rock off the Volcano-Pine Grove Rd. Another good family spot was up in Briceburg on the Merced off Bull Creek Rd. Fun little campground there.

I've got a decade on ya age wise. Been diggin for about a decade as well. Unfortunately, and please don't take offense, but I'm afraid I'm a bit paranoid and leery of "forum buddies", though I suck up the advise given freely by you and others like a sponge. I hope you don't feel used. When I first signed into gold forums a few years ago I felt like I'd tripped a spider's web. GPAA folks seemed to be trying to sell stuff all the time and were asking about dig sites and coordinates and wanting to access them. Though I did run across one fella whose agenda didn't seem to be that of mining the miners. http://www.bedrockdreams.com/2011_11_01_archive.html,

I don't mind sharing ideas or putting plans for my home-made gear out there for all to see, but when it actually comes down to revealing dig sites I would rather quietly sit creek side alone, as the sun begins to set, a Jack in hand, listening to the creek, an owl or turkey, as the leaves are rustlin' in a light breeze. It's the same for those crisp early mornings as the sun glistens off a few specks of color on the black mat of a sluice. It's my Me time. No contact with the outside world, except when I have to drive to the ER in Jackson after smashing a finger, or for a shot and pills to treat a severe case of poison oak.

I do however, share the experience with a few old friends from time to time who like to pan, shoot, drink and BBQ. I've known a couple of them for 40-45 years or better, the other two for almost a couple decades. We tell war stories, or share military experiences, or talk prospecting theory. I really should try to make new friends, cuz talkin' prospect'n is just fun! And it can get lonely up there diggin all day without anybody to talk to. It's kinda like fish'n, yeah?

[dickb]

HI SS:
forest circus = US Forest Service
blm = US Bureau of Land Management

Hoser kinda talks in his own dialect, but he don't bite, usually.

Looks like you'll do fine and good to see your protecting yourself from snakes!

Staying low to the ground and quiet are good traits for prospecting, for many reasons.

Dickb