Find prospects w/o spending a cent with instructions

[ncclaymaker]

Everywhere on the web, a lot of fine merchants are all selling the same old, same old. For those of us that prefer FREE... here's an add-on for Google Earth. Go to www.minecache.com and download their FREE app. Better than most of the books, maps, and "ghost" mine guides. This free app may not be a perfect substitute for hard copy, but it will aid you finding what most cannot.

For detailed data searches anywhere in the world, try the Mineral Resources Data System... our tax dollars at work (an oxymoron) at the link below.

http://tin.er.usgs.gov/mrds/

http://tin.er.usgs.gov/mrds/select.php

 

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[Hoser John]

Re: Find prospects w/o spending a cent

Craigslist rocks the mining world for FREE and every state,every city and everywhere-John

 

[CoastalSChunter]

Re: Find prospects w/o spending a cent

John,

please tell me about the Craigslist/mining please, where do i look or post for this?

 

[B H Prospector]

Re: Find prospects w/o spending a cent

Mine Cache is useless! I downloaded it and gave it a spin. The only thing it lists is old hardrock mines. If someone wanted to find some ground to make a claim they could get into trouble. Most people don't realize they need to contact the BLM to find out if an area is open to claim. Not one placer claim is shown. Most mines today are placer and without that info Mine Cache is useless. Good thing it is free.

B H Prospector

 

[ncclaymaker]

Re: Find prospects w/o spending a cent

Mine Cache is useless! I downloaded it and gave it a spin. The only thing it lists is old hardrock mines. If someone wanted to find some ground to make a claim they could get into trouble. Most people don't realize they need to contact the BLM to find out if an area is open to claim. Not one placer claim is shown. Most mines today are placer and without that info Mine Cache is useless. Good thing it is free.

B H Prospector

Reply to BH Prospector -
Apparently you haven't taken the time to really use this application, or at least understand it. Useless, not at all. Placer deposits are usually designated as S or Surface. Your assumption that most mines today are placer is great for those of us that know different.

 

[homefires]

Re: Find prospects w/o spending a cent

It will tell you the claim owners name and contact.

What more do you want? A kitchen pass?

Yes the info is a bit old and you need a trip to the blm on new grounds anyways.

But it sure helps.

I've used it to contact owners asking for permission to hit the claims and have only been denied once out of 7 times.

 

[russau]

Re: Find prospects w/o spending a cent

Homefires is correct! asking permission is always the first step.

 

[Lanny in AB]

Re: Find prospects w/o spending a cent

Knowing where old hardrock is great if you want to detect throw-out piles. Permission is, of course, essential.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[ncclaymaker]

Re: Find prospects w/o spending a cent

The MRDS site is not too user intuitive, so here are some instruction for use.

1. Go to this link. http://tin.er.usgs.gov/mrds/find-mrds.php
2. Leave site name blank.
3. Select a state, leave country at the default value of anywhere.
4. With commodity - select Gold from the pulldown list.
5. Leave Operation type and ID as is.
6. Click on the Search button.... wait for the database on the server to create a file with the relative data.

A new page will appear with Choose Format:. Change the Shapefile type to Google Earth.
1. Click on the Get Data button.
==== Wait ==== Like when did the government ever do something in an instant. If this was private enterprise, you wouldn't have had time to blink... except dialup users.
Usually I would select the filename.KML. Runs faster than the compressed file(kmz).
2. Click on mrds-selected state-Gold.kml
3. File download window appears.
4. Select the Save Button.
5. Select a folder where you know the file can be found later
6. Open Google Earth and from the File menu, select Open. Go to the folder and click on the KML file that you saved.

You will now have the whereabouts of almost every known gold mining activity in the state that you searched. It isn't free, we've all paid for the right of its' use. Happy hunting.

Best regards

 

[B H Prospector]

Hi ncclaymaker,
I have talked to the designer of minecache and he told me that I was right and there is a problem with the program. The information is not complete as it does not show current claims. I gave him mmc numbers for claims that have been active for the last four to 30 years and he couldn't find them using minecache. Someday it may be useful but right now it is inaccurate and incomlpete. In my area there are more placer claims than any other. 99% of all hardrock claims are closed here and the ones that are still operated are owned by large mining companies and it's not hard to find them. It's the small claims you need to know about so you're not claim jumping. The designer said he will be getting it updated. I hope he does cause I can see it being useful some day.

B H Prospector

 

[nickmarch]

Re: Find prospects w/o spending a cent

You will now have the whereabouts of almost every known gold mining activity in the state that you searched. It isn't free, we've all paid for the right of its' use. Happy hunting.

Best regards

ncclaymaker,

Many of the mines shown are not accurate. The files do not show the correct location of the mine. Look up Cotton Patch Mine in NC from the MRDS data. The location of the mine is off by about a mile. Look at the attached photo. Top left is Cotton Patch mines actual location ( the red balloon marked A). Bottom right corner is where the MRDS data shows Cotton Patch Mine. (The black X)

 

[ncclaymaker]

First of all, you are 100% correct. The MRDS stated lat/long is 35.4276, -80.17479, instead of on Gurley Rd. But, everything considered, what do you expect from the US Government... if it is absolute accuracy, we all should know better. But, it is a tool that should get you some form of direction as to where to prospect or where the chances are slim to none. The data that some people sell is usually from the very same data sources, replete with the same errors. When checking any location, I usually verify with the latitude and longitude on Google Maps and Google Earth. I have seen minor differences in locations up to 1/4 mile or so.

Best regards

 

[ELRONTIREBITER]

ncclaymaker, thanks for the usgs link, it looks to be very useful, I'll find out soon!

 

[ncclaymaker]

B H Prospector,
I used to recommend minecache to everyone, when it was free. but his data is probably from the very source that we get access to for nothing. I would always check with the feds or local mining authorities what claims are active or not. Claims are always in flux, good today,gone tommorow. So is the data that we have... its valid now, not so, when we check back later.

I'm not saying that it's not a good tool, but it will only be as good as the accuracy and timeliness of the data.

Best regards

 

[B H Prospector]

ncclaymaker,
You are very correct about the data. Even when the BLM geolocator was easy to use they admitted it wasn't all that accurate. I too alway contact the feds when looking into a new area. That is always the best, however not error free either. I once filed on a 20 acre track they said was open to claim only to find out it was under claim and the blm had it registered in the wrong state. Turned out for the better as because I didn't try to cause trouble with the owner I got in on a clain that has an assesed value of $22 + million.

Good luck!

B H Prospector

 

[greydigger]

Went to LR2000 site for BLM and they no longer have mine data compatible with Google.
Someone didn't pay the baksheesh.
Or someone at BLM has a retirement plan.
Grey

 

[calisdad]

The MRDS site is not too user intuitive, so here are some instruction for use.

1. Go to this link. Search the Mineral Resources Data System
2. Leave site name blank.
3. Select a state, leave country at the default value of anywhere.
4. With commodity - select Gold from the pulldown list.
5. Leave Operation type and ID as is.
6. Click on the Search button.... wait for the database on the server to create a file with the relative data.

A new page will appear with Choose Format:. Change the Shapefile type to Google Earth.
1. Click on the Get Data button.
==== Wait ==== Like when did the government ever do something in an instant. If this was private enterprise, you wouldn't have had time to blink... except dialup users.
Usually I would select the filename.KML. Runs faster than the compressed file(kmz).
2. Click on mrds-selected state-Gold.kml
3. File download window appears.
4. Select the Save Button.
5. Select a folder where you know the file can be found later
6. Open Google Earth and from the File menu, select Open. Go to the folder and click on the KML file that you saved.

You will now have the whereabouts of almost every known gold mining activity in the state that you searched. It isn't free, we've all paid for the right of its' use. Happy hunting.

Best regards

thanks for the turorial.