Remote Prospecting

[geowizard]

Hi Guys and gals, fellow prospectors,

Gold prices are at history setting high levels! Now is the time to get out and get going! Right?

Get going where, Geowizard?

There are thousands of NEW GOLD discoveries that have been revealed over the recent past several decades in Alaska! The State of Alaska has been surveying every mining district with an airborne metal detector known as DIGHEM. Search the Forum for DIGHEM to get more details. I have been involved for twelve years seeking NEW Gold and Silver deposits that have never been discovered. They are in many cases REMOTE. Having never been discovered, there was no reason to build a road! There are many challenges for a Remote Prospector!

I would like to open discussion on the topic!

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

I compare gold mining and prospecting to finding a Spanish galleon. This Spanish Galleon is on dry land. It only needs to be staked and filed with the State of Alaska. Alaska DNR mining division explains the steps to stake and file a mining claim. The cost is $40 to file a 40 acre mining claim. Your new found discovery needs exploration. Like a Spanish Galleon, it is somewhat scattered and may need careful excavation to reveal the treasure!

I prefer prospecting on State of Alaska domain to avoid Federal permitting and regulatory over-reach.

The width of the DIGHEM survey system is 40 feet wide. If there is a response, the size of the deposit has to be significant covering a 40 foot wide area with enough Gold and Silver to give a response!

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

Cutting to the chase;

I have a website. I will shortly become a listed sponsor here at Treasurenet! I will reveal thousands of locations of buried treasure with vital statistics that confirm how rich, how big including real data that supports an inferred gold/silver deposit. It's like having a buddy with a helicopter flying 90 miles per hour out in front of you with a metal detector planting survey flags!

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

The reveal;

The reveal is confidential and exclusive to the customer. The follow-on here is discussion on the subject of remote prospecting and solutions to questions on the topic. There's more gold that has been revealed in the surveys that needs hundreds or thousands of remote prospectors to "get on the gold" and prosper from their toils! It ain't always easy. The rewards can far outweigh the effort!

- Geowizard

 

[russau]

I like this line of conversation ! I'd like to keep up with this forum & this subject !

 

[Assembler]

General costs for remote work in Alaska?

 

[geowizard]

Costs?

Most readers don't have a gold deposit in their back yard! It isn't possible to move the deposit, so we have to move to the deposit.

Hence the subject of "remote" prospecting! Remote begs one important question; how remote is it? Generally speaking, If we have to put our big boy pants on, pack a lunch and buy a tank of gas to go prospecting, the cost comes in at least two forms.

To answer the question of cost, most prospectors know there is an expense that can be measured in a monetary form. There is also the cost of labor. Labor takes energy. There are other costs. The saying, "Time is money" is true. What is your "time" worth? How much time is needed for planning? Does that time count? What are the tools needed? Shopping for tools takes time and tools cost money. What is the cost of relationships? Our relationship with others is impacted both positively and negatively with a net gain or loss. Without going off into the deep end, there is pain and pleasure, there is value added in the learning experience. All of these factor into the cost and benefit calculation.

Is it a business with a "for profit" motive? Using a straight forward profit - loss calculation is simple.

The business model: (using Monopoly Money!)

Scenario #1;

We spend $10,000 for equipment and airfare to Nome Alaska and return (the cost). We recover gold and sell the gold for $1000. (the revenue side).

Scenario #2;

We spend $10,000 for equipment and airfare to Nome Alaska and return to stake and sample a gold deposit. The deposit becomes an inferred multi-million dollar asset. We go to the bank...

We spend $100,000 on a small drilling rig and ship it to Alaska ($10,000). We Drill the deposit. We buy a new $200,000 loader, We recover 400 ounces of gold, and sell the gold for $2,000,000. We do that year after year for twenty years.

What's the cost?

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

What's the cost? is a complex question.

The cost of prospecting is dependent on the comfort level, preparation and ambition of the prospector! Personally, like most, I like to take the low cost, straight line course if possible to any objective.

Low cost has a limit. Low cost can reach a level that includes an unacceptable degree of reliability in tools, transportation and methods. I have read accounts of remote prospectors having to be rescued by helicopter from remote areas in Alaska.

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

Knowing where to dig;

The task of prospecting and exploration for gold is greatly reduced by knowing where to dig. It's the same as Treasure hunting, we have to have the tools and knowledge of how to use the tools to be successful in the hunt! DIGHEM has been recognized for decades as the tool for gold exploration.

It takes time measured in years to learn the process of interpretation of DIGHEM data. The learning comes from experience. It takes experience to see correlation in existing placer gold mining and discoveries of new lode gold deposits that have an obvious erosion path to a placer deposit.

That's where picking an experienced exploration company comes into the picture. The shortest route to getting a gold mine is getting a gold deposit. The deposit defines where the mine will be and how big the mine and mining operation will ultimately be. I have enjoyed the thousands of hours that I have invested in learning and doing interpretation of the geophysical data and seeing the results.

- Geowizard

 

[OreList]

The $10k trip / equipment / 400-oz type scenarios are mostly a cost-and-logistics problem. For the revenue side only, a quick sensitivity on grade, tonnage, recovery and today’s gold price can keep the “gross value” conversation honest without pretending it’s ROI. Free scenario worksheet (explicitly not an appraisal): https://orelist.com/tools/mining-claim-value-calculator — pair it with a full access, labor, permitting and opex budget.

 

[Assembler]

Hi Guys and gals, fellow prospectors,

Gold prices are at history setting high levels! Now is the time to get out and get going! Right?

Get going where, Geowizard?

There are thousands of NEW GOLD discoveries that have been revealed over the recent past several decades in Alaska! The State of Alaska has been surveying every mining district with an airborne metal detector known as DIGHEM. Search the Forum for DIGHEM to get more details. I have been involved for twelve years seeking NEW Gold and Silver deposits that have never been discovered. They are in many cases REMOTE. Having never been discovered, there was no reason to build a road! There are many challenges for a Remote Prospector!

I would like to open discussion on the topic!

- Geowizard

Failure of a "Discovery" can result in not having an active "Claim".

 

[geowizard]

What is a "Discovery"?

It depends on the context. A geophysical anomaly represents a discovery in the context of having identified (discovered) a mineral anomaly worthy of further exploration. Most often by drilling or digging and using appropriate means to recover the minerals or metals within the area of response.

Obviously, "discovery" under the context of the mining law and filing a mining claim is an entirely different subject!

Meeting the requirements of "discovery" in support of filing a mining claim is more than hands on and eyes on the commodity at hand. The prudent person mandate is also necessary. But that's not the topic of discussion here.

Remote prospecting is a topic about prospecting in remote areas and the challenges and solutions related to remote prospecting. Prospectors use metal detectors to discover gold. When they discover a location where they get a hit. The metal detector operator digs a hole if necessary to recover the gold or other buried treasure! That's well understood by other members of this forum.

The same is true in mining exploration. Read more on the subject for a better understanding!

Why would a prospector (individual) or exploration company file a mining claim where there's NOTHING to claim?

Ed. note: Edited spelling error.

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

The single biggest obstacle to digging is knowing where to dig!

Digging a hole with nothing at the bottom takes time and money with no return. Filling the hole back up is work too. Prospecting is expensive. Remote prospecting is more expensive. Time and effort are saved knowing where to dig. Knowing where to dig involves obtaining information either in person or through a second source that does the work of exploration. Exploration surveys are costly. The time taken to interpret data from a DIGHEM geophysical survey amounts to days weeks and months.

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

Survey data provides a short path to discovery. Knowing where to begin drilling or digging reduces the guess work and increases the probability of being on the right spot.

Investment at any level is a matter of managing the risk. Risk is minimized with survey data that confirms the presence of a valuable resource!

- Geowizard

 

[Mine Shaft]

Remote mining ? That's why I found and staked a claim where I can find Gold 10 ft from my Car its hard work lol but the bigger stuff is 70 yards from the Car.

 

[geowizard]

Underground mining;

I prefer to be tunneled underground (thinking a "tunnel rat" in a man cave) surrounded by hefty gold nuggets in a consolidated sediment!

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

"Gold is where you find it!"

Unfortunately, the easy gold has already been found. So, as time goes by, it ain't gittin' easier!
That's where we come in. Remote prospectors are above average! We have to be! It takes a very special brain that's got a set of gears and wiring that sets us apart from the normal prospector!

- Geowizard

 

[Assembler]

Remote mining ? That's why I found and staked a claim where I can find Gold 10 ft from my Car its hard work lol but the bigger stuff is 70 yards from the Car.

Sounds like one will also not likely die on the hike from the car to the claim of 10 ft.
70 yards may be a different scenario...............LOL.

 

[geowizard]

When the going gets tough on one leg in Tundra or marshes;

i.e. "long distances" greater than three feet... may I recommend for your consideration, an Argo hdi 750 8x8 camo.

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

Butt scoot boogie!

Once upon a time, in a far away place, I had two Bobcat skid-steer loaders. Ran 'em all day mining gold for years.



Reflecting on the possibilities, I envision parking the Argo next to the loader, doing the butt scoot boogie across to the loader seat and the rest is all magic with twist and tilt hand controls and push-pull steering levers!

Remote prospecting and mining comes with many challenges. Such as it is with life in general. We can overcome adversity with innovation one small step at a time if we want to!

- Geowizard