What is the definition of "no motorized equipment"?

[mytimetoshine]

Does this include battery operated devices?

 

[Alex Burke]

You mean like a flashlight, those are still ok for now.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Does this include battery operated devices?

Depends where you are. In Golden CO they allow battery powered pumps but not gasoline. ..on city owned land. Other places say no powered gear of any kind just like in federal wilderness. So ya gotta ask locally.

 

[Alex Burke]

If you mean an environmentally friendly recirculating sluice, that uses a tiny, battery powered bilge pump to recycle water that is the future of chemical free small scale mining then the answer is: you can go anywhere but the auburn rec area and possibly national forests depending on how you read their rules specifically.

 

[Jeff95531]

If that question is coming from reading a regulation, will need to see it all before I would hazard a quess. The "rules" vary greatly all over the country with layers of bureaucracy busy justifying their existence. Ultimately, the agency can define it any way they want and enforce it the same way. If challenged in court, they may back off if told to by a judge. Then again, maybe not.

 

[goldenIrishman]

Yeah... Everyone has a different take on just what "Powered" means. Wouldn't it be nice if some of the IDIOTS in power would get out the dictionary and figure out a single explanation that everyone had to follow?

Now if the reg reads engine powered that would mean gas. Motor powered would mean electric. Pretty much everyone knows the difference except the no brained people that are writing these regs.

I wonder what they'd say if someone set up a hand pump system for their sluice, dredge or high banker....

 

[mytimetoshine]

I think ill just get a regular sluice. That way i dont have to worry about (for now). Gonna go out a couple more times with my pan before i decide to invest in one just to get a little practice first.

 

[Aurabbit79er]

Is this "motorized" I don't think so. A water powered water pump, one of my early builds in the late 1990s.
A prototype made from old bike parts and ABS pipe for turbine blades.




We are only limited by our imageination.
I have a water powered floating generator on the drawing board now.
It will be able to power a 2500GPH electric water pump.
If you camp near it it will run your camp all night long or let you run lights, and mine all night long.
No Gas, the river never stops or gets tired.
Since I can't use my 4" dredge I might re-purpose the pontoon frame to carry a waterwheel and generator.

The old timers invented the sluice. We are making better mining gear as we speak.
We will always find a way to mine.

 

[mytimetoshine]

Is this "motorized" I don't think so. A water powered water pump, one of my early builds in the late 1990s.
A prototype made from old bike parts and ABS pipe for turbine blades.
View attachment 824829
View attachment 824830
View attachment 824831
View attachment 824832
We are only limited by our imageination.
I have a water powered floating generator on the drawing board now.
It will be able to power a 2500GPH electric water pump.
If you camp near it it will run your camp all night long or let you run lights, and mine all night long.
No Gas, the river never stops or gets tired.
Since I can't use my 4" dredge I might re-purpose the pontoon frame to carry a waterwheel and generator.
View attachment 824835
The old timers invented the sluice. We are making better mining gear as we speak.
We will always find a way to mine.

Wow thats really cool, thanks for sharing!

 

[dredgeman]

The problem is the forest service is trying to resurrect the old no mechanical devices in the forest. The forest service thinks a sluice is a mechanical device.

The pictures are cool even if you would get a ticket were we are at the moment.

Midnight clubs will carry on until the infra red drones start flying.

 

[sidvail]

Midnight clubs?

Not to spotlight any 'illegal activities' - but how much do you guys think these regulations are being sidestepped? I assume there are folks who dredge at night, secretly, etc. There are always those who walk the edge. Is it very common? It would seem the noise would get you caught quickly - but there's also a lot of areas where LEO's do not go.

Don't give specifics - but what do you think actually happens along these lines?

Sorry if this question is too forward.

 

[Aurabbit79er]

The problem is the forest service is trying to resurrect the old no mechanical devices in the forest. The forest service thinks a sluice is a mechanical device.

The pictures are cool even if you would get a ticket were we are at the moment.

Midnight clubs will carry on until the infra red drones start flying.

That's what I'm talking about. We are the most creative when we are under pressure. I will take the chance and use my inventions just to see what they say and get it on video too. The Mining Journal would love to see a story like that.
No pollution or environmental impact.
I always practice "Leave no trace" were ever I Mine or Camp.
I can always find a way outside the box.

 

[Aurabbit79er]

Midnight clubs?

Not to spotlight any 'illegal activities' - but how much do you guys think these regulations are being sidestepped? I assume there are folks who dredge at night, secretly, etc. There are always those who walk the edge. Is it very common? It would seem the noise would get you caught quickly - but there's also a lot of areas where LEO's do not go.

Don't give specifics - but what do you think actually happens along these lines?

Sorry if this question is too forward.

It's not that we are mining outside the law, it's that this era of restrictions against miners is unconstitutional and we don't recognize the the processes that enacted the restrictions. This fight is far from over and if public disobedience is needed SO BE IT. We have followed reasonable mining laws for many years obeying fish and game laws, filing claims, and getting dredging permits. We won't be regulated out of our right to prospect and mine for gold and other minerals. The laws protecting our rights are still on the books. Those are Federal laws and the states are ignoring them. We will have our day and our way. Environmentalist be dammed.

 

[sidvail]

I'm a firm believer in 'What is legal is not always what is right - and what is right is not always legal'. I like your stance Aurabbit. I also believe that in a mature system, those who put forward new laws are doing it not for the benefit of all, but for the benefit of a select few. I applaud those who refuse to submit. Thanks. Your response actually gave me hope.

Not that I'm doing anything illegal

 

[Gramps43]

There you go assume'n that bureaucrats know the difference in chemically powered devices and electrically powered devices. Engines are chemically powered and motors are electrically powered, simple if it don't have a cord attached it's an engine. It's kind'a like the workaround in California that dredgers are using, just call it an underwater gravel redistribution device or something like that. if the reg. reads engine powered then, until it's amended, that would be a gas powered engine and not an electrically powered motor. You have to hold them to the literal meaning of the english language and if you go to court make sure you let them know understand the literal meaning of the language.

Gramps

 

[mytimetoshine]

sooooo. if a particular sign i saw only says "no dredging or motorized equipment" your ok to use a gas engine?

 

[KevinInColorado]

sooooo. if a particular sign i saw only says "no dredging or motorized equipment" your ok to use a gas engine?

No. A gas engine is motorized without a doubt. The variable is whether they include electric motors in the ban or not...sometimes electric is ok.

Also, a sluice is NOT mechanized due to the lack of moving parts.

 

[Desertman50]

Is this "motorized" I don't think so. A water powered water pump, one of my early builds in the late 1990s.
A prototype made from old bike parts and ABS pipe for turbine blades.
View attachment 824829
View attachment 824830
View attachment 824831
View attachment 824832
We are only limited by our imageination.
I have a water powered floating generator on the drawing board now.
It will be able to power a 2500GPH electric water pump.
If you camp near it it will run your camp all night long or let you run lights, and mine all night long.
No Gas, the river never stops or gets tired.
Since I can't use my 4" dredge I might re-purpose the pontoon frame to carry a waterwheel and generator.
View attachment 824835
The old timers invented the sluice. We are making better mining gear as we speak.
We will always find a way to mine.

Gotta LUV it!

 

[Hard Prospector]

They are trying to make outlaws out of honest, hard working, tax paying citizens. I think I'm starting to feel like a bootlegger.

 

[MadMarshall]

sooooo. if a particular sign i saw only says "no dredging or motorized equipment" your ok to use a gas engine?

I would take the time and contact the agencies and ask!!!!For the most part they will provide you with accurate information on what is allowed...For me as a rule of thumb I only use hand tools when on Rec land.. But it seems a better aproach to ask the people making the rules..