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- in reply to: Miscellaneous #2284
Those that float are rotten. Don’t crack them. Sinkers are OK…. still.
Like panning for gold, the good ones go to the bottom.
Best regards,
Dick Davis
in reply to: Miscellaneous #2283As a minority female on the dominately male forum, I come for help.I began dinner and found four dozen eggs on the shelves of my refigerator.I rarely eat eggs and con’t explain why the four dozen. I put a dozen in a pot on the stove.Nine float and three sunk. Why?
Which ones do I eat or throw out?in reply to: From the Sixteen to One Archives #2281In 1990, the KCJV joint ventured the 16:1 mine with Billiton Minerals, Shell Oil Company. The highest priority exploration target of Billiton was at Chips Flat above the 16:1 owned Rainbow mine which historically produced +150,000 ounces of gold. There are a number of vein junctions as well as extensive carbonate alteration in this area. A logical well thought out exploration program which includes backhoe trenching would have a high probability of producing significant gold from Chips Flat.
in reply to: EMPIRE STRIKES BACK #2279When I started this new topic, Empire Strikes Back, I really was not sure why. There are some mining people who I know that check the Forum for news and are interested and get a kick out of this event. Thanks for the continued interest in our great profession. Hard rock underground gold miners you are, just like me. Also historians of early California history or those with roots in the development of California in its infancy, it was also for you, so I could keep you abreast of events. And there are bunches of you that I have never met. Maybe you are not interested in high-grade gold mining, but you connect with this subject. The Empire Mine is the deepest hole on the Pacific coast. Miners know more than anyone else just what it is like to be working so far beneath the sky. Historians know more as well.
Miners are just as nutty in their trade as anyone else. But when you are confronting the gravitational and geological influences of the earth and your life depends on it, miners can get a little testy over “chicken little” performances by others. So here is an update from Tuesday’s bi –monthly meeting at the Empire Mine that is a regular event with our Californian public servants.
Boy is this a challenge to write. Who may ever see these words? …..Yes, from CDAA followers to California employees to friends and foes it matters little. This contract to break rock at the Empire will go forward. Yes, I would like your help to correct and improve this project. There are so many things wrong with the current position of Department of Parks and Recreation(DPR). Let’s improve the project instead of protecting the past.
When I submitted an RFI of engineering drawings (encouraged by DPR) to reduce the rail size from 30 pound to 20 pound, I was backstabbed, which is always worse than rejection. Later when I questioned the size and spacing of the track ties in another RFI, my opinions were partially rejected. Now I am assaulting the method of ground support in another RFI. This subject must be accepted even though there are differing opinions. The ultimate fate of the project depends on it. It appears that people who never worked in the hard rock mines of the Sierra may oversee the opinions of miners who have drilled, blasted, mucked and supported it. That is okay, but should their opinions overrule the miners? Let’s hope not. I represent the view of Sierra miners and am comfortable that these views of how to build this public adit are the only correct ones. Every cold, wet and tired miner who has dragged himself out of a Sierra mine has an interest in the outcome of this work. He has faced the mental anguish of putting aside every personal concern to protect the project, the mine. Nature demands that you pay attention to her as you rip into the earth. There is no other way to survive.
There were six DPR employees who met at the site to review the status of erosion pollution and liability today. A call had gone in to Ruth Coleman, the acting head of the California Resources Agency, about pollution originating from the adit project. She called for a State hydrologist, who drove down from Lake Tahoe for an assessment. She was very understanding and able to articulate her reasons for being at this site. Last Thursday a DPR employee raised a question about brown water. He saw some during the heavy storm and complained to Sacramento. Why?
What we are experiencing at the Empire Mine Adit project is a microcosm of what has happened to our government and business. The concerns were not about the stated brown water and any deleterious consequences of it entering the watercourses. The concerns are for someone filing a lawsuit alleging that DPR was not properly taking care of its business. Opinions from people, well meaning or not, are just that.
in reply to: Gold Enters Major Bull Market #2278Blue Jay, What about us guys holding Rands? Should we invest in Cheese?
in reply to: Gold Enters Major Bull Market #2277Bluejay: We all know gold is in a Bull Market, so what else is new?????
in reply to: Gold Enters Major Bull Market #2276Bluejay: If you look at the fundamental, a screwed up world, you can see that gold is going to go up, up and up. Maybe to $1,000. by year end. Who are these guys you mention, Lars Lindgren and Jim Sinclair?Why not just use common sense?
in reply to: Gold Enters Major Bull Market #2275The last sale on gold is 428.10 which is off 9.00 for the day. The prediction for 2005 is that gold will trade in the low 400’s in the early months and somewhere near year’s end, gold will surpass 500.00.
The current action in the metal is no more than a gut check. This is the expected opportunity that was mentioned earlier to obtain additional gold and gold related companies.
The gold price currently is in the same technical position as it was in the early parts of 2003 and 2004, both times proven buying opportunities.
The key point for identifying opportunity is that gold is trading under a previous top that has been bettered some months prior. In the current case, the previous high that was bettered was about 432 or so.
Now is the time to dust off the old checkbook and enter some scale down orders starting today. This anemic period for gold could last another month or so.
The most important point here is that gold is in a bull market. As gold’s perpetual motion carries it higher on this long term ride, periods of weakness are to be expected. If these periods don’t frighten you to sell then, hopefully, they can be used to your advantage.
in reply to: From the Sixteen to One Archives #2274The largest pocket of gold mined from the 16:1 was from a small zone below the 800 Level between the 16:1 and Tightner Shafts and is credited with 83,200 ounces. Of this total, some 30,000 ounces were obtained from a “pipe” about 1 1/2 ft. in diameter by 40 ft. long. The remaining ounces came from a larger volume of still very rich vein. In 1940, a typical year, 8,471 ounces of gold were produced from 5,635 pounds of ore or 1 1/2 ounces per pound. (This does not include mill production) With only 1/3 of the 16:1 vein developed, potential exists for many good years of gold production.
in reply to: Clips from Alleghany #2273The power faded twice and then went dead. Alleghany has now, much snow. While all the major highways a have been closed through the Sierra, Ridge Road into the camp is plowed and a breeze. Many trucks at the bar for lobster dinner and entertainment for miners and friends. Fewer than expected because of the storms. Underground is the best place to be working.
Just wanted to be the first to extend wishes (for your Mister Pocket) to all readers of Clips from Alleghany and the other topics on the FORUM and to the participants.
in reply to: From the Sixteen to One Archives #2272A.D. Foote was a famous mining engineer who for a time was the manager of the Tightner mine, now part of the 16:1. In a 1921 interview, Foote states that they produced 37,500 oz. of gold from a space less than 10 ft. by 10 ft. The ore was so rich they had to cut it up with chisels to get it to the mill. Under his management the Tightner produced 150,000 oz. The stopes from where this gold was recovered have been washed so clean that not even sand remains, but there is more gold in the area.
in reply to: Clips from Alleghany #2271A snowstorm hit Alleghany last night and continues today. The mine is operating ( the underground crew doesn’t know or care if a blizzard is raging outside). The 1500 level sump pump died last Wednesday. It is the one pump that takes the water to the drain tunnel, therefore, when it quits no water leaves the mine. Mike took it for repairs and picked it up this morning in Auburn. It is on its way down the 49 winze right now. Cost was $2358.42.
Both heading are active. Some major water leaks and a couple of air leaks have slowed production. The new dry (change room) got a roof yesterday but is probably a couple of weeks from service. The crew had a nice dinner gathering on Thursday and invited me as well as another journalist. There is a good story brewing about the CDAA lawsuit, but Scoop is not the one to cover it.
in reply to: From the Sixteen to One Archives #2268During 1944, Geologist, H.R. Cooke, Jr., submitted his Ph.D. thesis titled “The Distribution of Gold in the Original Sixteen to One Vein” to Harvard University. Cooke developed Association Indices for the distribution of gold. Results of his work demonstrate that the two most important tools for finding highgrade are local knowledge and good geologic mapping. This still holds true today.
in reply to: Miscellaneous #2269I HAVE A VERRY PROMESSING MINE W GEOLOGICAL PAPERS AND IM ASKING FOR ADVICE ON IVESTORS THAT WANT TO BUY OR WORK AS PARTNERS ,THIS MINES ARE IN MEXICO IF ANY ONE HAVE ANY INFO ON HOW TO GO ABOUT DOING THIS LEAVE ME A MESSAGE OR CALL 480-232-1620
in reply to: EMPIRE STRIKES BACK #2267Hi Dick,
I’m up awfully late but felt it was a good time to answer your question. Our public guardians (California public servants and usually great people) may have properly reacted to the threat of lawsuit by a private non-government Californian, just like you and me. That is one way to judge what happened at the Empire Mine the past 30 plus days. I can defend the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) order, which ordered us to quit work; however we were in the timely and important task of locking the loose rock above the adit with concrete and had to immediately stop our work. They (DPR), on the other hand (or maybe just a he or a she), reacted in a recklessly safe way. Recklessly safe is not always best. In this case it was the wrong decision. I can also challenge the decision to stop construction on the merits of such a specious threat.The basis for stopping mining was grounded in a storm water and erosion pollution prevention controls. A non-profit California Corporation expressed a belief and threatened to sue California, naming DPR as defendant. It was a specious claim and should have been answered with a letter informing the non-profit corporation that further reckless actions will cost California money and not give its residents a single benefit. The California Attorney General should have been advised that legal extortion was being perpetrated on Californians and his services were needed to protect the California taxpayers as well as punish the rogue extortionists, terrorists to some.
It is not anything new.
Today was a long day and I just returned to Alleghany. I left at 6am to pick up an hydraulic pump for the backhoe, which quit yesterday. The Empire project is important to all of the miners. We recognize the human spirit that drove down over 11,000 feet below the surface of the Sierra Nevada. The Empire Mine and Homestake Mine are America’s premiere gold mines. It is arguable which one should be ranked number one. You are a good historian. Which is America’s best?
in reply to: EMPIRE STRIKES BACK #2266Mining has resumed after a month long stop order issued by the State.
Why was a stop order issued?
in reply to: EMPIRE STRIKES BACK #2265The ADIT Project is the construction of a new adit to intersect the famous Empire Mine shaft some 770 feet away. It is mining, and it is mining in the heart of Grass Valley. Morning Glory Gold Mines was awarded a $1,578,000 contract to build the adit. Once completed the public will be able to ride or walk the short distance to the shaft. It is paid with State money from a bond. The idea has been 15 years in its conceptual planning. The miners have struggled with State agents to make the finished product as historically accurate, as true to mining practices, safe for long time public use and easy to operate and maintain. Herein has developed some conflict in minor but significant areas. In today’s world of outlandish complaints and fears propounded by some well meaning people and some purposely confrontational people , any project can be attacked at any time. The miners are expressing their professional opinions on specific concerns that may cost the State money in the future or even close the finished adit from public useage. Our intent has been to keep a low profile, which will change as the project advances. The State wants a high profile because it wants lots of visitors to come to this great California park.
Update:
Mining has resumed after a month long stop order issued by the State. When work was interrupted, the crew was shooting concrete onto wire mesh where the brow (contact point of tunnel and surface) was established. When the stop order was lifted, the crew fired up the air driven concrete pump and shot the area. The purpose is to hold the loose rock in place until metal or timber sets are installed. Well, the next day as the miners drilled a new round, the brow appeared unconsolidated so they took it down and started over. It is likely that during the delay the ground suffered from water and overall air slack, which is an ongoing issue underground and in surface excavations. As of Friday the brow is looking good and maybe we can establish a rhythm of the mining sequences of DRILL, BLAST and MUCK.
Last Thursday everything that had wheels got a flat tire. It’s no big deal but slowed progress. The site is coming together. An historian called and wanted to alert me to a small quartz vein that we are likely to cross. He wanted to know who gets the gold, if any. I do not know the answer, but it will be either the people of California or New Mont Mining Company. In any case we hope he is correct. We will know the answer by April.
in reply to: From the Sixteen to One Archives #2264I think the Sixteen just found a new revenue source! Dividend checks, framed and ready to hang proudly, next to that specimen of 16 to 1 gold. (Of course, they would be stamped non-negotiable). I bet Rae could sell a lot of them at the UGMM.
in reply to: From the Sixteen to One Archives #2263Hey Rick, you framed a $25 dividend check instead of cashing it is what you wrote below Nose.
Why? I’ll pay you twenty-five dollars if we can meet at the mine office to verify your dividend authenticity, no if it meant more to you than $25 then, it may be worth more to you with age. Why is this “check” so special and does it look special? Maybe I’ll pay you $100 just to have it framed on my wall.
Same offer to you, Nose.
in reply to: From the Sixteen to One Archives #2262Historically the 16:1 has had a staff of engineers and geologists from Stanford, Cal., U. of Nevada and Harvard. Best known of these individuals is Harvard trained geologist and later Director, W.P. Fuller Jr. In an August 29, 1965 letter to the President of the Company, Fuller states:” A comprehensive exploration campaign should, when finances permit, be undertaken to prospect the northern continuation of the entire vein zone. With more than 1 1/2 miles of a major vein system barely touched by mining up to now because of the deep Tertiary cover, and with geologic conditions very similar to the mile already developed by the consolidated 16:1 workings, this exists as one of the most promising areas for development of gold bearing quartz veins in the district.”
in reply to: From the Sixteen to One Archives #2261Johan Raadsma presented the results of his study in a report dated 11/91, metal detectors came into use in the mine in 1/92. Metal detectors are just another tool and a good one.
Dividends totaling $1,238,501 had been paid to 1924. From 1903 to 1965 the company paid dividends of $5,750,000.00 I also have my gold dividend cheque.
Gestapo type mine inspectors and government agents have been a problem as long as I can remember.
Concerning gold in the mine, 2/3 of the vein is virgin with very favorable geology, especially to the north.in reply to: From the Sixteen to One Archives #2260Regarding the 1991 situation (and I admit I’ve never seen nor read the Raadsma Report, so my perspective on this stands as naiive):
I’ll bet back then there wasn’t the same political pressure for the Sixteen to One to be reincarnated as a PC mine, bent over, grabbing the ankles because MSHA or the California Regional Water Quality “Control” Board or the CDAA saw the chance to make points with the anti-mining-pseudo-environmental-teach-it-but-ignor-the-true-facts-crowd.
In fact, I know it.
As for dividends, I have a dividend check for $25, paid to me from a very famous hard-rock gold-in-quartz-mine framed on my wall, worth more to me as a bastion of perseverence than the cash value it represented had I have stuck it in the bank.
in reply to: From the Sixteen to One Archives #2259Hey Nose, tell me more.
If Radsma wrote his report in 1991, that was before the Sixteen to One found the importance of metal detectors. Miller has written and all the miners have talked on TV about detectors and its significance in finding gold. They want to build one for this gold deposit. How will this affect the Radsma report? Also, what other reliable history backs up the potential of making money with this company? Why do you think there is gold left that can be mined?
in reply to: From the Sixteen to One Archives #2258According to a statistical study done in 1991 by Johan Raadsma, Mining Engineer and former 16:1 Mine Manager, who was born in South Africa and educated in Western Australia, at a sustained production rate of 125 tons per day / 30,000 tons per year, the company would achieve the ranks of a Tier 2, dividend paying gold producer.
Although this was only a statistical study, based on present mining costs and the favorable geology of the northern portion of the mine, the figures presented by Raadsma appear logical. This does not include the profits from the sale of waste rock.in reply to: CDAA Conduct #2257The following are the words of the founders of California. They are quoted from our first constitution. The signers’ names remain alive in many cities and countrysides from San Diego to Sacramento. The words remain live 154 years later. Law has history as its foundation. The Californios laid the foundation of California on hard rock civil rights embracing private rights and public rights in harmony. Brevet Brig. General, U.S.A., and Governor of California left the people to form a government for themselves with a proclamation issued on October 12,1849, at Monterey.
(From History of California)
Prelude: WE THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, GRATEFUL TO ALMIGHTY GOD FOR OUR FREEDOM, IN ORDER TO SECURE ITS BLESSINGS, DO ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITUTION: —
ARTICLE I.
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS
SEC. 8. No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime (except in cases of impeachment, and in cases of militia when in actual service, and the land and naval forces in time of war, or which this State may keep with the consent of Congress in time of peace, and in cases of petit larceny under the regulation of the Legislature,) unless on presentment or indictment of a grand jury; and in any trial in any court whatever, the party accused shall be allowed to appear and defend in person and with counsel, as in civil actions. No person shall be subject to be twice put in jeopardy for the same offence; nor shall he be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.
SEC. 9. Every citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all criminal prosecutions on indictments for libels, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury; and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous is true, and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted: and the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the fact.
R. SEMPLE,
President of the Convention and Delegate from Benecia
WM. G. MARCY, Secretary.J.Aram,
C. T. Botts,
E. Brown,
J. A. Carillo
J. M. Covarrubias,
E. O. Crosby,
P. De La Guerra,
L. Dent,
M. Dominguez,
K. H. Dimmick,
A. J. Ellis,
S. C. Foster,
E. Gilbert,
W. M. Gwinn,
H. W. Halleck,
Julian Hanks,
L. W. Hastings,
Henry Hill,
J. Hobson,
J. McH. Hollingsworth,
J. D. Hoppe,
J. M. Jones,
T. O. Larkin,
Francis J. Lippitt,
B. S. Lippincott,
M. M. McCarver,
John McDougal,
B. F. Moore,
Myron Norton,
P. Ord,
Miguel Pedrorena,
A. M. Pico,
R. M. Price,
Hugo Reed,
Jacinto Rodriguez,
Pedro Sansevaine,
W. E. Shannon,
W. S. Sherwood,
J. R. Snyder,
A. Stearns,
W. M. Steuart,
J. A. Sutter,
Henry A. Tefft,
S. L. Vermule,
M. G. Vallejo,
J. Walker,
O. M. Wozencraftin reply to: Clips from Alleghany #2256It was a fascinating week for the mine and the company. On Monday one of the world’s leaders in Radar development placed its 1000-mega hertz machines in the mine between the 800-foot level and the 1000-foot level. It was the most expensive one-day field test underground ever performed at the mine. The equipment was compact and easy to operate. Results are shown in real time as the electrical waves mess with the quartz, gold and wall rock. GPR tested the quartz ten years ago but the strength was max at 100-megs. Penetration and resolution are the results Ian, Mike, Sandor and all the crew are looking for to help them find gold.
The abrupt change in weather and its duration contributed to everyone associated with working the mine getting sick. Sore throat, pressure behind the eyes, dripping mucous and mental lapses reduced production the past ten days.
At the Sixteen to One operation drilling a round is how progress is measured. Footage and tonnage can be measured to evaluate how well the weeks are spent; however moving the muck is how the success of the operation will be deemed. Success is bringing large chunks of quartz veined with gold to the lapidary shop. Where both headings are advancing, moving muck is much more serious problem to handle than breaking rock. Before meeting Mister Pocket in July to the tune of 1400 ounces in a couple of rounds, shot rock was the nemesis to battle. The crew was small, so clearing each round to expose the working face was a headache. Muck was squeezed everywhere it would be out of the way. Current mining is up dip and down dip from numerous concentrations of high-grade mined over the past year. This remains true today.
In bygone years, say seventy years ago, miners would be breaking up the vein with wide spread stoping, as they did in creating the Ballroom. Where Joe is mining, the veins are layered in a complex manner. One vein is carrying gold. Where Reid is mining the quartz is quite bold. When the miners move beyond this block to the north, this mined out area will look like coyote tunnels, not the large Ballroom stope.
Technology and the old ways describe this mining. Demand for gemstone quality gold in quartz makes it necessary to hand sort the muck once the gold is detected in the muck. Jewelry manufactures and retailers prefer firm slabs, which of course brings more money. It is worth the time to produce high quality high-grade.
in reply to: Another U.S. precious metals miner goes foreign #2255Although I haven’t written much for quite some time, I thought I’d throw in a couple of cents (sense?) about this topic and a few others that are loosely related.
First off, now that I am living in Montana, I can read the California government news with a new sense of disgust. Growing up and living my entire life in California, I really didn’t realize how disconnected the government is from reality. It happens here, too — but not to the same extent. Within this train of thought is my main point about the discussion of global events, conspiracies to fix the price of gold, currency valuation, etc. I think it’s very important that we all pay close attention to the events ocurring around the world. They surely will have an effect on our daily lives sooner or later, if they haven’t already. But as regards the connection between the rest of the world and our beloved 16-to-1, I think the discussion is misguided. Because the product from the mine generates revenue that is only loosely connected to the spot price of gold, there is little that happens around the world that will greatly affect the balance sheet. The gold will be mined, or it won’t. It really doesn’t have much to do with the price of tea in China (unlike the price of gold). The revenue generated is based on a marked-up price because it happens to be a unique commodity. That commodity just happens to be made up of a significant percentage of gold.
So where should we, as advocates of mining and the mine, direct our efforts? As citizens of the great state of California, you should do all you can to encourage the education of the public about not only the mine’s heritage, but also mining as a viable and environmentally responsible industry. It is your state government that should be closely watched and your state laws that should be reflective of your beliefs.
It ultimately will not matter whether gold is $150 or $800. The price of the 16-to-1’s product is based on a market all its own. In more ways than one, the 16-to-1 is a world unto itself. While attempting to be an island of mining success, however, beware of the sharks.
Have a nice day.
Jason Burke
in reply to: Another U.S. precious metals miner goes foreign #2254On October 18, 2004, a major gold refiner, buyer and seller issued a news release to its customers across the world titled GOLD BULLION-MARKET DEVELOPMENTS, TRENDS and CHALLENGES. It reminded its customers that recent events and market trends affirms the volatility of the precious metal markets and how seemingly unrelated changes impact our markets.
“On October 11, 2004, the U.S. Senate approved the “American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.” Among the provisions of the Act are the elimination of export subsidies that were ruled illegal by the World Trade Organization and resulted in punitive tariffs being levied on exports to the European Union. Gold bullion is one of the items currently subject to these tariffs.
The tariffs were instituted by the European Union in March 2004. Initially, the tariff rate was 5%, increasing by 1% each month. Currently the rate stands at 12%. The effect of this tariff on the world gold bullion market has been to eliminate virtually all direct shipments of gold bullion from the USA to European Union nations – most importantly – physical shipments of gold from New York to London.
With London eliminated as an end market for gold bullion, we have utilized less conventional metal trading options, such as “Zurich swaps” to sell some of our gold output and to service customers with London delivery commitments. These options incur additional costs, and as a result, Zurich-London swaps or Tokyo-London swaps now carry a premium in the market. Customers desiring out-turn of gold in London should expect to pay a modest premium reflecting the cost and transportation differentials of Zurich or Tokyo swaps.
Another consequence of the elimination of gold shipments from New York to London has been an increase in the supply of gold bullion in New York and elsewhere in the USA. Premiums for gold bullion in the market are at an all-time low and there are substantial surplus inventories in New York, Los Angeles and other US markets. Although the expectation is that the European Union will lift the punitive tariff, until it is actually eliminated, surplus inventories of gold bullion, particularly from off-brand suppliers, will suppress bullion premiums.”
In the 1960’s and early 70’s until America’s restrictions on gold ownership were lifted by Congress and signed into law by President Nixon, gold passed around the world in many disguises. Some people called it smuggling. A disparity in price occurred especially between the US fixed price and the floating price in Mexico. Transporting gold out of the United States was an easy gig. Is this what the last sentence of the circulated letter to its customers is trying to say without actually saying “smuggle” or “black market”? Has anyone else read about the tariffs or suppressed premiums on gold bullion?
in reply to: Miscellaneous #2253The Kenton Mine Lodge is closed and has been for about seven years. Casey’s Place will have rooms for rent beginning on New Year’s Eve.
Casey’s Place is having a Lobster Dinner and Band for New Year’s Eve. The rooms are already booked.Just an observation based on 30 years in the Alleghany Mining District: Some companies promote stock with slick Public Relations. The locals refer to these companies as “shareholder miners”. I have seen many come and go and in the end the insiders do fine, the stock goes in the toilet, and very little if any gold is produced.
Then there are the real mines. They are in the business of mining gold, not promoting stock.
Words of wisdom from successful “old timers” of the Alleghany Mining District regarding the most succesful approach to pocket mining. “You drill for structure (geological structure) and drift for grade”
The geological structure of the Alleghany District for the most part has been drilled and mapped. With a pocket deposit core drilling does not and cannot prove grade.
in reply to: Stock exchange listing #2252Hi guys, glad you are back and thinking.
It will cost about $125,000 to get legitimate exposure on an exchange, which one remains unknown. The breakdown is $90,000 for SEC registered independent auditors and the balance for exchange fees and related costs. It is our intent to accomplish this as soon as the company can afford to move its resources towards this objective. Right now the mine is crying for money and, after all, we have survived for almost 100 years by taking care of the mine first. Talk about other motives of management is nonsense, perhaps coming from well-intended but uninformed sources. So let’s not go off on the deep end again like some did regarding the safety issues (MSHA regulated) in the past. Remember all those entries on the FORUM. See it was all nonsense! We have not changed the way we deal with safety, but under the new leadership at the Department of Labor in Washington DC, MSHA is moving towards responsible regulatory behavior instead of the litigious approach it had under J. Davit McIntyre. Here is a scoop that SCOOP did not chose to write in his column, Clips From Alleghany: a MSHA employee was one of the participants on this FORUM. He is obsessed with the Sixteen to One mine and wanted to hurt its operation.. It is not management’s current priority to expose him. He is a insignificant blip on the screen of our existence, but he stirred the kettle for some of you. He may have been working with a rich guy in Florida, who blabbed his mouthing off about bankrupting the company so he can take it over. Why doesn’t gold specimen collector step forward and join a really dedicated group of people, who will persevere and make this great mine and company profitable over the long run? Original Sixteen to One Mine Inc. is an American leader in traditional gold mining in the United States? Why, you may ask? This rich man has a warped personality that gets its kicks in stomping on and stealing what he wants. It won’t work. The mine is too rich, the owners are too secure and the work force is too dedicated to let it happen. So, now you know, the MSHA employee knows that he has been made and the rich dud knows that he is exposed to being busted. Get a life!
The OAU X-Mart works! It is a fair market for buyers and sellers. Yes, it needs exposure. For those of you who want more activity, go on-line to the various web sites where gold advocates seek information and tell them to check out http://www.origsix.com. This is not my job but everyone will appreciate your effort, especially if all those gold investment seekers are exposed to a proven stock market gold play and not ones that really have nothing but a budget to hype their stock. Please remember: most of the small gold companies are nothing more than stock plays. There are two in our area and there will be more as the interest in gold increases.
Have a great and safe holiday.
in reply to: Stock exchange listing #2251I would be interested in any updates on whether we think we can at least move OAU to the OTC.BB market.
Yes, trades can be made via the Stock page but the inconvenience will not bring new investors to the market. How can we expect to increase our investor base or prepare to raise new capital if our stock is more frozen than local bank shares?
As gold crosses 450, I can see that my NEM has performed better than OAU—how disappointing. When I think about future investments, placing an online trade with an existing brokerage account is a lot easier than going through the process listed here.
Since we’re already filing the 10Qs, I can’t imagine that getting listed on the bulletin boards would be that costly. Or is the real issue that we want to be treated as a closely held corporation?
Happy holidays,
Ryanin reply to: Clips from Alleghany #2250The miners, who hit the gold in July, are back in their headings. Reid and Joe each shot a round today, the first since the end of the 1400 ounce pocket. Joe drilled a face round in his old and productive heading and Reid loaded and shot a slab round, which he had drilled but not loaded in July. Sniff, sniff, sniff, no signals but the vein looks pretty good.
Ian and pals are redesigning the electric enterance gate to the mine property. Ten years ago a remote gate was installed, which worked real well until one of the young miners drove into it while it was closing. It smashed his windshield, one powerful gate! The miners have a plan, which will be a time saver for everyone. No more stopping, getting out of the trucks, dialing the combination, opening the gate, driving through and closing the gate. Time is needed to break quartz. Breaking rock will always pay at the Sixteen to One. No one knows, however, just how much must be broken , but every time the crew improves its efficiency, the odds increase that gold will again fall into the muck pile.
Mike bought a heavy-duty sand blaster for cleaning the skip and everything else that rusts. David is cleaning the sawdust from gold sales biggest rock saw. In a week or so, Scoop will let you know how much gold was recovered in the sludge. Rae is taking care of her business after their vacation to Mexico. Gold opened at $447 an ounce today.
in reply to: Miscellaneous #2248The following was supplied by Newmont Mining under its Royalties Section on its website at http://www.newmont.com.
Oil and Gas Royalties, Canada
Newmont has royalties of 1.8 million acres(0.7 million hectares) of producung and non-producing oil and gas lands in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and the Canadian Arctic. Producing royalties include the Edson area of Alberta operated by Canadian Natural Resources Limited, the Weyburn Unit in Saskatchewan operated by Apache Canada. Production from these three areas is 647, 330, and 195 barrels of oil equivalent per day, respectively, net to Newmont.
Royalties on these lands are either overriding royalties, based on oil and gas production and are free from operating capital costs, or are working interests, in which the Company is liable for its share of capital and operating expenses in return for its share of revenue and earnings.
One of Newmont’s 100% owned non-producing assets is its Alberta Heavy Oil project. Newmont has a 7,680-acre lease that is within the Leismer Athabasca Oil Sands Field, located adjacent to Encana Resources’ Christina Lake Thermal Project and Devon Canada’s Jackfish project, both of which are steam assisted gravity drainage projects with an estimated 3 billion and 500 million million barrels of oil in place, respectively. In 1Q 2004, Newmont completed this year’s $3.7 million exploration drilling program at its Alberta Heavy Oil project that was designed to quantify the potential resource.
Newmont also has a 9% non-operating working interest in the Hecla and Drake Point gas fields located on and offshore of the Melville Island in Canada’s Arctic region. Those fields are the largest ever discovered in Canada but their geographic remoteness has, to date, prevented their commercialization.
Oil prices have been weak lately and are oversold as compared to gold’s current price. Dan Norcini of Houston Texas has predicted new highs in petroleum prices in the months ahead. Possibly with higher oil prices on the horizon, Newmont Mining will surpass its troublesome chart area of 50 and breed further public confidence into the other gold mining companies with its performance. Newmont is currently the biggest producer of gold in the world and widely followed by investors as the bellwether for the whole group.
in reply to: Clips from Alleghany #2249Alleghany weather is great. Down in the Sacramento valley, a season early fog pattern developed. The fog lone is at Auburn sometimes but it elevated to Grass Valley mid-week. This fog situation is predictable but usually in December and January, when the valley can be socked-in for weeks at a time. During those times the mine experiences warm and sunny shirtsleeve weather, although once the sun disappears, it gets cold.
Now that the weather report is out of the way, how was the week? MSHA visited the mine for its regular inspections. Three citations (non S&S) were written. The miners feel uncomfortable with two of them. The other was a citation for a worker working on the side of the waste dump without a safety rope. If the guy slipped, he could have rolled down the bank and scratched himself up a bit. Safety belts have a place. This could have been a place if the worker had sloppy skills or work habits. The mine stays away from those two characteristics when it hires people. One was a typical judgment call, something that always occurs in construction and mining. Mike should contest it but probably feels it isn’t worth the time. The last one is a clear misunderstanding of the regulation as cited by the inspector. Mike should contest this misreading of the code and its wrongful interpretation by the MSHA administration in Vacaville.
The miners appreciate safety inspectors, when they provide clear vision on real issues. They will even fix stuff that they know is safe but appears to an untrained or unfamiliar eye to violate a code (the inspector’s view). Over building for safety is better than under building. Over building far beyond what is needed, however, is not in anyone’s best interest. Time and money are always limited in any operation and prudent management of available funds and time is in everyone’s best interest.
A load of #1 mine timber was delivered today. The truck and trailer driver did not want to drive his rig beyond the mine gate. Chicken! So, two guys transferred the load, 10,680 board feet of Doug-fir to the mine’s flat bed and drove it to the landing where shareholders meeting are held. The unloading took about four hours. Ian is all over the place with directing the crew. Miners are underground in rehab and preparing the anticipated gold heading for the resumption of breaking quartz. He has guys working on the surface to button down the roads. Guys are redoing the change room and dry. The 49-winze skip is being reinforced. The abandoned upper shop is under construction to once again become a repair center. It was a good week. Oh yes. David and Rae returned to work today from an extended vacation to the Yucatan. The beat goes on.
in reply to: Gold Enters Major Bull Market #2247Gold hit 445.10 earlier today. To many folks this price may seem high.
Late in 2002 I drew your attention to an important technical market development when gold crossed above its historical 5000 day moving average line near 350.
Another market development has recently occured that is also quite important.
Before I start, let me mention that I am unable to present the chart which I will be discussing. Maybe I can Fax it up to Rae and she might figure a way to get it into the system.
In March of 1996 a long term chart pattern started to develop and just recently it matured by breaking above its formation. The formation called the “Cup & Handle Classic” by Mr. Jim Sinclair(http://www.jsmineset.com) consumed over seven years in the making.
Now that gold has pushed above 420 which was the top of the cup and then recently its handle close to the 432 area gold can now move higher.
Along its way seeking higher and higher prices, the metal will be subjected to its usual attacks. These attacks will originate from supporters of the paper factory. We all know by now who these people are.
This important news is that these people will be attempting to buck a new explosive move higher in the years following and will fail. In addition, weakness will also occur along the way as the gold price rests and regains its weekly strength. These sell offs should be viewed as expected opportunities to add to your existing positions in bullion and the gold producing companies and possibly some exploration issues that have creditable properties and management.
In conclusion:
– The price of gold is not high based upon a breakout from a historical chart formation.
– Gold’s battery has been supercharged during the last seven plus years which will enable it to be one of the better performers in appreciation in the years ahead.
in reply to: EMPIRE STRIKES BACK #2246Scoop, can you clarify?
The Mountain Messanger’s headline reads “Sierra Co. Outfit Trying to Mine Grass Valley.”
Yet, as I understand it, this Sierra County outfit isn’t contracted to mine the Empire, but far less: to rehabilitate the public access in the State Park.
Can you clarify?
I’m figuring some misinformed of those out there reading the headline might infer something bigger at work.
I’m actually sitting at wait, wondering who’ll infer an alterior motive (which would be a shame.)
in reply to: EMPIRE STRIKES BACK #2245Sierra Co. Outfit Trying to Mine Grass Valley
(Mountain Messenger, November 11, 2004)GRASS VALLEY – If nothing else, Mike Miller has vision. Of course it must be said that when Miller’s vision and California’s bureaucracy collide, as they have been known to, there’s usually a good story coming up.
Miller, also the President of Alleghany’s Original Sixteen to One Mine, has contracted to construct an adit and drift to open the guts of the Empire Mine State Park to the public.
The drift will be some 700 feet long, and tie into the old workings, well above the water level of the mine which was last worked in 1956.
“I really wanted this to be done by local miners,” says Miller. “I see it as a monument to the local skills, talent and tenacity of local people that made this the Queen of all gold mines.
“I’m hoping every old timer who ever worked in this mine will come down to drill a round. This isn’t just a public works project, it’s the soul of the area.”
Miller and crew have more than a fiscal interest. Project Manager Billy Joe Van Meter’s grandfather worked at the Empire Mine until the War.
That interest, and the fact he was employing Sixteen to One miners for the job, explains why he approached the job as though it were a mine.
Of course a mine is usually personal property. A state park has a somewhat different view of holes poked into the public earth.
“Well, I’m beginning to see why outfits who bid on public projects bid so high, “Miller admits. “And I’m saddened by this. After all, it’s the public that loses.”
Miller’s newfound awareness came very early in the project. His bid of $1.6 million was nearly a half million dollars lower than his nearest competitor. That spread contributed to the difficulty he had getting insurance.
After overcoming the paperwork difficulties, Miller and crew were ready to start the job on July 12. It wasn’t supposed to take long.
“Hell, it’s a mine. It’s what we do. I had been figuring we’d be done in December.”
That was before the job-starting walk-through with parks officials.
“The first day, the very first day, they said, ‘oh, by the way, did we mention you can’t build here? We’ve had a complaint this ground is toxic.”
Although the ground had tested clean, it was a fight no one wanted, fearing the whole project would be jeopardized.
That ‘by the way’ set the project back three weeks.
“I’d planned on using the waste rock for the rail bed. Now we had to build a completely new approach and build the rail bed first, just to get our equipment in.”
That change of plan also increased the surface area that would be disturbed, triggering the need for additional permits.
“We’re doing this by the book. We’re not working; we’re waiting on the permits,” Miller explained.
“The Book” also calls for 30 pound rail with oversize ties quite close together.
“A lot of people here agree this isn’t consistent with a mine. I don’t know of a mine that uses more than 20 pound rail, with ties much further apart. It’s not realistic. But some things aren’t worth fighting, aren’t worth getting local people crosswise with the Sacramento people.”
The project seems to be a sitting duck for any who might want to cause trouble, either for Miller personally, for the mining industry, or for the Park.
“Somebody, and they won’t tell me who, called OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and said we weren’t safe. We shut down until they came out and inspected. They said ‘there’s nothing unsafe here,’ but it cost us more time.”
Van Meter is both amused and disturbed by concerns raised by officials.
“I’m not kidding you: they get out of the car, see a mud puddle and start taking pictures. It’s like they’ve never been off concrete before.”
There may be problems with unions. Various trades insist their people be employed, a fight Miller is willing to accept.
“Miners are craftsmen. They are necessarily journeymen tunnelers, electricians and carpenters. I’ll fight for the skills of the men who built this in the first place, and the guys who are working now to honor them.”
So far, only the surface has been scratched. Van Meter and Miller are both anxious to get underground and meet the old workings.
“Then, there’ll be something to see.”
in reply to: Gold Enters Major Bull Market #2244A Euro/USD chart created by Lars Lindgren of Norway was posted to the http://www.jsmineset.com website today. Lars is an internationally respected technical analyst. On the presented chart he made the following long term projections:
– Gold to rise to the $550-580(area) next year.
– Silver to rise to $12-14 next year.
– US Dollar Index to continue its downtrend.in reply to: EMPIRE STRIKES BACK #2243This is the case of the Alleghany Mining District or the Grass Valley Mining District
To Continue……
So however I see myself, no one else will see me the same way. Just today, several things occurred that woke me to this reality. Everyone has their own perception and some have themselves for guidance. Here is one of those stories.
I called on Scott Robertson to see if he had some time this morning. A quick update on the mine and then to the focus of my calling was my premeditated agenda. How to best use the important but limited time plays in real time. A great community and worldwide asset is under utilized in Grass Valley. I have the friends and acquaintances to drive a new life into the Empire Mine. Scott can broaden the foundation.
It turns out that Scott needed an update on the Sixteen to One mine before I spoke about the Empire mine. Out of the greatest respect for California’s gold and America’s elite gold mines Scott should hear what I felt need to be said: no two mining districts carry the distinctions as claiming the most concentrated gold or the most productive gold producer and…
My crew is working two great mines. A very rare and never to occur again situation is at hand. We are gold miners who find, mine and sustain gold production for our existence. We are driving a new level into the heart of the mine at the Empire. I expect to hit a quartz vein in the cross cut. We will be in the hanging wall of the Empire vein system. It will cross over the shaft but still have enough backs to make it a prospect. At the Sixteen we are soon to raise in the area where we mined 1400 ounces in a couple of days. We will find and mine gold. Before the end of 2004, both headings will be underway.
This FORUM topic belongs to the Empire. She dominates. Anyone with questions or stories about her, write. I never would have thought to say this but she ranks with the Sixteen to One. I know Alleghany Mining District (AMD), intimately. I am learning the intimacy of the Grass Valley Mining District (GVMD). The beauty and skilled and careful execution of her miners exudes from its surface. The spirits give out gradually, so spending time at the mine adds to processing the exudations. We are thrilled to have the experience to mine the deposit again. It has been almost fifty years since miners warned, “Fire in the hole. Fire in the hole. Fire in the hole.” Three times for each blast continues to be the rule at the Empire. Two times for each blast is the rule at the Sixteen. Herein lies a problem. When the mining districts were formed, they established the first law and order social organization in the open California land. That is mining law and that is the law today.
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