mining

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 3:06 pm

When I first went there, you could see PV in the distance, now I am surrounded by the township.
The company that widened the road made a deal with the state they could process the dirt they moved,
they got as much in gold as they got for building the road.

92&94 · Post by **92&94** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:58 pm

I worked a couple summer jobs right around Mayer, one land surveying prepping for a geophizz survey, the next lugging the cables around on a geophizz survey on a different property. Surveying was much nicer work, though the old guy I was working for stayed in the little motel in Mayer and we ate every day at one of the two little cafe's in Mayer. This was about 1989, so now I bet there's a lot more than just those two

Second time the work was absolutely backbreaking, but the boss preferred to stay in Prescott and go to nice restaraunts on the expense account. I'd still trade the good food for doing surveying any day! Now that I think of it, one of the other guys had found a rusted up lever gun in the brush about 6 months before. Wish I'd taken a better look at his pictures now.... at 20 years old I wasn't interested then, I'd just got me a Chinese SKS to replace an M1 Carbine that blew up on me.

Always wondered if they were gold or copper properties, and at the time I didn't know enough to be able to figure it out by looking around. Guessin' now they were gold

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 5:12 pm

How did the Carbine blow up.

92&94 · Post by **92&94** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:09 pm

It was a rewelded demill, nice cosmetic job but they didn't get the headspace right. Couple times it actually fired without the bolt fully locked, finally it sheared the head of a case right off and when I stripped it to push the case out I found the receiver had broke right along the reweld.

They had done a nice job execpt for the headspace and that the weld was so shallow. Probably didn't want to heat treat it again, bet thats why it was so shallow. Come to think of it, headspace was probably right when it was welded, but I bet the softer area around the weld stretched as I shot it. Probably only put 500 or so rounds through it in the three years or so I had it.

SteveR · Post by **SteveR** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:54 pm

How did the first clean out go? Did I miss it?

Steve

Chris83716 · Post by **Chris83716** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:25 pm

Sure hope there was a pile of gold.

Chris

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:54 pm

No,
We lost a day due to truck breakdown.

Post by **Hobie** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:47 pm

All sorts of stuff happens. You'll get there. I take it it has warmed up a bit...

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:26 pm

Yes,
A lot.

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:45 pm

Like the old Bro's used to say "keep the faith baby"

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:32 pm

Mescalero wrote:Yes,
A lot.

Take a ride up to Sedona....My Bro's shop has the best vortex in the back of his store....good medicine...I saw it myself.....Felt a rush of chilled air over it.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:04 am

Only place that sticks in my mind is an old fashioned hamburger joint in Jerome....wonderful hamburgers and fountain Cokes. Many years ago....no longer remember the name. My Dad is nearing 80 and has now given up the flying for a living(we think), and messes around with prospecting around Prescott area and West of there, in his spare time. This year, I hope to help him a bit. Will attempt a link up when we get out Mescalero.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:08 am

Cool,
Come on over.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:10 am

Will do!

Post by **Hobie** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:40 pm

Jerome was a neat little place. Wife had a ball there.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:56 pm

That is a cool little town.

92&94 · Post by **92&94** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:36 pm

I got a tour of the pit in Jerome when I was in college, one of the econ geology professors set it up. It had snowed the night before and the snow was melting, which "lubricated" some of the rock on the slopes

Nothing big, but the tour of the pit was fairly short. Did pick up a nice chunk of massive sulfide ore, which I gave to my dad.

Learned a lot on that trip though, among other things, the mine was a wholly underground operation, until a fire got going on some of the timbering and actually got hot enough to ignite the sulfide ore. Sulfides will burn if you get them hot enough, S goes off as SO2 gas and the metal is left behind as an oxide. They dug the pit to try and get at the fire so they could put it out, and never succeeded acording to the guy who showed us around. Tour guide always tells ya the fire is probably still burning down there, but I usually doubt it. Maybe with coal, but not with sulfide - figure it takes way too much oxygen to burn sulfide underground for years on end.

Phelps Dodge never let go of the old mine property though, those guys never gave up old mines. I always figured they would re-open it one day when copper prices were up and tourism in Jerome was down. Even if it took 100 years, PD would sit on stuff like that. Now they've been bought out by an even bigger fish, I wonder if Freeport-McMoran will continue that practice?

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:41 pm

You can bet on that.
With gold going higher, it is often found with cooper when it becomes economical it will reopen.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:43 am

Fingers crossed for your values, Mescalero. Guess I missed the intro, but assume this is placer?

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:58 am

Yes,
placer.

FatJackDurham · Post by **FatJackDurham** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 11:29 am

Wow! How cool you are doing an actual gold mine! How long have you been at it? Were you inspired by the Discovery shows or were you already long into it?

How large is your operation interms of equip - people?

I know you probably want to keep a lot of security, but obviously its facinating.

Good luck on that. I hope you break even. I think I read somewhere that America's most productive gold mine is out there and its actually a coppermine. Did you already point that out?

Is it worth trying to recover or sell off the black sand after you get the gold? I read there is still a lot of minerals in it.

Cool!!!!

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 12:13 pm

A backhoe, water truck, dump truck, trammel, three water pumps, Generac5500 generator, and all the associated small tools, support equipment.
On good days 4 of us.
I first got the property in 1987, had to wait untill I retired to get serious about it, long before the gold shows.
I intend to keep the black sand for future heat & beat on iron projects, there are some other forum members who do that ; so I will save some for them.
Where I am is the untouched portion of the most prolific placer producer in the state of Az.
I think I answered all the questions if not let me know.

Gobblerforge · Post by **Gobblerforge** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:08 am

Mescalero wrote:A backhoe, water truck, dump truck, trammel, three water pumps, Generac5500 generator, and all the associated small tools, support equipment.
On good days 4 of us.
I first got the property in 1987, had to wait untill I retired to get serious about it, long before the gold shows.
I intend to keep the black sand for future heat & beat on iron projects, there are some other forum members who do that ; so I will save some for them.Where I am is the untouched portion of the most prolific placer producer in the state of Az.
I think I answered all the questions if not let me know.

This sounds fascinating. Do you have any more info or links to read about it? Are you thinking of melting and casting or forging?
Gobbler

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 10:34 am

Mescalero, great idea to hold onto the black sands. There's a famous "neo-tribal" blacksmith in Arizona named Tai Goo who has forged blades from blooms of iron made of smelted black sand. Kewl stuff!

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 10:45 am

You tube used to have a video of a guy doing it.

Post by **Old Savage** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 11:13 am

Not a clue to what you are explaining but that's OK.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 11:19 am

Very cool bro, hope you have good success

Got drunk in Jerome in 74 or 75, neat town and nice bike ridin country.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:12 pm

Pitchy,
You are not the only one, happens a lot there.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:17 pm

My wife sold her crafts in "Kitties Corner" in Jerome until the lady that owned it had a stroke. Her pond scum spawn sold everything off before she even knew how severe the stroke was gonna hurt her.
I miss going there.

Joe

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 1:45 pm

Did you drive throgh Prescott to get there Joe?

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:36 pm

Mescalero wrote:Did you drive throgh Prescott to get there Joe?

From Phx, up through Cottonwood to Jerome. Sometimes out the back way over the mountains through Prescott Valley to visit relatives.

Joe

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:50 pm

Then you drove right by the operation right off 69A.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:13 pm

The last time we were through that area would be 94 or 95. And not to be stupid, but I found 69, but not 69A.

Are they one and the same or am I blind?

Joe

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:18 pm

The same.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:24 pm

Just looked it up. About 1988 the wife & I drug our travel trailer (28') thru there on the scenic route home after a cowboy shoot in Williams. Filled up in Flagstaff and again in Blythe. That 454 would pull anything, anywhere, but it hated passin' gas stations!

Yep, Jerome is a cool little place. Welcome in the middle of the summer!

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 12:32 am

BlaineG wrote:
Mescalero wrote:Yes,
A lot.
Take a ride up to Sedona....My Bro's shop has the best vortex in the back of his store....good medicine...I saw it myself.....Felt a rush of chilled air over it.

That was the swamp cooler vent.

Oly

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 12:43 am

olyinaz wrote:
BlaineG wrote:
Mescalero wrote:Yes,
A lot.
Take a ride up to Sedona....My Bro's shop has the best vortex in the back of his store....good medicine...I saw it myself.....Felt a rush of chilled air over it.
That was the swamp cooler vent.

Oly

Nope.....vortex....cool air....wanna bet?

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:02 pm

BlaineG wrote:
olyinaz wrote:
BlaineG wrote:
Mescalero wrote:Yes,
A lot.
Take a ride up to Sedona....My Bro's shop has the best vortex in the back of his store....good medicine...I saw it myself.....Felt a rush of chilled air over it.
That was the swamp cooler vent.

Oly
Nope.....vortex....cool air....wanna bet?

Yep! Let me know when you'll be up there next and I'll drive up.

Oly

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