Bedrock Dreams

Shutting Down Shop on Sunday, May 12th

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Wed, 08 May 2019 13:57:00 +0000

Hello all.

I am shutting down shop here at Bedrock Dreams come Sunday, May 12th. This means the blog will go offline and cease to exist any longer.

Notices

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 18:15:00 +0000

I have a couple of notices to bring forward here so this post (such that it is) will be brief by necessity.

Make Way for the Deadwood Movie

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 14:40:00 +0000

Yes it's true. HBO's "Deadwood" movie will be released on May 31, 2019. So those of you who watched the HBO series when it first ran in the 2004-2006 time frame and loved it as much as I did will soon be reunited with some of the central characters of that once chaotic and often violent gold camp.

It's Time for a Rant or Two (or Three)

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 19:54:00 +0000

Yep, it's that time again. Time for a rant or two on this Eastern morn, so please forgive me if I end up sullying this day of deep religious meaning for most Christians. That's not my intent...you see, it's just questionable timing on my part. I wanted to write this post and, as it turns out, today is Easter Sunday.

Working High Water Conditions

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 13:34:00 +0000

High water conditions in wet placer areas are both a boon and a bane to small-scale gold miners. So I thought it might be beneficial if we took a look at some of the problems high water presents and, at the same time, examine a few solutions to that problem.

The Ballad of "Little Petey" and "Bummer Bill"

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 20:00:00 +0000

This little ditty I've written (a ballad of sorts) tells the tale of a couple of erstwhile mining pards I once had. (Note: I made a last minute title change because I thought it made more sense.)

My Version of the Mining "Ten Commandments" (Conclusion)

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 18:20:00 +0000

I'm standing on the mount holding my stone tablets high while lightning flashes and thunder rumbles across the barren deserts of iniquity. Sort of like the late actor Charlton Heston in that old biblical epic, "The Ten Commandments." Then again...maybe not. Anyway, on to my version of the second half of the mining "Ten Commandments."

My Version of the Mining "Ten Commandments" (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 14:46:00 +0000

There are a lot of versions of the mining (or miner's) Ten Commandments floating around out there on the internet. Some of these date back to the times of the California Gold Rush while others have been "revised" or updated to reflect more modern times. In this post I will be holding up my own stone tablets regarding the mining Ten Commandments as I view them based on my four decades of small-scale mining and prospecting experience. And if you don't know what the real Ten Commandments are or have never heard of them...well pard...I reckon this series of posts will be of little value to you.

Some Lesser Known Minerals Associated With Gold (Conclusion)

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 17:42:00 +0000

In this post I'll be finalizing information on some lesser known minerals associated with the presence of gold. So here we go.

What Does Natural Gold Look Like?

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 15:48:00 +0000

I'd like to get this post out of the way before I finish my two-part series on lesser known minerals and gold. I know the title of this post seems a bit nonsensical to those of us who've been at this gold prospecting and mining thing for a while now. But I am writing this in response to a comment (actually a question) from a reader who wants to know, so let's get at it.

Some Lesser Known Minerals Associated With Gold (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 20:12:00 +0000

There are a ton (figuratively speaking, of course) of minerals and metals associated with both lode and placer gold, most of which most of you are familiar with. But in this post I want to bring your attention to some lesser know minerals that Ma Nature has thrown into the gold mix. You'll undoubtedly learn something new here, so please read on.

Greener Than the Jolly Green Giant

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Sun, 24 Mar 2019 13:27:00 +0000

In this post I'll be talking about myself. No, not some ego-oriented "Me, Me Me!" thing, but relating to you just how green I was when I first started out in this small-scale gold mining and prospecting deal. This may give some of you newbies or greenhorns a bit of hope and perhaps provide a laugh or two for you veteran miners and old timers.

The Mining Claim and Gold Scam Hits Just Keep Coming (Conclusion)

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 14:03:00 +0000

We're finally at the end of this series and that's probably a good thing. You see, talking about scams and hustles is valuable in the greatest sense, but it's not the most uplifting topic when it comes to all things gold. In this concluding post I want to relate to you a couple of scams involving PayPal and then we'll move on to bigger and better things.

The Mining Claim and Gold Scam Hits Just Keep Coming (Part 3)

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 14:48:00 +0000

Yep, the gold scam hits just keep coming. I'll be talking about "gold ores" and gold and non-gold numismatic coins in this post, so pay close attention to avoid being burned in these scams and semi-scams on eBay and other online sites.

The Mining Claim and Gold Scam Hits Just Keep Coming (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 20:34:00 +0000

So here we go again brothers and sisters. Back to the gold and mining claim scam routine that infests many (if not most) online buyer-seller venues. So be forewarned and be smart as you read the following.

The Mining Claim and Gold Scam Hits Just Keep Coming (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 22:12:00 +0000

Back in the days when I was still a young buck there weren't any smart phones, computers, MP3 players or anything else that the current generation accepts as a matter of course when it comes to downloading or playing music. As archaic as it may sound, we played vinyl records on the stereo or listened to AM or FM radio disc jockeys who often proclaimed "The hits just keep coming!" So it is currently with mining claim and gold scams. The scams just keep coming.

I Just Don't Get It...

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 18:20:00 +0000

Now here's a quote for you: "I take this opportunity of writing these few lines to you hoping to find you in good health. Me and Charley is sentenced to be hung at five o'clock for a robbery. Give my best to Frank and Sam."

Tracking (Tracing) Float (Conclusion)

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 23:29:00 +0000

Well it's time to get back to tracking float and to wrap things up for you. Remember, your key ability in this regard is to be able to recognize potential gold ores out in the field. Lacking that expertise, you may have a rough go of things.

Tracking (Tracing) Float (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 20:38:00 +0000

I'm feeling a bit under the weather with one of the various "cruds" going around, so I may not be at my top form in this post but I'll still give it my best shot. That said, let's move on to more about tracking float (gold ore).

Tracking (Tracing) Float (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 23:41:00 +0000

Although I've touched briefly on the basics of tracking or, as it is often called, tracing float (gold ore) in the past in Bedrock Dreams, I think it's a good idea to address this prospecting technique in more depth. Coincidentally, I'll be discussing the importance of low-lying ground in tracking float as well.

"Shootout" Update, Fighting the Good Fight, and a Schist Bedrock Tidbit

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Sun, 17 Feb 2019 14:13:00 +0000

In this post I'll be clarifying some facts about the Chariot Canyon "shootout," updating you on the new court battle concerning dredging in California, and throw in a tidbit about Schist Bedrock. All of this should provide interesting reading, so let's get to it.

All About Schist

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 21:48:00 +0000

I recently received an e-mail from Doug B., a Bedrock Dreams reader who had read an earlier post on the blog that contained a segment on schist. After reading that post, Doug was still unsure about what schist is and why it can have importance in gold prospecting and mining. Any time I fail to fully explain myself in Bedrock Dreams I think it only right that I try to clarify things. So this post is all about schist.

Why Advice is Cheaper Than You Think

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 14:12:00 +0000

I have to admit I've been racking my brain again as of late to come up with something new and relevant that would add to your already extensive knowledge of small-scale gold prospecting and mining. When I get this sort of writer's block I've found it best if I shift gears a bit and just lay out what's on my mind despite it's relevancy or lack thereof to gold mining. So that's what this particular post is about.

Hitting the 1,000 Mark, Retirement Stuff, and "Two Toes"

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 18:50:00 +0000

Here are some more "odds and ends" for your consideration, including some retirement perspectives.

Reader Comments and Odds and Ends

noreply@blogger.com (J.R.) — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 23:34:00 +0000

My previous post garnered some interesting comments so I want to touch on a few of those as well as some additional comments and what I call "odds and ends." So let's see what's what in this regard.