Washington State Miner

Tom

“I heard there's coarse gold in [insert name of] creek, but I don't know exactly where it is.”

Have you ever heard anything like this? If you've been in the gold prospecting field for any length of time, you likely have.

Nowadays, instead of poring over numerous maps hoping to get lucky by spotting the name of the creek in question, we have a handy website called Latitude Longitude Search.

Latitude Longitude Search (or Lat-Long for short) lists more than two million geographical locations in the United States. All you need to do a search is the name of the feature you're looking for and the state in which it lies. Hopefully, you know at least this much.

As an example, suppose I'm looking for a stream named “Gold Creek” in Washington. At the top of the site's home page, I type the name into the “Find places named” box, select the state (and optionally the county and/or feature type), and click the “Lat-Long Search” button. I'm presented with eighteen results:

Should I decide to check out the listing in Chelan County, I click on the appropriate blue link in the table. That brings up a page showing the elevation, latitude, and longitude of the location plus its position on two maps: a wide-area map showing the creek's location in the state and a larger, zoomable map showing its location relative to nearby features.

If I want to see more detail, I can switch the larger map to satellite imagery and zoom in on the location.

Hopefully, Lat-Long will help you track down some of the elusive places you've been wanting to investigate.

Questions? Please post them in the comments.

Tom

Have you ever wanted to locate the topographic map that shows the area you're interested in? If so, you can download a .kml file that will display an overlay in Google Earth that shows the areas covered by the various United States Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangle maps.

The helpful file in question is called QUADS and is available for free from the same people, Metzger-Willard, who offer the PLSS overlay file for Google Earth discussed in the previous post.

Once you have Google Earth – I recommend the Pro version as it is now free at the link here – navigate to USGS Quadrangles and click on the QUADS link in the box near the top of the page. After the file downloads, open it in Google Earth as described in the previous post about the PLSS overlay file.

To use the overlay file, navigate to your area of interest in Google Earth. In the left-hand sidebar of Google Earth, check the “Search Results” box in the “USGS Quadrangles” section. (You may have to expand that section to see the “Search Results” and other option boxes.) Check the “Automatic” radio button under “Refresh Mode” and an overlay of the available quadrangle maps will appear in the Google Earth display.

If you click on one of the colored dots in the center of the various map outlines displayed in Google Earth, a pop-up box will open that gives the name and other information about that particular map.

Clicking the “All maps with this name” link in the box will open a new page in Google Earth with a list of all available maps of the selected area together with their dates and links for downloading them as PDF files.

If you want, you can display a topographic map overlay of the area you are viewing in Google Earth by clicking the “TopoMaps” radio button in the “Overlays” section of the “USGS Quadrangles” section in Google Earth's left-hand sidebar. In my own experience, these overlay maps are not that detailed or useful. I find that downloading the maps I want from the pop-up box links mentioned earlier is more satisfactory.

I hope the information above helps you find the maps you need for your prospecting activities. As always, feel free to ask any questions in the comments section below the post. I will do my best to answer as soon as possible.

Happy prospecting!

Tom

(Note: This article updates a previous post and replaces the link in the right-hand sidebar section that was lost when the blog was hacked a few years ago.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you're conducting research on areas to prospect or working up the legal description for filing a mining claim, one of the things you need to know is where the parcel in question lies with respect to the Public Land Survey System (PLSS).

The PLSS is the easiest way to describe the location of your claim when making out a Notice of Location. It is also the system used by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Master Title Plats that tell you which areas are open to Mineral Entry, meaning, where you are allowed to stake a claim.

This blog has previously discussed some of the ways to use Google Earth as a prospecting aid. (See Armchair Prospecting with Google Earth and More on Armchair Prospecting.)

The PLSS is available as a convenient overlay on Google Earth.

If you don't already have this handy program, I suggest you download the Google Earth Pro (GEP) version as it is now free. (It previously cost $399 per year.) Here is the link:

http://www.google.com/earth/download/gep/agree.html

Be sure to read the system requirements and the note regarding the free license.

Once GEP is installed and running, navigate to PLSS in Google Earth and click on the "download GLSGE" link in the box near the top of the page. Doing this will download a file named "plss.kml" which you can open in Google Earth by clicking on File>Open in the GEP menu bar and navigating to where you saved the file (generally the "Downloads" folder).

In "Temporary Places" in the GEP left-hand sidebar, you will find entries for the PLSS overlay application. Be sure the radio button next to "Automatic" is checked under the "Refresh Mode" section. To show Sections and Townships, check the radio button next to "Townships" in the "Overlays" section.

You should then see Section and Township borders and labels on your GEP display. (You may have to zoom in some before they show up.)

The borders and labels will refresh about two seconds each time after you stop moving the map. As you might find this behavior somewhat annoying, you can switch auto-refresh off by checking the radio button next to "Manual" in the "Refresh Mode" section mentioned earlier. To return to auto-refresh, just check the "Automatic" radio button again.

Note that sometimes there is a slight difference between where the Section and Township borders appear in GEP and where they actually are. This means before you do anything important like filing a mining claim, be sure to double-check the border locations with an actual map. For comparison purposes, below is part of the USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle map of the same area around Blewett, Washington shown in the picture at the top of this article.

When you close GEP, it will ask you if you want to save the locations in your "Temporary Places" folder. If you click "Yes," the PLSS overlay application will load automatically each time you start GEP. Otherwise, you can always load the file manually as you did the first time.

I hope you find both Google Earth Pro and the PLSS in Google Earth overlay useful in your prospecting endeavors.

As always, if you have any questions or observations, please enter them in the comments and I will do my best to answer promptly.

Question: Have you used Google Earth in your prospecting/mining activities and, if so, how did it work out for you? You can answer in the comments section.

Tom

Here is a listing I have put together of additional gold and mineral shows for the month of April 2016:

Gem Faire Inc Show

Friday, April 1 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: $7; Children under 11 FREE

Washington State Fair Events Center
110 9th Avenue SW
Puyallup, Washington

More info: Yooy Nelson (503) 252-8300; email info@gemfaire.com; http://www.gemfaire.com

----------------------------------------------

Yakima Rock & Mineral Club - "Rockin' Your World"

Friday & Saturday, April 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: Adults $3.50
Students $2.00
Children under 12 free with adult paid admission
Free parking

Central Washington State Fair Ground
Modern Living Building
1301 South Fair Avenue
Yakima ,Washington 98901

More info: http://www.yakimarockclub.com/category/shows-events/

----------------------------------------------

GPAA Portland Gold & Treasure Show

Saturday & Sunday, April 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tickets: www.goldprospectors.org

Portland Metropolitan Exhibition Center
2060 North Marine Drive
Portland, Oregon 97217

----------------------------------------------

Idaho Falls Gem & Mineral Society - 52nd Annual Show

Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, April 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: $3.00; Children 12 and under FREE

Idaho Falls Recreation Center

Memorial and B Streets

Idaho Falls, Idaho

More info: https://www.facebook.com/Idaho-Falls-Gem-Mineral-Society-196575797055956/

----------------------------------------------

Willamette Agate & Mineral Society - Annual River of Gems Show

Friday & Saturday, April 15 and 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Admission: Adults $2.00; Children under 12 free

Polk County Fairgrounds

520 South Pacific Highway

Rickreall, Oregon

More info: Contact Etheleen Flippo, (503) 623-4241; email reflippoo@hotmail.com

----------------------------------------------

GPAA Seattle Gold & Treasure Show

Saturday & Sunday, April 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tickets: www.goldprospectors.org

Evergreen State Fair Grounds

14405 179th Avenue SE

Monroe, Washington 98272

----------------------------------------------

Maplewood Rock and Gem Club - Annual Spring Sale

Saturday, April 16 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission: FREE

Maplewood Rock and Gem Clubhouse

8802 196th ST SW

Edmonds WA

More info: http://www.maplewoodrockclub.com/events/2016-spring-sale

----------------------------------------------

Lakeside Gem & Mineral Club - 20th Annual Rock & Mineral Show

Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: Adult $5.00 (Good for both days)

Children 14 and under FREE with paid adult admission

Benton County Fairgrounds

1500 South Oak Street

Kennewick, Washington

More info: http://nebula.wsimg.com/b62c54495004e2cf4df38c7122181083?AccessKeyId=930F78DFB2AC575E2B46&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

----------------------------------------------

Mt. Hood Rock Club - 59th Annual Rock and Gem Show

Friday & Saturday, April 22 and 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: FREE (One free rock to each child)

W. P. Jackson Armory

6255 NE Cornfoot Road

Portland, Oregon 97218

More info: https://mthoodrockclub.wordpress.com/annual-rock-show/

----------------------------------------------

West Seattle Rock Club - 50th Annual Rock Show

Saturday & Sunday, April 23 and 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: FREE

Free parking

Alki Masonic Temple

4736 40th Ave. SW.

(West) Seattle, Washington

More info: http://www.westseattlerockclub.org/gemshows.htm

----------------------------------------------

Grays Harbor Geology and Gem Society - 48th Annual Earth Treasures Rock Show

Saturday, April 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.

Grays Harbor Fair Grounds

43 Elma-McCleary Road

Elma, Washington

More info: Ken Nelson, (360) 289-0263

----------------------------------------------

Everett Rock & Gem Club - 63rd Annual Gem, Jewelry and Mineral Show

Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: FREE

Disabled access

Free adjacent parking

Everett Community College

Walt Price Student Fitness Center

2206 Tower Street

Everett, Washington

More info: www.everettrockclub.com

----------------------------------------------

Richmond Gem & Mineral Society - 55th Annual Gem & Mineral Show

Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: A Donation

Free parking

Richmond Arts & Cultural Centre

7700 Minoru Gate

Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

More info: Lisa Kew; email lisakew@shaw.ca; richmondbclapidary.wordpress.com

----------------------------------------------

Question: Do you know of any other shows? If so, please provide information in the comments.

Tom

Gold shows are a good place to learn about the latest and most effective equipment and techniques for finding and recovering the yellow metal.

Here is a list of shows in our area next month that I want you to be aware of as these are fun and educational events for people of all ages:

April 2-3, 2016
Lacey, Washington

Thurston County Instructional Gold, Gem & Treasure Show

Saturday & Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Visit the Thurston County Instructional Gold, Gem & Treasure Show for kids and families at the Thurston County Fairgrounds Expo Center, 3054 Carpenter Rd.

Members of the Resources Coalition will be teaching about gold, gold panning, gems and treasure hunting.

Admission: $5 or bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.

Call or email for more information.

Phone: (253) 848-8112
Email: pete_n_gwen@comcast.net

-------------------------------------------------------------

April 2-3, 2016
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

17th Annual Gold & Treasure Show

At the North Idaho Fairgrounds, 4056 N Government Way in the Jacklin Building #25.

See website for details.

Complimentary copies of ICMJ's Prospecting and Mining Journal will be available.

Phone: Bill (206)510-4111; Bob (208)699-8128
Website: http://www.nwgoldprospectors.org
Email: bluefrontside@hotmail.com

-------------------------------------------------------------

April 23-24, 2016
Cashmere, Washington

North Central Washington Prospectors Gold & Treasure & More Show

At the Cashmere Washington Fairgrounds, 5700 Westcott Dr.
Saturday: 9AM to 5PM
Sunday: 9AM to 4PM
Admission: $5, 12 and under are FREE

Gold & Silver Jewelry - Dredge Equipment - Family Fun & Entertainment - Learn how to Pan for Gold - Door Prizes - Rock Hound & Prospecting Supplies - Vendors for all - Gems & Minerals - Lapidary - Gold Pay Dirt - Raffle Prizes - Metal Detectors - Sluice Boxes - Wood Art and Metal Art - Food Vendor

Complimentary copies of ICMJ's Prospecting and Mining Journal will be available.

Phone: (509) 884-3269
Website: http://www.northcentralwashingtonprospectors.com/gold-show/

-------------------------------------------------------------

Question: Do you know of upcoming shows that should appear in the W. S. Miner? If so, please tell me about them in the comments.

photo credit: Poke of Gold via photopin (license)

Tom

Do you love freebies? Then take a look at this neat LIDAR* map of the Chehalis River floodplain from Washington State's Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The map even shows abandoned river channels, a prime place to look for ancient gold deposits, which are often some of the richest.

Grab your copy of the full-resolution map at the link here, or read the original press release from DNR here.

And, as always, be sure to follow the prospecting rules as outlined in the Gold and Fish Pamphlet and don't go onto private property without the owner's permission.

Have fun!

*LIDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging, which is a remote sensing method that uses a pulsed laser to examine the surface of the earth. See here for more information.

Tom

Housekeeping on the resources for prospectors links section of this blog for the start of 2016 has been completed. A couple of the sites listed have new web addresses but the only real change is the addition of a link to a downloadable copy of the July 13, 2015 Washington State Gold and Fish Pamphlet. The new link appears in the "Washington State Prospecting Rules and Laws" section right above the link to the official WDFW page from where the current pamphlet can also be downloaded.

Another change is that the links for obtaining the Tacoma 1:100,000-scale quadrangle geologic map are now working and available in the November 25, 2015 post on that subject.

Once the snow clears, may you have a happy, safe, and prosperous prospecting and mining season in 2016.

Tom

Happy New Year!

The Washington State Miner

would like to take this opportunity

to

thank you for visiting our blog

and to wish you

A Healthy and Prosperous Year

in

2016

Tom

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) invites interested parties to comment on the new Hydraulic Project Approval program. The Hydraulic Code rules were extensively updated in 2014 by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, the same year in which WDFW introduced a simplified permitting system and online application process.

According to a December 21 news release, "Jeff Davis, assistant director of WDFW’s Habitat Program, said the department welcomes comments on recent updates to those rules, efforts to streamline the permitting process, and other aspects of the HPA program."

The news release further noted that "(s)tate habitat managers also plan to discuss the future of the program with tribal and other governmental representatives, environmental groups, business organizations and others involved in HPA issues, Davis said." (Emphasis added.) Dare we assume that the "others involved in HPA issues" includes members of the small-scale prospecting and mining community?

To insure that it does, readers of this blog are encouraged to submit their comments via email to hpaprogramideas@dfw.wa.gov by April 15, 2016.

Those wishing additional information on the permitting process may visit WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/hpa/.

Those wishing to read the WDFW news release quoted above may do so here.

Tom

Washington State's Department of Natural Resources has announced the availability of a new geology map of the Tacoma 1:100,000-scale quadrangle.

The new map may be downloaded for free from the link here or paper copies may be purchased from myprint.wa.gov.

The official announcment of the new map may be read here.

NOTE: At the time of this writing the links to the free map and to the paper copies are not working. Hopefully the problem will be solved reasonably soon. If DNR announces corrected links, they will be posted in this article.

NOTE: The link for downloading the free copy of the map has been repaired. Also, the link to the site for purchasing the paper version of the map is also working.

Tom

Washington State's Department of Natural Resources has announced the availability of two new geologic maps:

1. The Geologic Map of the Lake Roesiger 7.5-minute Quadrangle, Snohomish County, Washington, Map Series 2015-1, incorporating new geologic mapping, geochemistry, geophysics, and age data, is presented in a 42 x 36 inch 1:24,000 scale map sheet and 47-page pamphlet. The entire package may be downloaded for free here or purchased in printed form at myprint.wa.gov.

2. The Geologic Map of the Port Ludlow and southern half of the Hansville 7.5-minute Quadrangle, Kitsap and Jefferson Counties, Washington, Map Series 2015-2, incorporating new geologic mapping, geochemistry, and age data, is presented in a 42 x 36 inch 1:24,000 scale map sheet and 40-page pamphlet. The entire package may be downloaded for free here or purchased in printed form at the same link as for the Lake Roesiger map.

The original press release from DNR may be found at the link here.

Tom

WDFW has announced that suction dredging for gold is prohibited or restricted in more than 60 rivers and streams until further notice. The reason given for this action is to prevent additional stress on fish populations that are already suffering from high temperatures and low water levels. On those rivers with hourly restrictions, gold dredging is prohibited between 2:00 P.M. and one half-hour after official sunset. A detailed list of the rivers and streams affected by these emergency regulations may be found here.

Note that only suction dredging is affected by these regulations. Gold panning by hand is specifically exempted and the regulations do not mention other gold recovery methods, such as by hand sluice, rocker box, etc., so it would seem these methods would be permitted as well. If in doubt, contact WDFW at 360-902-2200 or at one of the numbers listed at the top of the official news release.