Pictures from the Mining World ... Gold Mostly

[gunDriller]

I was reading about Sutter Mining and was intrigued by this first picture of holes drilled into a piece of rock.

I didn't know if it was for inserting explosives, or if they were holes for taking samples of the rock. Or maybe both.

http://www.suttergoldmining.com/i/photos/Sutter/100_5276.jpg

Then I got to this picture. Sort of clears it up.

http://www.suttergoldmining.com/i/photos/Misc/Sutter-Gold-Decline-first-shot.jpg


But my favorite is the Bjorkdahl facility in Sweden. 1 Million ounces mined, to date.

http://www.goldoreresources.com/i/photos/bjorkdal/large/Gold-nugget-in-quartz.jpg

To me, that gold nugget looks like a donkey. Or a dog. Gold in Quartz.

http://www.goldoreresources.com/i/photos/bjorkdal/large/Prep-for-drilling.jpg

They do hard rock mining too.

Once they have a truck load , it is dumped into a crusher.

http://www.goldoreresources.com/i/photos/bjorkdal/large/Dumping-into-crusher.jpg

Once it is in smaller pieces, about the size of an apple, it is placed into a ball mill that crushes it into a fine powder.

http://www.goldoreresources.com/i/photos/bjorkdal/large/Primary-ball-mill.jpg

Once they have that fine powder, it can be separated using techniques that rely on gold's density. In this case, a vibrating table with several design details that help separate the gold.

http://www.goldoreresources.com/i/photos/bjorkdal/large/Vibrating-tables.jpg

http://www.goldoreresources.com/i/photos/bjorkdal/large/Free-gold.jpg

Then it is melted and poured into cone shaped molds. To me that crucible looks like a clay crucible, and the molds look like iron or graphite. Not sure.

http://www.goldoreresources.com/i/photos/bjorkdal/large/Molten-gold.jpg


URL for the second Bjorkdahl facility
http://www.goldoreresources.com/s/Bjorkdal.asp

For the Sutter mine -
http://www.suttergoldmining.com/s/Photos.asp

[beefsteak]

Gunny,
looks like more than 1 GS'er has gold fever. Thanks for digging up/posting those pix.

That one photo of the ribbon of gold against the black background of the shaker / wave table you posted...some additional sharing re: that photo.

I know of gold ops where the economical grind point for liberating free milling gold is at the 40 micron gold particle size level (-350 mesh)

Since you're into systems of various sorts, (pun intended-lol), suggest you check out the MSI xTruder series of combo water/shaker tables, such as were recently introduced to the general public vis a vis that Discovery Channel goldrush show folks are talking about in some circles. There is a brief video of that 2 part operation, first their duplex jig then feeding the xTruder table.

Tables/jigs have been around for a long long time. The bigger the operation, the bigger the equipment. And the slower the throughput.

Gravity seps such as achieved by the company whose operating equipment you posted above, are far cheaper than solvent extraction by a exponential factor. And gravity seps have the reputation of being more "eco-friendly," when all is said and done.

If you ever get a chance to personally visit such an operation, RUN don't walk. You may arrive huffin' and puffin', but man o' man, what a ride!

EDIT: Here's a Part 2 Link showing gold in the -350 mesh category, with a seamstress' straight pin so my wife tells me, as the visual reference item for sizing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkIa32sHYJ4

The still shot which is my rav fav is at 3min 36sec mark.

Obviously a tool for the smaller than commercial mining industry, more like on the individual level.


http://youtu.be/goJscvOQX1A <---Part 1 shows unit


beefsteak

[monty]

Round mountain Gold Corporation

I couldn't find good pictures but I found this video.

This mine is about 60 miles from my home. It reopened after Nixon closed the gold window under the name of Smoky Valley Mining Company. The company I worked for at that time delivered the first 9 Euclid R-50 haul trucks. The mine has been in continuous operation since that time, under Barrick Gold, and currently Kinross-Barrick joint venture.

Monty





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVn4OVbkiP0

[gunDriller]

Gunny,
looks like more than 1 GS'er has gold fever. Thanks for digging up/posting those pix.

...

I know of gold ops where the economical grind point for liberating free milling gold is at the 40 micron gold particle size level (-350 mesh)


i needed something to complement my interest in boating ;)

i am still learning the screen sizes.

[beefsteak]

Monty,

THAT puppy was full of "good pictures." :o

I may be old, but I sho' ain't dead yet. Just watching that liquid gold pourin' and coolin' and dumpin' out of those molds...sure got my Geritol fix for t'day....;D WHEW!

[monty]

Here is one that will make your mouth water. Most of the gold is microscopic. The primary process is heap leach. But they have other methods to handle the course gold too.

http://nevada-outback-gems.com/prospect/gold_specimen/round_mtn_gold02.jpg

http://nevada-outback-gems.com/prospect/gold_specimen/crystal_gold06_RM.jpg

http://nevada-outback-gems.com/prospect/gold_specimen/crystal_gold05_RM.jpg

[beefsteak]

Oh, my God, Monty! That's amazing...that chunk in the gold pan. I'm surprised that woman could hold all that. 16" diameter, and 15" high. THAT's one heck of a gold pan.

Looks like I won't be needing my Geritol again, anytime soon. ;D

Can I come over and see your pictures some time? Might not want to go home....;)

Jis' sayin'

THANKS GUYS! Doing this old man's heart good!


beefsteak

[beefsteak]

i needed something to complement my interest in boating ;)

i am still learning the screen sizes.


Gunny,


http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q607/Helen_Hansen/MeshScreenMagnet001.jpg


I have this visible on a refrig magnet... Helen just LOVES me decorating her S/S refrig. ;D


beefsteak

[milehi]

California's gold. From the display at the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History.

[gunDriller]

California's gold. From the display at the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History.

Look at all that gold !

Some geology texts describe these big nuggets as being formed by compaction of many many smaller gold flakes.