EASTERN OREGON
MINING ASSOCIATION
DECEMBER 2021
Volume 387
DECEMBER 3rd , 2021 MEETING AT ELK CREEK ENTERPRISES
Many thanks to Alice Knapp for letting us continue to meet at the saw shop while City Hall is not available for meetings. We will have a meeting on DECEMBER 3rd, 2021 at the Elk Creek Enterprises saw shop located at 890 Elm Street. The Board Meeting will begin at 6:00 PM with the general meeting following at 6:30 PM. Don’t forget, we will give away a $50 dollar silver medallion at the end of the meeting. Come to the meeting, buy a ticket, and support EOMA.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE- TIME TO BE THANKFUL
Sometimes, with all the stress of government intervention in our industry, and new regulations and requirements, we just have to step back a little, take a deep breath, and think about the good things that have happened. One really good thing that recently happened, is that miners will not be charged an 8% gross royalty on existing mines and 4% on new ones. There also won’t be a 7 cent fee for every ton of rock moved. This crazy idea was a part of Biden’s original Build back better agenda. Nevada and others fought these provisions in the bill, and finally they were dropped.
Another positive ruling for all Americans was by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit which granted a stay on the COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). The ruling ordered OSHA to "take no steps to implement or enforce" the ETS "until further court order." MSHA does not enforce the ETS. It appears that they have plenty of other real safety violations that they enforce.
It is sad, that AE&MA felt they had to require that masks be worn at the convention, and only let miners through the door who can prove they have been vaccinated. Vaccination with a “suboptimal non-sterilizing vaccine” (Bossche) should be a personal choice. Fully vaccinated people still can get and spread Covid and where is the recognition of natural immunity?
THE ALASKA CENTENNIAL NUGGET-Heritage Auctions, HA.com
A rare and massive gold nugget, weighing around 20lbs (9kg), has been put up for sale 23 years after it was discovered and it’s expected to reach at least $1 million at an auction that takes place on Dec. 8.
The Alaska Centennial Nugget, estimated at the size of a baby’s head, was discovered by gold miner Barry Clay near the town of Ruby, Alaska, in 1998, 100 years after the 1896 Klondike Gold Rush. He found the valuable remnant while pushing dirt with his bulldozer along the shores of the Swift Creek Mine. The nugget is the largest ever found in Alaska, and only smaller than the “Boot of Cortez” nugget found in Mexico, which weighs 24lbs (11kg). Clay is said to have buried the nugget near a tree, buying time until he decided what to do with his remarkable find.
The current owner bought the rock directly from Clay, and it has been in the same family for more than two decades. The upcoming auction will be the first public offering of the museum-quality piece.
The fact that the Alaska Centennial gold nugget exists at all makes it all the more exceptional, Craig Kissick, Director of Nature and Science at Heritage Auctions said in a video. “Fewer than 50 gold nuggets over 250 ounces exist as gold in nugget form… (it’s) inherently rare; gold nuggets of massive size, even more so,” he says.
Some of Alaska’s richest placers worked in the area around the town of Ruby from 1910 to 1920. There are only a handful of commercial mining operations there today.
DO NOTHING STRATEGY-USFS-Jan Alexander
Still, nothing has happened on the Powder River Mining Projects EIS. Small scale, and legally complete Plans of Operation, analyzed under this NEPA document, go unapproved year after year.
When new Plans of Operation are submitted to the Forest Service, miners receive the following canned response “Currently we are evaluating and analyzing proposed Plan of Operations for the Powder River Mining EIS, and due to our current work load we are assessing available personnel to address those previously submitted PoOs, and yours will be addressed in order of receipt and completion of the Powder River Mining EIS”.
To my knowledge, the Forest Service personnel are not “evaluating and analyzing proposed Plan of Operations for the Powder River Mining EIS, document”. Instead, they are doing nothing. The Powder River Mining Projects EIS document was completed long ago. This document has been written and is gathering dust on a shelf somewhere. If they wait long enough, they will probably decide the information in it is too old and they must start writing all over again.
AMERICAN EXPLORATION & MINING ASSOCIATION 2021 ANNUAL MEETING
WASHINGTON, D.C. (FOX Carolina)- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced that they are suspending their COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS).
Officials said the decision came after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a stay on the ETS. The ruling ordered OSHA to "take no steps to implement or enforce" the ETS "until further court order."
Despite this order, science and common sense, AE&MA is requiring that those attending this year’s convention wear masks, and AE&MA is requiring proof of vaccination before they let you through the door. Not sure if any miners from EOMA have decided to go to this year’s convention.
DRAFT LIST OF CRITICAL MINERALS-Director of the U.S. Geological Survey
The following is a draft list of 50 mineral commodities proposed for inclusion on the 2021 list of critical minerals:
Aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barite,
beryllium, bismuth, cerium, cesium,
chromium, cobalt, dysprosium, erbium,
europium, fluorspar, gadolinium,
gallium, germanium, graphite, hafnium,
holmium, indium, iridium, lanthanum,
lithium, lutetium, magnesium,
manganese, neodymium, nickel,
niobium, palladium, platinum,
praseodymium, rhodium, rubidium,
ruthenium, samarium, scandium,
tantalum, tellurium, terbium, thulium,
tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium,
ytterbium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium.
Much of the increase in the number of mineral commodities, from 35 commodities and groups on the final 2018 list to 50 commodities on the 2021 draft list, is the result of splitting the rare earth elements and platinum group elements into individual entries rather than including them as mineral groups.
In addition, the 2021 draft list adds nickel and zinc and removes helium, potash, rhenium, and strontium.
SENATOR CORTEZ MAST0, DEMOCRAT FROM NEVADA HELPS MINING Francis Chung/E&E News -
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Nevada Democrat in a tough fight to keep her seat next year, says she’s scored a big win that could boost her reelection campaign: the removal of $1 billion from the massive climate and social spending package that would have gone to cleaning up abandoned hardrock mines. The reason? The funding would come from the first-ever royalties imposed on hardrock mines — the sort that produce every metal from gold and silver to iron and copper — and Cortez Masto represents one of the most popular mining jurisdictions in the world. “It’s not going to be in there,” Cortez Masto told E&E News.
The first-term senator said she’d told Senate Democratic leaders, and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), that the language in the House’s draft reconciliation package imposing hardrock mining royalties needed to be taken out of reconciliation and put through “a separate process.” Cortez Masto also said she’d received assurances from her party leadership that stripping this language was a done deal. And Rep. Susie Lee, a Nevada Democrat, confirmed to E&E News it was also her “understanding” the hardrock royalties were “going to be taken out.”
The elimination of all royalties is a step beyond even the compromise House Democrats proposed in their draft bill, which scaled back the imposed payments. Ultimately, party leaders are eager to hand out wins that will help their members gain the upper hand in their 2022 races. The Senate is currently split 50-50, and House Democrats only hold their majority by a three-member margin.
The bipartisan infrastructure deal also authorizes $3 billion for abandoned mine land cleanup, so some funding could get out the door even if the royalties are removed. But without the reconciliation language, taxpayers will be the only ones footing the bill to restore former mines under the program.
WHAT IS THE PRICE OF GOLD?
The spot price of Gold is the current price that one ounce of Gold can be bought and sold for immediate delivery. The price for any Gold product is the spot price plus a premium, which is added by all dealers to cover their overhead. The spot price fluctuates constantly, making it important to keep up to date on performance indicators such as current events and market conditions, as they affect the buying and selling of Precious Metals.
If you are wondering "how much is an ounce of Gold worth?" The Gold price is usually quoted in troy ounces, but can easily be converted into grams or kilos. The Gold gram price and Gold kilo price can be found in our handy conversion table on our website. The Gold price is ordinarily quoted in dollars in most Gold markets, and as of today, November 20, 2021, it is $1853.90.
NO LAND GRAB ACT OF 2021 AND 30X30 TERMINATION ACT INTRODUCED
Two bills that push back against President Biden’s 30x30 Executive Order have been introduced in the House and Senate. The “30x30 Termination Act” as named in the Senate and the “No Land Grab Act of 2021” in the House, seek to limit the executive branch’s ability to breach farmers’ private property rights. The “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad Executive Order” directs the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, and other heads of agencies to achieve the goal of conserving at least 30% of American lands and waters by 2030.
There are many concerns by Republican legislators that this order would add to the many acres of land already under federal control. In the House, the No Land Grab Act of 2021 was introduced by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS). “Protecting private property rights from federal government overreach is a top priority of Kansans,” said Moran, “While I have long supported voluntary, locally-driven conservation efforts, this legislation would put a stop to the Biden administration’s misguided 30x30 plan that threatens to expand federal land ownership and control.”
Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) introduced the 30x30 Termination Act into the House, along with 22 House Republicans. She released a statement, claiming Biden’s executive order was created by “extremist environmentalists, that seeks to lock up at least 30% of all lands and waters in the U.S. by 2030.”
The 30x30 Termination Act would block the Administration’s executive actions and protect private land ownership by:
(1) Nullifying Section 216 of Executive Order 14008 which contains the 30x30 program.
(2) Prohibiting federal funds from being spent to carry out the 30x30 program, the report in Section 216, and any substantially similar program.
(3) Ensuring no net loss of non-federal land in counties and states that already contain 15% or more federal land.
(4) Ensuring no net loss of multiple-use activities in states unless such action has been authorized by federal statute.
(5) Requiring state and congressional approval before the federal acquisition of more than a quarter section of non-federal land.
(6) Prohibiting withdrawing federal lands from mineral development without congressional approval.
(7) Prohibiting unilateral 30x30 designations under the Antiquities Act in counties and states that already contain 15% or more federal land.
UNKNOWNS IN BIDEN’S EXECUTIVE ORDER 30x30
While the goal of conservation is one we all share, miners, sportsmen, and all citizens interested in using Federal and private lands must be cautious of the following issues and ensure each is explicitly addressed in legislation:
(1) Who controls implementation?
(2) What agencies or officials will oversee the creation of definitions and implementation
regulations?
(3) Will there be legislative oversisight?
(4) What explicit protections exist for miners with federal mining claims and water rights, farmers and ranchers with cattle allotments and water rights, irrigation district that have reserved sites on federal lands for dam sites, hunting and target shooting on public land, as well as other recreational activities such as ATV use? On private land?
(5) What specific rules will be put in place to conserve public land? Private land?
(6) What is the funding source?
(7) How is progress toward the goal measured?
Answers to these questions, clearly delineated in legislation, will help avoid potential problems
with unelected government employees setting new rules for the use of public and private lands
and waters. As 30x30 measures appear in states legislatures and in Congress, lawmakers must
ensure the details are in place to protect the ability of Americans to use and enjoy our
precious natural resources in other sustainable ways.
MINING GHOST PROTOCOL- MINING.COM
Edinburgh-based Wood Mackenzie, is expanding its mining and metals practice, most recently with the acquisition of London-based Roskill. A new report by Julian Kettle, SVP of Woodmac’s metals and mining division, and senior analyst Kamil Wlazly, answers the questions about the availability of supply in their report where the very title tells it all: Mission impossible: supplying the base metals for accelerated decarbonization
Woodmac is refreshingly blunt in its assessment of mining’s role in fighting climate change:
“The energy transition starts and ends with metals.” “Achieving global net zero is inexorably linked to base metals supply.” “Base metals capex needs to quadruple to about $2 trillion to achieve an accelerated energy transition.” Woodmac gets straight to the point: “delivering the base metals to meet [net zero 2050] pathways strains project delivery beyond breaking point from people and plant to financing and permitting.”
Copper, which Woodmac emphasizes “sits at the nexus of the energy transition” stands out particularly. The 19 million tonnes of additional copper that need to be delivered for net-zero 2050 implies a new La Escondida must be discovered and enter production every year for the next 20 years. Even if you focus on just one of the obstacles bringing new copper supply online – the time it takes to build a new mine – and leave aside all other factors, net-zero 2050 has zero chance.
DOGAMI AND NOTICE LEVEL OPERATIONS ON BLM-Jan Alexander
From reading the DOGAMI regulations, I now understand that Exclusion Certificates are to cover mining operations (not exploration) of areas that exceed one acre annually but are less than five total acres, and process less than 5,000 cubic yards. If your operation impacts more than one acre per year, you may qualify for an EC. The cost is $80 and there is no bond (BLM will bond you if you are on public lands). BLM has a policy of providing DOGAMI a copy of their Decisions, so DOGAMI is well aware of what is happening on the ground.
Exploration Permits are for miners conducting exploration before they decide where to mine. If exploration impacts less than an acre, and less than 5,000 cubic yards are processed, no Exploration Permit is needed. Be very careful when you submit your notice, because an Exploration Permit with DOGAMI will be harmful to your operation. The cost is $2,000, you will need an expensive wetlands/jurisdiction and navigability study done if there is a waterway, every agency, from ODF to the Tribes will get to comment and/or add mitigations, plus, DOGAMI personnel who work with Exploration Permits have no idea about how to bond. They base their Exploration bonds on cubic feet, rather than cubic yards to be moved. One miner proposed 2 small trenches and a process site and DOGAMI wanted a $22,000 bond! And the kicker is that DOGAMI will double bond, even though you have already posted a bond with BLM. And the double kicker is that DOGAMI will hold up your operation for an additional 12 months, even after BLM has authorized your proposal.
Bottom line-never apply for a DOGAMI Exploration Permit, unless you plan to drill deeper than 50 feet. Instead, apply for an Operating Permit. The one difference from an Exploration Permit is you will need a survey by a licensed land surveyor of the project area. However, because DOGAMI personnel in the mining department better understand bonding, for 2 trenches and a process site, the bond would be $5,000 instead of $22,000. The bond savings should pay for the surveyor!
JP MORGAN TO PAY $60,000,000 TO SETTLE SPOOFING CHARGES-Jonathan Stempel
JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) agreed to pay $60 million to settle class-action litigation by investors who accused the largest U.S. bank of intentionally manipulating prices of precious metals futures and options.The settlement disclosed on Friday stemmed from sprawling U.S. government investigations into a form of illegal trading in precious metals and U.S. Treasury markets, known as spoofing.
JPMorgan did not admit wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement, which covers traders in precious metals futures and options from March 2008 to August 2016 and requires approval by a federal judge in Manhattan.
Lawyers for the investors called the accord "substantively fair," citing among other reasons the risks of continued litigation.
EOMA ADVERTISING AND SALE LISTINGS
EOMA SILVER MEDALLIONS FOR SALE
EOMA still has silver medallions available. They are currently selling for $50.00 apiece plus $10.00 shipping, handling, and insurance. (Prices are subject to change).
You can order your medallion from the EOMA website and pay by pay-pal. Or, you can send $50 plus $10.00 shipping and handling to EOMA, Medallions, PO Box 932, Baker City, OR 97814, or call 541-310-8510. Also, you can buy them at our EOMA meetings.
PUMPS FOR SALE
Two water pumps with belt driven clutch system (heavy duty) driven by a 2-cylinder Wisconsin gas engine for $250.
Also, a 5" intake 7" discharge Fairbanks and Morse high pressure pump. Driven by a 30 HP 3 phase electric motor for $450. Call Ken Anderson at 541-523-2521 or 541-519- 9497
FOR SALE EARTH MAGNETOMETER
This magnetometer measures the amount of magnetics in the ground, such as magnetite. Since magnetite is associated with gold, the magnetometer can help greatly with prospecting, since it will show you the amount of magnetite that may well be associated with gold in the ground. The more magnetite, the more gold. $400 or cash $350. Call Chuck Chase, 541-310-8510.
WANTED-SMALL HARDROCK MILL
I need a jaw crusher or small hammer mill. Please call Pete at 541-910-9712 if you have one you want to sell.
WANTED-GOLD
Gold Specimens and Gold nuggets, mostly from Oregon mines. Fair prices paid. Also selling Gold nugget jewelry, specimens, nuggets and more. For an interesting and informative experience explore www.northernnevadagold.com. Call Robert 775-455-6470.
NINE UNPATENTED PLACER CLAIMS FOR SALE
These claims are in the Greenhorn Mining District, adjacent to the Parkerville and the Bonanza patented properties. Geiser Bowl- 60 acres, PW #1- 80 acres, PW #6 -100 acres, Black Beauty- 100 acres, Blue Mt Channel #3-100 acres, Carranza-80 acres, Dottie Two-80acres, Mart Jones-60 acres, Wizzer-80 acres.
Contact LaRayn Rose for list prices, and of course, any reasonable offer will be considered especially for multiple claim purchases. (503) 317-6914
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ACTION MINING SERVICES, INC.
AMS is selling out all assay supplies, screens, chemicals and labware! Call for quote and mention this ad for 35% off! Assay supplies, concentrators, impact mills, technical books (for the beginner to the advanced mill man), & more!
Call for our free catalog or visit us online! Check out their website for information on wave tables. Want to pick up an order in Plains Montana? We have moved to Plains, Montana…. please call 406.826.9330 to place the order on will call first, this way our staff can have it pulled and ready for pick up. Otherwise, we can always ship your order! sales@actionmining.com • www.actionmining.com
AMERICAN EXPLORATION & MINING
A lot of information in this newsletter was obtained from the American Exploration & Mining Association newsletter. To stay up to date on mining issues, you can become a member of AEMA.
by going to their website at https://www.miningamerica.org/
THE OREGON CONCRETE AND AGGREGATE ASSOCIATION
EOMA is a member of OCAPA. This is undoubtedly the largest type of mining in Oregon. They have a very interesting and informative website that also may be of interest to metal miners. They keep track of the bills introduced in Oregon’s legislature that may affect all mining in Oregon.
It will be necessary to remind the Oregon legislators, who mainly come from the Willamette Valley, that not all of Oregon has a moderate climate. A bill such as SB 715 which mandates higher percentages of biodiesel doesn’t work for the people who live and work at higher elevations.
Check out their website: https://www.ocapa.net
SEND YOUR NEWSLETTER ITEMS
If you have informative or interesting articles about mining items to share in the newsletter, send them to Ken Alexander alxk@ortelco.net, or Chuck Chase CHASE3285@msn.com, or Jan Alexander alx@ortelco.net.
Be sure to indicate the source of the information you send.
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