EASTERN OREGON
MINING ASSOCIATION
AUGUST 2021
Volume 383
AUGUST 6 , 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 AUGUST 6, 2021 at the Elk Creek Enterprises saw shop located at 890 Elm Street. The Board Meeting will begin at 6:00PM with the general meeting following at 6:30PM. 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
Thanks to all of the help and support of our members, Miners Jubilee went pretty smoothly, considering the year’s gap between Jubilees. Fortunately, we didn’t have to worry about trying to remember the complexities and difficulties of assembling our old tents. Putting up the new pop-up tents was a breeze (with Jim and Pam Haney’s help) compared to the normal chaos of years past. Thanks to members who provided pictures of their operations, reclamation, and gold recovery. Many people were attracted and interested in the displays. Hopefully, they learned something positive about gold mining. Ken Anderson was steadily explaining the geology and importance of minerals. Several people helped out at the kid’s panning tubs, which were a very popular attraction as usual. Selling tickets for the drawing went a lot smoother, thanks to helpful suggestions about how to conduct a drawing. The funds we raised will be necessary for the challenges we face promoting reasonable regulations, access, mining, and utilization of the mineral resources that are necessary for a prosperous future for everybody. We have our work cut out for us. We need to explain to people, how removing three million acres under Wyden and Merkley’s River Democracy Act, will stop development of mineral resources and stop future development of water resources. This will not benefit the people who enjoy living and working in Oregon.
2021 OREGON STATE GOLD PANNING CHAMPIONS
Oregon State Champion of the 2021 PROFESSIONAL panning contest is DAVID HUDSON.
2nd place winner in the PROFESSIONAL panning contest is Kenneth Martin.
3rd place winner in the PROFESSIONAL panning contest is Austin Harmon.
Oregon State Champion of the 2021 AMATEUR panning contest is COLESON SCHRODERR.
2nd place winner in the AMATEUR panning contest is Jesse Fritz.
3rd place winner in the AMATEUR panning contest is Bradley Powers.
Oregon State Champion of the 2021 KIDS panning contest is ASHER ZINK.
2nd place winner of the KIDS panning contest is Isaac Schroder.
3rd place winner of the KIDS panning contest is Ian Zink.
WINNERS OF THE DRAWING FOR THE HI-BANKER AND METAL DETECTOR
The drawing for the high banker and the Fisher metal detector was held at the Miner’s Jubilee on Sunday July 18, 2021.
ROD H. was the winner of the high banker, generously donated by Richard Linrud.
SCOTT HARRIS was the winner of the metal detector, provided by Keith Magnuson.
Thanks to everyone for their participation and support of the EOMA.
TIME TO FILE ANNUAL ASSESSMENT WORK WITH BLM
You will need to fill out form 601, affidavit of annual assessment work, and if you own 10 claims or fewer, you will not have to pay fees if you submit a small miner waiver (see forms enclosed with this newsletter). BLM must receive your paperwork on or before September 1, 2021.
Your affidavit of annual assessment and small miner waiver are for the current assessment year which runs from September 1, 2020 to September 1, 2021. You must show at least $100 worth of assessment (i.e. work which improves the mineral value of your claims such as digging material for testing, excavating pits, cuts or trenches, developing underground workings, sluicing, dredging, processing on site etc) for each claim you own. The affidavit of annual assessment must be filed at the county in which the claim is located and your signature must be notarized. The small miner waiver must have ORIGINAL SIGNATURES, but this form does not need notarized signatures.
After your affidavit is filed with the County, mail your affidavit, small miner waiver and a check in the amount of $15/claim to BLM.
Bureau of Land Management
Oregon State Office
P.O. Box 2965
Portland, OR 97208
KEEP LOOKING FOR THOSE COPPER DEPOSITS- Ken Alexander
Copper prices have been advancing after China revealed that they will release fewer metals reserves than expected. Floods in central China, especially in the industrial and transport hub city of Zhengzhou in Henan province, have raised supply concerns and demand for rebuilding damaged infrastructure. Flooding has caused at least $10 billion in damage according to state media. Goldman Sachs said in a recent note that copper prices are poised to grow as demand outpaces supply, since the concentrate market is very tight, particularly in China. On the other-hand copper prices have recently withdrawn from their highs. As usual, the resource suppliers are at the mercy of supply and demand and world markets, however, $10,000 a ton is in the range of present value of copper. Of course, gold, at $1800 an ounce may be a better bet for small-scale miners.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE 1872 MINING LAW- Mark Squillace
In his article titled, the Enduring Vitality of the General Mining Law of 1872, he writes the following: “Location of mining claims on public domain land did not begin with the 1872 Mining Law. To the contrary, mineral development on public lands began without express authority, and became popular with the California gold rush of 1849. Over time, the early miners established mining districts and developed customs to regulate their mining activities among themselves. With the passage of the Lode Law of 1866, Congress codified its longstanding acquiescence to private mineral development on public lands. Congressional approval of mineral development was extended to placer deposits in 1870.3 Two years later, Congress merged and refined the two laws into the General Mining Law of 1872.
The Law is striking for the broad policy it sets: "[A]ll valuable mineral deposits in lands belonging to the United States … shall be free and open to exploration and purchase." What is most remarkable about the Law, however, is the power that it gives to the miner to choose the area where he will explore and develop mineral deposits. A renowned geologist, Charles Park, has offered this classic justification for the Mining Law's self-initiation policy: Minerals are where you find them. The quantities are finite. It's criminal to waste materials when the standard of living depends on them. A mine cannot move. So, it has to take precedence over any other use.
HOW DOES THE DEMOCRACY RIVER ACT AFFECT PRIVATE PROPERTY?-Ken Alexander
Every miner should be concerned about this proposed legislation. Existing mining claims only take in an area where the prospector has found valuable minerals. The valuable minerals on an existing mining claim are private property. It is a fact of life in the mining world, that the size and extent of valuable deposits are unknown until further exploration and development has taken place. If SB 192 is passed, over three million acres in Oregon will be withdrawn from future mineral development with no regard to the recognition of mineralization of the areas affected. The claims that are already located in these mineralized areas will be severely restricted in their ability to develop and utilize the valuable mineral deposits that extend beyond the existing claim boundaries.
ONE OF THE MANY WAYS THE DEMOCRACY RIVER ACT VIOLATES THE LAW
Congress never intended to have millions of acres and thousands of miles of rivers placed into protection of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, 1968 without a careful process to determine each case. Wording from the Act specifies:
“Each proposal shall be accompanied by a report, including maps and illustrations, showing among other things the area included within the proposal; the characteristics which make the area a worthy addition to the system; the current status of land ownership and use in the area; the reasonably foreseeable potential uses of the land and water which would be enhanced, foreclosed, or curtailed if the area were included in the national wild and scenic rivers system; the Federal agency (which in the case of a river which is wholly or substantially within a national forest, shall be the Department of Agriculture) by which it is proposed the area be administered; the extent to which it is proposed that administration, including the costs thereof, be shared by State and local agencies; and the estimated cost to the United States of acquiring necessary lands and of administering the area as a component of the system. Each such report shall be printed as a Senate or House document.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/1275
Wyden and Merkley’s SB 192 proposes the inclusion of segments of streams, some of which are nothing but dry gulches, under the protection of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act without even identifying any Outstanding Resource Values, or conducting any kind of study at all. Their Bill requires the segments to be placed under the Act first and then studied for six years to find out if they qualify. This backward approach is a blatant disregard of what Congress intended when they passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, 1968.
STONE-MANNING CLEARS COMMITTEE-AEMA
Tracy Stone-Manning, President Biden’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), cleared the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on July 22 – sort of. With a tie vote of 10-10, the Senate’s power-sharing agreement means Stone-Manning was reported “unfavorably” to the full Senate, and required the body to vote on a motion to discharge her nomination. While she may ultimately achieve confirmation, it will likely require a tiebreaking vote from Vice President Kamala Harris.
Last month we noted the concerns raised in committee over Stone-Manning’s past involvement in a tree-spiking incident in Idaho’s Clearwater National Forest, as well as a questionable personal loan she received while a staffer for Senator Jon Tester.
Both matters were discussed at length before the committee reached the deadlocked vote. As a formally trained forester, Senator Jim Risch gave an impassioned speech about tree-spiking, a practice which can kill or injure an unsuspecting logger.
RANDY MOORE CHOSEN TO LEAD THE FOREST SERVICE-AEMA
Late last month, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that Randy Moore was chosen to succeed Vicki Christiansen as the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. After Christiansen's last day on July 26, Moore took over to become the 20th Chief of the Forest Service, and the first African American to lead the agency. Since 2007, Moore has been the Regional Forester in the Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Region, based in California, where he managed 18 national forests and 20 million acres of National Forest System lands. Moore started his career at USDA in 1978 at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
MANCHIN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE LEGISLATION-AEMA
As negotiations continue on the bipartisan infrastructure agreement, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee earlier this month approved Chairman Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) Energy Infrastructure Act (S. 2377). Of particular importance to the hardrock mining industry, the bill:
• Contains the general minerals permitting streamlining language from S. 1352 sponsored by Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) and co-sponsored by Sen. Manchin. AEMA worked with multiple Senators on amendments to strengthen the permitting language, but none were adopted;
• Authorizes money for the U.S. Geological Survey for mapping of mineral resources and mapping for critical minerals at abandoned mine sites; and
• Contains a bipartisan amendment offered by Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) to create a new $3 billion grant program within the U.S. Department of Interior for the reclamation of legacy hardrock mining sites. For this program to be successful, liability concerns will still need to be addressed, and AEMA is working with Sen. Heinrich to develop Good Samaritan legislation.
Sen. Manchin’s bill will likely serve as the legislative text for key portions of the bipartisan infrastructure legislation.
UPDATE ON CARMELITA HOLLAND
Carmelita wanted to let EOMA members know how much she appreciated the support.
In the windstorm, a spark from a nearby chimney caught her house on fire and she lost just about everything she owned. She said she had to leave fast, and left her billfold, watch and eye glasses inside. In her shop, which also burned, she lost all her rifles and shotguns.
Carmelita has moved into an old travel trailer, but she does have power and water. She plans to use the donations she received to conduct clean-up and to start a new, small house where the old house stood.
We applaud her resiliency and wish her all the luck in the world.
EOMA ADVERTISING AND SALE LISTINGS
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
EOMA SILVER MEDALLIONS FOR SALE
EOMA still has silver medallions available. They are currently selling for $50.00 apiece plus $5.00 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 $5.00 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-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.
SUBSCRIBE TO MINING JOURNAL FOR UP TO DATE NEWS
ICMJ’s Prospecting and Mining Journal is your monthly source for news, legislation, how-to articles and more. A full year (12 issues) is still only $27.95; or get a print and an online subscription for just $31.95, and get access to our last 16 years of articles online too. Published monthly since 1931.
Visit us at www.icmj.com or call at (831) 479-1500 to get your subscription.
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 info@miningamerica.org
PLP RAFFLE DRAWING
E0MA supports the work PLP does for the small-scale mining industry. Tickets are available through July 11th for purchase by phone for the July 14th 2021 Grand Raffle. All money from this raffle will go to helping miners mine on Public Lands.
You can call our toll-free number 844-PLP-1990 which is 844-757-1990 and specify the number of ticket books you wish to have mailed to you.
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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