EASTERN OREGON
MINING ASSOCIATION
JANUARY 2013 Newsletter
Volume 280
President Ken Alexander 541-446-3391
Executive Director Chuck Chase 541-523-3285
Director of Governmental Affairs Terry Drever Gee 541-523-6228
Editors Chuck Chase 541-523-3285
Mineral Policy Director Jan Alexander 541-446-3413
EOMA INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.h2oaccess.com/
EASTERN OREGON MINING ASSOCIATION MEETING TIME AND PLACE
The meetings are held on the first Friday of the month. The next meeting is Friday, Jan. 4th at the Baker City Hall. The building is located at 1st and Auburn Streets in Baker City. The Board meeting starts at 6:00PM, and the general meeting starts at 6:30PM.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
PLEASE SEND YOUR PAYMENT FOR EOMA MEMBERSHIP AND BONDS NOW!
Membership and bond payments must be clearly identified in order for us to give you proper credit for paying. The information you need is on the last page of this newsletter.
Please send in your dues, bond, medallion and calendar payments in separate checks. It really makes a bookkeeping nightmare when you don’t…..Bobbie and Chuck thanks you..
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT!
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE - Ken Alexander
Happy New Year! Something tells me that we will have our work cut out for us this year as a legislative draft to completely ban placer mining in Oregon has been proposed. As miners, we need to overcome the present negative attitude and lack of understanding of mining held by the media and the majority of the public. Many people and legislators can’t tell you what placer mining is, let alone the supposed harm being done that requires emergency legislation to ban it. You will undoubtedly read and hear a lot of fabrications in the media that are designed to mislead the public. It will be your duty to counteract the slanted articles and mis-information being spread by the ill-informed media. Off-channel placer mining is essentially the same process used by sand and gravel operations throughout the state, except miners place most of the material back in the ground rather than hauling it away to make roads and buildings. Dredging river channels for shipping is also a common practice. We need to do everything we can think of to explain to the media and our legislators what it is we do, and how we are already mandated to protect the environment. The miner’s voice needs to be heard. We will be counting on you for a letter writing campaign and more if this legislation starts to move. We will be following this legislation closely.
EOMA ELECTIONS…..2013
The next meeting of the Eastern Oregon Mining Association will be open to floor nominations for Board Members and nominations for the Executive Board members. The nominated officers will be in the February newsletter along with an absentee ballot for those that can’t attend the March meeting. At the March meeting the absentee ballots will be counted along with the membership ballots from those that attend and vote at the meeting. Those of you that send in absentee ballots that have dual membership or man and wife must put two checks on their ballot, one for each member that votes. The outcome of the March vote count will be in the April Newsletter.
NORTHWEST MINING ASSOCIATION CONVENTION By Chuck Chase
The N.W. Mining Association Convention held in Spokane, Washington this year was
bigger and better than ever. The Technical Sessions that were held were excellent and
so were the mining supplier exhibit booths. It seems that this part of the convention expands each year.
The Technical session on Rare Earths were of extreme interest to me because Oregon has excellent potential for having a number of these elements that are so important to the whole expanding wave of new technology.
The interesting bits of information that are gleaned from these sessions are invaluable.
There is a strong belief that the Minerals Program will be moving from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Commerce. The Interior department has over 70,000 people who work for them with very few of them working in minerals.
It was also mentioned by the USGS that it too has a dwindling budget for minerals. Money is continually being stripped away for research on other things, such as how to stop climate change in the National Parks. The consensus from the USGS speaker was that the reason that the Bureau of mines went away was the fact that they were pro- mining.
Another little bit of information was that Ron Wyden will be the new head of the Natural Resource Committee. Being as he is an Oregon Senator, it may be positive for minerals in Oregon, but I’ll bet the Green Organizations have him on speed dial.
THE RARE EARTH ELEMENTS THAT ARE OF IMPORTANCE By Chuck Chase
Rare Earths are principally mined in China, India, and Brazil, and are vital to the world’s economy. Although there are already several mines operating in the U.S., exploration for rare earth minerals in the U.S. is growing rapidly. All black sands should be checked for these valuable elements, and could be an added value to your placer mine.
Neodymium: Used in structural steel.
Strontium Nitrate: Used in airbags in cars.
Ytterbium: Is one of the critical elements, used in fuel cells, lasers, spark plugs, and more.
Indium: Used in Flat Screen TV’s and Solar Panels.
Tellurium: Also used in solar panels
Lanthanum: Used in batteries
Samarium: Is used to remove plutonium from radio-active water
Fluorspar: By far the largest use of fluorspar is in the production of hydrofluoric acid
Smart Phones: uses over 60 elements such as chrome, cobalt, and gallium to name a few
Rare earths were discovered in the Owyhee desert along the Oregon, Idaho border by an exploration company some years ago. Oregon has an excellent opportunity to join the rest of the western states in rare earth and other mineral exploration. The only large mining company being permitted in Oregon is in the Owyhee desert at Grassy Mountain. It will be an underground mine using a closed circuit cyanide extraction operation.
OREGON CITIZENS LOBBY
All of us in Oregon have been controlled by the adverse legislation coming out of the Oregon State Legislature. We have suffered the consequences of all the green and anti-mining bills going through both Houses of our State Legislature.
With the 2013 Legislative session starting up on February 4, 2013, there will be a training session to organize people in preparation for the session. We hope you will take the time to consider how you can participate. There will be a live Web based training session on Monday, January 28, 2013. To enroll, go to oregoncitizenslobby@gmail.com We have to quit being reactive and saying “when did they pass that, and how come I didn’t find out about it.” Right now there is one anti-mining bill and one anti-gun bill and we miners have two bills that we need to help through the State Legislature.
LIST ITEMS ON THE MINERS XCHANGE WITH YOUR EOMA MEMBERSHIP
The Miners Xchange is a clearinghouse where EOMA members can sell everything from gold and silver, to mining equipment and properties. Like an eBay for miners, the Miners Xchange will let you list as many items as you like -- along with full descriptions, prices, shipping costs, and upload up to four photos for each. There are no posting fees, renewal fees, or transaction fees.
The Miners Xchange is a completely free service for EOMA members. For details, go to the EOMA website at http://www.h2oaccess.com. You need your login ID in order to post items. If you have forgotten your login ID, contact EOMA through the contact button on the website and it will be sent to you.
MACKAY SCHOOL OF MINES SPRING COURSES
The University of Nevada, Makay School of Mines is offering spring courses covering Mineral Processing, Mineral Lab Processing, Pyrometallurgy, Mine Engineering and much more. The course instructors from the University of Nevada, Reno are: Thom Seal, PhD. Barrack Professor of Mining Engineering, and Carl Nesbitt, PhD, Goldcorp Chair of Mineral Engineering. To register online, visit, mynevada.unr.edu. If you have any course questions, you can contact via e-mail Dr. Seal at tseal@unr.edu or Dr Nesbitt at carln@unr.edu. You can contact registration assistance by calling 1-800-233-8928 or via e-mail at swroblewski@unr.edu.
EOMA CALENDARS FOR 2012-2013
We are now offering a new 18 month EOMA Calendar with historical mining pictures. It also has date reminders to help you keep your claim valid. It also has addresses and phone numbers of the agencies you have to deal with. So support the EOMA by ordering your calendar now for the price of $10 each, or three for $29 bucks, plus a dollar for each calendar for shipping. There is an order form in the back of the newsletter. You can also call Chuck Chase at 541 523 3285.
EOMP CHRISTMAS PARTY By Chuck Chase
The annual Eastern Oregon Miners and Prospectors Christmas Party was held at the Missouri Flat Grange on December 8, 2012. A GREAT time was had by all, and there must have been at least 40 people attending. The present exchange was a blast as usual, with gifts flying hand to hand until the last present was finally picked. There was also a silent auction with a number of gifts, and tickets were only 50 cents. There was ham, turkey, stews, cakes, pies, salads, the list and variety of foods available was endless. If you are a member of EOMP, and did not attend you missed a wonderful day of fun and fellowship. They put on a wonderful show. By the way, Jerry Secrist won the 2.8 gram gold nugget donated by Ed and Jackie Bechtel of Elk Creek Treasures. EOMP held the drawing at their Christmas party on behalf of EOMA. This was the second year in a row that Jerry Secrist has won the gold.
TIME TO EXTEND YOUR BLM NOTICE-Jan Alexander
If you are one of the few remaining miners with a grandfathered notice, it is time to write BLM telling them you wish to extend your notice again. All grandfathered notices expire January 20, 2013, and must be extended for two more years. Other miners on BLM must check the date their notice was accepted by BLM and extend every two years from the date of acceptance. If you don’t know your expiration date, call BLM and get them to check for you. Don’t let your notice expire, unless you are done working. If you do not extend your notice, BLM will write you that your notice has expired you will have to start over again.
ONE HALF POUND OF GOLD DRAWING
Tickets for the drawing are on the Waldo Mining District website. http://waldominingdistrict.com/half-pound-of-gold-drawing.html
EOMA is still waiting for the webmaster to put the information on our website. The first preliminary drawing will be held on March 30, 2013 at the GPAA Gold Show in Salem, OR
· GRAND PRIZE: ONE NEW KEENE ENG. 4\ SUCTION DREDGE (Donated by Keene Eng.) FIRST PLACE & OTHER PRIZES YET TO BE ANNOUNCED
A SILVER MEDALLION IS A LASTING GIFT
These proof-minted medallions make a valuable, enduring, gift. Of course, real gold in the pan on the medallion is an added value. These medallions are currently selling for $50 apiece plus $5 shipping, handling, and insurance. You know the paper in your wallet is going to be worth less next year. There will be no more 2012s minted since the die has been changed. Due to the volatility of the silver market, these prices are subject to change. You can order one from the EOMA website, or send in $50 plus $5.00, to EOMA, Medallions, PO Box 932, Baker City, OR 97814, or call Ken Alexander, 541-446-3413.
BONDING MOU IS AT A STANDSTILL-Jan Alexander
The Forest Service has been working on the North Fork Burnt River appeals, and does not seem to have made any progress reviewing our MOU. Basically, we are dropping coverage of the cost of removal of structures and removal of equipment. Our MOU will cover the cost of mobilization of equipment to do the reclamation, dirt work and seeding. All miners will be required to post some out of pocket bond money to cover the cost of administration for the Forest Service in the event that EOMA must do the reclamation.
EOMA ADVERTISING AND SALE LISTING
The advertising listings are only $1 per month to get your ad listed below. Send your ad to: EOMA, Box 932, Baker City, OR 97814 along with your remittance for each month you want us to run your ad and we will take care of the rest. The number next to your ad is how many months your ad will run.
FOR SALE (5)
The Gold Spinner System: Save that ultrafine gold with this high gravity separator. It runs on 12volt, only weighs 45 pounds, is easy to set up and run, and can run all day long without a clean up. This is a must see, and sells for only $1304. E-mail Ted at tedcraghead@gmail.com. Or come on down and take a look at 10415 HWY 95, Payette, ID 83661.
FOR SALE (10)
Two claims starting on the Burnt River and running up Clarks Creek. The Gold Danser is an eighty acre claim, with a lot of un-worked placer and good water. The Gold Danser II contains forty acres on Clarks Creek, and has had Geophysical Magnetometer mapping done on it, showing a large buried placer structure running through the claim. Both of these claims are accessed on year round county roads. $35,000 for both. Call: 541-523-3285, or Cell: 541-310-8510.
FOR SALE MINING EQUIPMENT (3)
Retiring from mining, time to sell my equipment. 8” jaw, small rod mill, two impact mills, Panamatic jig, small jig, Humphrey spirals, 2 power plants, lots of motors, one small gas generator, one diesel generator, jack leg, two stopers, steel, railroad track and more. Call Dick Potter at 208-375-2055.
FOR SALE FIVE PLACER CLAIMS ON MCWILLIS GULCH
We are just getting too old to mine anymore. These are good claims and the gold is there, it’s just that we can’t do the work anymore. A Plan of Operation is pending with the Forest Service. There are water rights and enough water for a small, profitable operation. There is a cabin on site that has been used in support of the mining operation in the past and use of the cabin is included in the Plan of Operation. The first $20,000 buys all five claims. We also have equipment, one three yard dump truck which needs work, $200. A trommel, $500. If interested, call Bob and Sharon at 541-536-7995.
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