Prospecting on the San Bernardino National Forest
The Lure of Prospecting
Anyone who pans for gold hopes to be rewarded by the
glitter of colors in the fine material collected in the bottom of
the pan. Although the exercise and outdoor activity experienced in
prospecting are rewarding, there are few thrills comparable to
finding gold. Even an assay report showing an appreciable content of
gold in a sample obtained from a lode deposit is exciting. The
would-be prospector hoping for financial gain, however, should
carefully consider all the pertinent facts before deciding on a
prospecting venture.
History and Background of Prospecting
In recent times, only a few prospectors among the many thousands who
searched the western part of the United States ever found a valuable
deposit. Most of the gold mining districts in the West were located
by pioneers, many of whom were experienced gold miners from the
southern Appalachian region, but even in colonial times only a small
proportion of the gold seekers were successful. Over the past
several centuries the country has been thoroughly searched by
prospectors. During the depression of the 1930's, prospectors
searched the better known gold-producing areas throughout the
Nation, especially in the West, and the little-known areas as well.
The results of their activities have never been fully documented,
but incomplete records indicate that an extremely small percentage
of the total number of active prospectors supported themselves by
gold mining. Of the few significant discoveries reported, nearly all
were made by prospectors of long experience who were familiar with
the regions in which they were working.
Many believe that it is possible to make wages or better by panning
gold in the streams of the West, particularly in regions where
placer mining formerly flourished. However, most placer deposits
have been thoroughly reworked at least twice--first by Chinese
laborers, who arrived soon after the initial boom periods and
recovered gold from the lower grade deposits and tailings left by
the first miners, and later by itinerant miners during the 1930's.
Geologists and engineers who systematically investigate remote parts
of the country find small placer diggings and old prospect pits
whose number and wide distribution imply few, if any, recognizable
surface indications of metal-bearing deposits were overlooked by the
earlier miners and prospectors.
Prospecting History in Big Bear
The Big Bear Back Country Place is known for its
colorful mining history, prehistoric habitations and scenic
character. From 1860 until the early 1900s, Holcomb Valley was the
location of southern California's largest gold rush and the mining
towns of Belleville, Clapboard Town and Union Town were located
here. Extractions of gold, silver and copper continued here over a
longer period of time than anywhere else in California. The last
mining operation of any size concluded in 1958. Holcomb Valley is a
California Historic District, noted for its abundant historic and
prehistoric sites. Other historic mining areas are present in Lone
Valley and Rattlesnake Canyon. Rose Mine, which housed a mountain
community at the turn of the century is now a National Historical
Site.
Placer Deposits
A placer deposit is a concentration of a natural
material that has accumulated in unconsolidated sediments of a
stream bed, beach, or residual deposit. Gold derived by weathering
or other process from lode deposits is likely to accumulate in
placer deposits because of its weight and resistance to corrosion.
In addition, its characteristically sun-yellow color makes it easily
and quickly recognizable even in very small quantities. The gold pan
or miner's pan is a shallow sheet-iron vessel with sloping sides and
flat bottom used to wash gold-bearing gravel or other material
containing heavy minerals. The process of washing material in a pan,
referred to as "panning," is the simplest and most commonly used and
least expensive method for a prospector to separate gold from the
silt, sand, and gravel of the stream deposits. It is a tedious,
back-breaking job and only with practice does one become proficient
in the operation.
Many placer districts in California have been mined on a large scale
as recently as the mid-1950's. Streams draining the rich Mother Lode
region--the Feather, Mokelumne, American, Cosumnes, Calaveras, and
Yuba Rivers--and the Trinity River in northern California have
concentrated considerable quantities of gold in gravels. In
addition, placers associated with gravels that are stream remnants
from an older erosion cycle occur in the same general area.
In addition to these localities, placer gold occurs along many of
the intermittent and ephemeral streams of arid regions in Nevada,
Arizona, New Mexico, and southern California. In many of these
places a large reserve of low-grade placer gold may exist, but the
lack of a permanent water supply for conventional placer mining
operations requires the use of expensive dry or semidry
concentrating methods to recover the gold.
Modern Day Prospecting
Today's prospector must determine where prospecting
is permitted and be aware of the regulations under which he is
allowed to search for gold and other metals. Permission to enter
upon privately owned land must be obtained from the land owner.
Determination of land ownership and location and contact with the
owner can be a time-consuming chore but one which has to be done
before prospecting can begin.
Determination of the location and extent of public lands open to
mineral entry for prospecting and mining purposes also is a time
consuming but necessary requirement. National parks, for example,
are closed to prospecting. Certain lands under the jurisdiction of
the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management may be entered
for prospecting, but sets of rules and regulations govern entry. The
following statement from a pamphlet issued in 1978 by the U.S.
Department of the Interior and entitled "Staking a mining claim on
Federal Lands" responds to the question "Where May I Prospect?"
There are still areas where you may prospect, and if a discovery of
a valuable, locatable mineral is made, you may stake a claim. These
areas are mainly in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado,
Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,
New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington,
and Wyoming. Such areas are mainly unreserved, unappropriated
Federal public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) of the U.S. Department of the Interior and in national forests
administered by the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. Public land records in the proper BLM State Office will
show you which lands are closed to mineral entry under the mining
laws. These offices keep up-to-date land status plats that are
available to the public for inspection. BLM is publishing a series
of surface and mineral ownership maps that depict the general
ownership pattern of public lands. These maps may be purchased at
most BLM Offices. For a specific tract of land, it is advisable to
check the official land records at the proper BLM State Office.
What are the rules for prospecting for gold and
staking claims in the National Forest?
-
Prospecting, mining and claim staking activities
are permitted on National Forest system unappropriated land.
Claimants have an express and implied right to access their
claims when permitted under Forest Service surface use
regulations (36 CFR;228). Check with the
Bureau
of Land Management Office for land status pertaining to
mining claims and the Ranger Station for land appropriation
status.
-
An Administrative Pass is a temporary
authorization issued at no charge for prospectors and miners who
have a statutory right to enter and prospect on public lands
sanctioned under the General Mining Act of 1872, as amended.
-
Other visitors using the forest for recreation
are required to purchase an Adventure Pass
for a fee, which is required to park their vehicles while
recreating in
'High Impact Recreation Areas' (HIRA).
-
An Administrative pass may be issued for a 14
day period for members of a mining club and other prospectors at
no charge. If they require a longer period, we request them to
submit a Notice of Intent for the District Ranger's review to
determine if the proposed activity causes a significant surface
disturbance. If the proposed activity does not cause a
significant surface disturbance, then the District Ranger may
issue an Administrative Pass for up to one year at no
cost.
-
The Notice of Intent requires your name,
address, telephone number, a claim map or the approximate
location of the proposed activity, the number of samples, the
depth of the sample site, the beneficiation method and need for
water.
-
If the District Ranger determines that if the
proposed activity may cause a significant surface disturbance,
the claimant, prospector and the mining clubs will be required
to submit a Plan of Operation. This will require substantive
information about the mining, beneficiation, reclamation methods
and a substantial reclamation performance bond will be required.
-
Prospecting does not require a mining claim or
an exact location of the activity, an approximate location will
suffice.
-
A Notice of Intent is required if the
proposed activity is located in an environmentally sensitive
area (1-e, Holcomb Valley, Lytle Creek, Horse Thief Canyon,
Cactus Flats, Santa Ana wash and Rose Mine). This includes
panning for gold, dry washing, high banking, metal detecting and
suction dredging. Call the
Ranger Station if you are not sure about the sensitivity of
the area involving the proposed activity. Members of mining
clubs are encouraged to follow this procedure.
-
There are several hundred abandoned mines on the
forest. The public is prohibited from entering any of these
openings. If any of these of openings are causing a clear and
present danger to the public, report the location to the local
Ranger Station for
signing or fencing.
-
To stake a mining claim, you need to follow
Bureau
of Land Management guidelines as they are the lead agency
for minerals management. The Forest Service administers the
surface use regulations in accordance with the Code of Federal
Regulations, Title 36, part 228.
-
Mining claimants are not allowed to drive off
National Forest Designated Routes to access their claims. They
are required to have an approved Plan of Operation from the
District Ranger for access.
For the Use of Metal Detectors on the National
Forest
The allowable use of metal detectors on National
Forest system lands takes a number of different forms. Detectors are
used in searching for treasure trove, locating historical and pre
historical artifacts and features, prospecting for minerals, and
searching for recent coins and lost metal objects. Of these four
types of uses for metal detectors, the first three are covered by
existing regulations that require special authorization, i.e.
special use permits, notice of intent, or plan of operation.
The search for treasure trove, which is defined as money, un mounted
gems, or precious metals in the form of coin, plate, or bullion that
has been deliberately hidden with the intention of recovering it
later, is an activity which is regulated by the Forest Service.
Searching for treasure trove has the potential of causing
considerable disturbance and damage to resources and thus requires a
Special Use Permit from the US Forest Service. Methods utilized in
searching for treasure trove must be specified in the permits
issued. Permits may not be granted in each and every case, but
applications will be reviewed with attention being paid to the
justification given and guarantees for the restoration of any damage
that might occur to other resources. The use of metal detectors in
searching for treasure trove is permissible when under this type of
permit, but must be kept within the conditions of the permit.
The use of a metal detector to locate objects of historic or
archaeological value is permissible subject to the provisions of the
Antiquities Act of 1906, the Archaeological Resources Preservation
Act 1979, and the Secretary of Agriculture's regulations. Such use
requires a Special Use Permit covering the exploration, excavation.
appropriation, or removal of historic and archaeological materials
and information. Such permits are available for legitimate
historical and pre historical research activities by qualified
individuals. Unauthorized use of metal detectors in the search for
and collection of historic and archaeological artifacts is a
violation of existing regulations and statutes.
The use of a metal detector to locate mineral deposits such as gold,
and silver on National Forest System lands is considered prospecting
and is subject to the provisions of the General Mining Law of 1872.
Searching for coins of recent vintage (less than 50 years) and small
objects having no historical value, as a recreational pursuit, using
a hand-held metal detector, does not currently require a Special Use
Permit as long as the use of the equipment is confined to areas
which do not posses historic or prehistoric resources.
Important Mining & Recreational Tips
-
Pick/shovel excavations may only be done in
conjunction with gold panning and metal detecting and must be
made below the high water mark of the stream channel. All
excavations must be filled in before leaving the area.
Prospectors in the Holcomb Valley and Lytle Creek areas need to
submit a "Notice of Intent" to the
local Ranger Station.
-
Do not cut trees, limbs or brush, do not dig up
ground cover or dig under tree roots.
-
Pack out everything you brought into the area,
especially trash.
-
Do not wash yourself or your dishes in the
creeks. All wash water is to be contained and disposed of, off
of National Forest Land
-
Bury human waste 4 to 6 inches deep and at least
100 feet from the stream channel.
-
Vehicles must remain on designated routes,
unless approved by the District Ranger.
-
Check local conditions and fire restrictions by
calling the local Ranger
Station.
For More Information
To submit a "Notice of Intent" or "Plan of
Operation" please contact:
Minerals Program Manager
San Bernardino National Forest
602 S. Tippecanoe Avenue
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Phone 909-382-2898
For other inquires please contact the
local Ranger Station. |
