Gold Fever
Western Washington Chapter of the GPAA News Letter
November 2007
Plans for a Suction Stick by Austin Jones:
Taken from the GPAA website
Suction Stick Construction
P.V.C. FITTINGS
a. 1-3/4” Male Plug
b. 1-1” Female Plug
c. 1-3/4” Male Slip to ½” Female Slip
d. 1-1” Male Thread to 1” Female Slip
e. 2-1” Female Slip to 1” Female Slip
f. 3-1” Female Slip to 1” Female Thread
g. 1-11/4”O.D to 1” I.D. x 1/8” Thick “O” Ring (Rubber)
h. 1-Small Can of Good Quality P.V.C. Glue
PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE STARTING PROJECT.
** Note: These plans are to compliment the video **
Not all P.V.C. Pipe will work together. Check for smooth inner & outer wall construction. This
type is preferred. Also make sure the one-inch tube slides easily into the one & one quarter
inch tube. All brands of P.V.C. will not work.
Any length of suction tube may be made, however, always cut the plunger 2” longer than
the tube body. Also remember that the longer the tubes are the harder it is to operate.
Please dry fit all fittings & combinations before gluing. Some sanding may be required to
produce a good fit.
The first piece made will be the connection of a 11/2” piece of 1” P.V.C. slipped into the 1”
female slip to 1”male thread (d).
After you have decided how long to make your suction tube and you have this first piece
made, it is time to fit it to the outer tube. You’ll notice how sloppy the fit is when dry fitting
this piece to the outer tube. I suggest you make two (2) or more coatings of glue both
inside & outside and let dry before fitting again. When it is ready the fitting will not slide
freely into the tube. After the next gluing secure this first piece into the tube and apply
pressure to bottom out piece (d) to the outer tube. Stand the tube on end to dry.
Next make sure your plunger (1”PVC) is at least 2” longer than the outer body (do not
include piece (d) when cutting plunger to length). Now take fitting (b) and cap one end of
the plunger. On the opposite end you’ll need to cut a ring around the end at least 1/8” wide
approximately 3/32” deep (into the plunger) ¼”away from the end. You may need to dress
this groove with sandpaper so the “O” ring (g) fits securely into the outer body. When this is
established as a good airtight fit and still slide up & down inside the outer body, you can
plug this same end with fitting (a).
This fitting was the hardest for me to make. It needed a lot of sanding before it would
wedge into the plunger, and it never went in all the way. But don’t let this worry you as long
as it gets started well. Now the plunger is complete, let’s get back to the outer body as long
as the glue is dry.
You’ll want to ream out the open end of the 1 ¼”PVC to give the inside diameter a 1/8”
bevel or chamfer. This is to allow an easy entrance for the plunger. Make sure your outer
body is clean & smooth inside (use an aerosol break cleaner with a cleaning patch and
ramrod or drag line). After it dries, use a Teflon lubricant to insure your “O” ring (g) slides
unobstructed but still retains an airtight fit. You will also need to drill a ¼” hole 5” from the
beveled end of outer body. This will allow you to release the negative pressure after the “O”
ring (g) passes it so you don’t have to pull the plunger out each time you want the material
to fall out of the suction tube. However, we all will pull out the plunger while getting used to
the pull.
This is a good time to draw rings around your plunger to warn you that you are getting close
to releasing your material. Pull the plunger out until you can barely see the black “O” ring
(g) in the ¼” hole 5” from the end. Make your first circle on the plunger just behind the end
of the outer body then another 1” closer to plunger handle (b) then another 1” closer to the
plunger handle (b) so now you have at least 3(three) lines visible before you lose your
negative pressure.
NOZZLES:
Cut:
1 piece of ½” PVC 7” long
1 piece of ¾” PVC 7” long
1 piece of 1” PVC 7”long
BUILD:
1- Take 1 (f) insert 1 (e) insert (c) insert ½”pvc x 7”
2- Take 1 (f) insert 1 (e) insert ¾” PVC x 7”
3- Take 1 (f) insert 1” PVC x 7”
When you screw any of these nozzles onto your suction stick don’t over tighten.
½” nozzle for sand
1” nozzle for gravel
¾” nozzle for combination.
Of Interest from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:
This information can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/
WDFW has formed a Mineral Prospecting Rule Development Workgroup composed of interested individuals to assist us in the rule development process.
In December, 1998, the Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted new rules governing mineral prospecting. The previous rules and the 1987 version of the Gold and Fish pamphlet are no longer valid and you cannot conduct mineral prospecting or placer mining operations using them. The new rules will be published in a new edition of the Gold and Fish pamphlet available from WDFW in February, 1999. You may request a copy of the pamphlet from WDFW at:
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Habitat and Lands Management Program
600 Capitol Way N
Olympia WA 98501-1091
(360) 902-2534
Or, contact our regional offices
The online version of the Gold and Fish pamphlet is for informational purposes only and copies of it do not satisfy the requirement to have a copy of the Gold and Fish pamphlet on the job site when conducting mineral prospecting or placer mining operations. Please obtain an official copy from the WDFW.
Gold and Washington
The shape of Washington's history was greatly affected by the quest for gold. Many miners bound for Alaska's gold fields in the late 1800's passed through Seattle and influenced the city's development. Interest in Washington's gold-bearing streams remains strong today. Improvements in mineral prospecting equipment make it easier for the casual or part-time prospector to engage in this activity.
Do I need a permit to prospect in Washington?
Since 1980, a permit (the Hydraulic Project Approval, or HPA) has been required from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to mineral prospect or placer mine. Mineral prospecting and placer mining activities can have a detrimental effect on fish and their habitat if not conducted properly. Limitations in the HPA are designed to ensure the protection of fish and fish habitat while still allowing as much activity as possible. Most mineral prospecting and placer mining activities are permitted through the "Gold and Fish" pamphlet. Prospecting activities not covered in the pamphlet may be permitted through a separate, written HPA.
A number of other state and federal agencies also have an interest in mineral prospecting and placer mining, and may require a permit:
* U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
* U.S. Bureau of Land Management
* U.S. Forest Service
* National Park Service
* National Marine Fisheries Service
* U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
* Washington Department of Ecology
* Washington Department of Natural Resources
* Washington State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
* Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Local jurisdictions and Tribal governments may also require permits. Please contact the specific agency directly (see the "Gold and Fish" pamphlet for contact information) or the The Office of Regulatory Assistance at (360) 407-7037.
What do fish need?
Fish have the same basic survival needs as all living things:
* Good water quality: Variations in water quality determine what kinds of fish and how many will live in a particular waterway.
* Cover to hide from predators: Undercut stream banks, large rocks, large woody debris, and low overhanging vegetation all provide protected spaces for fish to hide in.
* Spawning (reproducing) and rearing areas: Sediment-free, graveled riffles and pool "tails" are primary spawning areas for salmon and trout.
* Unimpeded access to and from spawning and rearing areas.
* Food: Large woody debris, overhanging vegetation and rocky areas in faster water provide ideal habitat for insects, a prime food source of young fish.
Temperature, sediment, stream flow and changes to the streambed and bank all influence the basic habitat needs of fish and their ability to survive. High water temperatures impact a fish's ability to withstand diseases and stress, and to feed, spawn, and migrate. Removal of bank vegetation removes shade, which keeps water temperatures cool. Sediment can negatively impact sources of food and cover, damage delicate gill tissue reducing the amount of oxygen intake into the body, reduce the fish's ability to see and catch food, and smother spawning gravels which kills eggs and fry in the gravel. Stream flow affects oxygen levels, sediment loads and deposition, and food production. Changes to the streambed and bank can destabilize soils leading to an increase in sediment and loss of vegetation.
What's in the "Gold and Fish" pamphlet? (publication # GF-1-99)
Mineral prospecting and placer mining with the following equipment is allowed in the pamphlet:
* Use of non-motorized pans (Class 0 mineral prospecting equipment) year-round above the wetted perimeter.
* Use of pans, non-motorized sluice boxes, concentrators and mini-rocker boxes (Class I mineral prospecting equipment) at specified locations and times of the year.
* Use of motorized suction dredges and high bankers (Class II mineral prospecting equipment) at specified locations and times of the year.
* Year-round use of high bankers (Class III mineral prospecting equipment) 200 feet above the ordinary high water line.
To use the "Gold and Fish" pamphlet for small scale mining and mineral prospecting, or as the HPA for most other mining and mineral prospecting activities, first complete the following steps:
1. Obtain the "Gold and Fish" pamphlet
2. Determine where you wish to prospect or mine
3. Determine the type of equipment you wish to use
4. Check the location in the timing tables to determine when the stream is open for work and whether a separate, written HPA is required
5. If necessary, obtain any other permits you may need before starting work
6. Follow the recommended best management practices and equipment technical provisions by equipment type
Thank you Rob Matthews for providing this information to me in an e-mail so I could pass it along in the news letter.
Stories of interest as submitted by Donald Kirst:
MOTHER LODE OF THE NEW CENTURY
THE NEW ADVENTURE
How did I get to this point. Here I am now 57 years old and I am about to start the adventure of my life. I’m going to follow
the paths of all the old time prospectors, but I will have modern equipment. My dreams are filled with visions of riches beyond what
I could have ever imagined. There is a group of us setting out on this adventure. When we see each other our conversation leads to
only one thing. GOLD. Is it there? Are we going to be rich? I can’t wait until July of 2001.
Is it possible that we could be on the verge of starting the gold rush of the new century? How much gold was over looked by the old prospectors in the same area we are going? Will I find enough to retire? Everyone that I have told about our new adventure
seem to laugh a bit. They are always polite, but I know they think that this is just pipe dream and they probably think that I am going out there only to come back without my shirt. What will they say if we do strike it rich and find the “Mother Lode Of The New Century?
GETTING THE FEVER
I guess I always had gold fever. I just didn’t know what to do about it. I was raised in Colorado and my grandfather was a prospector. He had a couple claims in the old Manhattan town site. On one of those claims he had told me that he had sunk a shaft.
The vein that he was chasing had lots of color and he knew it would lead to a “Mother Lode”. He never blasted during the day always fearing a hang fire. The last thing for the days work would be to place charges and set them off. He would return to the mine the next day to remove ore and other material. One night he set a charge off and when he returned the next day the shaft was full of water. He said he couldn’t find enough pumps in the area to pump the water out. He abandoned that mine because he didn’t have the means to work it. Maybe with modern equipment that mine would be a viable proposition. Maybe the mother lode is still down there.
The events of the year 2000 and 2001 have led me to believe that gold is plentiful and just waiting there for us to come get it. We just need to know what method to use. Today being a recreational prospector is fast becoming one of the most popular outdoor pastimes for people of all ages. If you dipped a few pans of dirt, there isn’t hardly a creek in the whole country that you can’t find a little gold. I believe that the 49ers and 59ers and the prospectors of the depression era never scratched the surface. If they had, then there wouldn’t be so many people finding gold today.
Grandpa lived in Sterling, Colorado. He would work the beet harvest every fall and try to get on at the sugar factory through the winter. When spring came he headed off to the mountains leaving his family behind. The gold fever destroyed his marriage. He never found that “Mother Lode” but he spent every summer chasing one lead after another. Finding even the smallest speck of gold brought a glimmer to his eye. Being a kid and knowing that the little speck in his gold pan was not worth even a piece of candy caused me to wonder why he always got excited. One day he told me. He said that the little speck of gold has been lost in the ground since the beginning of time. When you pick it up and look at it, you should remember that you are the first person on this earth to see it. As I got older, what he had told me started to sink in and now I can’t help but admire even the smallest of gold specks that appear in my pan.
As a child, my parents let me know their disgust for how the gold fever had ruined grandpa’s life. The thing I couldn’t figure out was that he seemed happy even if he didn’t have much. When I graduated from high school Grandpa came to the house. He gave me two old metal gold pans, a set of scales that he had made himself, a flask of mercury, and maps. The maps showed where he had dug and where he had found color. He had marked where he thought the real stuff might be and wanted me to take over where he had left off. It must have broken his heart when I didn’t do this. Looking back, I’d bet that grandpa told me everything that I needed to know
about prospecting and mining. Alas, I was young and I wanted no part of that hard back breaking type of work. There has been many times that I wished that I had listened to him. But instead, I had to learn by other means.
COLORADO
TELLER CITY
When I was a kid, my parents took me and my sister, Lori to a place near Rand Colorado on a fishing trip. Dad found out from the locals that there was an old ghost town called Teller City near by. They said that the road will get us close and we would only have to walk a short ways to find the old town. We went there. There were many buildings still standing. In one of the buildings there were dishes on the table. What happened here? It looked as though one day everyone in the town suddenly disappeared. There were beds still in the old whorehouse and stoves were left behind.
When the bottle craze hit the west I got that bug. We went all around the country digging bottles. We dug in the old fort dump at Cheyenne and many other places. I wanted to go back and find Teller City again and dig around there. For some reason I didn’t get around to doing that, well not until the movie Paint Your Wagon came out. If you haven’t seen that movie, you should. It’s the only movie that I’ve ever seen that has Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin singing. The movie is about mining and how some guys dug under the saloon floors to get all the gold dust that fell through the cracks. That was it. I packed my shovel and headed off to find Teller City. I did. I drove right into the town. Most of the buildings were now gone and other bottle hunters had beaten me. I examined broken bottles at several diggings and wished that I had been there first. But then again, I had been first and I never took a thing.
BISCUITS
Grandpa told me that one time he and his friend whom he referred to as Sober were working a mine. They had tunneled in quite a ways back. A car pulled up one day and a couple good looking babes came up to the mine. They told the men that they
really wanted to see the inside of a mine. One of the ladies then proclaimed that she bakes the best biscuits that they have ever eaten and if they would show them the mine, she would bake them biscuits. (Note to self: Always hold out for the biscuits.)
Sober fancied himself as quite a camp chef and he was certain that no one could make better biscuits than he could. He held his tongue because the ladies were pleasing to look at and who knows this might lead to something better than a few biscuits.
After the men showed the ladies the mine and all their trappings the one lady, true to her word set out to make biscuits. Grandpa had a small wood stove with an oven that he had found in a cabin somewhere. He brought it to camp and it made
cooking much easier than over an open fire. When the lady took the biscuits out of the oven, she walked over to a table and started placing the biscuits there one at a time so that they could cool. Out of nowhere a camp robber swooped down, sunk his claws into a biscuit and proceeded to fly off. Then suddenly it tumbled out of the sky deader than a doornail. Sober had to fight hard not to grin. He casually got up and started to walk away. As he passed the lady he said: “If your biscuits can kill a damn bird, I sure the hell ain’t gonna to eat them.” This upset the lady so much that she cried. They ate the biscuits and all agreed they were great. Sober had ruined the prospects for grandpa and himself. The most they got out of those ladies was biscuits. Grandpa figured that the camp robber couldn’t turn loose of the hot biscuit and that it being so hot it killed the bird.
Just in case you don’t know what a camp robber is, take a trip high up into the mountains sometime. Find a nice place to have a picnic. Get out your food. Soon you will find birds coming in close where you are. They are some type of Jay and
when pickings are slim, they will eat right out of your hand.
CHICKEN MISTER ?
On some trips to the mountains, my grandfather would take my dad when he was young. On one such trip, dad grabbed the .22 and headed off to the woods. When he returned to camp there was a man talking to grandpa. Grandpa had taught my
father that no matter how short you are on grub, you always invite a guest to eat with you. So dad being proud held up two grouse that he had shot and said “We’re having grouse for dinner. Do you want to stay and have some with us.” Grandpa
immediately spoke out saying “Those are wild chickens you shot, not grouse.” The game warden then told grandpa that he would be more than happy to stay for dinner.
HEAVEN:
Back in the 1800’s the miners really raped the earth. They did nothing to recondition the land after they were finished. Rumor of a new strike would cause people to abandon their works, even leaving dishes on the table and they would strike out for the new digs. Today mining can be done and land can be cleaned up. Grandpa told me a story about the old miners who tore up everything searching for gold. One of the old prospectors died. He went to heaven, but Saint Peter wouldn’t let him in. He asked Saint Peter why protesting that he had been good. Saint Peter said: “We have too many miners up here now. They came here and have been tearing up the streets and digging holes everywhere.” The old prospector told Saint Peter that if he was allowed into heaven, he would rid heaven of miners within two weeks.
True to his word, within a week, miners were storming the gates to get out. After about two weeks there was none left, except the old prospector. He also packed up his gear and headed for the gates. Saint Peter asked him where he was going and he replied: “There is a rumor that there is a big gold strike down in Hell and I thought I’d check it out.” Saint Peter then exclaimed: “But you started that rumor!” The old prospector replied: “I know, but you never know, there might be some truth to it.”
To be continued.............
Minutes from meeting of the Western Washington chapter of the GPAA November 17, 2007:
We gave the Pledge of Allegiance and introductions were made around the room. Lonny Meadows (VP) led the meeting as Rob Matthews (PRES) was out of town.
The minutes from the October meeting were read and accepted, and the treasury report was read and accepted.
Lonny brought it to our attention that we still needed an outings coordinator.
A motion was made to keep the club name the same: Western Washington chapter of the GPAA and the motion was accepted.
Another motion was made to start a volunteer committee and equipment building chairman, and Wayne Plemmons stepped up to volunteer for that position. Thank you Wayne.
It was decided that we should get some materials and at some of the meetings instead of doing demonstrations or talks everyone should get together and make equipment for the clubs use and also to maybe make some extra for sale on a suggested donation basis. We were offered a shop to work in but I did not get the name of the gentleman offering this, Thank you and please get with me so I can get your name.
We discussed starting a prospecting buddy list and everyone thought that was a good idea so I will be printing up a sheet that people can sign up on.
It was also discussed about giving the Blackburns $75.00 as needed to purchase raffle items and that was done at this meeting. Also it was discussed about everyone donating items for the raffle such as brownies, etc. Everyone thought this was a good idea.
A motion was made to accept advertisements into the news letter with monies from it going to purchase land and or claims for the club. Anyone wanting to place an ad get with Marcia via e-mail or at the meetings for a price quote. It was also discussed about acquiring more claims for the club in the state of Washington.
A motion was also made to put a donation box out at every meeting for people to put donations in to acquire the claims and or land. That motion was accepted also. The meeting was adjourned and the raffle held.
A motion was also made to e-mail the news letters to anyone having an e-mail address and to bring extra copies to the meeting rather than mailing to those who do not have e-mail addresses. That motion was accepted.
Thank you everyone for the help at the meeting, and thank you to those in the kitchen. Thank you Sandy for the refreshments and for making a sign up list for the next year for them and thank you to everyone who did demonstrations at the meeting.
Marcia Antill
Secretary
Don’t forget the Christmas/Holiday Party on December 8th same place from 1p.m. to 5p.m.
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Floyd and Sharon are members of our chapter, let's support them
