Where did gold come from?
That's easy, from the ground, you'd say. Well, yes, but how did it get in the ground? And that leads to a much longer answer about the geologic processes of our planet, and surprisingly, some rather recent theories about the creation of gold and how it got to this planet. Physicists currently believe the gold we are digging up out of the ground came from the merging of two neutron stars that happened at least 4.6 billion years ago! Check out the article here. And here is how that gold got to Earth, in the article here.
1872 Mining Law
The General Mining Act of 1872 gives all Americans the right to extract minerals on federal lands that are open to mineral extraction. It is the law that allows us to be gold prospectors on public lands. As gold prospectors we should be knowledgeable of this law. Here is the Wikipedia entry on the General Mining Act of 1872. A transcribed copy of the General Mining Act of 1872 can be found here.
GPAA Founder George "Buzzard" Massie breaks down the process of filing a mining claim, and the process for patenting a mining claims as it relates to the 1872 Mining Law, in this YouTube video. (Buzzard starts speaking at 3:12.)
The General Mining Act of 1872 is not without its critics. Here are opinions from Earthworks.
How much is in a Grain, Gram, Avoir Ounce, Troy Ounce, Pennyweight, ...?
One of things you'll discover when getting involved with gold prospecting is the many ways of measuring the weight of gold. It seems every profession that deals with gold has their own preference for weighing gold. Here is a handy routine for weight conversion.
How fine is your gold?
Then there's the measure of the Fineness of gold. It is measured in Karats. Here is the Wikipedia entry for Fineness, and another webpage describing the different Karats of gold. The gold we pickup out of ground is usually not pure, or 24K gold, it is an alloy. When gold and silver form an alloy it is called Electrum. The most accurate way to determine the purity of gold is to have a gold assay performed.
THE VALUE OF GOLD
realtime Value of gold, and other Precious Metals
The strip chart below shows the real-time value of gold (updated every 10-seconds). The units on the left vertical axis are US$ per kilogram, and the units on the right vertical axis are US$ per ounce. Notice you can change the precious-metal commodity (Gold, Silver, Platinum or Palladium) and time frame buttons (10-minutes to 20-years) along the top of the chart.
BUYING AND SELLING GOLD
Albuquerque dealers
ABC Coin & Stamp Co. Address: 3401 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-304-3527, 505-883-2633. website
Albuquerque Coins. Address: 3216 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-445-4812. website
Castle Gold & Silver Inc. Address: 5606 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-888-4653. website
Crown Jewels & Coin. Address: 3248 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: (505) 884-4888. website
Gold Buyers of New Mexico. Address: 2130 San Mateo Blvd NE Ste. H, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-256-4166, 505-633-8577, 866-917-9341, 855-453-2977. website
Gold & Silver Exchange. Address: 6101 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-445-4772, 505-884-9230. website
National Jewelry Buyers. Address: 5815 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-888-1805. website
Southwestern Gold, Inc. Address: 6909 Menaul Blvd NE #F, Albuquerque, NM 87110-3625. Email: southwesterngold.msn.com. Phone number: 505-881-3636, 800-545-6575. website
Online dealers
Review of the best online dealers of gold: here , here and here.
ABC Coin & Stamp Co. Address: 3401 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-304-3527, 505-883-2633. website
Albuquerque Coins. Address: 3216 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-445-4812. website
Castle Gold & Silver Inc. Address: 5606 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-888-4653. website
Crown Jewels & Coin. Address: 3248 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: (505) 884-4888. website
Gold Buyers of New Mexico. Address: 2130 San Mateo Blvd NE Ste. H, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-256-4166, 505-633-8577, 866-917-9341, 855-453-2977. website
Gold & Silver Exchange. Address: 6101 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-445-4772, 505-884-9230. website
National Jewelry Buyers. Address: 5815 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone number: 505-888-1805. website
Southwestern Gold, Inc. Address: 6909 Menaul Blvd NE #F, Albuquerque, NM 87110-3625. Email: southwesterngold.msn.com. Phone number: 505-881-3636, 800-545-6575. website
Online dealers
Review of the best online dealers of gold: here , here and here.
Gold Prospectors Association of New Mexico
GPANM HOTLINE: 505-898-5508
Our mailing address:
GPANM
P.O. Box 25472
Albuquerque, NM 87125-0472
GPANM
P.O. Box 25472
Albuquerque, NM 87125-0472
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