Alaska Prospector workshop series

Rocks and Minerals Identification- this workshop covers field identification of rocks and minerals, including the tools and procedures involved. Common rock forming-minerals are studied in detail, as are selected ore minerals. Representative samples of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks are then examined. This is an 8-hour workshop.

Exploring AKGeology.info- a workshop introducing participants to the breadth of mining claim, mineral resource, and geologic information that is available on line through the AKGeology.info portal. The workshop will provide instruction and hands-on, guided practice in using internet tools for researching land status, mining claims, mineral occurrences, geochemical data, and geologic reports and maps. It will be an 8-hour workshop.

Navigation and GPS-students will learn how to read topographic maps, understand coordinate systems, navigate using a Silva compass, evaluate satellite reception, use a Garmin GPS to navigate, record location coordinates with a GPS, determine map locations, and plot locations using digital topographic software. It is an 8-hour workshop.

Outdoor Safety and Survival- topics include emergency survival skills, bear and firearm safety, camp mobilization, and field communications. This is a 16-hour workshop.

Basic Prospecting-students will learn about ore material testing and identification, different types of geological maps, how to stake a claim, prospecting tools and equipment, geochemical sampling methods, gold panning and sluicing, and have an overview of rock and mineral deposits. It is an 8-hour workshop.

Placer Mining- this workshop will cover placer exploration and placer mining. Some of the topics included will be placer geology, claimstaking, hand methods, mechanized methods (including pits, trenches, and drilling), building the prospect map, mining agreements, mining methods (suction dredge to conventional open pit to bucketladder dredges), mine plans, permitting, mining economics, and reclamation. This will be a 16-hour workshop.

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