Brian Berkhahn

Tell me about it.. I remember!

Ok.. gotta throw mine in too... this is from Steve Herschbach, Jeff Reed and myself. I think this was our first trip in there(?) Maybe you'd remember Steve.

Because "most" dredgers are fair weather dredgers.. you really only need a drain if you're going to be in freezing weather. It's easy enough to do it yourself but big kudo's to Keene for putting a little more in the correct spot for the drain. A little inside fyi.. Keene pumps might start coming with the intakes on the pump threaded so you can screw the intake hose on, that way you won't get any air.

Sorry.. I am out as well, I've been trying to get ahold of the vendor but they won't respond.

Very nice set up Ken!

Where'd you get the lidar pics to overlay?

Yeah, right where the end of my hose is there was a really rich layer of black sand/Gold about 2" out of the water but it was frozen. I was doing about 1/4 to 1/2 oz per hour out of it.

Yup.. They had a price increase last year but they're forced again to have another increase.

HAHA.. no kidding! We all were in really good shape back then..

Just an FYI, Keene will have another price increase the end of this month.. 3-5% across everything.

Didn't I take that picture? lol

Thanks for the thought Joe but we can't do that.. we voided the transaction but I greatly appreciate you thinking of us. Thanks, Brian

Sorry, I'm sold out but will hopefully get some more next season. I use them too for clean up in my operation of my 8" dredge.. I use them too in my clean ups on my 8" dredge...

Thanks Steve.. that's pretty awesome. You probably could've worn that piece of gold out like an earring.. lol.. looks like something kids wear these days!

Just one other little tid bit, the 4" mini is a great little portable dredge, however since it does have a smaller sluice box and flare, I would get it with a suction nozzle and have the lower half the sluice box replaced with #3 expanded metal for better gold recovery.. again.. just my 2 cents.

Everything has it's pro's and cons.. my personal views are: The Proline dredges are built heavier duty then the Keene however that makes them heavy and the floatation is not big enough for faster water.. I've personally seen the Proline dredges submarine in the faster water, I've never seen a Keene dredge submarine. I LOVE the way the flare hooks up to the sluice on the proline dredges.. Keene used to do that many years ago but then went to the crappy design that allows fine gold to escape from around the flare.. not to mention all the nuts and bolts that now requires to attach the keene flare to the sluice. I do not like the fact that Proline only uses miners moss in their box's.. there's no way you can make me believe that the riffle system fastens down tight enough to stop the fine gold from creeping out along the bottom of the box.. you must have carpet or atleast ribbed matting under the miners moss. Proline uses their own type of suction hose with a reverse spiral which seems to be impossible to get except from Proline.. the suction hose that Keene uses you can get anywhere. Parts are more available and easier to get for the Keene dredges.. If you ever need to borrow a part from a neighbor 80+% of the people out there own a Keene dredge over anything else so are going to more then likely have that spare part you need. Just my 2 cents..

If you have comments on these proposed revisions, the deadline is June 4. It’s very important that we hear from many of you on this important issue. NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON MINING IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Natural Resources proposes to change regulations on mining rights, addressing claim location, conflicting rights, annual labor, and penalties and eligibilities to cure abandonments. The Department of Natural Resources proposes to change regulations on mining. The Department of Natural Resources proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 11 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with mining, including the following: (1) 11 AAC 86.215 is proposed to be amended to address requirements for mining locations on state-owned land. (2) 11 AAC 86.216 is proposed to be added to address overlapping and conflicting mining locations on state-owned lands. (3) 11 AAC 86.220 is proposed to be amended to address annual labor, recording and amending affidavits of annual labor, essential facts required for affidavits of annual labor, and cash payments made instead of performing annual labor. (4) 11 AAC 86.224 is proposed to be added to address penalties and eligibility to cure an abandonment of a claim or location under AS 38.05.265. (5) 11 AAC 86.541 is proposed to be amended to address conditions for termination of a tide or submerged land mining lease and to address default cures in lease contracts. (6) 11 AAC 86.590 is proposed to be added to provide definitions. You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to the Department of Natural Resources, 550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1070, Anchorage, AK 99501-3579 or by e-mail to dnr.mining.regulation@alaska.gov or by fax to 907-269-8904. The comments must be received by the department no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 4, 2018. You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to: Joseph Joyner, Department of Natural Resources, 550 W 7th Ave., Suite 1070, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3579 Fax: (907) 269-8904, E-Mail: dnr.mining.regulation@alaska.gov. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Natural Resources will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Login.aspx and agency website at http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/mlw/hottopics. If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Joseph Joyner at 907-269-8511 no later than May 25, 2018, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided. For more information, a copy of the proposed regulation changes, or if you have any questions regarding the proposed regulations, go to http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/mlw/hottopics, or write to the Department of Natural Resources, Attention Joseph Joyner, 550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1070, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3579; or call 907-269-8511. After the public comment period ends, the Department of Natural Resources will either adopt these or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action on them. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations. YOU SHOULD COMMENT DURING THE TIME ALLOWED IF YOUR INTERESTS COULD BE AFFECTED. Statutory authority: AS 27.05.010; AS 38.05.020; AS 38.05.185; AS 38.05.195; AS 38.05.205; AS 38.05.210; AS 38.05.211; AS 38.05.242; AS 38.05.250; AS 38.05.255; AS 38.05.265; AS 38.05.300 Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 27.05.010; AS 38.05.020; AS 38.05.185; AS 38.05.195; AS 38.05.205; AS 38.05.210; AS 38.05.211; AS 38.05.242; AS 38.05.250; AS 38.05.255; AS 38.05.265; AS 38.05.300 Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation. The proposed regulations provide for user fees for certain elective services or elective uses of state-owned facilities, but do not establish mandatory permitting or compliance requirements that impose costs on a private person, other state agencies, or municipalities. Date: May 3, 2018 ________________________________ Andrew T. Mack Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources ADDITIONAL REGULATION NOTICE INFORMATION (AS 44.62.190(d))1 1. Adopting agency: Department of Natural Resources 2. General subject of regulation: Mining 3. Citation of regulation (may be grouped): 11 AAC 86.201, 11 AAC 86.215, 11 AAC 86.216, 11 AAC 86.220, 11 AAC 86.224, 11 AAC 86.541, 11 AAC 86.590 4. Department of Law file number, if any: 5. Reason for the proposed action: ( ) Compliance with federal law or action (identify): ( ) Compliance with new or changed state statute ( ) Compliance with federal or state court decision (identify): ( X ) Development of program standards ( X ) Other (identify): Mining Rights 6. Appropriation/Allocation: Resource Development / Claims, Permits, and Leases 7. Estimated annual cost to comply with the proposed action to: A private person: None Another state agency: None A municipality: None 8. Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding (in thousands of dollars): Initial Year Subsequent FY 19 Years Operating Cost $ 0 $ 0 Capital Cost $ 0 $ 0 1002 Federal receipts $ 0 $ 0 1003 General fund match $ 0 $ 0 1004 General fund $ 0 $ 0 1005 General fund/ program $ 0 $ 0 Other (identify) $ 0 $ 0 9. The name of the contact person for the regulation: Name: Joseph Joyner Title: Natural Resource Manager Address: DNR, DMLW, 550 W. 7th Ave. Ste. 1070, Anch., AK 99501-3579 Telephone: 907-269-8511 E-mail address: joe.joyner@alaska.gov 10. The origin of the proposed action: __X__ Staff of state agency _____ Federal government _____ General public _____ Petition for regulation change _____ Other (identify): 11. Date: May 3, 2018 Prepared by: Name: Joe Joyner Title: Natural Resource Manager Telephone: 907-269-8511

That's a really cool read, thanks for putting that up. However my favorite pan isn't on there..

THANKS DICK!! Glad you shared this with us.. hadn't heard anything about it. I'm sure AMA is all over it tho.. See ya at Chickenstock!

Sorry for laughing but the Goberment will come up with anything to take your money!

Hey Ben, Yup.. this did. All is legit, it's the states way of trying to come up with a bit more money. Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Water Wastewater Discharge Authorization Program Small Suction Dredge General Permit – AKG375000 Discharge Registration – Frequently Asked Questions AKG375000 – Registration FAQ 04/04/18 Suction dredges with intake diameters less than or equal to six inches and horsepowers less than or equal to 18 (fresh water) or 23 (marine water) or highbankers (aka powers sluices) that discharge to waters of the U.S. must obtain a discharge authorization under the Small Suction Dredge Placer Miners General Permit (AKG375000), or similar permit, from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). What has changed? DEC reissued the Small Suction Dredge General Permit on February 8, 2018. Overall, the permit requirements have not changed; however, dischargers must now complete an annual online registration and pay a $25 annual fee. Fees for DEC discharge permits became effective on October 22, 2016 (18 AAC 72). How is the registration completed? - Step 1. Navigate to the registration page at http://dec.alaska.gov/water/oasys/. - Step 2. Click on the large “MyAlaska” button. - Step 3. Follow the link to create a new account or enter your username & password. - Step 4. After logging in click on the Mining tab and Registration link. - Step 5. Fill in the Registration questionnaire and make the payment online with a credit/debit card or checking account. Are separate registrations required for each waterbody and piece of equipment? One registration can cover multiple waterbodies, dredges, and highbankers. However, only one piece of equipment may operate at a time per registration. Can a friend or family member operate under my registration? Yes. Although, the person who submitted the registration will assume responsibility for permit compliance. Is an ADF&G Fish Habitat Permit required for the registration? The DEC registration can be completed first, but any necessary ADF&G permits must be obtained before discharging. How can I obtain coordinates for the dredge location? Location coordinates can be obtained during registration by clicking on the approximate operation area within the web map. The coordinates will auto-populate the latitude & longitude cells. What if I have limited internet capabilities? To keep future permit costs to a minimum, DEC strongly encourages online submittals whenever possible. Operators lacking internet capabilities can contact DEC or visit an office location to discuss options for submitting a hardcopy form. Contact Information: Phone: 907-451-2142; Email: nicholas.dallman@alaska.gov Office Locations: Anchorage (555 Cordova St.), Fairbanks (610 University Ave.), Juneau (410 Willoughby Ave.)

Keene order has arrived!! Come get it while it's here..

Yup.. talked with Mark a couple weeks ago and he said the same thing a few other vendors did.. with this tariff thing going on all steel prices are going up 40%. Now that doesn't mean merchandise is going up that much but all mining equipment is going up atleast 10%. I'm getting the mining dept. here packed full of equipment like nobody has seen in years, so get in here and get your stuff ordered before prices go up!!

If anyone gets through Tok Alaska there's a rock shop there that has a nice display of it.

I know of a pretty big outcropping of it up here in Alaska.. I've heard it called Root Beer Quartz, pretty cool stuff.