Indiana Recreational Gold Prospector Newsletter - General Info 

If you would like to receive the current Newsletter, send me an email mail and I will add you to the list.  From time to time I will post highlights from here, such as Outings reminders.  

Upcoming Events:

Spring Gold Rush 

I am hosting a three day "Spring Gold Rush" outing next month, it will be May 1st - 3rd. The outing will be in North Central In, near Clymers. It will be held on a 60 acre property that I have leased just for this event. The property has more than 2000 feet of un-dredged, virgin creek bed. I pan sampled it and got gold in every pan. The owner had some of it dug out with a backhoe last year, so there is gold bearing gravel for highbanking piled along the edge of the creek. We are planning on having a speed panning contest with a cash prize and trophy to the winner. We will also be providing a cookout dinner on Sat. There will be other activities as well and games for the kids. There is plenty of camping space for tents and RV's, but the total number of attendees has been limited at the property owner�s request. Please pass this info along to anyone who may be interested in attending. Thanks.

http://www.midwestprospector.com/page33.html

Chuck Lassiter

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GPAA Central Indiana Chapter April Outing - April 17th-19th

Our next outing will be in Gatesville. I was unable to get permission in writing without the rules "being in full effect" for our northern location and we can't risk breaking the new rules.
I am sorry for the northern folks we will try and make it up later this summer. Any help in getting written permission on northern properties is greatly appreciated... 
Gatesville is a great place to fire up the power equipment for the first run of the season. Break out the drysuits and wetsuit heaters that water is still going to be very cool for those diving.
If you have never seen the power equipment its easy to observe from the bank... as long as the water is clear you can see the diver very well. The fine gold in Gatesville means power equipment is King here.
You couldn't as for a better atmosphere than the Gatesville Country store. Affordable camping and the creek right outside means you can stay a few days and really get some serious prospecting done... but bring your own gas, and alcohol as the store has neither... What the store lacks it makes up for by having running water! {A rare thing at most prospecting locations}.
I look forward to a good crowd and the sound of motors running...

Central Indiana GPAA President,
Wayne A. Mercer

Editor's note: Wayne rented Draper Cabin for the last outing at MMSF. The prospectors who stayed at the cabin really enjoyed their stay, and future Outings involving renting the cabin are planned.
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New Rules for Prospecting in Indiana

People have been asking about the new prospecting rules for Indiana and if they are in force yet. Bottom line, we have a little longer to wait, but it should be worth it. Here is a response from Mike Phelps.

The new rules are still in the written public comment stage. After one or more
meetings to accept public comment from individuals, they will be placed on the
agenda for the Natural Resource Commission.(which meets every 2 months.) If the
NRC votes to accept them, they are sent to the publisher and become official 30
days after the date on which they are sent to be published. The proposed rules
are not now in force. Don't know why you were told that they are. We expect they
will pass, but it will be some time before the process is complete.
Mike Phelps
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Photos

For those folks who participate in the GPAA forum, I posted a bunch of photos taken at the last Central Chapter Outing at MMSF. Here is a link that *might* work if you have an account:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Central_Indiana_GPAA/photos/album/550382457/pic/list

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Current GPAA Chapter news can also be found on their Yahoo Groups website. As of this writing, you must have an account to view their site.  

If you wish to contribute to the newsletter please email me.
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Trip Reports Needed:

Have you been anywhere interesting lately? Send me a report for the next newsletter.
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If you wish to receive the newsletter or otherwise contact me, please see my home page for my email address...

Mark