Fool's Gold

[mr40]

Fraudulent Mining Promotions

Mining scams have historically been limited to the precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, and/or iridium). This is because the high unit value of these
metals usually requires assaying to identify the presence of economic concentrations of the metals, and special or proprietary assaying or extraction methods can be fraudulently promoted.
When one or more of the precious metal prices increases significantly, there is generally an increase in mining scam activity. Platinum-group elements have recently experienced substantial price increases (especially palladium and rhodium) and an increase in fraudulent mining promotions involving these metals should be anticipated.

For further information:
--NBMG Special Publication 22, Gold from Water (And Other Mining Scams)
--Division of Minerals, Mining Fraud and Mining Investment Page

NBMG Laboratory (for umpire assaying):
--NBMG Analytical Laboratory Web Page

Contacts:
Primary contact:

John Muntean
Research Economic Geologist
e-mail: [e-mail]
phone: [phone]
fax: [phone]

If Mario is not available, please contact:

David A. Davis
Geologic Information Specialist
e-mail: [e-mail]
phone: [phone]
fax: [phone]