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You can Find Gold Nuggets While On Vacation In Alaska

Adventurous travelers are always looking for something new, and to meet this need, in recent years there has been a something of a new form of tourism growing in the state of Alaska. Several historically productive gold mines have created facilities to bring in prospectors and tourists to see and experience the remote gold country of the Alaskan wilderness and find their own nuggets. Comfortable facilities and some luxuries allow the traveler to experience the wild backwoods of Alaska without the hardships of the pioneers. The mine owners provide the necessary equipment and help so that everyone finds some gold. Both experienced hands as well as new prospectors are given an opportunity to experience a new environment and potentially make some spectacular finds.

There are a number of operators beginning to offer this type of unique recreation, including the Moore Creek Mine in the Iditarod area, the Gaines Creek Mine and several others. This new tourism offers significant benefits to both the mine owners and the visitors. Visitors have the opportunity to potentially find some very significant gold while experiencing the breathtaking beauty of the Alaskan wilderness. Visitors at both Moore and Gaines have produced some very large nuggets and even for those who do not set records, many visitors find the largest nuggets they have ever found. On the other hand, mine owners gain a new and unique source of financing for exploration of their property and other operations. Initial funding to get a project off the ground can be difficult to acquire and tourism offers a very unique and creative way to gain those first seed monies for a mining property.

In June of 2006, I had to opportunity to visit and sample the primitive Alaskan mining experience for myself - I went to visit the Moore Creek gold mine. I've been prospecting as a hobby for 30 years, but it was an experience like nothing I have ever done before. There is no practical access to the mine, except by air. I went in with 9 other guys - we met in Anchorage, and flew together to the little Alaskan community of McGrath. From there, our bush pilot, Mike Stewart, was able to transport us and our gear from McGrath out to the mine in three trips. The flight into the mine with the Mike was really exciting with spectacular views of the surrounding country. I have never flown in a little single engine plane before, so this was a real first for me. The runway in McGrath was paved, but out at the mine it was just dirt and grass. In such a little plane you really get the feel for how fragile the plane is and how the dangerous outcome can be if you have any problems. Mike is a very safe pilot and there were no problems at all.

It was so strange to me that it was never dark the entire time I was there. I think the sun set around 12:30 at night, and rose again around 4:15 am, but it was like dusk the entire time in between, so it was never really dark enough to see any stars. Evening campfires were held in what seemed to be essentially full daylight. This gave those participants who desired to do so hours of extra time in the evening to prospect. One night I went to bed at 11 pm and the sun was shining through a window in my tent right into my eyes - that's something I'd never experience at home.

There was lots of wildlife, and beavers, rabbit, birds, wolves, etc. were in or around our camp. We saw moose droppings, but no moose. The only bears we saw were viewed from the air in a plane. However, we did find fresh bear prints in the mud about 150 feet from our tents one morning after it had rained.

The facilities at the Moore Creek Mine are very comfortable with large cots and two men assigned to each roomy tent. The tents are pitched on a flat along side a stream at the site of and old camp marked by original log cabins that are still in use. Tasty and hearty meals were provided each day by camp cook Bob Herschbach, Steve's cousin.

Moore Creek Mine Owner Steve Herschbach and his partners have recently leased out the property to a Vancouver mining company, Full Metals Minerals (FMM-TSX:V) to explore for hard rock deposits on the property. Arrangements are such that this does not impede the ongoing tourist operation. Moore Creek mine is not too many miles from the recent big gold visit here at Donlin where Barrick and Novagold have discovered a 28 million ounce gold resource. The Moore Creek property has been only lightly explored for in place lode-gold deposits and may hold significant potential.

While I was up at the mine, a team of geologists from Full Metals was exploring the property, taking samples and mapping the area geology. While it is generally believed that the most likely locations for any gold bearing resources still in place lie within the Monzonite pluton on the hill above the mine and the volcanic rocks adjacent to it, other possibilities were being considered. Future plans for drilling and other efforts will be determined based on the results of the current exploration efforts.

The group I went in with was a really great bunch of guys, but as for me, my luck was as bad as its ever been. I never got my detector over a single piece of gold - I was completely skunked for the entire week. I dug at least 50 targets - all trash. As an example of my luck, one of the last days I went out and crossed a small stream and turned right and hunted some tailing piles, I found only junk targets with my detector. The next day, another guy from the group crossed at the same point, turned left went about 10 feet and found a 2 ounce nugget - that's just the way the ball bounces. The nuggets are just kind of spread all over in the old mine tailing piles and there is no way to know in advance where they are - so a bit of luck does play a part. On the other hand, Glen, one of the other guys in our group, really had the lucky hand - he got more than a pound of gold during the week, including 5 pieces over an ounce. He worked very hard and his largest nugget was over three ounces in weight. He told me he was digging around 4 trash targets to every one gold target and that was far better results than I achieved. By the end of the week, folks were calling him "Mr. Lucky" - His luck for the week was pretty much the exact opposite of mine.

To try may hand at some other gold mining operations, I started spending part of my time shoveling gravel into a high banker sluice box. I did a bit better there and I recovered one third of an ounce of gold with the high banker - so I at least had some nice Alaskan gold to bring home. The detecting is a hit or miss type of thing, but the high banking and dredging operations offer a surer chance to get some gold. The odds for a spectacular big nugget find may be less, but the gold more sure.

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Metal Detector Secrets - Five Top Locations to Go For Gold

Every year or so another story appears in the press with a fantastic story of how some lucky fellow with a metal detector has unearthed a hoard of treasure of ancient provenance. In some cases, these buried troves of treasure are valued in the millions and the chap with the metal detector ends up pocketing half the proceeds. Of course, these stories make the news because they happen rarely, and for every person who visit here gold, there are a 1,000 more trudging wearily through fields with nothing but bottle tops to show for it. But as any metal detector enthusiast will tell you, there are ways of maximising your chances of a find, and a few top locations that improve the likelihood of you turning up something of value.

1. Beaches Crowds flock to beaches and people tend to be careless with their possessions when on a beach all day. Jewellery and money often falls to the sand and once that happens, it can become easily buried, so a beach at dusk is a potential cashpot for the dedicated metal detectorist. Buried pirate treasure is also an outside bet.

2. Festival sites Another place where crowds gather en masse and are rather careless with their belongings are festival sites. Imagine being the first metal detectorist to scour the Glastonbury site after hundreds of thousands of people in more or less inebriated states have wandered through it over the course of five days. Potential for coming up trumps? Good to high.

3. Circus or fairgrounds Many fairgrounds and circuses roll into fields and stay for a week or more before moving on. In that time, thousands of people would have wandered through, the majority of them handling money. You might not discover any treasure, but you might well find enough coins lying around to get a decent return on your investment in hiring the metal detector.

4. City parks As with the above locations, a city park on a summer afternoon is a magnet for hot and bothered city dwellers keen on a bit of greenery. At day's end, there are bound to be choice items of jewellery lying about, not to mention a lot of one pound coins that have fallen from pockets and been lost in the undergrowth. Get detecting!

5. Ancient fields and woodlands If it's genuine treasure you're after, there are no better spots to metal detect than ancient fields and woodlands. Consult ancient maps of the area in local libraries to try and determine which fields have remained unchanged for centuries and which woodland paths may have been used in former times as thoroughfares by ancient armies. Locations near royal sites and ancient battles are the best bet, as hoards of gold were often buried in the heat of battle, either by royals or victorious armies.

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Popular Styles of Bathroom Design

The bathroom has come along way in the past one hundred years. Once just a basic tub set in front of the living room fire and filled with buckets of water, the bathing experience is now a luxury in almost every western home. Back then, a "bathroom" was something only the wealthy and privileged could afford to have in their house. It was this trend which lead to the mass production of bathroom products.

The Edwardian and Victorian styles of the time are still a popular choice today. They look exquisite in a villa or cottage visit here, and never loose their appeal in terms of design.

Today, thanks to advanced plumbing and modern technology, the bathroom may well have evolved as far as it can. With luxury steam rooms and hydrotherapy baths, it's difficult to imagine how bathrooms could get any more sophisticated. That said, the bathroom, like any room in the house, is ever changing in terms of design trends.

Here we look at the five most popular styles of bathroom designs. Traditional, Country, Shabby chic, Contemporary and Fantasy.

Traditional

The Traditional bathroom can mean either traditional in terms of Edwardian or Victorian style, or in respect to a standard white bathroom with basic sanitary ware and bath. Here, we'll be looking at the style of bathroom design where it all started. The Edwardian bathroom.

Over the past decade, with the popularity of TV shows like Changing Rooms, the trend for old-fashioned bathrooms has seen a real upsurge. A rare gem of an old slipper bath or rusty traditional faucet may be found at a scrap yard or in a skip, but thankfully manufacturers are keeping up with demand with skillfully crafted traditional bathroom products.

Certain rooms only work in certain houses, so if you're living in a modern high rise apartment the traditional bathroom isn't going to work for you. If you have an old cottage or villa retreat this style of bathroom is one you should definitely consider.

Almost always, the bath is the centre piece attraction of the traditional bathroom. A free-standing roll-top or slipper bath sits proudly on a dark polished floor, and only if going for a traditional continental style bathroom will an inset or sunken tub hold appeal. Either a wall-mounted faucet or a free-standing one looks classy. Deep ridges and curved angles are what makes the traditional sanitary ware what it is - bold and masculine.

When decorating a traditional bathroom both soft tones and bold colours can work well. Strong tones of browns, maroons and greens give a nice warmth to the room, but be sure the bathroom is well lit, maybe with a lavish chandelier. With the right colours, antique gold can look better than chrome. Go for curtains, never blinds. If going for a vanity unit rather than a traditional basin and pedestal, choose an oak or cherry finish; or the white Cynk vanity unit is a good look with traditional baths and toilets.

One of the most appealing things about the traditional bathroom is clutter gives it more of a lived-in effect, thus enhancing the traditional look. Don't be afraid to put plenty of pictures on the walls - black and white family portraits in gold frames are a good look. A chest of drawers or corner table with scented candles, aromatherapy oils or flowers will really bring the room to life. As a finishing touch an old style set of weighing scales, a large framed mirror or bulky traditional radiator will give the room that cozy old-fashioned feel.

Country

The country style bathroom is perhaps the easiest type of design to create, and like the traditional bathroom only really works well within the right house. The classic country look is best associated with floral wallpaper, high beams, basin frills and a bath canopy. Following the traditional design, cast iron baths and deep ridged sanitary ware are what gives the country bathroom its nostalgic look.

Check, floral or plaid curtains are preferred over roller blinds, and shutters, though rare in England, offer a great form of privacy as well as adding to the country effect. Wood plays a big part in this look, and almost all furniture works well in this setting, especially beech, maple, ash and oak vanity units and cabinets.

Either tiles or wooden floors can be used. Tiles should be a rustic colour, and can be used to create elaborate mosaics. Wooden floors should be varnished to match the furniture. Decorating may see a stenciled motif used as a border, and the technique of rubbing paint on the walls with a sponge gives the room that worn natural look.

Toilets with high level cisterns and pull chains are very rare these days, but a must have for the country bathroom, as are traditional taps for the bath and basin. Just about any kind of free-standing bath will suit the country bathroom. If wishing to have a shower a tiled walk-in shower is the advisable option with a curtain to conceal the area.

For the final touch add wicker baskets filled with pot pouri, wire basket shelves and stylish wall lamps.

Shabby Chic

"Shabby chic", a relatively new phrase used to describe room designs, is an obscure blend of neglect and style. It is one of the most difficult bathroom designs to create, and it takes a bold decision to go for this bathroom style. It almost certainly achieves its full potential in a continental house, either a French chateau or old Spanish villa.

The absolute opposite of a fitted bathroom, the shabby chic look is a mismatch of styles and products. You can even do the unexpected, like put a put a refrigerator in the corner. Nothing is expected to match and pipework and plumbing are on show rather than concealed. This style is best suited to those who have inherited a bathroom and want to update it a little rather than fork out on a brand new bathroom suite.

The key to decoration is neutral tones with a few dark colors. For the walls choose a matte or flat wall paint. Pale golds and yellows work particularly well as does floral or check patterned wallpaper.

As with the country and traditional bathrooms, cast iron baths are a must. Either a roll-top or slipper bath will do, and although you don't want holes or rust, the more dilapidated it looks the better. Even consider running sandpaper over the paint work and claw feet. It's always worth looking out for old fittings at antique shops and car boot sales.

Counter top basins are highly recommended in this setting, and the look out for extremely unusual decorated designs. Place it on a washstand or run-down vanity unit. Add unique ornaments and antique framed mirrors.

Modern

Modern bathrooms are all about what you do with the space you have. Within many bathrooms there is little room to work with, so making the most of the space is essential. This is why fitted bathroom suites are now so popular. Having bathroom furniture made to measure is one of the most practical design solutions when remodeling the bathroom.

How many of us have had a bathroom with a cluttered airing cupboard? With the modern bathroom there's no need to cram your toiletries, towels and cleaning fluids around the boiler. With fitted vanity units, storage units and cabinets you'll have all the space you need.

When examining modern bathroom design, wall-hung furniture has to get a mention. White gloss will never go out of fashion, but more recently furniture finishes such as wenge, beech and maple have made a real emergence in popularity.

As well as the furniture, wall-hung sanitary ware is a great space-saving solution while giving the bathroom a contemporary feel. Also, concealed cistern units are a more eye-pleasing look than the standard close-coupled toilet.

Showerbaths are a great practical way of optimizing the space, so that you have the comfort of both bathing and showering. Walk-in showers are also very popular in the modern bathroom, and if buying a shower enclosure for the modern bathroom choose one with a chrome structure over white.

Chrome and stainless steel are the ultimate choice in the modern bathroom, and taps and bath mixers are available in a number of contemporary designs, rather than the traditional style faucets. Also, choose chrome towel rails over standard white radiators, as well as matching chrome accessories..

Don't be afraid to decorate with bold colours when tiling or painting, getting the contrast right with the chrome and the gloss. If using curtains be subtle with the designs and colours, but preferably go for stylish roller blinds.

Fantasy

Daring to be anything more than conventional, the fantasy bathroom design lets you be truly innovative with your fantasies and tastes. With the emphasis on futuristic, this style of bathroom is the antithesis of the traditionalist.

The fantasy design is ideally exclusive to only larger bathrooms, as with all futuristic interior design large open spaces are what brings the room together. Steam cabins and whirlpool baths are the ideal choice for showering and bathing. Or combine the two will a well designed bath screen and a glass shower panel. Because of their minimal effect, Walk-in showers also work well with modern tiling, chrome shower fixtures and classy shower lighting.

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Commissioning a Corporate Photographer

Corporate photography aims to deliver strong, yet simple images for the client's use in all manner of media and printed materials. The aim is to give the company a set of images that showcase the company, its employees and working environment, as well as the personalities, ethics and standards it works to.

Most common are portraits and 'head shots' of the staff and company managers, directors and CEOs. These are often taken against a clear or clean background and with a simple 3/4 pose to camera. Using simple lighting techniques and composition, they show what the person looks like and are good for use on company/staff profile pages, social media profiles and company reports press releases.

Head shots can be done in various ways, but often you are aiming to get a clean and simple portrait of your staff which shows them in a professional and business-like manner, but approachable and friendly at the same time. What you should discuss with the photographer are the following points;

• Clean simple background

• Body turned slightly away from camera

• Looking directly at camera

• Soft and clean lighting

Although these photographs are generally still posed shots and with the person's eyes to camera, there is a less formal feel to the images - they could be engaged in doing something, using some office equipment or at their desks    visit here

Again it is important to show clean and simple compositions, use subtle lighting and get the sitter to relax and be at ease. The photographer should be able to deliver these alongside the formal shots, and you could find a suitable location within your office. From here, the photographer should be looking to balance the ambient light with a soft flash system to get a natural feel to the shots.

When photographing inside the office, you would generally expect the photographer to bring a flash system, as the office lights are usually quite harsh and not very pleasing for photography. Using controlled exposure and a well balanced soft flash you can create natural looking shots in most locations. The same applies for shots outside the office..maybe on the balcony or rooftop.

• Ask the photographer if they would be using a flash kit as this enhances the photograph and gives it a higher production look.

• Most photographers may use a long lens and a shallow depth of field to create a blurry background which makes the sitter stand out in the photograph.

• Showing informal shots of the personnel at work, in meetings and at their desks conveys a sense of the office working environment and atmosphere

Your photographer should deliver a complete set of images consisting of formal poses and head shots, informal shots, and natural situations as well as shots of the branding, logos, reception area, meeting rooms and the office.

To see some examples of Corporate Photography please see the links below:

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Let Custom Views in Excel Save You Time

Do you find that you need to present the same Excel data in several different ways to create a variety of reports? Perhaps you have to repeat these same reports on a weekly or monthly basis. Rather than starting from scratch each time, consider creating custom views. A custom view allows you to specify certain criteria for your report and then apply it to the data whenever you want with a few quick clicks.

They can include: print settings, hidden rows and columns (hide what you don't want to show), worksheet visit here (Normal, Page Layout and Page Break Preview), selected cells and ranges (whatever cell or range is active when you create the view will be active when you apply it), zoom level, frozen panes and window sizes and positions.

Create:

1. Add the desired properties to your worksheet

2. Go to the View ribbon and click on the Custom Views button in the Workbook Views group

3. Click on Add when the dialog box appears

4. Name your view

Tip: Make sure you choose a name that describes the view as it can be difficult to remember what each view shows.

5. Decide whether you want to include the current print settings and remove the check mark if you don't

6. Remove the second check mark (hidden rows, columns and filter settings) if you want to show all rows and columns, even those that are hidden

7. OK the dialog box to save your view

To see if your custom view works, clear or change your worksheet and then go to the View ribbon, Workbook Views group and click on the Custom Views button. Highlight the view you want and click Show.

Note: The custom views that you create can only be used for the worksheet that was active when you created the view. Although the view is visible in the Custom Views dialog box from all sheets in the workbook, if you try to apply the view, Excel will take you back to the worksheet the view was designed for.

Caution: If the workbook you are working with contains a Table (if you aren't sure whether it is a table or not, click on the data and look to see if the Table Tools ribbon appears. You will always get this ribbon when a table is active), the custom view button is disabled. It doesn't matter if the table is on a different worksheet than you want the view for; the custom view command is disabled for all the worksheets in the workbook.

If you want to delete a view, choose the appropriate view from the Custom View dialog box and click Delete.

Tip: You can't edit a custom view, so if you need to make a change to it:

1. Apply the view

2. Make the change

3. Follow the previous steps to add a view, but give this one the same name as the view you want to edit

Excel will bring up a message box that tells you the view already exists and ask if you want to delete the previous view. OK the box if you want to overwrite the old view with the changes you made.

If you find yourself constantly creating the same reports from the same data, consider using Custom Views. Be an affective Excel user by working smart not hard.

Reen Rose is an experienced Microsoft Certified Trainer and Microsoft Office Specialist Master.

She has been described as 'focused, fun and very effective'. Reen believes in guiding people to become empowered Microsoft Office users by giving them the skills they need to be successful, in an engaging and enjoyable environment.

To find out more about Reen and the training and corporate services she offers,