Economic Benefits of Recreational Mining

Recreational mining can bring many economic benefits to the areas in which it takes place. Recreational miners are not miners in the normal sense because they do not need to make a profit to justify their activities. In fact, the vast majority spend far more than they ever make from their efforts. But they reap the rewards of a challenging and exciting outdoor hobby.

These persons travel far and wide in search of gold. In recent years an opportunity was made for people to fly to Ganes Creek, Alaska to search for gold nuggets on a patented mining property. These people not only pay $2500 each for their one week stay at Ganes Creek, but considerable extra monies along the way. Nearly 100 people will visit Ganes Creek in 2005, and so this one small operation will gross over $250,000.00 this year from recreational miners. But it is the accessory benefits to the local economy that really make recreational mining a potentially powerful force to be reckoned with. Often the benefits are felt most directly in small communities that most need the extra boost in visitor dollars.

This page will collect such information on the economic benefits of recreational mining wherever it can be found. If you know of something that would be helpful if posted here, please notify the webmaster@recminer.com

Diversified Mining - by Alaskan miner Mick Manns
Ganes Creek, Alaska - Recreational miners bring income to remote Alaskan locations.
Socioeconomic Impacts of Recreational Mining - Findings from Final Environmental Impact Report on the Adoption of Regulations for Suction Dredge Mining of April 1994, California.