Fraudulent Mining Promotions

(see information and links below for guidance on recognizing and avoiding mining scams)

 

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. (3Mar00)

For further information:

NBMG Laboratory (for umpire assaying):

Contacts:

  • For Platinum-Group Elements:  
Paul J. Lechler, Ph.D.
Chief Geochemist
e-mail:   plechler@unr.edu
phone:   775-784-6691 ext. 123
fax:       775-784-1709


  • For Other Precious Metals:
 Stephen B. Castor, Ph.D.
Research Geologist
e-mail:   scastor@unr.edu
phone:   775-784-6691 ext. 146
fax:       775-784-1709

Joseph V. Tingley
Economic Geologist
e-mail:   jtingley@unr.edu
phone:   775-784-6691 ext. 139
fax:       775-784-1709

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