Come and Enjoy our New Meeting Place!

Cathy Hopper Clairmont Friendship Center

Normally, the SPMA would be meeting at the Cathy Hopper Clairemont Friendship Center, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic we can't hold indoor meetings. When meetings can resume, the address is 4425 Bannock Avenue, San Diego, CA 92117. In the past, the doors opened at 6:30 P.M. on the third Tuesday of each month. Click this link to make your own Google Map with directions.

MAY ASSAY NEWSLETTER - Now Available On-Line!

Click the link to the right to view and read your latest ASSAY, Assay Newsletter-May 2021. Previous issues of the Assay can be found at the bottom of the Library page. You'll need Adobe Reader to view the file. If you need it, you can download and install it using this link. Adobe Reader.

PLP News RELEASE... SUCTION DREDGING RETURNS!

Public Lands for People has issued a press release announcing the return of suction dredging in California. To read all about it click here.

General Meetings Are Suspended Until Further Notice

Due to the state's COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Order. Meetings will resume when the order is lifted.

Outing to our nearby Starlight Claim in June

On Saturday June 19th at 8:00 AM the group will meet at the Buckman Springs Rest Area. The trip leader will then lead newcomers into the claim. Please see the Assay for more details.

July's Outing will be to the Banner Grade Claim

The group will meet in the Julian High School parking lot at 8:00 AM on Saturday July 17th. This is a one day outing. Please see the Assay for more details.

Metal Detecting at Local Beaches

Frank Trutta is once again leading metal detecting outing at local beaches. Please see the Assay for Frank's latest article and more information on upcoming trips.

Yahoo Groups has been Shut Down

As of December 15, 2020 Yahoo has shut down the Yahoo Groups website and members will no longer be able to send or receive emails from Yahoo Groups. Yahoo Groups began 20 years ago to connect people around their shared interests. Unfortunately, Yahoo Groups has seen a steady decline in usage over the last several years. Links to our Yahoo Groups accounts on the Contact page of this website have been removed. We're sorry to see Yahoo Groups go. It served us well for many years.

New Email System - Sign up to have The Assay sent to you!

To better communicate with our members, the SPMA has decided to create a comprehensive email list. Our new email management system will allow us to email the monthly Assay at a great cost savings. To sign up, just go to the Contact web page and fill out the 3-line form. This is a good thing so please sign up. If you wish to, you can always discontinue SPMA emails by clicking on the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of each email. The Assay will still be posted on the SPMA web site each month. A few printed copies will be available at the monthly meetings but we will no longer be sending printed Assays out by regular mail. We are on a tight budget.

Legal News from ICMJ's Prospecting and Mining Journal

Keep up with the latest court cases and regulations on ICMJ's Legislation and Regulation page.

Latest news from Public Lands for People, the PLP

Another great defender of the miners rights is the PLP. Scroll down their news page to see why you don't need an Adventure Pass at National Parks. Print a copy and bring it with you. PLP News page.

General Meetings, 3rd Tuesday of the month

Under the COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Order all meetings are cancelled. When they resume, our general meeting will be held at 7:00 PM at the Cathy Hopper Clairmont Friendship Center, 4425 Bannock Avenue, San Diego, CA 92117. This will be our first meeting at this new location so come check it out. Click this link to make your own Google Map with directions. Hope to see you there.

SPMA Board Meetings, 2nd Monday of each month

Under the COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Order all meetings are cancelled. When they resume, our monthly SPMA Board of Directors meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Gem & Mineral Building, Spanish Village, Balboa Park. All members are welcome to attend.

Our NEW Email Claim Use Form is now available

We now have two types of claim forms, a Mail-in Claim Form. and an Email Claim Form. Just click the links for each to check them out. We hope that by making the forms quick and easy to use, more people will send them in. Collecting these Claim Use Forms is important because it shows the BLM that we are actually using our claims. It also shows that we are being responsible stewards of the land. Hauling away old trash and filling in dangerous holes also shows that we're pretty good people to have around. When we apply for new claims, the BLM takes all of this into account.

Gold fever still alive with local prospecting groups

Check out this recent Union-Tribune article by Gary Warth. He tagged along with trip leader Lee Darling on an SPMA outing to our Potholes claim in early April. Just click the links and enjoy!  Article and photos.  If the link should break, here's a PDF copy.

PEW Environment Group

It's time you knew what the PEW Environment Group is up to and how they are lobbying to change the laws that regulate prospecting and mining. Download their 38-page booklet and read their own literature. PEW Environment Booklet.

Dinner is Served!

If you're attending your first SPMA meeting you should know that pizza, snacks, and beverages are normally available at all our meetings at very reasonable prices. Profits support the association.