Full Disclosure! ...

This “article” should be listed in the Table of Contents of this e-magazine, under the heading “Who / What / Why, ” but following a set of standards we hope to establish in support of the minerals exploration industry, I want to lay everything out — up front!

     If you did click the “Who” button to arrive here to read a recycled bit of writing (as well as those wanting to know how to get their property listed), know that I am not a geologist, have not even taken Geology 101, nor am I any sort of licensed security person (stockbroker, lawyer, accountant) or realtor.

    I am a editor/publisher, however, of some experience, as the gloss paper Economic Currents Magazine that was for a number of years instrumental in support of the mission of the Columbia River Economic Development Council.

    I qualify for being a “field editor” of a mineral prospects magazine having worked in the field — from Panama to Alaska— as a prospector/landsman since the Uranium Rush to Moab, Utah in 1955. (See www.theprospector.com) In this capacity, and as a freelance writer photographer (credits in LIFE, Holiday Magazine, etc.), I had a lot of on-the-job field training helping very qualified “economic” geologists package property presentations. I learned how to use a transit while assisting a mineral consultant to the Chase Manhattan Bank map a deposit. I learned not to be fooled by “forgone conclusions” from a professor at MIT on a private summertime assignment.

    The experience of contracting to perform assessment work for others, led to the acquisition of my own properties. Some of these were lost through dealings with fraudulent investment advisors and stock promoters that the FBI had no interest in investigating, so I know how much a “sting” hurts.

    I did end up in control of two properties of merit. For some time I have been attempting to attract a major mining company into buying me out. I am getting too stiff legged to shoulder a 75-pound pack of ore samples down of the mountain. At age 67, the promise of a “payday” twenty-years down the road is not that attractive.

    After an executive with Anaconda Mining broke his personal word to me about examining the claims before an assessment work deadline, I drew on my web / advertising / publishing background to developed what turned into www.the westernminer.com, for the sole purpose of listing these claims for sale in my own “prospects for sale” database.

    The success of the number of “eyeballs” I reached this way led to developing www.theprospector.com, an online e-magazine, which also acquired a surprising number of unique visitors —a much more accurate web count than “hits.”

    Then realizing that the inquiries I was receiving were only coming from other property owners, or those wanting a finder’s fee, or more, proposition, I decided to reinvent the pathway. Hence, this publication.

    Since in building it to support my end goals I also am showcasing how a property should be presented (with what-you-see-is-what-you-get video), I might as well seek out (it's fun) other projects to list from promoters who understand that in the information age, information has replaced advertising.

    Nobody pays their own way traveling the information highway to view billboards. Potential investors are not looking for “free” dog and pony shows. What they search for is content. Information about opportunities that discusses both the positive and negative so they can make up their own independent mind.

    So, all that said, my way — let me follow tradition and stick up a lawyer style disclaimer: