GOLD RUSH REVIVAL? Mining Firm Bets There's Still Treasure in Calif. Hills

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More than 150 years ago, John Sutter touched off the fabled Gold Rush when he found gold near his mill in 1849. But the prospectors who flocked to the Sierra foothills left plenty of gold in the ground.

At least that's what a mining company setting up shop in the same area southeast of Sacramento believes. Geologists for Sutter Gold Mining Co., estimate there are some 650,000 ounces remaining in the area that sparked an epidemic of gold fever. At today's prices, that could amount to just shy of $1 billion.

"We're building on new mine but we're really building on the history that's been here for a 160 years."

- Leanne Baker, president and CEO of Sutter Gold Mining

"We're building on new mine but we're really building on the history that's been here for a 160 years," said Leanne Baker, president and CEO of Sutter Gold Mining.

The company plans to launch full scale mining operation in the next few months at Lincoln Mine, a 10-mile stretch of California's famous mother lode. The mother lode itself is a 120-mile stretch from El Dorado County south to Mariposa County. Baker said all major permits are in place and the project, which will employ at least 100 workers at the outset, is set for full production later this year.

"This 10-mile segment is extremely important because it produced the bulk of the mother lode production," said David Cochrane, Sutter's vice president of environmental health and safety. "Mother lode produced 13 billion ounces of gold historically, and 60 percent of the production came out of this segment."

The gold will be a bit harder to get to, but modern technology provides many advantages the old-time prospectors couldn't fathom.

"Those first pieces of gold were discovered, [and they] simply jumped into the creeks with our pans and our buckets and what we had we were cooping it up," said Dennis Price of Sutter Creek Visitors Center. 

Deep in the new mine, thousands of feet below the surface, modern day miners will work hard for the precious metal. But Sutter plans to use gravity floatation to recover the gold out and will not use toxic chemicals on site. 

"It's basically drilling, blasting, mucking, starting and doing it over," said Baker.

For now, geologists are doing "confirmation drilling" to find the richest deposits. That will help the mining engineers develop the mine plan that will produce maximum profits. 

Although full-scale mining has not started, when FoxNews.com visited the mine, drillers were already starting to pull visible gold out of the ground. 

"It's very exciting to be doing it in a state that hasn't had a lot of recent gold production certainly in the mother lode," Baker said. "To bring it back to the area where so many people in the country and around the world associate with the exciting part of gold production it definitely makes you feel like you're a part of history."

Michelle Macaluso is part of the Junior Reporter program at Fox News. Get more information on the program here.

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QPR stung by late Wigan revival

Tight tussle ... Andros Townsend keeps Jordi Gomez at bay. Source: ANDREW COWIE / AAP

Harry Redknapp insisted QPR would keep believing they could avoid relegation but he could not disguise his anguish after a 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic.

QPR were reduced to 10 men in the 21st minute when Bobby Zamora was sent off for a high challenge on Jordi Gomez, but it looked like they would run out winners after Loic Remy's fantastic goal five minutes from time.

However, Shaun Maloney's last-gasp equaliser left QPR eight points from safety with six games of the season remaining, and Redknapp was stunned by the late setback.

"We had worked so hard with ten men all game and I felt we deserved a goal. It was a fantastic goal and then we gave two silly free-kicks away on the edge of the box and the second one allowed them to score with the last kick of the game," he said.

"It couldn't have been more cruel. We didn't deserve that. We deserved to win today with ten men.

"The players were fantastic. Every one of them worked their socks off and you can't ask for more than that. The ability they played with was absolutely top class.

"We have shown spirit every week since I've been here. You can't ask for more. The players I've brought in have done great. Remy's scored goals, Andros Townsend was magnificent today, Jermaine Jenas worked his socks off in the middle of the park and Chris Samba put in a performance.

"We are a much improved team, but unfortunately it is hard when you are playing catch-up all year.

"We have got to keep believing but you need a bit of luck sometimes and we didn't get any today.

"To be fair to Wigan, and I am a big fan of the manager, but they had all the luck in the world at Newcastle the other day, and today I am sure they had almost given up with ten seconds to go."

Redknapp had no complaints with the decision to send off Zamora, and revealed the striker was disappointed with himself.

"I think it looked like a red card. Bobby's not a malicious player but it was a clumsy challenge," Redknapp said.

"His foot was high and it was a reckless challenge. It is not like Bobby to do things like that, he is normally very level-headed.

"Nobody is more sorry than Bobby.

"We would have beaten them today with 11 men, I am sure of that, but even with ten we should have won.

"Then you are down to ten men against a team that likes to pass the ball, but I thought we always looked more threatening."

At St James' Park, a brilliant goal from Papiss Cisse in injury-time handed Newcastle United a vital 1-0 home win over Fulham.

The striker controlled a shot from Yohan Cabaye before turning and rifling the ball past Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Newcastle had earlier hit the woodwork three times, but were indebted to their own goalkeeper Tim Krul, who made two outstanding saves.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew made no attempt to hide his relief after the result.

"It's been a tough week for us," said Pardew.

"We played really well against Benfica but came back with a result we would rather not have had.

"Then, playing against real quality opposition today, we have had to pull on everything to try to get a win.

"In the second half we played with a lot more composure, which was missing in the first half, probably because we were tired or nervous. But we deserved the goal, even though it came very, very late."

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