Mark Mallicoat is a graduate of California State University - Chico (1972) majoring in Communications. He spent 15 years as an Account Executive at KHSL-TV in Chico after graduation. He is presently the owner of Lafayette Roofing Company in Lafayette, California. He succeeded his father in running the business about 12 years ago. Mark is married and has three children. Mark has been collecting mining artifacts for the past twenty years. He is driven by a passion developed in High School. He has spent a few years exploring the gold mines of Northern California and has a number of friends actively engaged in gold mining (hardrock lode) in the Allegheny and Grass Valley areas. He has spent considerable time underground and knows what it is to drill, blast and muck. He is familiar with mill operations and has spent hundreds of hours studying the geology of the area.

He enjoys all facets of mining. He collects old photographs, has several hundred different carbide cap lamps, well over 100 candlesticks, blasting machines, hundreds of old out of print mining books and reports, five ore cars, bell signal signs, candle and powder boxes, capt tins and other stuff too numerous to mention.

He is friends with many of the collectors across North America and in Europe and attends the three or four national shows throughout North America each year.

Recently he spent a year working on a permanent mining display for Clayton Historical Society Museum in Clayton, California. The Mt Diablo Coal Mines founded this area and yet the local museum and nothing mining related - they do now! The whole 25th anniversary celebration of the Clayton Historical Society Museum was built around the mining display. Mark is now on their Board of Directors.

He claims he is neither a miner nor a geologist - but just enjoys mining. He is a mining artifact collector and a lover of California's historic past.

This site is deeply indebted to Mark Mallicoat, his generosity and his willingness to share his knowledge and expertise.