Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers about physical gold custody, reserves, delivery, and account security.
What is Sierra Gold Mining?
Sierra Gold Mining is a specialized physical precious metals platform and depository. We provide verified access to natural placer and crystalline gold specimens from California's historic Mother Lode, offering secure vault custody, instant buyback quotes, and insured delivery.
Are the specimens real physical gold?
Yes, 100%. Every piece allocated on Sierra represents genuine, physical gold held in institutional custody. We do not deal in paper contracts, derivatives, or unallocated pooled balances.
How are reserve odds determined?
Every Mine Reserve uses fixed mathematical probabilities totaling exactly 10,000 basis points (100%). Weight ranges and tier odds are published and visible before purchase. Allocation is performed server-authoritatively upon payment settlement.
How does vault custody work and what are the fees?
Allocated specimens remain in your personal Vault under depository bailment with zero storage or maintenance fees. Holdings are insured against theft, loss, and damage in institutional California vault facilities.
How is delivery handled?
Physical shipments are handled through certified shipping partners. Every shipment is fully insured in transit and requires delivery confirmation upon arrival.
What is Sierra Buyback and Sierra Credit?
For unredeemed specimens held in vault custody, Sierra may offer instant buyback quotes. Accepted quotes are credited as Sierra Store Credit to your account ledger, which can be applied toward future reserve allocations or slab purchases. Sierra Credit cannot be withdrawn as fiat currency.
How do Passkeys protect my account?
Sierra supports FIDO2 WebAuthn Passkeys integrated with Apple iCloud Keychain and Google Password Manager. Biometric authentication (Face ID / Touch ID) takes place entirely on your device; biometric data is never transmitted to Sierra servers.