Came back early due to the weather forecast. Tomorrow is predicted to be 93 degrees and rain. When that happens it almost always results in wicked thunderstorms with dangerous hail. I learned my lesson last summer. I had two hailstones the size of tennis balls rip through my tent. I'll have to dig out the pics and share them.
The outing was not a failure though. There is a spot a short distance upstream from our usual mining spot. It has all of the signs of being a large drop zone that may have been collecting gold for decades or longer.
If you have read my articles on prospecting that I have posted on my website, you should understand this: The creek travels in a relatively straight line, then makes a sharp 90-degree turn. The creek gets its energy from the flowing water (kinetic energy) that pushes material like sand and gravel along the bottom. If the water slows down, it loses energy and can no longer push the heavy stuff along the bottom. So heavy materials like gold, lead, platinum, etc. will drop and settle to the bottom.
As the creek makes a turn, the water on the inside of the bend slows down. Think about the wheels on a car as it turns. The wheels on the outside of the turn go faster and on the inside go slower. So it is common for gold to be found on the inside bend of a creek or stream.
In this case, the creek flows in a straight line, then hits a rock face at the base of a cliff. The momentum almost comes to a full stop, then the water makes a 90-degree right turn. My guess is that when the water hits that rock face and nearly stops, all the heavy materials will drop right there.
In previous years when I checked that spot, there was a nice deep "fishing hole" there, probably from the turbulence of the water against the rock. But that hole was about five feet deep. I can stand in a hole that deep, but then can't bend over to do any shoveling without taking a deep breath first. Shoveling dirt underwater is hard enough, then add the current of the stream flowing.
Over the years that area has flooded twice since I started mining there. Now, that hole is mostly filled in with sand and silt. The good news is that I can easily walk to the spot and dig. The bad news is I am digging sand and silt. It will take a while to get down to the heavy gravel. If we have a dry year, the water level will drop and allow me to continue digging. Too much rain and that spot might have to wait another year.
Forecast for the next seven days: rain, sun, rain, sun, rain, sun. rain.
*sigh*
