In Reply to: this is about the most frustrating undertaking
posted by Jack (NM) on June 07, 1998 at 21:20:59

The way you describe the central map and the outlying series of corresponding "eyes", it seems like the previous prospectors worked your canyon for signs of mineral (quartz) and documented all the possibilities in stone near their camp. My first impression is that the "eyes" might simply mean "look around here". Are there signs of any sampling, testing or other workings around the "eye" locations?

Granted, it seems like a lot of work just to document prospects. But a hard working prospector could bang out one of these carvings in a couple minutes with a hammer and cold chisel and know he had a permanent record of his findings.

As far as the sign books are concerned -- they're interesting and fun, and a good place to start, but don't force the book answer on your field discovery. Remember two things: 1) the book might not be correct; and 2) the sign chiseller might not have read the book. Any sign you find in the field had a specific meaning to the one who left it and possibly to no one else.

• Re: Sounds like a good possibility Jack (NM) 19:32:18 6/09/98 (0)