Rubicon Job
November 2005
Right before the snow flies is typically the busiest part of the prospecting season. (The prospecting season lasts from spring to fall, so long as you can look at the outcrop without shovelling snow.) This is of course because it is the last chance before the snow flies to look at the rock.
Last year, we did a prospecting/soil sampling program for Rubicon Minerals. Dad and I had just purchased a prospector tent camp that we could use for this job.
Living in a 14X16' canvas tent with wood floor is almost like living in a little cabin. We had a little RV stove for cooking, tables, cots, and oil stove for heat.
Last year, we did a prospecting/soil sampling program for Rubicon Minerals. Dad and I had just purchased a prospector tent camp that we could use for this job.
Living in a 14X16' canvas tent with wood floor is almost like living in a little cabin. We had a little RV stove for cooking, tables, cots, and oil stove for heat.
Where we camped is one of the only places where the logging road was close to a lake.
Photo: North Doyle Lake end of day
Photo: North Doyle Lake end of day
We did get a few days of prospecting in, when the ground wasn't covered with snow.
Photo: Ruth finding VG (visible gold) with the hand lens
Photo: Ruth finding VG (visible gold) with the hand lens
Whenever the ground was covered in too much snow to prospect, we soil sampled. There are many different methods of soil sampling depending on what layer of soil you sample. Humus, Horizon A, Horizon B, Horizon C, are just some of the layers that may be sampled. Usually, a company only wants one layer sampled.
You must put the soil into paper sample bags and describe it. To avoid contamination, I would clean my hands in the snow between samples. Moisturizer cream sure comes in handy.
Ruth warming herself after a long day of soil sampling.
Fording the pond.
Ruth and Jess last day.