;D
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4b243902-fd06-11dc-961e-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1
Yup -- they are starting to show up.
Keene and Proline are swamped.
Got this e-mail -- here are selected parts of it.
"Went down to the "mall". A guy named ***** sells coins,deals in gold there. he confirmed and gave me details on the most recent local finds. a couple of guys found 2 nuggets, one 6 oz.,another 13. and some other stuff totaling 28 oz. around those mines at the summit. Picked up right off the ground. Metal detectors maybe. Another find out on Colorado. Some guys brushing out property with a back hoe uncovered a lb. in crystalline gold."
Yup --- it's still out there, but I guess I won't find it sitting in this chair.
I don't look for many of the new prospectors to be much of a threat. Some will be though. Most will tire of the work involved and generally small rewards.
I'm going prospecting today- can't let them all get ahead of me. Generally I'm not in the right place at the right time though.
A couple kids came into the prospectors supply down here with about 1/2 teaspoon of gold out of 3 pans the other day.