Gold Rush: It's Fool's Gold!

            For the last couple of years I have painstakingly watched the television show “Gold Rush” on the Discovery channel with my husband Sam. The purpose of the show is anything but extraordinarily inspirational. It appeals to my dreamer’s heart like the Wizard of Oz appealed to my child’s heart. It is about men leaving their families and comforts of a familiar life in search of something better. They set out on a pilgrimage in search of a chance to strike rich in the gold laden wilderness of Alaska.  What more could one want in a television program? Set with a backdrop of breathtaking beauty and a premise of uncompromising risk- taking the viewer is mesmerized at the possibility of indeed finding gold.  It is no doubt a story worth investing your precious time into…Oh yeah and did I mention these men are amateurs?? Did I mention that not one of them have gold mining experience?? Yes, it’s true…not only are they leaving everything behind, but at an extremely high price because they haven’t a clue do what they are doing (seriously, what were their wives thinking?!?!?!) But isn’t that the part we all love, isn’t that what I the dreamer love about dreaming?? Yes, and that is why I have faithfully watched for 2 seasons and am currently watching the 3^rd. I would love to tell you that they have purged the glory hole for all its worth and have more money than Solomon, but that would not be true. No, because watching “Gold Rush” is a ceaseless emotional roller coaster with an endless supply of unrelenting hope. That is why I continue to watch because I have unrelenting hope. With a combination of mistakes, quarrels, machine malfunctions and geological obstacles, they have found enough gold to cap a tooth.

              But it is their unrelenting hope that keeps me a glutton for emotional punishment. How many times have we heard Todd Hoffman, the leader and the biggest fool, say “I guarantee you, we are going to see a thousand ounces this season.” Oh Todd!!! How many times have I heard you say that?!? Probably a million and yet I am still a believer.  Watching Gold Rush for me has been a ceaseless ranting of promised riches with no delivery. However, it was not until this latest season did a geological light turn on in my head.  Sitting next to my husband in between rants I exclaimed, “O my gosh, this is all about Geology!!!” My husband nods with a semi patronizing nod, but pleased nonetheless that I received this epiphany. And almost suddenly I am stricken with compassion for the tireless effort these men have put forth in trying to extract something from a sometimes brutal earth. Don’t get me wrong, Gold mining for dummies could not help them, but what a valiant effort they are to be commended for!   

              They have dealt with their fair share of permafrost, floods, cave-ins and threatening Alaska winters, etc. I never before had any sort of geological frame of reference to understand what a “glory hole” really is. Not only is it the holy grail of gold mining, but it is a depression formed in the earth from ancient waterfall that’s streamed carried and deposited gold in. OMG! Groundwater, I know what that is!!!!! I know Gold is a mineral and is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. It is a chemical element with the symbol Au and atomic number 79. I also know that bedrock, which is the solid un-weathered rock that lies beneath the loose surface deposits of soil, alluvium, etc. is where a miner wants to dig because that is where all the gold is. Bedrock is the solid layer below the earth’s surface and therefore does not experience erosion and that is why Gold is found there. Bedrock is more than just where the Flintstones live; it’s the cornerstone to mining (no pun intended)!  

                I also know that Gold has been mined for hundreds of years without the use of any expensive fancy equipment. And yet Todd Hoffman has put forth more money in the latest and greatest without anything to show for it. Geologically speaking I know Geology tells the story of how and when the gold got to where it is today. It seems to me that if the earth doesn’t want to give it up there is a reason. There is a history of earthquakes, floods, ancient streams waterfalls and numerous other reasons the gold is right now where it is supposed to be. Maybe it is not as easy as flying to Alaska and buying a state of the art sluice box… obviously it isn’t! Maybe it would do them some good to consult to a Geologist or two.  But like I said before, the earth can be harsh and maybe they deserve more credit. If I have learned anything about Geology it is that the earth is a wild, magnificent force we can only control part of the time. It is highly unpredictable and at times unmanageable, but in the same vein, it is also beautiful and it is kind. It is a subject worth knowing and appreciating and I am glad that I do. Peace out homies!!