We all use the scientific method from time to time, usually not even realizing it. I decided to more formalize my rock hounding using the scientific method. There are 6 parts to the scientific method, (1)a question, (2)background research, (3)a hypothesis, (4)testing the hypothesis, (5)analyzing and drawing a conclusion, (6)communicating your results. I will update this posting from time to time.
(1) QUESTION: What's the best approach to finding crystals in the Lake George Intrusive area? There are several parameters/restrictions involved including things like areas privately owned and claimed, what is the best elevation, where have people had success in the past, are more remote areas more likely to be less picked over, how does erosion play a role in crystal discovery.
(2) BACKGROUND RESEARCH: My background research will be a culmination of my experiences in the last 2 years of rock hounding combined with rules of thumb and questions I've gleaned from old-time prospectors. The Lake George Intrusive area includes parts of sections: 33, 34, 35, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9,11,12,14,15,16,17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27 in Park and Teller counties. I will not include crystal finds for areas I have not prospected. This would include private claims and private property which are well documented for finds, but unavailable for prospecting. I will include some finds on private claims for which I received permission to prospect. I will construct a database that will include section #, elevation, whether or not it is in the Hayman burn and how steep/incline the site is. I will also include a notation as to the remoteness of the site, as well as what was found and its quality (somewhat subjective discriminators). This database will be a close hold item as I don't want to reveal the specific sites of my finds!
HYPOTHESIS: Steep areas in the Lake George Intrusive area that were extensively burned by the Hayman fire within +/-500ft of 8500ft in elevation that are at least 1/4mile from any road should have the best prospects. This hypothesis is based on experience. While I have found crystals within 20ft of a road it seems most crystals are found off the beaten path. I must now begin construction of a database to review my finds and prove or massage my hypothesis to better fit the data. Testing of the hypothesis went hand in hand with its construction.
ANALYZE DATA AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS:
did you ever chart this out and come to any conclusions?
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