Are these modern holes or Spanish?

fcopeland

Newbie
Mar 4, 2020
4
6
Arizona
Detector(s) used
DetectorPro Headhunter Wader and a Vibratector 730
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Are these modern holes or Spanish?
3 holes B.JPG

The holes are about 2"s
From Left to right depth is
5"
4"
3.5" with sand

Spacing is
A-B 7"
B-C 41"
A-C 48"
 

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I would say the probability of Spanish's is good the diameters are consistent with what has been discovered in previous areas that have been found of these type of holes. The one big problem is what do they mean, and that could be any thing.
 

Are these modern holes or Spanish?View attachment 1999520
The holes are about 2"s
From Left to right depth is
5"
4"
3.5" with sand

Spacing is
A-B 7"
B-C 41"
A-C 48"
Are you close to an old road or railroad grade? Those really look like modern holes to me. They look really similar to how blasting holes are and we’re laid out for blasting.
 

Mining would be included in that. I worked some old early CA gold rush mines with holes like that too.
The location needs to be researched as to its land use in the past. Is it within a historical mining district? That would allow for them to be associated with mining, but they're certainly not deep enough for blasting holes. Also, there are too many of them too close together to be considered mining claim validation holes.

What about other land uses nearby? Any sort of development around the site? Is it on public land? If private property, who has owned it over the years and what are their histories? Any controversies?

If there isn't an explainable plausible reason for the holes, then they were likely drilled for some private purpose that was known only by the driller. One obvious example would be that the holes are some sort of permanent marker. They don't seem to be laid out in a straight line to follow. Good luck.
 

The location needs to be researched as to its land use in the past. Is it within a historical mining district? That would allow for them to be associated with mining, but they're certainly not deep enough for blasting holes. Also, there are too many of them too close together to be considered mining claim validation holes.

What about other land uses nearby? Any sort of development around the site? Is it on public land? If private property, who has owned it over the years and what are their histories? Any controversies?

If there isn't an explainable plausible reason for the holes, then they were likely drilled for some private purpose that was known only by the driller. One obvious example would be that the holes are some sort of permanent marker. They don't seem to be laid out in a straight line to follow. Good luck.
They are in South Mountain Park but not nears any of these mines. attached pic
Could they be for an alignment with sticks?

Thanks
 

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There was no known Spanish presence in the area prior to 1800.

There have been many small mines and prospects on South Mountain since 1800. Even today South Mountain is being actively prospected.

It could just as easily be tent pole holes drilled in the saprolite by one of the many thousands of people who camp there every year.
 

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