Trailrider, I can show pictures of the dt's as folks like to call them. Any 200 year old hole is dangerous, suffocating dust, methane gas, rattles, bee's, unseen abit. There is a course online that talks about mine safety. Also letting someone knowledgeable of the area your in is important too. The above pictures are not of the same area, but same folks most likely made them. I don't believe in false trails. But I do believe in false holes. As for vaults, I have my suspicions and am waiting for some equipment to confirm Im right or not. Finding the hole is easy compared to getting in the hole. Im seeing holes that are smooth walled and well worked and others that look like natural fissures. We are following folks who were excellent surveyors and stone workers. I rarely dig, but there will be signs even at the hole as you have said you have found. The high fast trail is the trail that rewards, you can play with turtles and hearts all day down below. Im told x never marks the spot. That is only half correct. Folks who see what I am seeing know what I mean. So many hunters profess expertise, but have never held treasure in their hand or seen a real treasure hole. I go to known treasure sites and find what sign is left and how it relates to the hole. I suspect there are folks who disagree, and say, "How can you say there is no false trails?" I can show examples of what I post but don't wish to give away all my secrets. I am able to spend countless hours just setting at or exploring sites and would love to help you find those vaults your looking for. Now here is something I agree with, geology. I even do a read on the geological history. That would help folks doing the LDM also, hint hint. My sites are bedrock up against lava tubes and vents. There is natural fault lines that run on the east side of the mountains. Im looking at mostly hard rock mines, and a few pit mines. I was able to meet a older gentleman who was very successful hunter, what he hunts I wont say. He was nice enough to share a book on known pit mines of the region. I have found each of those areas also contained Spanish Sign. I was happy the other day when I used a copy of Kenworthy to decode what a mine had in it. I have not bought books on purpose so I could learn what I could on my own. But I found the book confirmed my program of hunting. Yes I have a program, and simple set of step I do each site. A series of test to confirm what I have. I don't just post rock randomly and ask what do I got? I post and see what folks can tell me I don't know. I test out all responses, and try to see how some folks come to their conclusions. Now I have bounced all over the place with this paragraph, and could write a book on any of the subjects I shared. If your reading this and looking at rocks, that you have been given some very good information in these post. Let me sum up the walk with God you will take when entering these ancient areas. The pain and strife of just being in these areas. You don't have to believe in God, but he walks with you and believes in you. Faith is part of the trail, as you will come to a break in the trail that leaves you scratching your head. I think we see what we are meant to see, and your mind set will determine just how much you find. Good Luck.
Lets love the LORD with all our minds, hearts, and souls. Lets pray for HIS will, not ours. 
A bloody and empty baby blanket. Something you don't want to find on a hunt.
