Hearty trees, shrubs and plants are a product of the soil conditions in which they grow, so it makes sense that roots near an ore deposit will take on nutrients containing metals if they are present.

Rivers are not just random and accidental; streams and other drainages are what they are because of the forces of erosion acting on the bedrock.

Let’s set up a thought experiment: Suppose you had some material that ran one ounce per ton gold, which is generally considered high grade to fantastic grade depending on the circumstances.

My intention was to end this discussion with waypoints and routes, then I found USGS maps of the Plainfield Quadrangle.