Do you watch Oak Island?

wayneh

Joined Sep 9, 2010
18,115
They found something and I want to know.
I think you're right and I'll offer my latest speculation: They've found enough to warrant additional investor capital. That will allow them to expand their activity but will probably slow them down as they negotiate deals.

I was traveling today and saved the latest episode for the plane. It sure helped pass the time.

I was amazed they didn't send down a 'metal detector' into the hole. A piece of rope and a hardware-store magnet could have revealed a lot of information in little time and very little cost. If you think, but can't tell, that you're resting on steel, it's not that hard to find out! Yeah, that fancy camera was a nice try but gee whiz. Maybe they did a magnet and didn't film it. You'd think there could be other ways to 'probe' the bottom surface and get an idea of its composition. Frankly it looked to me like they're sitting on a granite boulder. Ever been to Canada? There's giant granite boulders everywhere. I admit I've never been to Nova Scotia but Ontario and Manitoba are nothing but granite.

The teaser for next week was interesting - a gem.
 

killivolt

Joined Jan 10, 2010
836
I think you're right and I'll offer my latest speculation: They've found enough to warrant additional investor capital. That will allow them to expand their activity but will probably slow them down as they negotiate deals.

I was traveling today and saved the latest episode for the plane. It sure helped pass the time.

I was amazed they didn't send down a 'metal detector' into the hole. A piece of rope and a hardware-store magnet could have revealed a lot of information in little time and very little cost. If you think, but can't tell, that you're resting on steel, it's not that hard to find out! Yeah, that fancy camera was a nice try but gee whiz. Maybe they did a magnet and didn't film it. You'd think there could be other ways to 'probe' the bottom surface and get an idea of its composition. Frankly it looked to me like they're sitting on a granite boulder. Ever been to Canada? There's giant granite boulders everywhere. I admit I've never been to Nova Scotia but Ontario and Manitoba are nothing but granite.

The teaser for next week was interesting - a gem.
I admit I've never been to Nova Scotia but Ontario and Manitoba are nothing but granite.
I really enjoy others speculation, @JoeJester hit the nail on the head, I suspected they had found something, but it didn't dawn on me till he said they did and why, plus you have the whole other treasure hunt thingy, you wouldn't start another show unless you put this one to bed, perfectionist don't work like that. You are correct they could have used a metal detector instead of a camera, I think their just setting us up, they used a metal detector before, I thought about a Magnet too! just lower a good sized one down there and see if she sticks. If your afraid it will stick to the side of the "can" just put one of those plastic pipes down their smack in the middle and let fall to the bottom, easy peeezie Japaneezie.

kv
 

JoeJester

Joined Apr 26, 2005
4,390
The beauty of film is they can "show" us the results of their labor all next season while FILMING the new adventure to pick up two seasons from now, or they have a minor bleed over of the two projects.
 

Thread Starter

Raymond Genovese

Joined Mar 5, 2016
1,653
I really enjoyed this week's episode. Even the second filler episode with the previous seekers. There is an interesting psychology behind treasure hunting - I mean, real, move your family to an island and start digging, treasure hunting.

The "gem", which they previewed last week, was definitely the high point. But in the teaser preview for next week, I noticed that while it came back as being 500 years old, he did not say ruby. They may have cut it out but it was not an accident that they did not give the reveal.

I don't think it is a ruby (not that I would know). I am thinking that a ruby would have been set in gold, which would not tarnish (mixed in impurities would, but not gold, as I recall) and would be identifiable. That is not the case here.

Take a look at all the red gems available https://www.gemselect.com/other-info/red-gemstones.php There is plenty to choose from.

The U-shaped structure is cool, but it is definitely for next season. In a sense, that means that they are coming back and that they didn't strike the mother load in the current drill hole. Speaking of which - is there no portable metallurgical test that could be done - does a diver have to feel around to tell us about it (oh how low tech). Also, why did they dump all that crap in there so the diver couldn't even stand on the surface - it certainly did not clear up the murkiness. Is no one thinking about these things??? :)

Anyways, we have at least one more episode before winter shut down.
 

killivolt

Joined Jan 10, 2010
836
Not doing it, haven't seen it yet. I'll watch this morning. But, based on the clips they shown snippets, it's most likely all next season stuff anyway.

The history of the finds are more interesting to me, not sure if a big find would trip my trigger.

kv

Edit: Ok, watched it, exactly what I thought would happen.
 
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JoeJester

Joined Apr 26, 2005
4,390
I think most of the recent show was filler. Sure they showed the most recent activities, dewatering, diver, and finding a 3 carat gem. I'm glad they explained why the diver floated so easily.

At least they are looking at other areas while they brainstorm a was to get back into the hole.

The "U" shaped construction should have some civil engineers salivating to help solve that mystery. Imagine a big firm sending up their top dog and a couple of interns. The publicity for the firm would be immense, and all those three would have to do is always wear their firm's ball cap and jacket.

The whole mystery, flooding canals to prevent recovery of whatever, would be an engineering marvel. The strategy of tunnel placements and the water control.

There is still much to learn ...
 

Thread Starter

Raymond Genovese

Joined Mar 5, 2016
1,653
I watched the season finale last night.

It turned out to be pretty much as I thought. My excitement is becoming overshadowed by fatigue. I suppose I will be around for the next season (anyone know when the new season starts?).

The two-hour finale was actually a stretched out one hour finale with the first episode of the new Confederate Gold show tacked on. Blah, blah and blah. Based on that first episode, I don’t think that I am going to bother much with that.

The newly revealed shaft that was found looks interesting but here is what I don’t like: I am fine with them discovering and reconstructing prior attempts, but that is not a replacement for finding the goods.

The mysterious “steel plate” that was now determined to be a granite boulder is a kick in the teeth! The whole idea that it was metal was based on the assumption that the drill bits would not have broken if it was a rock. Now, we are simply told that some granite is really hard and could break the drill teeth. Oh, ok, thanks for the info – umm could you have mentioned that a little earlier?

I knew it wasn’t a ruby.
 

JoeJester

Joined Apr 26, 2005
4,390
Garnets been around since the bronze age.

The fact it was hand cut would add value to it.

I'll be watching both puzzles.

Answers about the bones is interesting.
 

Thread Starter

Raymond Genovese

Joined Mar 5, 2016
1,653
I'll be watching both puzzles.
Despite what I have said, I may still watch some of the Confederate Gold show, but I think it is doomed to 1-2 seasons max.

The 'dime' that they found is likely one of these (I only got a glimpse of it) https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=1806&lot=6422

The one they found was buried and bent and would likely fetch a lot less (see this one for example at 3K https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=1806&lot=6423)

More of a token than a coin. Some numismatists call it a half-dime, but others say it should be called a dime, given the size. With no denomination on it, a token makes sense to me. In any event, there have been reported finds of these, e.g. https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-c...e-token-may-have-circulated-in-civil-war.html

In any event, it smacked of the "Storage Wars" effect to me, but who knows?
 

Thread Starter

Raymond Genovese

Joined Mar 5, 2016
1,653
Sometimes it sucks to be right.
Yes, but I will reiterate my problem with how it was revealed on the show - Why the heck didn't they mention it as a possibility right from the beginning instead of all the hopeful speculation of it being a steel plate with some mysterious purpose, like blocking the entrance into the goods. As I recall, there was a distinct absence of entertaining the possibility that it was just a big rock....then when it was found to just be a big rock, they casually said "well, it's hard granite" and that's why all the teeth broke on the drill.

Now, I suppose it will take 3 new episodes to decide that if they can't get through it, neither could the original folks, so we better move the drill.
 

wayneh

Joined Sep 9, 2010
18,115
Yes, but I will reiterate my problem with how it was revealed on the show - Why the heck didn't they mention it as a possibility right from the beginning instead of all the hopeful speculation of it being a steel plate with some mysterious purpose, like blocking the entrance into the goods. As I recall, there was a distinct absence of entertaining the possibility that it was just a big rock....then when it was found to just be a big rock, they casually said "well, it's hard granite" and that's why all the teeth broke on the drill.

Now, I suppose it will take 3 new episodes to decide that if they can't get through it, neither could the original folks, so we better move the drill.
I suspect that was 90% the choice of the producers who seem to believe the audience is stupid. That’s usually a decent assumption but I have a hunch the Oak Island audience is not typical.

The folks on screen looked a little like bad actors trying to play up the whole “steel plate” possibilities while the obvious possibility - hitting a big rock - wasn’t even mentioned let alone presented as a likely scenario. These guys took a Hail Mary by digging in an uncharted spot and got bit by it. That’s pretty much what you’d expect to happen.

I think they need to control the water. I don’t see how you can do archeological digging in deep water, under ground.
 

killivolt

Joined Jan 10, 2010
836
Yes, but I will reiterate my problem with how it was revealed on the show - Why the heck didn't they mention it as a possibility right from the beginning instead of all the hopeful speculation of it being a steel plate with some mysterious purpose, like blocking the entrance into the goods. As I recall, there was a distinct absence of entertaining the possibility that it was just a big rock....then when it was found to just be a big rock, they casually said "well, it's hard granite" and that's why all the teeth broke on the drill.

Now, I suppose it will take 3 new episodes to decide that if they can't get through it, neither could the original folks, so we better move the drill.
The same dude that said he couldn't see anything other than steel to break teeth like that, then in the end the same dude admits some Granite is as tuff as steel, I think he knew if he told them it was rock they would stop operations all together, throwing his chance to eek out a few more bucks.

kv
 

killivolt

Joined Jan 10, 2010
836
These guys took a Hail Mary by digging in an uncharted spot and got bit by it. That’s pretty much what you’d expect to happen.
Right, at least when I do stuff like that it's a coin toss, never in my favor. If someone else flips it, usually I win, it's like anti-luck or something.

kv
 

Thread Starter

Raymond Genovese

Joined Mar 5, 2016
1,653
So, I hear that they are doing another season starting Nov 13 .

From the short promo I saw, they found their first bit of gold and they are using what looks to be some interesting ground penetrating radar to map out grids. "Game Change!r", he exclaims.

Yeah, I'll watch it, *sigh* suckered again. As has been noted earlier, the one treasure they definitely found on Oak Island is how to stretch this thing into a career.
 

Thread Starter

Raymond Genovese

Joined Mar 5, 2016
1,653
Saw the start of the new seasons - here they showed E1 and E2 back-to-back. I really enjoyed watching.

With typical Oak Island viewer-frustration, one of the brothers says he has been using (or knows about) "seismic scanning" for forty years - the process where they put small charges and transducers in the ground to map the underground terrain. Now, I don't know much about that procedure and it looked like there is a lot of "art" involved in the interpretation of such data [they never go into the technological stuff as much as I would like], but I was thinking that, if you knew all about it, why the heck did you wait until S5 to do it? Especially since you were taking pot-shot drill holes at the money pit all through S5?!

The new gem is quite cool as is the new structure. What is up with the drilled boulders, is that some kind of anchoring system??

I want one of the metal detectors that can penetrate 20 ft! I remember that coming up before in the forums.
 
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