VOA标准英语2011--Gold Prices Luring Many to Start Prospec

Gold Prices Luring¹ Many to Start Prospecting²

As gold prices continue to rise around the world, there is renewed interest in panning for gold in certain parts of the United States. In the late 1800s, the state of Virginia had a thriving gold-mining industry. Today there is still gold to be found in the streams of central Virginia. The lure³ of easy money is drawing many to buy prospecting equipment and head into nearby streams. But striking it rich is not that easy.
Todd Bonshire is the manager of Monroe Park, a restored 18th century gold mining camp in Goldvein, Virginia. A historian by training, he teaches visitors about the rich history of gold mining in the area and how to pan for gold.
"It is amazing how many have started coming here to buy prospecting equipment and to find places in the area to go prospecting," said Bonshire. "Especially now that gold is near $1,800 an ounce, the interest has just skyrocketed."
In 1782, Thomas Jefferson wrote in his notes on Virginia that a man found a piece of quartz⁴ with gold in it near Fredericksburg, and gold fever spread across the state. In the early 19th century, there were 19 gold mines in the immediate⁵ area. But during World War II, gold mines were deemed not essential and were shut down.
"Well this is some quartz from the area, and this is where you find the gold," added Bonshire.
Gold is found inside quartz rock that runs in a belt along the eastern United States. Miners would have to dig out thousands of kilograms of rock to find a few ounces of gold trapped in the crevices⁷.
"Right here there is a little crevice⁶ and you can you see that there is some pyrite in there, somebody popped this open, and there is a nice little pocket," added Bonshire. "The gold would also be found similar to this inside a big piece of quartz."
Today, prospectors⁸ pan for gold. Years of rain and snow have broken up the quartz rock and washed the gold into streams.
"By shaking it, all the lighter⁹ materials float up to the top all the heavier materials, which would be your gold and a substance called black sand, which is iron-based, all sinks down to the bottom of the pan," Bonshire explained.
Gold is 19 times heavier than water. The larger, less dense¹⁰ materials float out of the pan, leaving heavier materials behind.
But prospecting is not easy. Bill Oliver has taken it up as a retirement¹¹ hobby. Oliver is a member of the Northern Virginia Gold Prospectors Club. He says they had 10 new members at their last meeting, all looking to cash in on rising gold prices. But Oliver says big finds are rare.
"You never know when you are going to find a nugget. You might find one. Nobody has found one down here for about two years now but, there are nuggets down there. We just have not found them," Oliver noted¹².
For him, prospecting is just an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.
"I probably have not found what - $20 worth in the past year. It is not a money-making hobby. In Virginia you have to spend the right money for equipment," added Oliver. "[It] takes you forever to get the money back you spent. The people making the money are the people selling the equipment!"
For most, the draw is still just the thrill of the hunt. And the dream that one day you just might find that big nugget.

1 luring   

吸引，引诱（lure的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• Cheese is very good for luring a mouse into a trap. 奶酪是引诱老鼠上钩的极好的东西。
• Her training warned her of peril and of the wrong, subtle, mysterious, luring. 她的教养警告她：有危险，要出错儿，这是微妙、神秘而又诱人的。

2 prospecting   

n.探矿

参考例句：

• The prospecting team ploughed their way through the snow. 探险队排雪前进。
• The prospecting team has traversed the length and breadth of the land. 勘探队踏遍了祖国的山山水水。

3 lure   

n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引

参考例句：

• Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。
• He couldn't resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。

4 quartz   

n.石英

参考例句：

• There is a great deal quartz in those mountains.那些山里蕴藏着大量石英。
• The quartz watch keeps good time.石英表走时准。

5 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

6 crevice   

n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口

参考例句：

• I saw a plant growing out of a crevice in the wall.我看到墙缝里长出一棵草来。
• He edged the tool into the crevice.他把刀具插进裂缝里。

7 crevices   

n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• It has bedded into the deepest crevices of the store. 它已钻进了店里最隐避的隙缝。 来自辞典例句
• The wind whistled through the crevices in the rock. 风呼啸着吹过岩石的缝隙。 来自辞典例句

8 prospectors   

n.勘探者，探矿者( prospector的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The prospectors have discovered such minerals as calcite,quartz and asbestos here. 探矿人员在这里发现了方解石、石英、石棉等矿藏。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The prospectors have discovered many minerals here. 探矿人员在这里发现了许多矿藏。 来自辞典例句

9 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

10 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

11 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

12 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。