Discovery of Gold Prospects
Recently, residents of Aguas Zarcas noticed a peculiar gold rush at the river bearing the same name, serving as a boundary between the La Palmera and Aguas Zarcas districts in San Carlos.
Avalanches Expose Rocky Materials
Locals say that some individuals took advantage of the recent avalanches, which exposed buried rocky materials, to dive into parts of the river in search of the precious metal.
Misidentified Minerals
However, sources from the area, who prefer to remain anonymous, mention that these new prospectors are mistakenly identifying the prized gold metal with pyrite, another mineral famously dubbed as “fool’s gold.”
Pyrite, primarily composed of iron sulfide, is yellow and shiny, much like gold. It is a primary source of iron and is primarily used in the production of sulfuric acid. The term “fool’s gold” has been associated with pyrite since the days of the California Gold Rush in the 1840s.
Warning to the Curious
Now, representatives from the Local Emergency Commission are urging the public to stay away from the river, given that the flow of mud and sticks might continue.
The area has been under surveillance since last month, especially after a massive landslide of about 70 hectares from Juan Castro Blanco National Park on July 14. The landslide destroyed businesses and homes in Aguas Zarcas. Recent rainfalls indicate that such land movements may continue.
The site is muddy, and recently, an individual got stuck in the mud and had to be rescued. Therefore, new prospectors are risking emergencies if they approach the riverbed.
Efforts for Early Warning System
The National Emergency Commission and the local municipality are currently working on an early warning system for risks. With the assistance of the Rural Electrification Cooperative of San Carlos (Coopelesca), there are plans to install a tower equipped with a siren audible up to three kilometers away, to notify in case of rising water levels.
