Pieces of mineralized rock that have broken off an outcropping vein and been scattered down a hillside by gravity, water, or glaciation. Prospectors search for these loose fragments in the soil or surface gravels. By following the trail of shoad uphill to the point where it stops appearing, geologists can locate the hidden, unweathered bedrock vein beneath the soil.
We found a rich trail of tin shoad in the creek bank and spent the week trenching uphill to find the lode.
Also heard as
- float
- shode
Related terms
Lode
A defined vein or tabular deposit of valuable metallic ore embedded within barren rock.
Costean
A shallow trench dug through soil and loose dirt to expose the underlying bedrock and mineral veins.
Prospect
To search a region for commercially viable mineral deposits.
Outcropper
A miner who extracts coal or ore directly from surface exposures.