Guys, be very careful digging at Lowmead. The ground is very unstable, being nothing but decomposed granite sand.
I just had a very close call there today when an extremely heavy section of bank that I though I was far back from enough for safety, collapsed. A very large piece tumbled out of the collapsing mass and struck me in the chest, crushing me against the floor of the hole and burying me.
I am very grateful to Rockhound and his father who helped me to my car as I was unable to walk, so my mate could drive me to the local ambulance.
I am very lucky to have no broken bones or internal injuries ( though I am as sore as hell) and am probably lucky to be alive.
You don't have to be underneath a bank when it collapses, merely too close beside it as I was. I have been beside collapsing banks before but always been far enough back to not get hit - this time was different.
I have a new level of respect for the sheer power of collapsing earth and will be re-assessing what constitutes a safe distance back and my approach to digging. We all love finding gemstones/gold but always remember, they are only rocks - they aren't worth dying for.