The Chronicles of Sarnia: the Evolution of a Tin Can

You may remember our first time out metal-detecting.  You may also remember how excited we were when we found something that looked like a hunk of silver.

It wasn’t.

After endless Googling I sent an email to a metal detecting friend who informed me that what we found was, in fact, a rolled tin can.

What?

Well, after the last storm there was lots of evidence for many false silver chunks in-the-making and we captured a few of the stages for you.

Some cans are sliced to a more manageable size

They get tossed and tumbled.

The waves and rocks slowly squash and condense the soft aluminum cans into nuggets.

Then tumble and smooth them some more.

So next time you see a tin can on the beach, don’t think rubbish, think treasure.

Also, can people stop littering?  It’s disgusting.

Feature photo credit: Kolya Korzh Unsplash

35 thoughts on “The Chronicles of Sarnia: the Evolution of a Tin Can

  1. petespringerauthor says:

    You got a brief thrill. I’ve always been a little bit fascinated with metal detecting but haven’t taken the plunge yet to get a metal detector. I have a friend who is all about these hunts. He pans for gold, regularly used his metal detector, and works part time in a pawn shop. He has fascinating stories about some of his finds.

  2. Bitchy After 60 says:

    The treasure is often in the joy of the hunt. Al least that’s what I think. It really would be nice if people stopped littering. Unfortunately most humans are selfish and lazy so it is a big ask.

  3. WanderingCanadians says:

    I would never have guessed that that was a crushed tin can. That’s wild. I completely agree, the litter situation has been getting out of control. We’ve noticed a huge difference on the trails this year with all the new visitors.

  4. Jim Borden says:

    it is a shame to think that people would just leave their trash on the beach; plus some of those cans look like they would leave a nasty cut if you stepped on one…

  5. Christie says:

    So interesting how a tin can can roll in, I wouldn’t have guessed!
    We did some hiking this summer, and I was so impressed to see clean trails along our way, but then it was in the wilderness. Not the same in the city..

  6. rkrontheroad says:

    It does look like a meteorite, I never would have guessed in was a tin can. I have a friend who is into metal detecting. Although nothing particularly valuable, she has turned up old coins and items that tell of the history of the area.

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