Before you begin reading the body of this text, please bear in mind that at this point it is mostly experimental and has not been tested outside of a 200 coord radius area in 7L. The same pattern may apply to the rest of Egypt or may not, I'm simply providing the average person with a detailed analysis of the excavation in 7L. At the time of writing this, only 76 blocks had been found and 1050 coords checked, I will continue to rework and revise my technique and theory based on our new findings.
The Theory
Fairly Solid Info
The theory is this. There are diagonal lines running 28 degrees (28 divides by seven...) across all of Egypt (or at least 7L) (See the 'veins' attachment down at the bottom of this page if this isn't clear) These 'veins' run 5 coords apart from each other on the North/South axis. The coords that the line makes are not always cut down the centre. Sometimes only the very corner of the coord will be touched. Blocks are only ever found on coords that touch the line or if the coord diagonal them touches the line but the line is mostly on the side of that coord as the given coord or finally if the coord diagonal them is split down the middle by the line. All other coords have a negligible (I estimate ~1/60) chance of containing a block. Check out 'Where to tap' for a better understanding of this.
Hypotheses
So these are merely things that I've noticed but have, as yet, found no way to predict. What I'm lead to believe is that the only time a block will occur is on the intersection of a perfectly vertical (that is, North-South) vein and one of the 28 degree East-West lines. The exception of course being the ~1/60 blocks that do not follow the same pattern as the rest. That is why patterns of blocks going North or South 5 coords of a previously found block. My theory at this point to explain the ~1/60 that do not line up and random 'pockets' containing more blocks that would be expected is that there are West-East veins, possibly slanted as well, though at this time I cannot be sure about their angle. But when this line intersects with a block already formed by the other two types of veins, it produces an extra block in an adjacent coord to the block which it intersected with. Because the block may form away from the 28 degree veins, this explains how sometimes these 'extra' blocks can be within the reach of the 28 degree line or sometimes outside of it's reach.
The technique
Before you begin following this technique religiously, make sure that you cover every cord in a wide area to make sure that this pattern doesn't vary by area/region. The set up will take some time, a good number of coords need to be tapped. I suggest doing at least a 15 x 30 grid before you start to apply this technique but going 30 x 30 is probably advisable (although I myself prefer to tap in squares of 7 x 7 making it 35 x 35). Once you have this done, take out some graph paper and fill in ever single block on your chart. Then it should be apparent that there are veins running across it and then it's just a matter of taking a ruler and drawing a straight line that goes through as many of the blocks as possible. Then pick a point 5 coords above the two that you previously traced a line between and most if not all of the blocks should also fall on that line. Do this as much as you'd like. Then mark out an area you haven't already tapped and X off all the coords that could contain blocks. These are the coord that either touch the line, are the closest diagonal coord of a coord touching the line or are the diagonal coord or a coord split down the middle by the line. If you've done it properly you usually end up with 2 coords right then one coord up that aren't filled with X's. Then go and place bores there. I suggest having one person do this as not to get confusion between two people. After you've tapped those rods, and hopefully gotten some blocks, try the coords that you predicted not to have any blocks. If you find blocks there, try again on another 7 x 7, or whatever size you do, grids and if you constantly find blocks there, either you've done something wrong, this whole theory is bogus (I hope not :P) or it doesn't work in other regions. If it does work, I would still try it in 6 grids of 7 x 7 at least to check for consistency. If it works, then call me a genius and save 33% of your 'boring' time, I'm sorry, couldn't help the pun.
In the diagram the green coord indicates a coord on the line, the blue one indicates a coord who's diagonal coord is touching the line closes to that coord and the pink one indicates a coord who's diagonal coord is split down the middle by the line On these ones both diagonals will need to be checked. The navy blue box indicates the line where you don't need to tap. The red dots are just to mark where the corners of my grids are, and yes, there's one missing.
Comments
Please let me know what you think either here or via in game chat.
Added .jpg to your attachments, for easyer viewing. - McArine
Thanks - Shabaka
