Many of the recently unearthed chips in Mississippi will have been somewhat protected from rusting and pitting depending upon how many chips have been exposed to the dirt and any moisture over this period of time. Remember, we don't know for sure at this point in time WHEN the chips were buried. It may not have been 20 year ago as some have speculated. The chips could have been stored at Green Duck for years before the decision was made to finally bury them. Large quantities of chips obviously have been laying in the middle of clumps of chips in the pit, with neighboring chips on top and bottom acting as cover, may not have the same signs of deterioration that other chips in direct contact with the soil might have. Plus, the fact that the chip centers are of stainless steel may lessen the degree of severe corrosion, particularly so if the chips have not been in the ground for many, many years.