Show prospecting written for the review by J L Lw mallery allery the genesis of development of a mineral region begins with that indispensable toiler the prospector the aladdin the steel ol of whose pick strikes the spark that lights the lamp of discovery and reveals the numerous gol condas that are pouring pol iring out their wealth of precious metals much sympathetic truth has been written of the perseverance and endurance of this hardy io bi and the meagre results that so BO often follow his efforts with their a attend ent privations and hardships in the day sagone of the wild and woolly west adventure added a spice to his search for treasure the live prospector of today is a man of milder mien he has not stood still while the world progressed but has kept step with the pace in evolution he is no no longer a mere digger in the ground but an observer of things icings he is a reader of rocks which tell so much of probable mineral values he knows something of geology and mineralogy can point out the sediment aries that are un alberd ali ered knows something of the periods to which they belong can distinguish between slate and shale between calcite and quartz quartz and feldspar fel spar segregates porphyries ries and knows their value in connection with ore bodies he knows something of metamorphism that quartzite is altered sandstone that the great mass of rocks are chiefly altered sediment aries and that valuable metals are usually found in regions of intrusive rocks he is no longer exclusively searching for quartz guariz as the mother of kold gold nor for granites goranites gra slates and serpentines serpent ines as the only formations favorable to valuable ore bodies he hils has learned that it is not kinds of rocks but conditions which have prevailed in the making or changing of rocks elemental and physical 1 that has produced the coveted mineral 1 he also knows or should the characteristic act color streak and hardness of all ores of commercial value the up to date prospector has need of a wider knowledge than his predecessor values are found where of before modern methods of re reduction makes the handling of extremely low graap grade ores profitable it is often asserted that tenderfeet tender feet have discovered most of our valuable mines this is like the man who believes bad luck will follow a horse horae trade on sunday if it does he makes particular note of it because he expects it while unimportant that which comes of trades made on other day days sp passes asses unnoticed the tenderfoots tender foots find attracts attention because it is supposed he is not apt to find a mine this supposition is proof that his chances are not equal to the man of experience there Is no valid reason why technical knowledge la Is not just as valuable in prospecting as in any other calling the prospector who lacks it nay may pass a bonanza by sell it for a song or spend time and money holding a worthless piece of ground to be expert in reading surface indications it is essential to know something of the how why and probable where the purely technical is not sufficient the student must get over the ground and into it must come in contact with things both visual and physical though it be rocks this is the practical th that at puts a finish on mental effort the combination that produces a man fit for the field A man need not be a graduate of some school of mines to be all that is here pointed out and more the world is full of books from able men and the book of nature is open to all the prospector will always be with us capital will not take to the burro and pack saddle and the roughness of camp life on desert and mountain the discoverer too often meets disappointment when his reward may lie at his feet for lank lack of funds he is unable to exploit his find his time is lost and a valuable ore body lies undeveloped this break should be bridged or rather prevented by a union of capital with the prospect prospectors orli time and experience at the discovery stake knowledge is in the main main a bankrupt not a penny for development and capital fights shy there are no drifts cross cuts cuts and upraises up raises with calculable tons in sight nor assayers certificates attesting the value en masse capital and labor are interdependent combination is conser of time and money applied to mining it would result in more rapid development of our mineral resources and reduce the percentage of failures As pointed out the prospector expends time and what little money he has only to fail at the location post through lack of funds again capital too often fails through misdirected effort and lack of knowing how at the working end capital is not meant here as millions a few hundred wisely expended may bring rich returns in a mining region the majority are in te rested in mines some invest in a few shares because they are told its a good buy or what is more risky speculation in stocks A better way to mine would be to form an association to keep an intelligent well versed thoroughly practical man in the field give him an interest and a salary that will leave his mind free from the shadow of want the chances of realization would be far greater than in speculation mineral exploration and development ju viciously conducted along these lines will result in fewer failures than is accredited by commercial agencies to transactions in the business world |