The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-02-10
Msefnl aud Curious.
HOW TO SEARCH FOR METALS.
SEARCHING Fog COPPER.


The copper ores, after exposure, or after being
dipped in vinegar are almost inyaribly green OH
the surface. They most abundant near trap
dykes The pyrites generally found IN lead
mines, and in grant. and clay slate Copper
very rarely occurs in new formations, as along
the Atlantic aud Gulf borders, AMI the MississiP-
pi valley south of Cairo
SEARCHING FOR LEAD.
Lead is seldom discovered in the surface soil.
IL is also in vain TAI look for il in the coal regions
aad along the coast Ii must be sought IN steep
hills, in limestone or steep rocks surface cut
by frequent rayines, or covered by vegetation IN
lines, indicates mineral ereyices. The galena
from the slate is said to contain more sslver than
that from the limestone. The purrst specimens
Of galena are poorest in silver: the small veins
richest in the more precious metal. A lead
vein is thickest in limestone, thinner in sand
stone. and thinnest in slate.
SEARCHING FOR SILVER
This metal is usually found with lead ore and
native copper. States and sandstones intersec-
ted by igneous rocks, as trap and porphyry, ere
good localities. Pure silver is often found IN or
near iron ores and the dark brown zinc blende.
The Colorado silver lodes are porous at the sur
face, and colored more OF less red or green. Any
rock suspected of containing silver should be
powdered and dissolved in nitric acid. Pour off
the liquid and add to il a solution of salt. If a
white powder falls to the bottom, which, upon
exposure, turns black, there is silver in it. Silver
mines increase IN value as IN
gold diminishes as we descend.
SEARCHING FOR GOLD.
The paying localities of gold deposits are the
slopes of tine Rocky and Allegheny Mountains
Gold ueed not be looked for in the anthracite
and bituminOus coal fields nor in limestone rocks
1t is seldom found in beds of rivers. The thing
itself is the surest indication of its existence
If soil or sand is washed, and the particles of
gold are not heavy enough to remain at the bot
tom, but float away. the bed will not pay.
Among streams rather higher up among the
mountains, and in the gravelly drift covering the
slope of the valley below, are the best prospects.
Where the stream meets an obstacle in its path,
or makes bend, or has deep holes, there We
may look for pockets of gold. Black red
sands are usually richest Collaborating rock is
a slate or granite Astounding in rusty looking
quartz veins, the latter containing iron pyrites
or cavities. Almost all iron pyrites and silver
ores may be worked for gold. When the quartz
veins are thin and numerous rather than massive,
and lie the surface, they are considered
most profitable. Few veins can be worked with
profit very far down. As traces of gold may be
found everywhere, no one should indulge in spec
ulation before calculating the per centage and
the cost of extraction. Gold hunting, after all,
is lottery, with more blanks than prizes.
The substances most frequently mistaken for
gold are iron pyrites, copper ,pyrites and mica
The precious metal is easily distinguished from
these by its malleability (hattening under the
hammer) and its great weight, sinking rapidly
in water
SEARCHING FOR IRON.
Any heavy mineral of black, brown, red or
yellow color may be suspected to be iron. To
prove it, dissolve some in oil of vitriol and pour
in an infusion of nut gall oak bark; if it turns
black, iron is present. If a ton of rich magnetic
ore costs more than 81 at the furnace, good hem
attic more than 3d. and poor more than 81 80
OF 81, they are too expensive to pay, unless iron
| is unusually high. Deep mining for iron is not
profitable. Generally speaking, n bed of good
iron ore, foot thick, will repay the cost of strip
ping it of soil, otc., twelve feet thick. Red and
yellow earths called ochres, contain iron. Mag
netic is easily found by compassionate
ground Treasures, BY Prot. james Orion.