The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-31
HOW TO FIND GOLD.
PRACTICAL POINTERS FOR INTEND
AVG .ROsPECrORs.
where Minerals Are to he Found
and the characteristics Which
Are to He Observed ON the Sur
face.

'The prospector should observe the
character OF all loose rocks found in
ravines or gulches. especially in eddies,
which are OF frequent occurrence in moun-
tain DISTRICTS says ]. II, Fisk, an as.
sayer. in the Oregonian- In searching
the sands washed down by the river, II Is
we'll TO bear In mind that II the bed OF
the river which flows through level or
open country yields fine gold dust. II will
probably yield larger or coarser gold near
the mountain. as the finer and lighter
particles will float further away.
Very commonly, In a canyon or guich
where gold Is found, an accumulation OF
boulders or gravel may be noticed high
up on the sides OF the range. and more
or less parallel to the bed of the creek.
Portions of such deposits should be care
fully examined by washing in pan. as
the gold-bearing matter. whether carried
there In past ages by running water or
glaciers. may contain gold In rich layers.
called by miners the rim-rock, which is
always a rifle for the deposit Of gold.
SHOULD there be several distinct de-
posits. the lower stratum on the bedrock
would be the richest. 1t Is advisable to
remember that when gold is found In
riacers or hillsides. the chances are that
gold veins traverse the neighbcring eie-
vations Of land. Such elevations may
prove profitable to work. but this is not
necessarily the case.
almost all the rich metal-bearing gold
veins are found chiefly in rocks of an
older date than those OF the coal meas
ures. although some In California are
found in more recent formation. and
the famous Comstock lode was. no doubt.
formed by the hot alkaline waters as late
as the tertiary period. Without entering
into discussion as TO the formation or
origin OF quartz veins. I will say that the
same law applying To veins In one district
also applies to another as TO their COM
pass bearing. Consequently they are
parallel. although some distance may
separate one lode from another.
In some mining districts tho second
series OF veins run Mt right angles to the
first and principal. Such iodes are either
Of different nature of mineral to that OF
the first. or. IL the same. are very poor In
quality.
III is well. also. to remember that true
mineral vein is not likely TO exist alone,
bat many more, either richer or poorer.
may be found TO form = mineral belt For
this reason the prospector should not set
his affections upon one vein alone until he
has examined the whole district TO his en-
tire satisfaction. In searching for veins.
the prospector should STUDY the general
geological formation OF the country the
cutting Iandsl!des. the cliffs. the sides OF
valleys, the sections of BANGS exposed TO
view by the action OF water, river beds
and dry channels ard ff he fails to find
samples OF rich hoat-rock he should travel
up as long as he can find similar rock.
When no more is found he should then
start UP the hillside or mountain to dis
cover the parent rock from which they
came. Very frequently at the base of the
hin or mountain there Is deposit In the
soil washed down from more elevated
ground. High up on the hin may be found
ha ". ho fcrx <xf
detached portions OF the vein. which would
not be far from the ore In place.
by taking notice. however of the vari-
Gus unduia tons and drift. the proepecior
may come across outcrop on the steep side
OF the gully, or backbone of ridges. and
failing In this. he may travel toward the
SUBMITS OF any range OF hills 10 find the
vein.
"Flucr spar fiuase of iimc) in favorable
for lead and copper: calac SPAR for lead
and silver: hat many other vaiuatcs min
erals may be looked for In guienes and
ravines. skGh as stream tin. antimonial Hii-
yer. metallic copper, platinum grains tel
iurfde OF gold and anthracite coal which
latter. with ozocerite. have both been
found In Washington. and lately I have
had some of the best sieatife ] ever saw
brought 10 me. said to have come from UP
on kaiama river. Ia Washington. II i.
norn-coiored. and a very pure article, and
there Ought to and could be good BUSH
ness derived from H.
..But. for a goid-hearlng vein. there IN
none so good az the one which has an iron
cap. The iron oxide In really the result Of
the decomposition OF the iron pyrites, and
the pyrites would be found deeper down
after finding the vein. The proxpeetor
may dig trench at right angles. IL pos
ssbie. TO the lode. IN order TO examine its
character. the nature 81 the ore. and the
gangae. and to find the boundary wall.
viz. she upper and hanging wall. and the
lower or footwaii. as well "a to note tho
direction or strike Of the lode. He must
sink prospecting shaft a few feet deeper
tran The bottom Of the rYenca 10 determine
isae exact body OF the Gre. as rhs lode may
5a distorted from lis original shape near
The surface. But when the direction Of
The lode 10 once ascertained. other pits
lower down or higher UP the Hill. should
he naacts 20 as to test the continuity Of
sas VEIN should the vein prove cou.inu-