Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1900-07-05
IN THE MINING WORLD
Value Of d knowledge Of Geology to
the Prospector.
CIV Rarl Douglas, University Of Montana.)

past ages is like history. astronomy,
fossil languages, politics and all other
branches OF human knowledge; il is
mighty interesting when one gets in
terested in it. But it is extremely diff
ficnlt to get very deeply ineterested In
something that we know nothing about.
There are so many branches OF knowl.
edge that one cannot know everything.
But the subject on which am asked
20 write is, believe, of vital interest
to the miner and prospector, though
our knowledge Of it was not developed
for their special benefit, but because Of
the interest and fascination OF the sub
ject itself.
Though I never spent week in
searh of mineral veins, have fellow
feeling for the prospector. In the first
place, there is charm in outdoor life
in tramping over the hills and noun
tains and through the deep rayines and
rocky canyons; in going into camp
tired enough to make rest sweet, and
hungry enough 10 devour with the
keenest relish the ham. bacon. coffee,
fiapjacks and anything else that hap
pens TO come along that is eatable; and
in sleeping in the pure air under the
blue tent of the sky with the whisper
ing of the pines and the varied voices
OF the mountain streams to charm
away worldly cares and lull to sleep.
1t seems so good not to have to wear
stylish clothes, especially ii one has
none to wear; to be where there is no
fear Of trespassing on any mans land,
and to fear nobody's dog: to feel that
the world is yours as much as any
body Is, and whatever riches YOU may
find buried in it's treasure house you
can call your own.
The prospector descends into the
dark mine. submitting himself to
slavery awhile that he may ssgrub
stake" himself and be free man for
the rest of the year and have prospect
Of striking something rich" and be-
coming as wea..n, or more wealthy
than his employer.
The mine owner is much the same
kind Of a man, but he has the advantage
in having more money to start with.
and is looking for place where he can
invest his money in good PROPOSE
tom and get richer.
With both mine owner and prospec-
tor intelligence and Judgment are need
ed. 1t is true that sometimes those
who have learned little from books and
nothing from experience have blum
dered onto rich leads; but if the truth
were summed up think it would ap-
pear that very large percentage OF
good mines have been found by men
of experience, who have worked in
mines. have seen and handled the ores
and have observed the rock in which
they occur. firmly believe, too. that
Q mans chances of finding the treas
ures hid in the earth would be in
creased many fold by adding to his ex-
perience that OF other men, by study
ing this mode OF occurrence OF ores, the
rock formations in which they occur
lin fact, the better knowledge OF
geology and mlneralogy he possesses
and the better his power of observation
and Judgment the better his chances of
success. The same holds true OF the
dealer in mining property. 1t is true
that these sciences are large ones, but
it is Just as true that the chances of
failure without the necessary knowI-
edge are fully as large. If sick man,
ignorant of the properties of drugs,
were turned loose in an apothecary's
shop he might blunder onto something
that would help him, but the chances
would be against him. We need not
be scared by the voluminous books ON
geology with their frightful looking
names. There are simple, interesting
books, giving the most important in
formation. and written especially for
prospectors and mining men, and for
the understanding OF them no previous
knowledge of geology and mineralogy
are needed. These may lead to deeper
study later. But someone will say
that certain minerals have been found
where no experienced prospector would
search and where geologists have said
they cannot occur. The trouble is,
an old miner comes from California,
to Montana and begins to look for gold
here. He knows just how the rock
looks In which the ore occurs where he
mined in California, and he is looking
for the same kind of rock and the same
looking ore, but he probably will not
find it. An old Montana miner goes
TO Colorado and meets with the same
disappointment. His views OF the oc-
curreDce OF ores are too narrow. The
precious metals occur in many differ
emit kinds Of rock and under great
variety of conditions; and one would
have to know the geology Of the whole
world to know all the conditions in
which they occur; yet there are certain
underlying truths that, if understood,
will vastly increase the chances of sue
cess and save not only many years but
many life times. Many brother geolo-
gists- perhaps ought to say uncle ge-
ologists. for think they are OF the gem
GRAFTON that is passing away--haye
studied q certain region and have
judged all the world by that. ] might
whisper to you, too, that not all who
talk and write on geological subjects
know Just what they are talking about,
and ] have no doubt You have thought
Of that before reading this article.