Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-07-05
IN THE MINING WORLD
Value Of a knowledge Of Geology to
the Prospector.


The study of the remains of plant
and animal life that have existed in
past ages is like history, astronomy.
fossil languages. politics and all other
branches of human knowledge; it is
mighty interesting when one gets in.
terested in it. But it il extremely diff
ticult to get very deeply Interested 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
to 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 never spent week in
searh OF mineral veins, have a 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 ravines and
rocky canyons; in going into camp
tired enough to make rest sweet, and
hungry enough to devour with the
keenest relish the ham, bacon, coffee,
hapjacks 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 go good not to have to wear
stylish clothes, especially If 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 AZ much as any.
body's, and whatever riches you may
find buried in its treasure house you
can call your own.
The prospector descends into the
dark mine. submitting himself to
slavery awhile that he may grub
stake" himself and be q free man for
the rest OF the year and have prospect
OF "striking something rich" and b.
coming as wealthy or more wealthy
than mis- employer.
The mine owner is much the same
kind of 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.
ton" 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 II 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
. mans chances Of finding the treas.
ures hid in the tn would be in.
creased many fold by adding to MS ex.
perience that of other men, by study.
ing thu mode OF occurrence of ores, the
rock formations in which they occur
in fact, the better knowledge Of
geology and m,neralogy 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 knowl.
edge are fully as large. If q 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 whore biologists have said
they cannot occur. The trouble is,
IN old miner comes from California,
20 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
flud it. An old Montana miner goes
to Colorado and meets with the same
disappointment. His views Of the oc.
currepce of ores are too narrow. The
precious metals occur IN many differ.
ent 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, II understood,
will vastly increase the chances OF sue.
cess and save not only many years but
many life times. Many brother geolo.
gists-perhsps ought to say uncle &C.
Ologists. for think they are of tho gen.
GRAFTON that il passing away-have
studied . certain region and have
judged oil the world by that. might
whisper to you. too, that not all who