Gilpin observer., 1900-04-26
ADVICE TO PROJECTORS.
Some Suggestions That VIII BE Found OF
Great Value

Many prospectors, especially those in
quest of free gold, overlook valuable
claims by placing too much depend
ence upon the mortar and pan, says
the Mining and Scientific Press. While,
as a general rule, ores in collaborating
districts show some free gold. 1t does
not follow that all the values lie in
that portion that is obtained in the
horn.
Ores containing silver values may at
the same time contain enough gold
that is not free, to justify terming
them gold ores. Again, there are Il
great many ores in which the gold,
though practically free, is in such n
fEe state of division as to show not
even color by the horn test.
Some ores rich in gold would not be
noticed by a regular prospector, for
the reason that it has more the appear
ance of country rock than rock that
would be supposed to carry gold.
y Some of our richest mines have as
Nngue rock ordinary brown or iron
stained limestone. Some have as
matriX nothing but common brown or
iron-stained porphyry, which may be
in the shape of small lodges few feet
in width or in large dykes or reefs
fifty to 100 feet wide or even wider,
still they carry gold values sufficient
to make them good paying mines-in
fact, almost any kind of rock may
carry gold in profitable quantities.
Another class of mines that the pros
pectOr looking for gold would be very
apt to pass by as beneath his notice
are those of such magnitude that the
very idea of their being worthy of in,
vestigation would be considered by
him as preposterous. Large belts of
s.hiSt f, N Sfra.ll,S
and lenses of quartz, although ap-
parently barren, may contain gold
enough to make them veritable bon
anzas. The gold may be free or the
values may lie wholly, or nearly so,
in small particles of sulphurets widely
disseminated through the rock. both
in the quartz and country rock or in
either. The majority of the dividend
paying gold mines of to-day are just
such propositions. They are to be sure
mostly very low grade, but they are
the kind of mines that capital is look
ing for.
There are also waiting TO be dis
covered and opened base propositions
that most prospectors consider as
worthless simply because they are
base.
If the prospector is of the free gold
t/pe he will not even know that they
contain gold at all, but will let them
lie and move on 10 some section where
the ores are not base. If he happens
instead to be Il man who considers it
worth while to have the ore assayed,
he will know that the bases carry
! values high enough perhaps to make
Nhem profitable. providing they We're
Nee, but as the ore is base he passes
ON Where the latter makes his mis-
is,
in this age of machinery and improved
appliances so-called base ores are made
to pay Il profit, whereas n few years
ago We're the same values in the shape
of free gold they could not be handled
at a profit.
1t is well for n prospector, before
starting out, 20 consider that mine
will pay:
Frst-Though small if rich enough,
though of low grade if large enough.
The exercise of II little Judgment will
enable him to determine the medium
of the two extremes. lie must leave
large margin in determining the
relative limit in size and richness of
his ore body. Better far to be preju-
diced against the probability of his
undertaking proving valuable, If he
desires to be on the safe side.
Secoud-IIc should not rely upon Il
horn test. but consider that although
few assays will cost him certain
amount of money, II Is nevertheless
far cheaper to know definitely the
value of his ore than to spend his
time upon something 1t were better
to let alone or to leave something
valuable and not know it TO look for
something better.
Third-I.et him realize that If there
is anything in his line of which he is
Liorant and in doubt, In the matter
Lf actual economic value of certain
classes of ores. there are hundreds of
men who can and will enlighten him
il he will hut inquire. There is hardly
IL question he could ask in relation to
his business but that could he an
swerod In the columns of the Mining
: and Scientific Press.
Y Fourth-In seeking to sell n prospect.
Of IN trying to interest capital, he
should by all means state the facts as
lie knows them and leave 1t to the in
vestOr to theoizc and draw his own
conclusions. No prospector ever yet
aided his cause by msrcprcsenting
anything in connection with his claim
No investor ever examined II claim
which he found to have been willfully
mlsreprcsentcd, who did not 20 away
disgustcd.
Fifth. and perhaps not least, the
prospcctor should not conilne himself
10 hunting for quartz, but any kind
of rock out of the ordinary, of which
there appears TO he less than n noun.
tain. should he considered worthy of
investigation. for the mine of the
future will be one that has been over
looked. simply because 1t ls different
from the usual run Of things.
IeRdviiie's Pytitic smclter.
The improvements being constantly
mndp nj thp works of tho Boston Gold.