Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-20
WORK Of GREAT
IMPORTANCE
WILL BE UNDERTAKEN IN MON
TANA BY THE U. S. GEOLoGI-
CAL SURVEY.
TO TRACE THE ORIGIN
OF THE PRECIOUS METALS
An Exhaustive Study Will Be Made of
the Conditions That Produce the
More Important Values.

An important work in connection with
the United States geological survey will
be commenced at once in the mining
states in the coast region The work pro-
posed will be supplemental to the geOlo-
gical surveys relating to gold and silver
production part of the mineral out
put OF the country. and it can be scarce
iy doubted that the fruition of the plans
will result in great benefit to the min
ing industry throughout Montana and
adjoining states.
For the purpose of organizing for the
statistical and field work projected
Edward w. Parker, of Washington. D.
c.. statistician of the government geo.
logical survey and acting chief of the
division of mineral resources, while Dr.
David 7. Day is preparing for the gov
eminent exhibit at the Buffalo exposi-
ton. is making a tour of the mining
states to instruct special agents in the
organization. Mr.. Parker arrived in
Butte yesterday.
Explaining the nature of the supple
mental work of the geological survey in
his charge. Mr.. Parker stated that
heretofore the reports on the production
of gold and silver have been confined to
statistics compiled under the direction
of the mint officials and have shown
from commercial standpoint only the
value of these two classes of mineral
products, without reference to the study
of The occurrence Of them from an eco
nom;cal view geologically.
The statistical work will first trace
the origin of god and silver in the
various localities where found and
then Will come a study of the geological
| conditions that produce the more i'm
portant values. A list of the produce
| ing mines will be made and these will
| include all properties on which assess
ment work has not been abandoned and
| which have either been or are capa BILE
| of being made producers of gold and
silver ore. The character of ore, the
| gangue. the foot and hanging walls and
| all other necessary scientific data will
be subjects of special consideration in
connection with the work. Illustrative
| of the scope of the researches to be
made, Mr.. Parker cited that in Colo
RADIO alone there are about $4,000 prop
critics which the survey Will classify
as mines. This is exclusive of simple
| locations. In California there will be
about 10 OOO items or names of gold
and silver mining properties to handle.
Until this year it has been impossible
! for the division of mineral resources in
the geological survey to take up the
| study of gold and silver products in con-
nection with the general geological con-
ditions that prevail in the more import
ant mining districts, and according to
Mr.. Parker it will require a considerable
| time to get the work we'll started. But
the result of the work from such an
impartial and scientific standard as the
| government will exact are certain in
his estimation to be fully appreciated
by the mining fraternity.
Naturally, there will be large amount
of field work and PERSONAL inspection
to be done and by reason Of the pur-
pose to achieve thoroughness in col
Letting information for the uses of the
masses relating to the gold and silver
production and possibilities of the min
ing states, Mr. Parker does not look for
an early report on the work to be done
Further illustrating the Importance OF
the supplemental geological surveys to
be undertaken. Mr.. Parker said that
every necessary item of information re-