Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1904-11-12
TON0PAH BONANZA.
CHANCE
Some Details of Great Districts
Accidentally Found.

discoveries might yearly be enron
icled in the mineral world. Unfortu-
nately, however, the connection of
the mining engineer with the pros
pect or mine begins after its discov-
cry by the patient prospector or by
some one who has stumbled upon it
it quite accidentally.
Possessing only a documentary
knowledge Of geology and mineralogy,
the prospector often wastes much
valuable time in looking for deposits
Of the precious metals in localities
that are virtually barren. while for
the same reason he will pass yer
mineral bearing country, and it is
often left to the tenderfoot to make
the most important discoveries of
the year, which are frequently the
case that these finds are Of an acct
dental nature.
Mining literature is replete with
accounts of chance discoveries, and
many Of the great wealth producers
of the world were found by men who
were not looking for them, and who
would be surprised to be designated
as prospectors or as mining experts.
And yet it is to this class that the
world at large owes a debt of graft
tude for the many bonanzas they have
brought to light; and the tenderfoot,
having a touch Of the mining fever,
need not despair because of his iguor.
ance in matters pertaining to the
mining industry.
The great Ontario mine at Park
City was a chance discovery and,
while the man who found the apex of
this mammoth wealth producer failed
to realize much from his accidental
find, men thoroughly familiar with
mining operations were quick to take
advantage of this most wonderful
discovery, the result being that Utah
was given a mining proposition that
has since paid its fortunate owners
nearly fifteen millions in dividends.
The famous Horn Silver mine at
Frisco, Utah, was an accidental dis
covery that was made by charcoal
burners, and it was only through
chBnce that gold was discovered at
DeLamar, Nevada.
As a matter Of fact, If all accounts
are true, the initial discoveries in
nearly all new mining camps are
accidental finds, as was the Lost
Packer in Loon Greek district,
Idaho, and as we're also some of the
big mines at HALEY, in the same
state.
Only recently a sensational discov-
cry Of rich gold ore was made ia
Southern Oregon by a boy who was
hunting deer and in a few days be
and his father had taken out over
$25, 600 worth of gold. The discov-
cry OF gold in California by Marshall
at Suffer Greek near Coloma was
made while digging a mill race and
this fortunate accident added mil.
lions to the wealth of the world and
led to the marvellous development oil
the Pacific Coast states, but Mar.
shall died a pensioner of the state.
Following upon this came the chance
discovery of gold in Australia by q
deserter from the British navy,
which led to one Of the greatest golC
rushes ever known and brought
about the enormous emigration tc
that island continent which for years
led the world In the production of the
yellow metal until just prior to the
Boer war, when it was exceeded By
the output from South Africa.
There were two other notable chance
discoveries in Australia, n was the
famous Broken Hill silver lead mine
in New South Wales, which was dis.
covered in 1884 by a negro cook of a
sheep camp who brought the ore into
Melbourne. and not knowing its value,
sold his Information for a few hundred
dollars. The mine has since paid
nearly fifty millions Of dollars in divi-
dends, and is still a profitable invest.
ment. In late wears the wonderful