Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-04-21

as far as 1000 feet in the effort to as
certain the existence of a vein or the
dimensions of one already discovered.
carried out preliminary to the opening
Of mines. represent an outlay Of more
than $1.000.000 in the purchase Of ap-
paratus, the employment Of noted ex-
the operations.
Among the mechanical appliances
which have been Of great assistance to
the modern prospector is the drill.
With 1t he can make borings In a
week where, II shaft were sunk,
year would be needed. II the forma-
ton Is to be examined by a shaft,
however, the cost of sinking 1t Is re-
duced to a minimum by means Of ex-
plosive cartridges. which are now man
ufactured especially for such service.
They are ignited by means of the elec-
trio current, and II should be said that
an essential part Of the modern pros
pecting outfit Is the chemical battery,
which is Of value not only for this
purpose but in the application Of elec-
trolytic methods for separating the
precious metal from the dross.
Few expeditions of any size are sent
out without an experienced geologist,
who Is usually provided with maps
and other data giving the best infor-
nation available regarding the region
to be explored. Maps giving the ex-
tent of the claims, the direction Of the
veins and the general topography Of
the region where the mine is to opened
are obviously Of much value, and
draughtsman Is frequently includ-
ed in the staff, with material for
preparing the maps on the spot from
the data obtained by the investigators.
Besides the geologist, the services
of an expert chemist are also Of great
Importance, and laboratory in minia-
ture Is contained In the packs carried
by the animals. So complete Is this
portion Of the equipment that q fairly
correct field analysis can be made OF
the specimens secured by the use OF
the drill or by the other prospecting
tools. If the outcropping Of quartz
vein Is discovered, enough is broken
off to allow its character to be studied
both from a geological and chemical
standpoint.
After examining 1t in connection
with the formation In the vicinity, the
geologist Is often able to indicate
where the surface can be bored with
the possibility Of reaching the ore
bearing stratum at once. The value
of the ore from the outcropping and
that from the interior can be approx
imately determined by the chemist.
To crush the ore Is a slight undertake
ing, and with the lead which he has
brought along the material can be
readily fused in a portable furnace.
In fact, he has the essentials for MAX
ing dry assay" on a limited scale,
for cupels are now made Of such light
weight that they can readily be car
ried on muleback.
Taking the ingot Of lead and Of pre-
cious metal he can easily oxidize the
lead by placing 1t in his cupel and
heating the latter to the required tenn
perature in an oven constructed Of
material which he can obtain in the
vicinity. With his nitric acid he sep
arates the silver which may remain,
leaving the gold only to be tested for
it's value. The proportion of the gold
to a given quantity Of ore can be
determined by his scales, but by US
ing his touchstone or black basalt he
can detect the quality Of the gold by
the color which this substance makes
when drawn over the surface Of
the metal.
In the outfit of the modern pros
pector quicksilver has become practi-
cally indispensable. Its affinity 'for
gold makes 1t a most valuable agent.
Where the existence Of placer gold Is
imag gined. the introduction Of mercu-
ry into the test washer soon solves the
use of rifles and other crude appli-
ances which were formerly depended
upon almost entirely. After crushing
the specimens of test ore, the quick
silver can also be used to ascertain the
quantity of free gold among the par
tices. AS the mercury can be elimi-
mated by heating the composition to a
sufficiently high temperature, 1t Is now
utilized In large quantities by the
modern prospector