The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920, 1905-04-06

twenty-five per cent. OF the worlds
production of gold, and thirty-three
per cent. of the worlds production of
silver, being 100000 ounces of gold
and 56,500,00O ounces of silver. In
1895 the various States and Territories
produced but 2.255,OO0 ounces of gold.
Consequently, the yield from fhe gold
mines has increased sixty per cent in
less than decade.
In seeking the rea sons for this truly
remarkable development, one is espe-
cially prominent-the great advance
which has been made in the methods
followed by the modern gold seeker.
The prospectors have taken advantage
of progress in geology. chemistry and
other sciences, and have provided them
selves with mechanical aids which are
far superior to the crude implements
employed by the metal hunters of the
past. Their examination has not been
confined merely to the bed of n creek
or the side of n mountain, but often
is so extensive that it embraces miles
of area Many prospecting tour rises
to the dignity of an expedition, and
embraces variety of apparatus, TO
say nothing of staff of biologists and
other experts
In the old-fashioned system, as it
might be termed, of seeking precious
metal, the prospectors can be divided
into two classes-those who are salts
fled to obtained the metal in any form,
and the pocket hunters" The latter
individual considers himself above the
other type of prospector, terming his
calling professional. Many one has
spent the better part of his life in
exploring beds of streams and dry val
leys in search of pockets. In Southern
Oregon the pocket hunters have been
perhaps more numerous than elsewhere
in the United States proper, as this
section of the State has yielded large
amount of gold in this form. Pocket
prospectors depend upon the pick,
shovel and pan as do their fellows, but
they seldom dig further into the side
of the bank or hill than their shovel
will reach.
The ordinary prospector wades
through the bed of the stream or
tramps through its sand if it is dry"
here and there filling his pan with the
material. Then immersing the pan in
water, he thus separates the sand from
the other matter, and gradually splitting
out the sand, eagerly gaZes at the bot
tom of the pan to note any glittering
streak which may betoken the. pres
ence of gold. If he is working along
the side of hill where he believes the
ledge of rock may contain vein of
gold-bearing ore, he breaks off likely
will MI CHI
best he can, and dumping the dust and
fragments into his pan, repeats the
separation process. In the examination
of rock for metal-bearing ore the arras-
ira of the Mexicans and Spaniards has
been used extensively, especially in
California and Oregon. This contriy-
ance consists of vertical shaft or
axis, which supports several wooden
bars fastened at right angles to it. To
the ends of the bars are attached
heavy fiat stones, which by the move
ment of the axis revolves in a circular
pit. The specimens of ore are placed
in the pit. stream of water turned
upon them, and the arrastra placed in
motion by animal or water power. The
ore is resolved into a Shiny sediment
passes off through the sluiceway. which
is provided with rifles for catching the
gold.
The modern methods for searching
for deposits of precious gold are so rad
cally different from those described,
that it may be said revolution has
taken place in prospecting in the
United States. In the Rocky Noun
tain region the formation has been
pierced as far as 1000 feet in the effort
to ascertain the existence of vein,
or the dimensions of one already dis
covered. Some of the projects which
have been carried out preliminary to
the opening of mines, represent an out
lay of over a million dollars in the
purchase of apparatus, the employment
| of noted experts, and in the general
magnitude of the operations.
| Among the mechanical appliances
| which have been of great assistance
| to the modern prospector is the drill.
With it he can make borings in week
where IL Shaft We're sunk a year
would be needed. If the formation is
to be examined by shaft. however,
the cost of sinking it is reduced to q
minimum by means of explosive cart
ridges, which are now manufactured
especially for such service. They are
ignited by means of the electric cur
rent, and it should be said that an
essential part of the modern prospect
ing outfit is a chemical battery, which
is not only of value for this purpose
but in the application of electrolytic
methods to 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 informa-
| ton available regarding the region 70