Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-01-06
The Relation Of Geology to the
Mining Induttry.
[coNrINuED FROM LAST WEEK. |

Mississippi valley has been greatley
benefited by geological guidance. In
the Lake Superior region the great
iron mining companies concerned in the
finding of new iron deposits systematic
cally employ biologists to do their pros
pecting in new districts on geological
lines. Coal is unually prospected for
on photographic principles. And you
are all familiar with the fact that in
search for mineral oil or petroleum the
theory of the anticline is now generally
recognized, but the recognition of the
anticline in the field can be safely made
only by the skilled geologist. Another
way in which.geology subserves the pur-
poses Of mining is the substitution of
worldwide experience for the local ex-
perience of any particular mining
camp. In particular camps miners
who have been engaged for years in ex-
ploitftion Of mineral substances become
keen and EXPERT in the recognition of
the Indications of ore, and their ex-
perience, glowing upon them naturally
leads them to apply that experience to
new conditions in remote or neighbor-
ing districts, where, perhaps, the geo.
logical conditions are totally different,
and it requires a man who is familiar
with mining experience as regards the
occurrence of ore deposits, at least, to
interpret new field.
Another way in which geology is of
service to mining is in the pursuit of
ore bodies already known. Ole bodies
are troubled in various ways, particu-
larly by the faulting of the region.
Lodes and deposits of all kinds are very
commonly interrupted by faults. SO that.
the extension of the ore body may
be matter of grave doubt, and in
these cases it is the advice of the skill
ed geologist which will prove most eff
ficacious in bringing solution of the
problem. The famous Saddle reefs of
Bendigo and the similar structures in
Nova Scotia and in the Broken Hill re-
gion are instances of the occurrence of
lodes with structures with which the
miner is usually unfamiliar, but with
which the field geologist is at home.
Next, as regards the genesis of ole
deposits.
1t may be urged that theoretical
questions as to the genesis of deposits
do not concern the practical miner.
But l have generally observed that
whether or not i is matter of practi-
col concern, the miner is usually much
interested in the inquiry as to what the
genesis of his ore may be. Whether
they be veins or segregations from ig-
neous magmas, or the products of con-
tact metamorphisms, are questions
which fall within the domain of the
geologist and not the miner, and hi
alone can satisfy the very ,1auaable
curiosity of the miner in this respect.
AS regards the history of deposits,
the geologist must be called in. These
deposits are often complex, and there
are many stages in their deposition, and
the Interpretation of this complicated
history is not matter which the miner
is usually able to deal with.
In litigation. also, geology is very
frequently of service to mining. The
courts and opposing counsel are gen
orally DESTROYS of knowing the opinion
at least, of geological experts in the
matters In dispute.
In the matter of legislation, too, the
abundance Of geological terms in the
statutes governing mining operations
shows the large influence which geology
has exercised in this direction, and this
influence, if may be pardoncd for say
ing it, might be still farther extended
to. the simplification of our existing
mining laws.
Another way in which the influence
Of geology in, mining is seen is the
growing tendency of large mining cor
porations to employ, geological experts,
not only in the direction of mining
operations, Jhis is well exemplifed in
the greet =, Anaconda mine at Butte,
Mont why're the planning of new un-
derground operations is directed from
the office Of the consulting geclogist of
the company. .E
Large concerns, yke the Guggenheims
are employing the best geological ex-
pqTt advice that they can get in the
advancement Of their projects. The
Southern Pacific railway maintains on
its staff not simply a geologist, but