Gilpin observer., 1910-01-06
A eARE-FAcED FRAUD.
The Joplin Find of PItchblende Ore
Came From the Wood Mine in
Gilpin County.

|
blende ore in a mine at Joplin, Mo-
A hurried trip was made to the sec
ton by one of the faculty to see what
it amounted to and render such aid
as might be needed in developing the
find
| 1t seems now that the reputed dis
covery was no discovery at ALL but
a bare-faced species of fraud perpet-
rated with the intent to deceive.
Upon examination of the mine, from
which the ore is reported to have
come, disclosed nothing to show any
similarity to the mineral pitchblende
of the kind, quality or grade char
acteristic of the ores found in Gilpin
county.
In making up test lot of ore from
the section mentioned, to be sent to
the Golden School of Mines, speci-
men of pitchblende was included. The
keen-eyed professors soon detected
the specimen and hurried analysis
made, which disclosed the important
nature of the sample.
1t is claimed now that the speci-
men in question came from the Wood
mine in this mining district. The man
who perpetrated the hoax on the
professors had, about eight years ago,
been interested in some capacity or
other with the property and procured
quantity of the pitchblende, sam
pie he retained with which he salted
the mineral sent to the college 1t
was done, it is claimed simply to
find out whether the professors at
Golden really knew the mineral pitch
blende when they saw it. a poor ex-
cuse.
Thus has another mining fake been
exploded, which leaves the discovery
of the genuine article still in posses
sion of Gilpin county. In the nature
of things the Joplin incident would
soon have been discovered thus leav-
ing very bad stigma upon the Sec
tion inasmuch as it had nothing to
show of the nature of pitchblende.
If she had, then Gilpin county would
have had a rival, but now. since it
is proven beyond doubt that the
lead-producing portion of Missouri
has nothing to indicate even the
presence of the highly-prized mineral,
Gilpin county mines still retain the
superior position of producing the
highest grade of the ore found any
where in the world.
The sample from which the test
was made came from a lot that
brought $4,000 upon its shipment TO
Germany, the most interested in the
product of the rare metals at that
time. Thanks to the Vinton Walsh
research fund, the Golden School Of
| Mines has interested itself more ex
tensively than any other institution
in the country.
A correspondent in the Denver
Republican of January 4th, seems to
have a very exclusive knowledge Of
carnotite-uranium-pit -pitchblende kind Of
minerals, Judging from the remarks
contributed to that journal of above
date. He deplores the sensational
exploiting of the subject and hits the
faculty at the school Of mines with
resounding smack, saying that they
ought to be more circumspect in their
treatment Of subjects, which the Re-
publican correspondent hints, the pub
lie knows little and probably cares
less. From this altitude, it would
look as though the Denver man had
a full-fledged crouch fed by the fact
that the Gilpin grade of the product
runs SO much higher than the article
produced elsewhere. That sections in
the southern part of the state are
mentioned by him confirms the be-
lief that the correspondent must. in
some way, be connected with the in
dustry to the southwark 1t is very
narrow view, and, as he says, the
whole thing don't amount to very
much, anyway. 1t looks as though he
were a very peevish sort OF gentle
man and would have wished that
Joplin, Mo-, might have taken from
Gilpin the glory OF furnishing guam
tity and quality better than found
elsewhere. just to belittle the big
thing developed in old Gflpin.
The writer OF this is not aiming
to be personal, but he possesses some
Carnotite, which he was told Is
a carbonite oxide of uranium
of thirty per cent that came
from Rio Blanca county. this state.
This is mentioned to show, that al
though this mineral has been in his
possession for the past. six months,