The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-05-30
RULES FOR Sue
CESSFUL SAMPL|NC


responsibility than that of call to
examine and determine the value of
mine.
He may be requested to furnish
plans for q mill. a smelter or concen-
traitor, or to devise an economical
method Of mining a low-krade body
of ore, or to suggest other practical
ideas and plans all Of which he may
do with confidence, but when request
ed to give an opinion in a professional
way on the value of a mine he is
placed in a position of trust upon
which much more may depend than is
at first sight apparent.
He cannot afford to report adverse
ly and have the mine prove a bonan-
"a for the next fellow who comes
along, and most assuredly he cannot
afford to give favorable report when
the property does not justify such an
endorsement.
Necessarily he must make a careful,
painstaking and thorough investigation
of the surrounding country; giving
attention to the transportation prob
lem, and fuel and power problems
generally, making comparisons be-
tween steam, water and electric and
other power. if each is available. or
if not existent, state under what con-
ditions and at what cost power may
be obtained If it is smelling pro-
position the question of fuel, fiuxes and
water is important.
Shall the smelter be located at the
mine or at distance? This he must
determine.
The title to the property is all
important. He must be sure that if
valuable mine is developed his eli
ents should they purchase the prop
erty. or their assigns. may work it
uninterrupted by adverse claimants.
Where improvements are possible in
the future. as to transportation, power
or other conditions. these should be
stated.
AS to the mine itself, he must in
spect the workings and decide about
what quantity of ore will probably be
available, and determine whether the
shaft or adit is sufficiently large to
handle the tonnage or ore desired, be-
sides waste. handling men, timbers.
supplies and water.
1t may be advisable to sink a new
and larger shaft or to drive a tunnel,
and site of either of these must be
selected with reference to the distri-
button of known ore underground,
and also with view to surface trans
portation to mill or other works.
In sampling he will carefully Sec
tionize the entire workings, measuring
and sampling from wall to wall. If a
vein of moderate size, or dividing it in
to blocks if a large vein, zone or body.
The samples taken must represent, as
nearly as possible, the ore as it occurs
in the vein.
Rich streaks may be measured and
sampled separately If desired. and in
many places it is better to do this.
because a streak of rich ore an inch
or two in thickness will create a false
idea of the value of a vein five or six
feet wide If mixed with the lower
grade rock, particularly of the expense
of mining inasmuch as the low-grade
part of the vein may be too poor to
pay the cost of mining. which, to-
gether with the other costs, must be
borne by the small, rich streak.
There are various ways of arriving
at the values of mines. and the taking
of the samples is usually the easiest
part of the operation. Anyone who
knows anything of practical mining
with little instruction, If a novice
at the business) can take mine sam
pies: but it is very essention to know
that the samples represent what ma
ture. and not man. has placed in the
ore.
The experienced mine examiner
quickly learns that he cannot afford to
take risks of property being "salted,"
and it is remarkable the various safe
guards he must throw about himself
to prevent this. When there is any
considerable sum of money at stake on
mining deal the engineer who sam
Piles the mine has many extraordinary
precautions to take. These may be set
down in his diary or field notebook in
something like the following, and may
be entitled:
Rules for Mine Sampling."
1. Provide box of nitro-powder
directly from the manufacturer.
2. Take for assistants only sober
men whom you know to be above sus-
picion and who cannot be bribed
8. Arrived at the mine or town in
or near which the mine is situated.
keep your business to yourself
4. Have sufficient number of new
canvas sacks to accommodate all the
samples you wish to take.
Hava a good-Sizad heavy con