The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-08-14
EXPOSES FOOLS GOLD"

The State GeolOgist in the follow.
ing article explains the frequent
mistakes IN Missouri minerals, and
tells how samples sent to the Geo.
! logical Bureau ut ROlla, Mo-, will
be examined free aud their probable
value determined:
Fortunes have been wasted, says
! the state GeUlogist, IN futile mt.
tempts to mine Fools Gold, and
| thousands of dollars are spent au.
/ uually Ia AN endcaSUr to develop
. properties upon which rocks or min.
erals occur having the appearance
81 valuable metals or having been
} reported as valuable by unscrupuI
Gus promoters ana assuycrs.
/ Missouri has II variety Of such
minerals aud rocks, according h.
state GeuiOgist ii. y. Buchler, "and
fake promotions have beer made il.
/ this stat" on the similarity OF al
/ praraurc.
zone OF the most stupcudOus frauds
pcrprlratrd IN Missouri was the
great tin mine promotion in the
gran lie region oi southeast Missouri
many years ago. one OF the dark
! ,
srmDlcd tin ore was passed off a.
valuable To unsuspectug citizens
and fortunes were squaudercd in
stock before the fake wa, discov.
cred
Hundreds OF specimens, received
from citizens throughout the State,
are examined yearly by the State
GcOlUgist free OF cost. Many OF
those prove valuable aud indicate
deposits Of commercial size, while
others are samples which only have
the color or appearance of import.
ant materials and look like copper,
gold, silver or iron.
Tho yellow color of pyritcs OF
iron, commonly known as Fools
gold has caused the waste OF
thousands of dollars on useless
prospecting yellow stain on rocks
is frequently taken Tor gold, and
small specks OF yellow mica in sand.
stones and deconposed GRANTEES
have caused much excitement la.
many parts OF the State.
The white mhrcasltc, II sulphide
of iron, has II metallic color much
like native silver. IL is often con.
fused with this metal, but can easily
he told by the fact that II will break
to powder when struck with u
hammer, while silver is malleablc
and will tlattcu into II sheet. The
silver produced IN Missouri is con
tanned IN small quantities Ia the lend
crcs, aud liz presence can only be-
determined by an assay.
"ONld!zcd ores OF copper are
found In the southern part Of the /
state, ana the green color of this |
mineral Is striking, yet mauy of the /
green sil,catC minerals are often .
taken for copper ore. The copper
ore will dissolve in acid and will de- .
'osii copper on II nail placed in the
solution. The ,iIicate minerals will
act respond To this test.
"Chcrt aud limestone are FREE
lurutly mistaken for other more or
"ss valuable minerals The white
'hrrt Is often taken tor tin or
heavy sparn as haritr is ordinarily
allied. This mineral Is white and .
similar to pure ebert, but is much .
Icayicr. Both limestone aud ebert .
are sometimes mistaken for the /
white carbonate of zinc and lead .
>ulphhtc or dry bone
"Many oil eNcItemcnts IRE the re |
suit 81 finding IA small scum Oh the !
surface OF stagnant pools having .
Every appearance of Kerosene. The |
scum Is the result Of iron in the !
water and is in no way connected /
with oil or gas pools. If collected |
In ii glass or bottle, this material |
soon sinks to the bottom "a brown
SHRED precipitatc, while crude oil |
will continue to float. This similar |
ny TO an oil scum is often used by |
The promoter to show the presence !
If oil
1.-The State Geological Survey at |
Rollh is maintained for the purpose |
IF giving the citizens of the State |
accurate information regarding our
resources, Samples sent |
his Bureau will be examined and |
heir probable value determined free |
If cost