Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1914-12-29
NEVADA STATE
MINING LABORATORY

The Nevada State Mining Labora-
tory was established by IN act of the
legislature en- March 16. 1895, to pro-
vide n method by which the citizens OF
Nevada might have ores, minerals,
soils and waters taken from within
the boundaries Of the state analysed
free of charge. Thu original law spe-
officially sta .ed hat assays for gold
and silver should o be made, but
a later act, under date of March 16,
1897, called for the state mining lab
oratory to make such assays, but to
report only whether the sample con-
tanned more or less than $500 in gold
or in silver.
The laboratory is run III connection
with h Mckay school of mines UNI
der the dire :tion OF Professor Lincoln.
Most of tho analytical work is per-
formed by Assistant Professor Palm
er, while the rocks and some of the
minerals arc determined by Professor
Jones. The work OF the mining labo-
ratory has been OF the greatest AS
sistance to he people OF Nevada and
Is constantly growing as more and
more Of them become acquainted with
1t. Thus, during the first five years,
only a little over one hundred persons
sent in san pies. whereas during the
last five tho number of people send
ing in samples has amounted to over
$500.
h work would be still more valu.
able If 1t were performed upon care.
fully taken and prepared samples in.
stead Of being done, as Is usually the
cas-, on n or two pieces. Material
in this condition does not really con-
stitute a sample, but Is simply n speci.
men and as such will differ very ma
terially In value from a carefully taxi
on sample. Indeed, IL a single piece
is broken iu two and the two halves
are assayed separately, the results are
almost certain to be widely dispropor.
%tionate. In order TO get the full bcnc.
ut Of the work Of the state laboratory,
~prospcctors should take large samples
representative OF their ore and crush
and quarter them down. sending final.
~ q good sled stack Of ino material
for determlr alton. All the valuable
metals, including gold, silver. lead.
copper and zinc are quantitvely deter.
mined, hut the gold and silver are
reported only as stated above, where
as the other metals are given exactly
in percentages. In case special re-.
quests are made for cumulative work
aside from the determination of met.
ais, the laboratory usually performs
this work. nut the right is reserved
TO decide UP )n how extensive Il chcmi.
cal examine ton Ia necessary to dc.
terminc whether the material is of
value or no. IL this were not done
It would fro quehtly be necessary for
the state to expend considerable sums
of money liking cumulative analyses
of worthless material. No reasonable
requests arc, however, refused. and
where there is any question as 10 the
possible value of the material, the
samples are always analysed.
When the prospector desires n re-.
port on q rock or mineral, IL Is bet.
ter to send he substance In the shape
OF specimens rather than samples.
TbeEe speoi mems should be as fresh
and unalter0d character az possible.
as II is much more difficult TO dc
termine rocl and minerals whom they
are partially dccomposed. Those con.
nected with til laboratory hope that
in future not only Will the number Of
samples Sent in increase, but also that
greater care will be exercised In their
selection and preparation.