The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-08-02

4
yey, these reports are usually pat
termed after those of the latter in
form, but not necessarily in subject
matter. Many reports Of the United
States geological survey are purely
scientific in character and have little
! direct practical value to the prospect
or or miner. Often such scientific re-
search ultimately proves to be of great
indirect economic value, and this
branch of the work of the United
States geological survey is of great
importance. However. state geologi-
cal surveys, especially those in states
which, like Idaho, possess enormous
undeveloped resources, should avoid
such work and devote their efforts to
investigations and surveys of direct
practical value which will stimulate
the legitimate development of the re-
sources of the state.
The United States geological survey
has followed a policy of cooperating
with the various states. 1t is the Gus
tom of the federal survey TO spend in
any state at least as much money as
the state itself appropriates for. geo.
logical work. Moreover. it spends this
money in cooperation with the state
survey, which enables the state to d.
rect the Investigations so that the
work will be done where it is most
needed.
In order to make clearer the advan-
tages of state geological surveys, some
of these advantages may be outlined
under the following heads:
The most experienced prospectors
are constantly finding rocks and min
erals that they can not identify. In
states where geological surveys are
maintained, prospectors and others
may send rocks and minerals to the
survey for free Identification and
opinion as to possible value
Certain rocks and certain areas are
far more likely places for the finding
of mineral deposits than Others On
the other hand, there may be certain
areas in the state where it would be
a waste of time to prospect for metal
Lie ores. 1t should be the duty of
state geological survey to point out
these favorable and unfavorable To-
calities and assist the prospector in
every way possible.
Development Work.
In the early or development, stages
of a mine, especially if it is in new
district, thorough understanding of
the geology of the deposit and sur
rounding locality is of the greatest
Importance in laying out the work.
Nearly all big mining companies en-
ploy geologist, in saddition to the
regular technical staff. Mines in new
districts and in the development stage
can seldom afford to do this, and often
serious errors are made, due to fail
ure to interpret correctly the geologi-
cal conditions. State geological sur
yeys should be prompt to examine and
accurately map the geology of all new
districts, thus giving the operators the
advantage of the geological evidence
while the need for it is urgent.
There are undoubtedly many valu-
able mining properties that are now
idle because of a failure to understand
the geological conditions. The fire.
quency with which faults cause disap-
pearance of the ore is well known. De-
tailed geological examinations of min
ing districts, either new or old, will in
many cases bring to light new ore
bodies and open up new possibilities.
The actual value of geological sur
veys to the mining industry is well
shown by the respect in which the re-
ports of the United States geological
survey are held by mining men every
where. While it is true that these re-
ports have at times been criticized as
to certain statements and conclusions,
nobody will deny that they have been
of immense value to the mining in
dustry; as for example in Cripple
Creek, Bisbee Globe, Leadville, the
Occur d'Alenes, Butte and other min
ing districts.
However, the United States geolog-
zeal survey can not cover all the new
discoveries in the various states, and
hence delays are inevitable. This Is
another strong argument for state CO.
operation with the federal survey
through state geological surveys, for
under such an arrangement new dis
coveries can be promptly investigat-
ed, and If they seem promising, geo.
logical maps and reports can be pre-
pared.
Non Metallic Resources.
Idaho contains many valuable min
eral deposits of a non metallic nature,
the value of which has been frequent
ly overlooked, especially during the
last few years, when the price of lead
silver, zinc and copper has been the
chief topic of discussion. The vast
deposits of high grade rock PHOSPHATE
which occur in the southeast part OF
the state constitute a source Of great
potential wealth. But more detailed
surveys of these deposits are needed
and reports on treatment methods