Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-07-19
THE OWNING ROD
Instruments Supposed to be Useful II
Discovering Buried Treasures.


Discovering Buried Treasures.
The idea of a "divining rod or
some other instrument that may be
used rs a means of finding buried
treasure. mineral deposits, and under
ground oil or water is superstition
that continues with marvellous per-
sistence in spite of the lack Of tan
:gible results from its employment.
It may be said without Qualif1ca-
ton or exception that no rod or in
strumcnt has yet been devised to find
buried treasures. nor any instrument
that will indicate the presence of gold,
silver, copper, lead, zinc, or other nom
magnetic metals, or their ores, that
are hidden from view. under ground.
Iron, nickel, an some minerals that
contain these metals are magnetic, and
the dip-needle or miners compass has
been adapted to use in prospecting
for these metals. Such an ins trument
can be purchased, but special training
is required to enable anyone to use
it successfully. A volume published
~ the United States Geological Sur
vey, Department of the interior, en-
led Mineral Resources of the Uni
1. Pages 144 to 154, contains discus
sion of methods of prospecting for
iron ore by magnetic surveys and by
drills, Although the use Of the dip
needle is theoretically simple, much
practice is required to make accurate
observations with it, and after. these
are made they must be interpreted ny
the consideration of many factors, so
that the unskilled user IS likely to be
disappointed in his results. The edl-
ton OF the volume above mentioned
available for free distribution is no"
out Of stock at the Geological Survey
but a copy may be purchased from
the supern. cndent Of documents
Washington, D. c., for 90 cents.
Gold. silver. copper, lead and z;nf
are not magnetic, and no instrument
now in use win indicate the presence
of these metals or their ores If they
are hidden from view within the
ground. Devices that are supposed
70 indicate the presence of concealed
nonmngnetic ore arc usually 'ofteree
COR sale either through ignorance o'
with intent to defraud. Some honest
attempts have been made to prospec'
for nonmagnetic ores by measuring II
different directions the capacity OF the
ground to conduct an electric current
the idea being that ground containing
metallic material will conduct tn
current better than that which con
,ains none. Those attempts. as wei
as trials with other electrical dc
vices, however, have not heen success
FIJI, and the various forms OF such ap
paratus could not be used by one un
familiar with electrical work.
Some measurements the the electrl
potential of metallic minerals "ef
made several years ago in the lapora
torv of the United States GeoloGica
Survey by R. C. Wells and the re
suits were published in the Survey
Bulletin SIS. entitled Electric actiri
tv in orc deposits" which may be ha
for 10 cents from the superintender
Inv Mr.. Wells, however, do not amor
of documents. The results ohtaine
an adequate basis for any method
electrical prospecting. and it IS stl
aouhtful whether electrical method
, of prospecting for nonmaSnetlc ore
will ever be useful, although they ma
have limited application in searcnln
for certain kinds Of ores. Most de
posits of the precious and semi-pre
> cious metals and their ores are dis
covered by those who, by eXpcrienc
have become familiar with the kind
> or rock in which tho ores are fonn
and who use the ordinary methods
prospecting.
No instrument other than the dri
has been devised that will indica'
u the presence Of water or oil undel
ground. In determining the proban
: existence of underground supplies
these liquids geologists are guided
their knowledge Of the relation
beds or rocks visible at the s'lrfa'
10 beds that contain oil or water
other places in the same general r'
e .rion. They also make use of the re
I cognized relation Of occurrences OF
y or water 10 certain structure ttold
faults, ctc.) in tho rocks. and Of ~
face indications. such AZ oil se"P
!. outnows of gas, etc. The unste
Il States Geological Survey has puoiiSf
: ed as Water-Supply Paper 416 n r.
: mort by y. J. Ellis, entitled, I'll
divinins rod. history Of water wltc'
ing" which shows the uselessneSS
Il the instrument. This report may
obtained from the djr".:nr Of the IL
) ted States Geological Survey, Wasi
: ington. d. c.