The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-07-14
OWNING ROD USELESS
IN MINERAL DISCOVERY
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY EXPLODES
CLAIMS FOR SUCH IN
STRUMENTS.


some other instrument that may be
used as means of finding buried
treasure, mineral deposits. and un-
foreground oil or water is a supersti-
ton that continues with marvellous
persistence in spite of the lack Of
tangible results from it's employment
1t may be said without qualification
or exception that no rod or mstru-
ment has yet been devised to find
buried treasures, nor any instrument
that viii indicate the presence of
gold. silver. copper. lead, zinc or 9th
er nOn-magnetic metals or their ores.
that are hidden from view under the
ground.
Iron. nickel and some minerals that
contain these metals are magnetic
and the dip needle or miners COM
pass has been adapted to use in pros
pecting for these metals such an
instrument can be purchased. but
special training is required to enable
anyone to use it successfully. A vol
ume published by the United States
geological survey department of the
interior entitled Mineral Resources
.of the United States. Calendar Year
1911" Part ], pages 1if to 1874 con-
tains a discussion 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 il,
and after these are made they must
be interpreted by the consideration of
many factors. so that the unskiIed
user is likely to be disappointed in
his results. The edition of the vol
ume above mentioned available for
free distribution is now out of stock
at the geological survey hut a copy
may be purchased from the superin-
tendent of documents, Washington.
d. c., for 80 cents.
Non Magnetic Gre.
Gold silver copper lead and zinc
are not magnetic and no instrument
now in use viii indicate the presence !
of these metals or their ores if they
are hidden from view within the
ground Devices that are supposed |
to indicate the presence of concealed |
non magnetic ore are usually offered
for sale either through ignorance or
with intent to defraud Some honest
have been made to prospect
for non magnetic ores by measuring
i'm different directions the capacity Of
the ground to conduct an electric
current the idea being that ground
containing metallic material will con-
duct the current better than that
which contains none These attempts
as well as trials with other lectrical
devices, however. have not been sue
cessful and the various forms Of
such apparatus could not be used by
one unfamiliar with electrical work.
Some measurements of the electric
potential Of metallic minerals were
made several years ago in the labor /
atory of the United States geological
survey by r. c. Wells and the results
We're published i'm the surveys bulle- !
tin 54S entitled Electric activity in
ore deposits" which may be had for
10 cents from the superintendent Of
documents The results obtained 10y /
Mr. Wells however do not afford an |
adequate basis for any method Of /
electrical prospecting. and it is still /
whether electrical methods |
Of prospecting for non magnetic ores /
will ever be useful although they |
may have limited application in the .
for certain kinds Of ores.
Most deposits of the precious and
metals and their ores
are discovered by those who, by ex-
have become familiar with
he kinds of rock in which the ores
ire found and who use the ordinary
Methods of prospecting
Locating Oil.
No instrument other than the drill
las been devised that will indicate
he presence Of water or oil under
Tound. In determining the probable
existence of underground supplies of
hese liquids biologists are guided by
heir knowledge of the relation of
'eds of rocks visible at the surface to
,eds that contain oil or water at 9th
n places in the same general region.
they also make use of the recognized
citation of occurrences of oil or wa
er to certain structure folds faults,
tc) in the rocks and of surface in
ications, such as oil seeps. springs,
utflows of gas, etc. The United :
states geological survey has publish
d as water supply paper 416 re-
,ort by A. j. Ellis, entitled 1.-THE Di-
lining Rod, a History Of Water
which shows the useless
less of the instrument This report
nay be obtained from the director Of
he United States geological survey.
d. c.