The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-07-12

Of the United States geological sur
vey. has been received by the Nine
and is a welcome addition to the lit
erature dealing with the mineral re-
sources Of this section of Idaho The
bulletin is supplemental to profession
al paper 60. Geology and Ore Depos-
it's of the Occur dAlene District" by
+. L. Ransome and f. c. Calkns
which since 1908 has been the stand
ard reference in the study of forma-
tions and ore deposition in this dis
trict It's value, however, was impair
ed first by the long delay in publica
ton following the Investigations, the
field work having been completed in
1905 and il was not until 1908 that the
paper was issued. During the fifteen
years that have passed so much has
been accomplished in the way of min
ing development, so much has been
learned regarding the geology and ore
deposits that was not known when the
capable authors made their investiga-
tions. that another and more eXhaus-
tive study of the district has long been
desired
Umpleby and Jones Came in 1916.
The data for bulletin 1872. just issued,
was obtained by Mr.. Umpleby and Mr..
Jones in the spring and summer of
1916 so long ago that most of us had
forgotten that the gentlemen had made
the investigation The criticism di-
rected at professional paper 62, that
its value was lessened by the long
time that elapsed between the field
work and the publication, is even more
applicable to bulletin No. 1872. Seven
years is a long time in the life of an
active mining district the time that
elapsed between the examination and
the publication of the report and
many things may have happened dur
ing the period that might reverse the
conclusions of the authors Unfor-
tunately there were conditions, as eX-
planned by one of the biologists in the
Introductory statement that made
much of the delay unavoidable, while
other reasons advanced to explain the
delay can hardly be accepted as sat
isfactory to the mining interests. At
ter it was found that the report could
not be issued within a reasonable
time. the geological survey should have
ordered a new investigation, revising
the work of Messrs. Umpleby and
Jones and bringing it up to date. AL
though the Miner has only given the
publication a casual examination
enough has been seen to indicate that
il contains much of interest and value,
but it is a matter of regret that more
time was not given to the field work
and that the manuscript was prepared
under such unfavorable conditions.
Any one desiring the bulletin may OBJ
tain copy from the superintendent OF
documents. government printing office,
Washington, D. c. The price is 40
cents.
Mr.. Umpleby makes the following
Introductory statement explaining why
the Investigation was undertaken and
the difficulties and delays in connec-
ton with the publication: 1.-THE Occur
d'Alene district, the most productive
district In Idaho and one of the great
lead silver districts of the world, has
undergone rapid development during
the fifteen years since it was studied
bv Ransome and Calkins. This fact,
together with the added information
concerning the geology and mineral
deposits in adjacent areas, is the JUS
LITIGATION for this report on the ore
deposits of Shoshone county. 1t was
hoped that by studying the deeper
ore bodies opened since the previous
examination and by viewing the de-
posits in a broader setting of regional
information. new light might be
thrown on their origin and a better
basis offered for intelligent exploration
in adjacent areas.
"The investigation was originally
planned as part of q broad study OF
the ore deposits of Idaho, upon which
the senior author had spent several
field seasons. Owing to interruption
of the work during the World war and
the subsequent resignation of both
authors from the survey the original
plan was abandoned. The investiga-
ton of Shoshone county however
represented the only important part
of the broad study that had not been
recorded in official publications, so
the senior author undertook to COM
plete the manuscript for publication
in this form. The writing has been
done at odd moments taken from 9th
err exacting duties. and no opportunity
has been available for conference with
his former associate in the field exam
fnation The renOrt has doubtless suf-
fered as a result although the general