Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-18
SCIENTIFIC MINING
METHODS INVENTED
Engineers Devise Instruments
to Discover Minerals and
Precious Stones.
BY BRADLEY w. TRENT.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. February 18.-Modern
scientific methods are replacing the
costly guesswork of other days in the
mining industry as in other branches
of the business world. At the l4oth
meeting Of the American Institute of
Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. In
progress this week at the Engineering
Societies Building here. approximately
l,700 mining and metallurgical engi.
neerS from all parts of the world are
discussing the latest developments IN
their industry and informing the public
of their forward steps.
Instruments are being demonstrated
which make possible the locating OF
diamonds. silver gold, lead. copper. oils
and other mineral deposits and which
fix the depth of rock formation AID
of them are declared to be invaluable
aids TO the miners in scratching the
earth's surface and delving for its treas
ures.
New Tool Described.
Noel H. Stearn, consulting geolsgist
Of st. Louis described a new pros
pector's tool used in locating valuable
minerals and whose working principle
involves balancing the force of gravity
against magnetic force. This is known
as the "Hotchkiss superdip" and differs
from the ordinary dip needle in degree
OF senSitivity to magnetic attractions
Of minerals in the soil. Also each min
eral deposit has its own characteristic
magnetic reaction. which is registered
on the superdip. Mr. Steam declared
that many diamonds, one of them weigh
ing over 20 carats, have been found in
Pike County, Ark, by means of this
new instrument.
Information about rocks and rock
formations concealed beneath the earth
Is now obtained by an instrument called
the "megger," device about the size
Of a portable typewriter. This is used
to determine the depth of certain rock
formations, fat. folded or bent, and the
depth of the soil under the rock bed as
well as to learn whether an ore body
lies concealed nearby. 1t sends an cleo
trio current through the ground and
registers the resistance of the various
soil and rock formations to the current
Cooperation Stressed.
In the discussions in the coal division
Of the institute, cooperation is the key
note. C. E. Bockus, president of the
National Coal Association, expressed the
hope that the Federal Government
some day might make cooperation pos
sible in the bituminous coal industry
by freeing it from unreasonable re-
straint." He said coal has completely
debated its own selling price in this
country and that many grades are back
to pre-war prices. He declared the in
dustry must have market for between
$50 .000, 900 and 10000 900 tons Of coal,
and that cooperation among 800 of the
larger coal companies could make the
bituminous coal industry prosperous.
The Mining Institute announced that
it would act as host in September to the
Iron and Steel Institute of Great
Britain and to the Institute of Metals
of London. with the American Iron and
Steel Institute cooperating. A party Of
$50 British metallurgists will visit Wash
ington. Detroit Chicago, Pittsburgh,
Niagara and other cities, returning
home in october via Montreal
(Copyright. 1917