Popular Prospecting 1955

Popular Prospecting
A Field Guide for the Part"time Prospector

INCLUDES DATA FOR
THE GEM HUNTER, URANIUM SEEKER, and the PROSPECTOR
FOR STRATEGIC METALLIC and NON-METALLIC MINERALS.
By
H. C. DAKE
Editor - THE :MINERALOGIST MAGAZI~E
FIRST EDITION -1955
Price $2.00
Copyright 1955
By The
Mineralogist Publishing Componr

329 S.E. 32nd Avenue Portland IS, Oregon
r
Books for Prospectors, Uranium Hunters,
Gem Cutters and Collectors
THE FOLLOWING BOOKS will be found useful for data in related fields of interest.
For the convenience of the reader these books are available from most supply
firms, book sellers and journals in this field, or may be had direct from THE
MINERALOGIST, 329 S. E. 32nd Avenue, Portland 15, Oregon.
ARIZONA GEM TRAILS - By Ransom. New guide book, for gem hunters and
mineral collectors. Describes many localities in Arizona, including new and little
known regions, where valuable gems and minerals are available. \Vritten by one
who has been there. Includes data on uranium in Arizona. Tours and localities
described in detail. Price $2.00.
HANDBOOK URANIUM MINERALS- New issue. Intended for the uranium pros
pector, and collector of fluorescent gems and minerals. Describes in detail, use of
Geiger counter, formations in which uranium is likely to occur, localities through
out the United States, and the world. Describes in detail all the important com
:dercial uranium minerals. The "bible" for the uranium prospector. Combined in
one volume, is a complete listing of all known fluorescent gems and minerals.
Describes a!! popular ultra-violet lamps used, filters, and equipment. Price $2.00.
THE AGATE BOOK - For t4e agate hunter, cutter and collector. Describes in de
tail all varieties and sub-varieties of agate. The first complete book on agate, with
50 photos, showing numerous types of agate, localities where found included. By
H. C. Dake. Price $2.00.
NORTHWEST GEM TRAILS - Describes hundreds of localities in Oregon, Wash

ington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Illustrated with maps and photos. For
the gem hunter and mineral collector. Only book of its kind ... Price $2.00.
ART OF GEM CUTTING - By Dake, (Complete) new 5th edition, 128 pages . . .
Completely illustrated showing all types modern gem cutting equipment. Most
complete work ever written on modern met!lOds of gem cutting, specimen finish
ing, cabochon and facet cutting. Includes sections on gem identification, use in
struments, special lapidary technic, and other helpful information, for the begin
ner, and the advanced technician. Price $2.00.
CALIFORNIA GEM TRAILS - New enlarged and revised second edition. Describes
in detail, gem and mineral localities throughout the state. 'With detail maps and
photos. Price $2.00.
GUIDE TO ROCKS AND MINERALS - By Pough. The ideal book for beginners,
as well as the more advanced. Aids in the identification of minerals and rocks. There
is none better. Illustrated with' 254 fine photos, with 72 in full color. Price $3.75.
THE MINERALOGIST MAGAZINE - Since 1933, this monthly (except July and
August) magazine has pioneered in featuring articles of general interest in the
field of fluorescent gem and minerals, and the uranium minerals. Features are
also printed for the gem cutter, many localities throughout the United States are
described. Subscription $2.00 per year, for ten issues. The Mineralogist Publish
ing Company, 329 S.E. 321ld Avenue, Portland 15, Oregon.
Tile Mineralogist Magazine

[Book Department]
329 S. E. 32nd AVENUE PORTLAND 15, OREGON
..
Contents
Page
FOREWORD ............._..._........_......_........._._ ....__.._..................... , .................... _. __ .__ . 4
CHAPTER
I WHERE TO PROSPECT .._._. _____ ..._....... _....._...._...___ .___ .____ ._______ .__.__ .___ 7
Occurrence of Ores ...._....______ ._____ .._.._..__~. ____ ._ ... __ ._ ......................_....___ .. 7
Gem Stone Placers ...__ ._.... _......_..................... ,...._............................_..... 13
Lode Deposits ........_.................................... _......................................... 15
II THE GEM MINERALS ....................................................................... 19
The Jade Fields ...................................................................................... 24
III THE METALLIC MINERALS ...................................................._..._ 29
Chromium ........................................_..............................____ ................._.. 29
Lead ........................................................._.._.._.......................................... 30
Mercury .................................................................................................... 31
Rare Earth Metals ....._...._...._..............._.....................____ ........... """""" 32
Tungsten .................................................................................................. 33
IV THE NON-METALLIC MINERALS ................................._............ 35
Abrasives .................................................................................................. 35
Building Stones .............................. _............._........._.,............................. 36
Phosphate Rock ................. _........_........................................................... 31
V THE URANIUM MINERALS ............................................._._._._. 39
Gieger Counters, Scintillometers ...................................................... 40
Uranium Hunting _..................,.............................................................. 41
Uranium Minerals ................................................................................., 47
Uranium Dis,coveries .................._......................................................... 52
VI NOTES ON PROSPECTING .......................................................... 61
Seismic Methods ......................_._ ..__ ._.__ ........_...................................... 62
Metal Detectors ..............._......_......._......_......._...._......_.............. _............. 64
Salting A Min'e .............................._...._......_._ ...._........__ ................ _........... 66
Pegmatite Prospecting .......................................................................... 68
Lost Min.e Fables ................................................................... _..._._._ .. _.. _ 72
Great Diamond Hoax ............................................................................ 74
Foreword
DURING THE PAST DECADE the forever. The remaining gold pockets that
avocation of part time prospecting has await discovery are few, and the fabu
developed into a National leisure time oc lous "lost" mines of fact and fiction are
cupation - with profit to many who en still more elusive.
gage in this pleasant activity. There are I t will be seen that the modern day
a number of reasons for this remarkable prospector will do well to become in
development. The demand for certain formed on the appearance and occurrence
minerals, which a few decades past were of various minerals, to enable recogni
only scientific curiosities, has brought tion in the field. The prospector without
about wide public interest in prospecting. this knowledge will be working under a
Uranium is a good example. The gevelop handicap, and will be likely to pass by
ment of the jet engine, and various elec a valuable deposit solely through lack of
tronic instruments, has also brought about knowledge. How may this knowledge be
a wide demand for minerals which pre acquired?
viously had little value and only limited One of the easiest and most simple
uses in the arts and industries. ways of becoming familiar with the com
Previous guides for the prospector mon economic minerals is by handling
have devoted little attention to the them, noting their color, form, "heft,"
possibilities of the gem and ornamental and general appearance. This is not at all
stones. With the recent development of as difficult as it may sound. Every min
the gem cutting hobby, on a National eral, ore, and gem material has certain
scale, the demand for gem cutting min characteristics, just like every human be
erals has increased enormously. ing has certain characteristics that may
In the field of non-metallic minerals be difficult to describe. However, by
the scope of possibilities for the prospec seeing and handling typical minerals and
tor has increased enormously. For ex ores, we soon become familiar with them,
ample, the development of the use of enabling recognition instantly, on
perlite (a variety of obsidian) as a build For example, "hefting" of a sample a
ing material, has brought this previously good practice to develop early in the
worthless rock into the money group. game. The skilled .jade hunter in Wyo
The discovery of small amounts of ura ming, searching through a maze of com
nium in phosphate rock has changed the mon rocks, all similar in outside appear
status of the possibilities of this old ance, will soon develop skill in "hefting."
source of fertilizer and chemicals. There Jade is about twice as heavy, bulk for
are millions of acres of phosphate rock bulk, as common rock, hence with a little
scattered throughout the United States. practice, the valuable jade can be readily
These deposits are of utmost present and sorted from the common rock. This same
future importance. The development of practice is applicable to any mineral dis
the H-bomb brought about an added need tinguished by a high specific gravity.
for lithium minerals, an essential ingre Many times we have observed a pros
dient in this destructive monster. pector searching for some mineral, the
History is replete with many examples typical appearance of which he was not
of where a prospector searching for and familiar. Only blind luck would help here.
recognizing only one mineral (usually Few prospectors searching for uranium
gold) passed by bonanzas. The Comstock are familiar with the typical and common
Lode of Virginia City, Nevada, is a clas uranium minerals other than yellow car
sic example. The first party of prospec notite--there are yellow colored minerals
tors, searching for gold, passed by this other than carnotite. All too often the
billion dollar property, when they failed prospector will waste a lot of time and
to recognize the heavy black silver min energy working on a false trail, when an
erals that cluttered up the sluice boxes. inexpensive set of economic minerals
The "richest hill on earth" at Butte, would have put him right to begin with.
Montana, was at one time considered Sets of this kind are available at a low
worthless by prospectors, when the rich cost from the many mineral supply houses
surface silver-copper ores were first en throughout the country. A little study of
countered. Many similar instances could these typical ores and minerals will be of
be cited, as a matter of historical record. great value to any prospector.
It is obvious that the day of the pros We might cite the case of the prospec
pector, searching solely for gold, is gone tor searching for sapphire in Rock Creek
FOREWORD 5
in Montana. He panned out, among other ing for cobalt-silver deposits, popular at
items, a number of water worn, beautiful that time. He dusted off some old for
ly colored, cornflower blue stones. They gotten reports, and read of a likely place
were without doubt flawless and perfectly and set forth with a partner. LaBine
colored. He assumed, in fact he insisted, found no valuable cobalt deposit, but he
these were valuable sapphires, since they did stake out a valuable silver property,
were found in the stream gravels. This and what eventually proved to be the
was only a natural assumption, ·but not second most fabulous uranium 'deposit
a correct one. A simple test for hardness, in the whole world. He was well reward
using a common file, would have indicated ed for his study and effort. LaBine was
otherwise, and saved the prospector a familiar with mineralogy, hence he was
lot of time and excitement. These fine enabled to recognize a potentially valu
cornflower blue pebbles were nothing able mineral outcrop. when he saw one.
more than water worn glass, from a In prospecting certain areas for some
Bromo Seltzer bottle, cast into the stream specific mineral, the reports of the U. S.
by an earlier day prospector who had Geological Survey and the state mining
celebrated his good fortune too well. bureaus will often prove invaluable. Geo
Judging by color alone may be decep logical maps of these regions are also of
tive in many other ways. The yellow of considerable value.
limonite iron may be taken by the unini Almost anyone able to walk, and get
tiated to be carnotite uranium. The dull out into the field may engage in this
green color of some iron stains may be pleasant part time prospecting. Anyone
mistaken for copper or nickel. The yellow may make a valuable find, but it is true
green, or blue stains of uranium, copper, that those with at least an elementary
or nickel are never dull in color, but knowledge of minerals, and some geology
always vividly bright. Once these are will stand a better chance of making a
seen in a typical sample they will not be new discovery.
forgotten, and will be instantly recog The prospector of a few generations
nized on sight. past was generally interested only in gold.
No attempt will be made here to enter No mineral knowledge was required to
into the legal aspects of filing mining recognize gold nuggets appearing in the
claims. Laws differ in various states, pan.If there was any question of their na
while most parts of the great Public Do ture it was only necessary to flatten them
main are open to mining entry, other out on an anvil. History does not record
regions, like National Parks and Monu how many very valuable mineral deposits
ments are closed to mining entry. Infor these old timers passed by, but they were
mation relating to filing mining claims numerous. The day of gold "pocket"
on a specific area are available at the hunting is almost a thing of the past, and
County court house, or nearest U.S. Land little reference to same will be made here.
Office. The U. S. Atomic Energy Com The large gold dredge properties have
mission, field office at Grand Junction, long since been taken up. The last "boom"
Colorado, has information on the adja in gold prospecting was during the de
cent regions where uranium occurs. A pression days, when many idle hands took
mineral discovery made on private prop to the hills. Most of them were enabled
erty can often be shared by arranging to wash out anywhere from 50c to $2.00
with the owners, filing on a 50-50 basis. per day in placer gold-enough to keep
During the past 100 years, many of the one off the relief roll. Weare assured
great mineral deposit discoveries have these days will never return.
been made by the prospector. In some Along with the developments in science 1
cases these discoveries were made in a and industry, we find new uses for min -,1i
more or less accidental manner, like Kel erals and metals previously regarded only
logg's mule in the Coeur d' Alene of as scientific curiosities. Uranium is a
Idaho, and the lads building a mill race typical example. Only a few years ago
for Sutter in California. Pure luck, with this metal had only limited use in the
out any knowledge has also revealed some field of ceramics, and only a few tons a
important deposits. But these are the year were in demand. When the great
exception rather than the rule, and are Uranium deposits of Belgium Congo and
not to be depended upon. Great Bear Lake, Canada, were first
Before LaBine set out for the wilder worked, the rich uranium ores were treat
ness of Northern Canada, he made a study ed to remove only the radium, and then
of all the old geological reports avail run out on the waste dumps. At present,
able for this region. LaBine was search- thorium is in little demand, but it is likely
..
6 POPULAR PROSPECTING
that this element will eventually be in this most vital need. We had transport
demand for nuclear fission, same as ura planes waiting at the mines to fly back
nium. the valuable crystals, soon as they were
Along with the developments in new dug. The cost must have been consider
uses for old metals, technical advances able.
enable us to utilize lower grade ores. Ore Before a mineral deposit can be of any
deposits that are today regarded as too immediate value, and readily salable there
lean for economical exploitation, may to are a number of factors that must be
morrow be in wide demand. This should given consideration. These factors in
be kept in mind by the prospector. Very clude such items as location of the' de
low grade copper deposits are being posit. This may include nearness to rail
worked today, that a few decades past or water transportation. Water for use in
were regarded as worthless. Prior to the milling may also be a factor. Transporta
invention of cyaniding for gold, any gold tion costs are always important. The size
deposit funning less than about $50.00 a and nature of the deposit is also impor
ton was passed by. Today, practically all tant. In general a small but very rich
the gold mined in the world is derived deposit would be of little value, except in
from ores running at best only a few dol the case of uranium where Federal aid
lars per ton. One of the chief require becomes available. The nature of the ores,
ments for any low grade mineral deposit which involves the cost of treatment, is
is that there must be a large quantity important. The size of the deposit is per
available. This being the case, sooner or haps all important. Enormous deposits,
later a way will be found to handle the situated even in remote parts of the
ore in a profitable manner. world, may be feasible for commercial
In the case of vital strategic metals, development. The fabulous iron deposits
economy need not be a factor in commer of Labrador, known for many years, are
cial utilizatiop. If a metal is vital for our a good example. Many millions of dollars
economy or for war use, financial aid will were spent here for development work
become available. There are a number of and transportation, before a ton of ore
these mineral needs. Tin is one. Any low was shipped.
grade tin deposit discovery would likely In short, you find a suitable deposit,
hold considerable potential value, if large science will find the way for commercial
enough, regardless of economic factors. utilization.
During the past war there was a vital and H. C. DAKE
immediate need for suitable quartz crys 329 S. E. 321ld Avenue
tals for use in electronic instruments. Portland IS, Oregon
Brazil was practically the only source for February 1955
. \
CHAPTER ONE
Where To Prospect
In answer to the question of where to In this little book we will not go into
prospect, the answer can well be, any instructions pertaining to grub and camp
where, for it has long since been learned ing equipment. This information has been
f'
that no part of the world is wholly devoid previously presented hundreds of times.
ri of mineral wealth. Even the forbidding Nor do we dwel1 at length upon the mat
desert and arctic regions have been prov ter of remedial treatment for snake bites.
en to produce fabulous wealth in oil, In all the voluminous literature on, and
uranium, and iron. references to, mining and prospecting we
The part time prospector will likely have yet to read of an authentic case of
engage in prospecting during vacation a miner or prospector meeting his end
time, and week end tours of a few days. through an encounter with a poisonous
The latter tours will be limited to dis insect or snake, in the United States, Can-·
tances within easy reach. The prospector ada or Alaska. History does reveal the
residing in the more heavily populated fact that many prospectors who encoun
parts of the Country will likely not find tered fabulous bonanzas hastened their
good nearby possibilities. Those who re end celebrating their good fortune. In
side in the Western states may find good these matters we will assume that the
prospecting areas within a short distance. reader is endowed with common sense
Certain metallic minerals, and some and good judgment.
gem minerals are most likely to be found Regarding the filing of mining claims,
associated with certain types of rocks, and the U. S. General Land Office has issued
the prospector would do well to be en an excellent booklet, which gives perti
abled to recognize the more common rock nent and salient information on the sta
types when seen in the field. For example, tus of various lands where claims mayor
the pegmatite formations have produced may not be filed. Send for Infonnation
a great host of valuable economic min Circular 1278, U. S. Land Office, Wash
erals. Pegmatites are nothing more than ington, D. C.
granitic rocks which have cooled very It has been previously stated that the
slowly at depth, and present very coarse prospector will find it a great advantage
single mineral crystals. to acquire at least an elementary knowl
edge of mineralogy, and at least a basic
In fact these single pegmatite crystals knowledge of geology. Without these the
may be of enormous size and weighing prospector might make valuable discov
many tons. Ordinary granite is compara eries, but he is working under a distinct
tively composed of small crystals. A con handicap. All the large oil and mineral
trasting rock is obsidian, the volcanic exploration corporations employ trained
glass that was cooled quickly on the sur geologists and mineralogists. There must
face, and here the rock appears homoge be a reason. In many cases the field pros
neous, with no individual crystals visible. pector will make the original discovery,
Yet both of these types of rock are of the and after that development work will de
same essential chemical composition. The pend upon scientific prospecting, includ
same molten liquid that at great depth ing the use of valuable geophysical equip
solidifies as granite or a pegmatite gran ment and in most cases a considerable
ite, would if it cooled more rapidly at or amount of costly diamond drilling to fol
near the surface, form common obsidian, low and prove or disprove the ore body.
perlite, pumice or one of the several types If the reader is interested in acquiring
of roek classed as rhyolite. It may be well an elementary working knowledge of
to remember that the rhyolite type of mineralogy and geology, he is referred to
rock is the home of valuable vein agate that recent and excellent book by Pough,
and agate filled thunder eggs, common Field Guide To Rocks And Minerals,
to many Western states. appearing in the book list on page 2.
We have spoken of chance as a factor
in valuable discoveries. Ore bodies and OCCURRENCE OF ORES
gem deposits have often been exposed in The prospector should have a basic.
the excavations made for buildings, roads, knowledge of what types of rock are most
trails and railways. These have often likely to carry a given ore of metal. It
proved to be bonanzas for gem and min has been said that "gold is where you
eral prospectors. find it." This is true in the case of gold,
r
Part time Chicago prospectors. Members of the Chicago Rocks and Minerals Society re
turning from a field trip to the Thornton Quarry, near Chicago. This club is one of some
500 similar clubs scattered throughout the United States. Most of them sponsor guided field
trips to engage in prospecting, gem hunting, mineral collecting, and geological studies in
the field. It is estimated that some 40,000 persons are members of these societies and clubs.
News of their activities in various parts of the country appears regularly in the journals in
this hobby field. (Photo courtesy of CHICAGO TRIBUNE.)
but not so in the case of many other depth. This is technically known as mag
metallic and non-metallic minerals. For matic segregation, or separation of each
example tin is frequently found associated mineral by itself. There are many im
with coarsely crystalline granite rocks, portant mineral deposits in this class.
and is a common minor constituent of However, in most deposits we find the
pegmatites. The great tin placers of Ma rock, either volcanic, sedimentary, or
lay, Nigeria, and Bolivia, that produce metamorphic (volcanic or sedimentary
the bulk of the world supply, are all asso that has been altered) previously in place.
ciated with disintegrated granitic rocks. The valuable metallic ores are then
Tungsten and molybdenum are nearly brought in by various means of trans
always found in or associated with coarse portation, including percolating waters,
ly crystalline volcanic rocks. These may (hot or cold) and gasses from the cooling
or may not be of a granite type. As a lavas. The percolating waters (including
contrast, chromium, platinum, and nickel steam), are by far the most important,
are usually found in or associated with and usually they are heavily charged
fine grained volcanic rocks, like serpen with various chemicals, especially when
tines and peridotite rocks, often greenish they originate from depth. A huge mass
in color. This does not necessarily follow of any type of lava rock, cooling at depth,
that wherever these rocks appear the will for many centuries give off heated,
minerals will also be found. Quite to the and chemically charged waters. These are
contrary. But their presence is an indica what is known as "juvenile" or magmatic
tion that valuable metals might be pres waters, and represent water which was
ent. originally locked into the rock in chem
It is weI! to understand that the valu ical combination.
able ores are usually not deposited at the It is these magmatic waters that ac
time the molten rock came forth. The ex count for the hot springs and geysers in
ception to this is in the case of the peg Yellowstone Park. Gradually, over a
,matite formations, often called pegmatite riod of many years, the lava magma
"dikes." In this case the individual min off less water, and the hot springs and
erals and metals had an opportunity to geysers will eventually cease to flow, as
separate or "segregate," owing to the has long been noted in Yellowstone.
very slow cooling of the mass at some These magmatic waters are highly im~
WHERE TO PROSPECT 9
portant in the formation of valuable ore

bodies. As these percolating waters pass
through various rock formations on their
way towa'"d the surface, they will dissolve
various minerals and carry them in solu
tion for at least a short distance. Even
tually these mineral laden waters will
reach an open space in the rock, and here
they will deposit their valuable burden.
These spaces. May be an open space
formed by an earth movement (earth
quake), or a large open "vug", or some
other type of open space, or an open
space may be created dissolving out other
rock, like limestone. In open fissures, we
find the great "vein" deposits. Or the
percolating waters may drop their min
eral load into porous formation like a
sandstone, to form "disseminated" de
posits.
By no means does this complete the
list of possible types of mineral deposits.
Volumes have been devoted to their tech
nical descriptions. The purpose here is
merely to indicate the manner in which
some well known mineral deposits have Huge opalized logs are sometimes found in
the Western states. This specimen weighs
formed. It may be of interest to note that 2,450 pounds and was found in the opalized
even metallic gold can be carded in solu forest of Central Washington, by Charles
tion by these superheated, chemically Simpson of Quincy, Washington. This speci
charged waters. The spectacular speci men is from the Middle Miocene forests of
some 15 million years ago. Specimens of pet
mens of native gold in quartz are good rified wood, when of good color and quality,
examples of this mode of ore deposition. are valuable, and find a ready market.
The great gold nuggets of history, some
of them weighing 100 pounds or more, It will be seen that many conditions
were formed in this manner, when con must be met with in order to produce a
ditions were right. rich and extensive mineral deposit. either
Gold is one of the least soluble of all metallic or non-metallic. At a compara
metals, yet under conditions of high tem tively few places in the world are
peratures, and no doubt high pressures, occurrences quite exceptional in their
plus the presence of various chemicals, nature. These resulted in the fabulous de
water is enabled to carry gold in solu posits of copper at Butte and Bisbee; the
tion. This being true, it will be seen that billion dollar silver lode of the Comstock;
far less resistant metals like uranium, the enormous deposition of uranium at
copper, lead, zinc, antimony, silver, man Great Bear Lake in Canada, and the Bel
ganese, and many others, may be readily gian Congo, the mountains of iron ore
gathered by percolating waters in their in Labrador; the low grade copper at
passage through any rock formation. The Bingham; unique Broken Hill, Australia;
great lead-zinc deposits of the Tri-State the wealth of gems in Ceylon; the gold
district surrounding Galena, Kansas, are of the Rand; the enormous phosphates
a· good example. Here the percolating (and uranium) of Idaho; and the Home
waters likely mainly ground '.vaters, were stake with its unbroken dividend record
acid in their composition, and as they of some 75 years. These are a few of the
penetrated the limestone rock, they dis great mineral deposits of the world that
solved and carried away the limestone have made and broken many men.
(calcite), and dropped their burdens of The prospector interested in reading
lead, and zinc, along with small amounts will find the many books dealing with
of copper and iron, and minor amounts the history and development of these
of lesser metals. These great deposits great mining districts more interesting
have been an important source of lead than any work on fiction, they are strang
and zinc for many decades, and still con er than any fiction. It is not expected that
tinue to produce. Most of them are ncar the hobby-prospector will find bonanzas
the surface. of this kind. Yet it is possible and has
been done. In September, 1954, A. P. resistance to wear, weathering, tough

press reports throughout the Country ness, and they must be heavy (high
carried the story of a lad by the name of specific gravity). These minerals include
Pick. Pick, according to the press reports platinum, gold, cassiterite (tin), chromite,
had some hard luck in his home town in magnetite, ilmenite, rutile, monazite, zir
Minnesota. He took what funds he had con, native copper, and a number of
in hand, and journeyed to Colorado, and others. Gem stones are often found in
placers, like the sapphire of Montana,
according to press reports, bought a Gei first noted and mined as a by-product
ger counter, and the Handbook of Ura from the gold dredges some decades past.
nium Minerals (by H. C. Dake, price
The great alluvial gem placers of Cey
$2.00).
lon have been known for centuries. To
The news stories relate that this lad paz occurs with the tin deposits of Ni
went out into the field, worked hard, geria, and these large and superb gem
covered a lot of ground, lost considerable crystals are well known. The gem placers
weight, made some fabulous uranium dis of North Carolina were important pro
coveries, and sold out to a large corpora· ducers for many years, but have now
tion for $9,000,000 cash. The possibilities been largely mined out, at least in the
of the amateur prospector appear to be more profitable ground. Agate is often
unlimited. won from what may be regarded as plac
PLACER DEPOSITS er formations, notably the gravels of the
Yellowstone river in Montana, and the
In the earlier days of gold mining, the
Oregon beach deposits. In short, in any
placers were the main producers. The
region where a hard and resistant mineral
gold from the original veins or lodes had
or gem has been found in place, it was
gradually disintegrated through the ages.
Gold being heavy and quite resistant to often first found in placers. This is true
weathering, the heavy metal was con in Montana where sapphire was first
centrated at various places in sand and discovered in the gold placers, and later
traced to its origin.
gravel, known as placer ground.
First came the prospector working At the present time considerable at
with a hand pan, or other hand operated tention is being devoted to placers yield
equipment like rockers, sluice boxes, and ing ilmenite, monazite and zircon. New
long toms. The white man took the uses have been found for the metal zir
cream and went on to better grounds conium, especially in the field of high
(presumably). Then came the Chinaman fusing alloys. used in the jet engine. The
to clean up after the white man. Then U. S. Bureau of Mines has conducted a
came a long period of idleness, when considerable amount of research work in
along came the huge dredges, that again the production and refinement of this
worked over the same ground to win ad metal, long regarded only as a laboratory
curiosity.
ditional riches, and to work the ground
too lean for any hand operations. Under Many of the world's placers carry vary
ideal conditions, a dredge could often ing amounts of monazite, and this min
work ground at a profit, carrying as little eral is important for its content of rarer
as eight cents a cubic yard in gold. elements cerium. Some monazite is radio
Today, placering for gold, as a possible active, carrying as much as 18% thorium
one-man operation, is practically through and will respond actively to the Geige;
from an economic standpoint. It is true counter. Monazite varies considerably in
that at times one may find an isolated composition, and in addition to thorium
pocket, or some ground here and there it may carry valuable rare-earth element~
that will still yield a profit, but these are like didymium, cerium. lanthanum, and
few and remote. Few of them were over others of this series.
looked by the Chinaman of an earlier day. Monazite is commonly found in granite
Placer deposits, formed by the mechan (gneiss) type of rocks throughout the
ical concentration of valuable minerals, world. Deposits in the United States in
are still important to the prospe'ctor for clude those of Virginia, Oregon, North
values other than gold. By mechanical Carolina, N ew York and Connecticut.
means, heavier minerals may be deposited Huge deposits are known in India and
in concentrates that are of great com Malay.
mercial value. Usually the minerals that Ilmenite is a titanium mineral, long
may be expected in commercial concen used as a white pigment in house paint.
trations will include only those having More recently new uses have been found
WHERE TO PROSPECT II
Jade hunter in the Lander. Wyoming. jade fields finds two large and valuable masses
of green Jade. Herds of antelope also roam this region. ranging far to the south in the great
Red Desert. along with the uranium hunters.
for this very high fusing metal. Details ly rich in alluvial gold, but no available
of its use in the jet engine remains classi water to work then. There are large
fied. but highly important. areas of t!;lis nature surrounding Sulphur
Placer grounds are comparatively easy and Jungo in Nevada. During the De
to prospect and assay in a qualitative pression Days when there was wide in
manner. A shovel and a gold pan will terest in gold placering, considerable at
usually suffice to determine if possible tention was given to the possibilities of
values are present. Sample ground may working these great areas. The cost of
be washed and concentrated in the gold bringing in water from a distance was
pan. The heavy concentrates are collected prohibitive, so attention was turned to
and subjected to close scrutiny. The heavy the recovery of the gold from the sands
black sand magnetite may be readily re by the use of wind and an air blast.
moved with a strong hand magnet. The This method has proven quite successful
remaining concentrated material should in the highly arid regions of interior Aus
be closelv examined with a hand tralia. Many of these devices were tried
fier. and' subjected to chemical and in Nevada, and elsewhere in the Ameri
ger counter tests. If values appear, can desert regions, but none of them
including those enumerated here, the proved feasible or profitable. The present
concentrates mav then be submitted to writer saw a number of these contriv
a competent co~mercial assay. ances in action. In some cases they
Placer ground may be found almost yielded tailings that were richer than the
anywhere in or adjacent to a live stream concentr<ttes. Gas engine operated shak
of water. Ground far removed from water ers were popular, but not a success. The
may have been originally worked over by prospector with a small hand rocker, haul
running water. ocean or lake waves, or ing barrels of water some 10 miles by
bv the wind. In either case there may be truck, working in the same ground ad
c~mmercial ground possible of standard jacent to the "whirlwinds", would aver
placer treatment. age about $2.00 per day. No colors ever
In parts of Nevada and elsewhere in came from the concentration end of the
the desert regions of the \Vestern states, wind blowers.
there are considerable areas comparative Other contraptions were freely tried
in this Nevada gold region. Among them as ordinary rock, it will lodge in the rif
were devices charged with a flask or fles, and is recovered as a by-product.
more of mercury. The theory was to In the Nigerian tin placers we have a
shovel in the gold bearing sands, and stir good example of where a once worth
the mass with the quicksilver, with the less mineral was eventually turned into
greater profit than the original product. A
idea that the finely divided gold would considerable amount of tantalite and col
amalgamate. One device the present writ umbite is found in most of the cassit
er saw in action was apparently working erite placers. At one time the tin con
beautifully, until the sand started to pack centrates were penalized if they carried
in the drum. The iron paddles tore the over a small percentage of tantalite-col
machine apart, spewing forth the flask of umbite minerals. Hence before shipping
mercury, said sand, and all. All of these the tin concentrates to the British smelt
inventors arrived charged with enthu ers, it was necessary to remove them by
siasm and high hopes, all of them re electro-magnetic treatment.
turned home, sadder but wiser men.
Some day this problem may be resolved. The waste concentrates were thrown
to one side. Then the tin buyers noted
Values in gold or any other metal may that the tin concentrates brought in by
be found almost anywhere and in almost the natives carried more and more of the
any placer formation, but in order to discarded waste. Pits were dug and the
qualify for commercial value they must waste was then buried deeply, to pre
be of a reasonable extent and quantity. vent the natives salting their concen
Small and isolated pieces of ground, how trates. Some years later new and impor
ever rich they may be, usually do not tant uses were found for tantalum and
warrant any great development expendi columbium. The original waste by-prod
ture. Grounds of this kind are the "one uct became far more valuable than tin.
man" placer operations, operated by pick, The old waste pits that had accumulated
shovel, wheelbarrow, and a suitably de for decades were sought out and worked
signed sluice box for the material at as valuable bonanzas. Here history re
hand. Many have profited well from small peats itself many times in the mining in
operations of this kind. dustry. The classic example being urani
The nature of the ground, said size par um, which we once threw over the dumps
ticles, material being recovered, and a and tailing waste piles. The lesson we
number of other factors will determine learn is that no matter how lean a pres
the nature of the best suited equipment. ent day deposit may be, or how little, if
These are dealt with in mining volumes any, value a mineral may have today,
devoted to placering. An excellent book tomorrow it may graduate into the com
t1nder title Gold in Placer, price $2.50, mercial money -group. Perlite is another
is available from Jack Douglas, "The good example. All Western prospectors
Old Prospector," Box 729, Lodi, Cali have walked past these mountains of
fornia. volcanic glass and given them 110 thought
An interesting type of sluice box is whatsoever.
used in Nigeria, Africa, in working the Placer grounds may be found high up
great tin (cassiterite) placers. The ground on the side of a mountain, or on a high
is first cleared of trees and brush, and bench far removed from any body of
then attacked with high pressure giants. water. These are ancient water deposits,
The ground cut down by the water is left by a flowing stream, or perchance
washed into large sluice boxes ZOO or the beach of a prehistoric lake or ocean.
more feet in length, with low wooden ob Formations of this kind are not always
structions at frequent intervals. A great easy of recognition. They may be covered
deal of ground is poured into the sluice, with a heavy forest growth, or debris
and native workers constantly rake the from above may have wholly or partly
debris in the sluices to keep it moving covered the original ground. Some of
along. The cassiterite, being considerably these deposits have proven valuable once
heavier than the waste material accumu they were recognized and prospected.
lates on the up stream side of the low Some small but fabulously rich gold plac
obstructions. The cassiterite is scooped er grounds have been located high on a
out at frequent intervals, and during the mountain or hillside. For obvious physi
dean-up the water and ground is turned cal reasons deposits of this type are
into a duplicate adjacent sluice. Fine to invariably of small and limited extent.
paz crystals are also recovered in the Some of these small placers have been
sluices, topaz being about twice as heavy enormou~ly rich. In mining terms, values
WHERE TO PROSPECT 13
Part time prospectors. The Zeitner family of the ,

South Dakota, collecting chalcedony gebdes in the Bad Lands of South Dakota. The large
geodes are erroded from the sedimentary formation, seen exposed here. Various good quality
gem minerals have a wide and ready market.
in placer grounds are usually stated at eJ.r1y day supposition was that placer
so much per cubic yard of ground. The grounds in India would be worked over
early day gold placers of Californ'a and by native hand labor, and a certain re
Alaska were often rated in values of covery made. Then the ground was al
dollars per pan. Individual small pockets lowed to rest for a few decades, presum
would vield thousands of dollars. In the ably to give time for diamond growth.
Klondike, values ran as high as $5'0.0'0 or Then the ground was again worked over
more per cubic yard in spots, when gold and another crop of diamonds recovered.
was priced at $20.65 an ounce. In many Some grounds were worked over many
parts of the world gold placer ground times, and in each case a recovery was
has been known to run as high as $200.'0'0 made, often due to improved methods or
per yard, at old gold prices. Henc" it will more diligent and careful labor.
be seen that these old timers, using only Isolated diamonds have been found in
hand labor, had no difficulty washing out placers in almost every part of the world
fortunes. A dollar a today would be including the United States. Almost every
a great bonanza for a or hydraulic state records some of these finds. In the
operation. Mid-west region, the diamonds found
found were no doubt originally brought
GEM STONE PLACERS down from the far North by the Glaciers
Diamond is perhaps the most impor of the Ice which covered a sub
tant gem won from placers. Prior to 1871, stantial part the Mid-west region. A
when the diamond "pipes" were first goodly number are reported to have been
found in South Africa, the entire world found in the gold placers of the Western
supply came from the placers of India states in the earlier days. Perhaps many
and Brazil. Diamond bearing placer went over the sluices or. if noted, were
grounds are stil1 worked in many parts not recognized at such. A diamond in
of the world, but they are gradual1y being the rough, appearing in a sluice box or
worked out. gold pan, would not attract attention of
In India it was at one time thought the untrained eye. We have authentic
that diamonds actually "grew" in the record:t of only a very few being ac
placer grounds, this statement appears in tually recovered. Nearly all the reported
all the older books on gems, and was recent finds have proven to be either
even copied as a fact by some quite mod water worn topaz or quartz crystal. If
ern textbook writers. The reason for this you think you have found a diamond.
.. ,
14 POPULAR
just go to the nearest garage or machine

shop, and touch the suspect to a spin
ning grinding wheel. If its real, a cloud
of dust will come from the grinding
wheel. Any other known gem or diamond
like material will instantly show a flat
spot which the wheel has removed. Your
diamond will wear down the whole wheel,
and still remain intact. There is no need
to send the stone to Tiffanys or any other
place. Make the test yourself and be con
vinced. "Soft" diamond is unknown to
science or anyone else.
Attention may be called to the fact
that a sapphire would grind away rather
slowly on the grinding wheel. But the
wheel would readily leave its flat mark
on the stone. Sapphire' and grinding
wheels (silicon carbide, carborundum)
are of about equal hardness.
Many fine sapphires of commercial
value have been found in the gold placers
and stream beds of Montana. In fact for
many years, gold dredges operating in
some parts of the state, recovered sap A typical Montana sapphire and gold placer
phires as a valuable hy-product. Com operation. A giant, as shown, is used to
mercial operations for sapphire are also wash down the debris into sluice boxes
conducted in Montana, with gold as a where the values may be recovered.
by-product. For many years these op
erations were conducted by British in Bear Trap Creek, west of Bozeman. Per
terests, and all the gem quality stones haps the best sapphires have been found
were shipped to the gem cutting centers along the Missouri River, north and east
of London. For this reason we have no of Helena, on American Bar, Dana Bar,
accurate records of the value of sapphire Eldorado Bar, French Bar, and several
found in the state. However, the valuable other localities on a long stretch of the
and well colored cornflower blue sap river.
phire from Montana is widely known and We have seen many colorful parcels of
highly rated in the gem trades. Like in all sapphire panned from various streams by
gem deposits over the whole world, only Montana gem hunters. Few of the stones
a small part of the sapphires found in found have been of high gem value, but
Montana are of valuable gem grades. they come in many colors including blues,
The great bulk of them are either off greens, browns, yellows, orange and near
color, badly flawed, filled with inclusions ly colorless. Those who are interested in
or other imperfections to render them extensive prospecting for Montana sap
worthless for gem cutting. At one time phire wilt be interested in U. S. Geologi
these were widely utilized in the watch cal survey Bulletin 983, available from
making industry as jewel bearings, until the Government Printing Office. Wash
the synthetic sapphire industry was de ington, D. C.
veloped to largely replace the natural Most gem prospectors visiting Mon
stone. A few decades past, gem and min tana are in search of agate, found mainly
eraI supply houses had boxes filled with along the Yellowstone River, and in the
Montana of non-gem grade, but show adj acen t hills north of the river. Over a
ing the typical six-sided crystal charac period of more than 75 years this area
teristic of sapphire. The larger ones av has produced millions of dollars worth of
eraged about y,; inch in size, and it was valuable gem grade agate, perhaps more
your pick at 10 cents each. valuable than all the sapphire ever found
There are stilt many areas in Montana in the state. For many years this region
today where you may pan for sa~hires. was almost the sole commercial producer
The best known of these regions include, of gem moss agate widely used in the
the gravels of Clark river at Missoula; gem trades.
Y ogo Gulch in the northeastern part of Despite the fact that thousands of tons
the state; Pole Creek, Elk Creek, and of this agate has been gathered during
A typical Southwestern desert prospect. Thousands of these "showings" are scattered

throughout the Country. Some will develop into valuable properties, others will be abandoned.
The prospect shown here may develop Into a valuable tungsten producer. Prospect of this
type are usually explored by open cuts and pits, or by shafts, as shown here. Deeper and
more extensive exploration may be conducted by more costly diamond drilling, if indica.
tions warrant the expenditure.
the past 75 years, prospectors still make plicable only to instances where the min
valuable finds in this region. Where in eral element is considerably heavier in
the past, a days hunt over the hills and specific gravity than the mother matrix
along the river gravel bars would be rock, like gold or heavy metallic sul
phides carried in rock.
}'eckoned in wagon loads, today a few
hundred pounds is a good days work. LODE DEPOSITS
Values depend on quality found. Like all As a rule mountainous and volcanic
other gem regions, many of the water regions are more favorable for ore de
worn agate pebbles and boulders are de posits, especially the metallic minerals.
void of attractive moss-like inclusions, In these regions we find faults and frac
and are thus worthless duds. tures in the rocks which are favorable
Almost any type of mineral may be for the deposition of various minerals.
found in placer ground. For this reason Moreover, in a hilly or mountainous re
alluvial deposits are a good indication of gion conditions are generally more favor
what might exist in the region drained able for the exposure of outcroppings,
by a stream. Tracing the source of min indications of values below the surface.
erals found in placers have often led to These may be lacking in a flat or ievel
the lode - the original source. Soft and desert region.
less resistant mineralS are not likely to Hence in most prospecting work the
long survive water transportation or to prospector will first look for possible
be carried far. surface indications, outcrops as they are
With a little practice, some skill will generally known. These are places where
be acquired in handling a gold pan. At the vein or ore body below may be ex
the outset do not load the pan too heavily. posed on the surface through weathering
The larger fragments may be tossed out or other agencies. In regions of exten
by hand. The pan may also be used to sive glaciation, like Central Canada, great
test various types of rock, suspected of ore bodies have been discovered where
carying values. The rock is· first broken prominent outcroppings are lacking. Many
and powdered in an iron miners mortar. of these ore bodies were located by vari
The material is then panned in the usual ous methods of geophysical prospecting,
manner. This method of testing is ap and similar technical means. Some of
.\
r !
r'
them were located by keen eyed and ob monopolize the outcrop, even long after
serving practical prospectors. most of the values are weathered away.
Surface indications also include frag This may be the case on rich silver de
ments of ore, mineral or vein matter, posits.
broken loose from the ore body and For this reason an outcrop mayor may
found resting on the surface as "float." not carry values representative of the
These float pieces can usually be traced rock below. Resistant minerals like gold,
to their source when found on a slope platinum, cassiterite, scheelite, and a num
or in a wash. On a hillside, an outcrop ber of others are likely to remain in the
may be covered with surface debris and outcr9P along with the resistant quartz
not readily located, or it may be weath or similar matrix rock, but a great host
ered to such an extent to lack prominence. of minerals will be subject to weathering,
In this case the float may be traced up including the copper and silver minerals.
a slope or up a wash, until no more For these reasons many mines are found
appears, when it is assumed that the ap ,yhich are fabulously rich near the sur
proximate outcrop has been reached and face, that is in what is known as the zone
digging is indicated. The steeper the slope of oxidation, that portion of the ground
or wash, the further the float may mi above the local ground water level. The
grate. In arid regions and on nearly level zone of oxidation, will vary, depending
ground, float is not likely to travel far upon the terrain and climate. In level, non
from its point of origin. arid regions it may be several hundred
Outcrops will vary in size and appear feet below the surface. The minerals found
ance. Some may be great bodies of resist in the outcrop, and in the zone of oxida
ant silica rocks, standing boldly above tion near the surface may be wholly dif
the surface. Others may be small and ob ferent from the values and ores found at
scure, lacking in prominence, but may be depth. There may also be considerable
rich. The zinc-lead deposits surrounding enrichment in the zones of oxidation, de
Galena, Kansas, show no surface indi rived from the values above. As the sur
cations, but are extensive, rich, and rest face ores weather, leaching and percolat
near the surface. On the other hand the ing waters carry these values downward,
great lead-silver deposits of Broken Hill, enriching the lower bodies. This continues
Australia, comprised an outcrop that was down to the groundwater level where oxi
a land mark to be seen from miles around. dation ceases, and the sulphide ores are
These, however, are two wholly different encountered. The latter ores are usually
types of ore depositions. The former are of. lesser value.
of ground water origin, while the latter Many of the early days silver-gold
are associated with volcanic activity. mines were of this type. Enormous wealth
Many notable copper mines have a was encountered in the zone of oxida
large outcrop of iron oxide or gossan, tion, where for eons of time values were
and were originally worked as gold and siowly concentrated as they were re
silver properties. This was true in the moved from above. This was true at all
case of Butte, the "richest hill on earth." the mines in the Couer 'd Alene; at Butte;
Not much gold was found in the thin at Silver City, Idaho; in the Comstock;
gossan capping, and at the outset little at Bisbee; and at practically every other
hope was held for Butte as a mining similar deposit. All went well while the
camp, by those who first worked the workings were in the zone of oxidation.
ground. Suddenly the sulphide zone was reached,
There are a few general rules that may where the values were often greatly de
be kept in mind. A silicious rock in lime preciated, compared to what was first
stone will form a conspicuous outcrop mined. Some of the great workings were
since the silica is much more resistant enabled to carryon by improved milling
to weathering. Pyrite and similar heavy methods, others like those of Silver City,
metallic sulphides weather readily,hence Idaho, soon ceased operations.
where these are present in large amounts, When prospecting, every physical sur
the outcrop may actually be in the form face is worth noting. Odd or unusual col
of a depression covered by gossan. Sili ors appearing on the surface should be
cious veins in volcanic rocks usually investigated, for many ores when weath
stand out on the surface in an irregular ering break down into minerals having
manner due to lack of uniform weather bright or characteristic colors,· like the
ing. In all cases the most resistant ma green and blue of copper, malachite and
terial (like quartz) in an outcrop will sur azurite. Sandstones and clays may be also
vive weathering the longest, and often stained by various minerals. Any unusual
Part time prospector H. F. Mack of Project City, California, makes a lucky and valuable
find - a huge water worn bnulder of Jade, weighing 1,350 pounds. This mass was found in
Shasta County, California. This mass rates along with the other large masses found in
Wyoming anti elsewhere. California and Wyoming are the only two states where jade has
been found insau. There are several known producing jade fields in California, described
in some detail in the book CALIFORNIA GEM TRAILS. The finest quality, apple-green,
American jade ranges in value at $50.00 per pound in the rough:
color appearing may be an indication of common and include a number of com

mineralization below and adjacently. mercial uranium minerals. Reference to
While color in an outcrop is no certain those will be made elsewhere, but suffice
criterion of values present, some color to state here these bright colors include
generalizations may be made. It can be canary yellows, blues, greens, and green
stated that some mineral colors are always ish-yellow, orange and several mixed
bright and vivid, like the green and blue shades. While carnotite is usually not re
of copper and nickel. Chromite in an out garded as a primary uranium mineral, it
crop may also present a vivid green color, presents, when pure a bright yellow color
but more rarely than copper or nickel. Co not to be forgotten when once seen. The
balt sulphides in an outcrop may also more impure carnotite ores will tend to
weather to a beautiful pink colored cobalt ward dull or muddy yellow or even
mineral. brownish colors.
Pitchblende, a primary uranium mineral Iron stains are common ones, seen al
is notorious for its production of vividly most anywhere and every where, however,
colored secondary u ran i u m minerals, they may appear in many colors and many
formed by weathering and alteration in shades of colors, they are never vivid as
the outcroppings and near the surface stains in outcrops on and in rocks. The
ores. These include some 75 or more dif more common iron stains are yellowish
ferent secondary uranium minerals, most and reddish, but always on the dull side.
of them rare ones seldom seen outside of Iron stains and iron minerals may also
collections, but others are much more appear as black in color. Ferrous iron
PROSPECTING
may account for green stains that to the

untrained eye may be taken as a copper
stain, but these green stains of iron are
invariable a dul1 and muddy green, never
bright and vivid like those of copper.
More rarely iron may appear in the form
of a blue stain, the iron phosphate vivi
anite. Or the color may be a bluish-green,
but again Iilot the vivid copper color. Iron
mineral stains probably mislead more
prospectors than any other mineral stains.
Mineral stains appearing in outcrop~
pings can lend valuable information and
the prospector will do well to take note
of these. Even silver may cause a brightly
colored stain in an outcrop. The silver
chlorides and bromides, may present
bright stains in green, yellow or blue,
easily mistaken for some other mineral.
It is difficult to specifically tell the
reader where to prospect. We may cite
a few anecdotes. Years ago a greenhorn Large and good quality quartz crystals as
ventured into an Australian mining camp, shown here held high value for use in many
electronic instruments, including radio broad
and innocently asked a party of opal cast control. Few suitable crystals of this
gougers where to dig for opaL As a joke, kind have been found in the United States.
they directed the novice to a barren knoll During the last war, great quantities were
where no experienced miner had ventured flown from Brazil mines at a high cost.
to work For days the amateur sunk his
shaft deeper and deeper, until the experts over, Stoddard knew that his frying pan
were about to reveal the hoax. Without was intact, yet the partners did not sus
warning he suddenly struck one of the pect silver.
richest finds in the whole field. Shafts
A few of the slugs were taken by the
were sunk all around him, he had struck
partners to an assayer in Boise. The as
a new bonanza.
sayer placed one of the small slugs into
Some years ago, an old timer, ]. L. nitric acid, watched it dissolve, and then
Stoddard, at Silver City, Idaho, related precipitated white silver chloride from the
to us how he discovered the fabulous clear solution, by the addition of common
silver camp. Stoddard was what may be salt. Yes, it most certainly was pure sil
called a part time prospector. A t the ver. Stoddard had accidentally set his
time of his discovery he was not prOS fire against a rich outcropping vein of
pecting, but he and two other men were silver. This was in the early 1870"s. Dur
running a band of horses from Nevada ing the next several decades some $300,
to sell in Boise. No, they were not horse 000,000 in silver and gold was won from
thieves. the mines of Silver city. The mines of
Stoddard was rather a handy man with Silver City are rated as the richest the
the frying pan so he was delegated as world has ever known for their size. As
camp cook, while the other two were mines go most of them were small and of
busy wrangling horses and bringing in limited depth, when the sulphide zones
game. It was cold weather, so Stoddard were encountered. This was before the
built his camp fire against a rock wall, income tax days, and several notable
to provide a better heat. Next morning present day family fortunes were founded
while scratching around in the embers, on the wealth of the mines of Silver City
he noted some bright looking metal slugs, -a ghost town today, still more or less
too hard to be lead as revealed by the intact as when some 5,000 miners and
knife test, and too hard to be iron. More- 500 Chinamen trod its main street.
CHAPTER TWO
The Gem Minerals

Twenty years ago there was little popu river. The best hunting is in the hills
lar interest in gem cutting as a hobby, north of the Yellowstone. Apparently the
and we found few gem hunters in the agate originally occurred in the lava rocks
field. Most of the gems used in the jewelry over a great area, but mainly in the rocks
trades were mined and cut in foreign north of the river. For this reason they
countries. Most of the domestic gem min are found scattered over large areas in
ing was confined to gem pockets en the present day.
countered in pegmatite formations, and In many cases the gem placers have
non-metallic mineral quarries, where gems served, like in the case of gold, to trace
were not the primary interest, When a the values to their source or origin. In a
gem pocket was encountered in these hilly country, where gem materials may
mining and quarrying operations, it often bt: found in dry washes, canyons, ravines,
proved a bonanza. and stream gravels and sands, by search
Commercial gem d e p 0 si t s may be ing upwards the source can often be found
placed in two different groups, the placers in the form of a lode. In a gem country,
and the lode deposits. For more than the debris, for example at the mouth of a
75 years western stream gravels have canyon or ravine, may reveal the presence
supplied the gem markets with agate, and of small fragments of the material sought
while these continue to produce, ,they for. One may have to make a close search,
have been largely depleted in most sec but if even sman fragments appear, one
tions of the country. Now most of the may be reasonably sure that following
value gem grades of agate are dug from the material upwards will rev e a I its
veins, seams and pockets. Often a pocket source. Many valuable pockets of opal I
of agate will yield heavily and if the ized wood have been found in this maimer
material is of good gem grade, a single in the Horse Heaven hills and in the .!
small pocket will produce as much as Saddle Mountains of central Washington.
$5,000. This method of prospecting for any
The home of agate is in the volcanic type of mineral can not be stressed too
rocks. and as these rocks weather and often. It is a time worn method that has
disintegrate the much more resistant agate been in effective use for centuries. A
is released to find its ways into stream method that nearly always leads to values.
IJeds or in arid countries it will accumu The debris referred to may even be sub
late at the foot of slopes, or remain rest jected to panning to learn more of its
ing on the surface. Usually when a new nature. If fluorescent minerals, like tung
agate field is discovered, a great quantity sten, scheelite, are suspected, the ultra
of material is found on the surface or violet lamps should be used, and if urani
mixed with the surface debris. This is the um minerals are being sought, the pan
picture in an arid or semi-arid area. The ned concentrates may be tested Vlrith the
lack of surface plant growth makes re Geiger counter. In short, these water car
covering the agate masses easy. \Vhere ried alluvials can reveal a great deal of
brge streams are adjacent to lode agate, valuable information, and mean a lot of
the gem will then be found in the streams, labor saving. In some regions, many of
as water worn material. these washes are noted dissecting steep
This was the case of the celebrated slopes, hence a lot of ground may be ef
moss agate of the Yellowstone River in fectively prospected at a small amount of
Montana. Over a distance of more than effort.
75 miles in the eastern part of the state, While most of the former rich alluvial
agate was recovered in considerable quan agate ground in Montana, Oregon, Texas,
tity. by merely searching the gravel bars California, Wyoming, and other western
during summer low water periods. It is states has been largely depleted, present
related that in the earlier days, a wagon day lode workings are the rich producers.
load of agate could be gathered in a day, Some of these in situ deposits have been
searching the gravel bars. brought to light by construction work,
Like all other placer deposits, these like highway excavations, digging wells,
have become depleted, and now the masses dam construction and similar activities.
of agate are found strewn along the Not so long ago a slide on a highway in
slopes and in fields, miles back from the central Oregon revealed an agate pocket
20 POPFLAR PROSPECTING
comprised of high grade gem agate. The

discoverers, in a matter of hours cleared
out the open exposed pocket of vein
agate, material that sold readily for from
$5.00 to $6.00 per pound in the rough.
One single mass from the pocket weighed
165 pounds and was sold to a commercial
gem cutter for $1,000. This was the largest
single piece found, but all the material
was in fairly large pieces. At values of
from $5.00 to $6.00 per pound, a pocket
would not have to be large to yield sev
eral thousand dollars in values.
Agate was gathered on a commercial
scale in Montana and Oregon for more
than 75 years before attention was di
rected to other agate deposits in the west.
The great agate deposits of Texas, Ari
zona, and New Mexico appear to have re
mained unknown or at least untouched
until the last two decades. Since then
through active prospecting, the great Big
Bend of Texas agate fields have become
well known, and important producers.
Commercial agate diggings in Arizona A good quality agate "nodule." The rough
and New Mexico have also been revealed mass has been sawed in the middle, and this
shows the flat sawed surface. This type is
by prospectors, during the past 20 years. called banded or fortification agate. A good
III Oregon, agate mining and agate cut market exists for specimens of this type and
ting has become an important part of the quality.
mines products of the state. Gem min
ing and gem cutting, has become a million But even in these limited instances, it is
dollar annual industry in the state, with often possible to gain entry by proper
scores of well known producing prop approach and technic. It is likely that as
erties. Nearly all these new deposits, re time goes on, more and more private
vealed during the past 20 years, were property will be posted against entry or
originally found by gem hunters. All the trespass. Many of these postings are pri
producing grounds are lode deposits. marily aimed at the flesh hunter armed
Some are operated by hand labor, but the with a shotgun or high powered firearm,
better known ones are worked by power and not the gem hunter armed with pick
machinery. and r.ammer. As a general rule when
There are millions and millions of acres your business is made known to the prop
in the great Public Domain of the West erty owner, you will be made welcome in
ern states. Here the gem hunter may the true Western fashion, and no one
roam at will, dig, and gather material would dream of taking advantage of or
with no restrictions whatsoever. Upon violating this courtesy.
this great Public Domain many new lo If you wish to spend a vacation in the
calities have been found, and still more field on an extended tour, it is suggested
await discovery. It seems needless to call that you plan your tour in advance and
attention to the fact that private property with specific routes and localities on
is generally surrounded by a fence - in schedule. An aimless wandering over the
the Western states it is usually a barb region will likely yield very little, and not
wire fence. The Public Domain is not enhance the recreational value of the jour
fenced. Those who are brash enough to ney. In addition to the information pro
barge into fenced land, cut wire fences, vided here, there are other sources of
tear down gates, will likely find them helpful data. Various books will provide
selves in more or less difficulties - if the additional information pertinent to lo
land owner happens to be in the vicinity. calities, and their general geology and
Only in rare cases will permission be mineralogy. Many of the state mining
denied those who seek permission from bureaus have bulletins of a helpful na
the land owner. And where this is refused, ture and while these are not intended
or where signs are posted, there is always primarily for the gem hunter, they are
a good and sufficient reason for same. usually of value in field work.
. ,.
THE GEM MINERALS 21
Gem hunters at work at the noted Ochoco carnelian agate thunder egg deposit in Central
Oregon, operated by Herbert Wm. Lawson of Terrebonne, Oregon. One of the several open
to the public commerc!al diggings in the Central Oregon region. Diggings of this kind have
proven widely popular with visitors from distant places. The Ochoco deposit, situated high
up In the cool of the Ochoco Mountains, is celebrated for its rare and large carnelian agate
filled thunder eggs. Power operated equipment is used to clear away the waste overburden
materials to render digging easier.
The various journals in this field also be excellent, but the trunk is not being
publish locality data at frequent intervals. filled. Do not be too hasty to blame the
The journals will also enable you to visit writer of a locality, or feel that he has
supply houses en route, as practically all first cleaned out the locality. and then
supply firms, and individuals who sell, passed along the information in the form
carry advertisements in one or more of of an empty sack. This is seldom the
the magazines devoted to your hobby. case, Likely, the writer did obtain all the
The silver pick will always enable you to fine material claimed, but failed to state
return home with fine material, regard bow many hours or days were devoted
less of your luck in the field. to their acquisition.
It may be just as well not to attempt For the benefit of the inexperienced,
to visit too many localities in a limited we may add a few words regarding col
time. T hurried or superficial visit to a lecting conditions in various parts of the
locality will seldom be worthwhile. After country. In general, there are two types
all, the specimens generally have to be of localities, one where the material is
searched for, dug out, gleaned from some found in its original place of birth, and
dump at an old mine, or perhaps won the other where it has been weathered out.
from the hard rock matrix in a quarry. A The pegmatites of southern California,
visitor may read of some 10caFty and South Dakota, North Carolina. and the
after a visit will complain "there is noth New England states are excellent sources
ing there." This is usually not correct. of a great many gems, and valuable min
The stranger has failed to find the best erals. The pegmatites of southern Cali
spots, or has failed to spend enough time fornia were for some years worked for
in diligent search, or for many other rea the gems contained plus rare minerals
sons. Many of the superb specimens we found, including lithium.
see from some noted locality were col Rock, limestone and various other types
lected by persons who had perhaps visited of quarries are plentiful throughout the
the region dozens of times. It is better to Atlantic states. Often "pockets" are en
spend a full day at one locality than a few countered in quarrying, and these poc
hours at several places. Remember, when kets may contain mineral crystals often
you are sitting at the wheel of the car, superb zeolites. As long as the quarry is
bowling along at 50 per, the scenery may in active operation specimens are likely
to be forth coming, and these commercial good collecting grounds here. The "strip"
operations remain under the eagle eye of (open cuts) coal mines near Wilmington,
local collectors. Illinois, produce some of the most beauti
The locality of Clay Center, Ohio, is ful fossil flora to be found anywhere. Col
known to collectors far and wide for its lectors glean the waste dumps of the
remarkable fluorite and celestite. All Clay stripped surface material in search of the
Center specimens come from an enormous elongated concretions. When split open
limestone quarry,. a hole in the ground lengthwise these frequently reveal the
about the size and shape of Meteorite imprint of some leaf or plant that thrived
Crater of Arizona. One could spend days millions of years ago.
and days in the Clay Center quarry and At numerous places in the Mid-West
yet not cover the entire terrain. Tools are there are huge gravel deposits carried
needed here. down from the far North by the Pleisto
The river gravels throughout the United cene glaciers. Here one may expect to
States are good sources of specimens, usu find almost any mineral which can sur
ally hard-water worn material. Since the vive water wear, including even native
high waters each year work over the copper carried down from northern Michi
river gravels, we may expect a new crop gan. Colorful quartz minerals and fossil
each year. wood is common to these gravels. Some
Here are localities which will never of these gravel deposits are worked in a
be depleted. The Rio Grande River, up commercial manner, which serves to ease
and down stream for over 50 miles from the labors of the collector.
Laredo, Texas, has yielded great quanti Throughout the western half of the
ties of good specimens, mainly water United States there are large mining re
worn quartz family minerals. Obviously gions which offer excellent possibilities.
we would not expect to find soft or fragile At many mines it is customary to throw
minerals among the river gravels. Gold is the waste or lean material removed from
the soft exception to the rule. the mine workings on huge dumps. Since
Let us go down to Florida and observe this is waste materi,t1 there are generally
the collectors at work at Ballast Point, no restrictions on coil e c tin g. Mining
Tampa Bay. Here the collector wears states like Colorado, Arizona, New Mexi
rubber boots, carries a small crow bar, co, California, Uta h, Nevada, Idaho,
and generally a pair of heavy leather Washington, Oregon, and others, boast
gloves. Coral, which has been petrified of thousands of these "dumps" ranging
with beautifully colored chalcedony and in size from the small dump of the pros
agate, may often be obtained in large pect pit, to those containing hundreds of
masses or fantastic forms. The specimens thousands of cubic yards of material.
are broken off from their attachments in Often these dumps contain material
shallow water and at low tide. Collecting of interest and value as specimens. Some
has been carried on here for years, and of these dumps represent material which
yet the supply does not appear to have may have been removed from the mine
been greatly diminished. 50 to 75 years ago, still waiting for the
We can cross the country and nearly collector. Several years ago the writer
all' along the Pacific Ocean beaches fine spent four successive summer vacations
agates and other quartz minerals may be at the old mining camp of Silver City,
found in the gravel bars along the beach, Idaho, some 50 miles from Boise. Here
with best collecting at low tide. In Ore large and small waste dumps dot the hill
gon a good gravel bar may be suddenly sides by the thousands.
covered by sand or exposed by a storm These old and sleeping mining camps
or change in tides or wind. A gravel bar offer not only excellent collecting possi
may remain "sanded" for years and then bilities but they are often off the beaten
suddenly be exposed, to the good fortune path, high up in the mountains, and an
of the first combers. So if you visit along excellent place to spend a few weeks
the Pacific Ocean beaches, do not be sur away from the rush of the city and the
prised to see numerous persons walking busy highway traffic.
slowly along the beach with heads bowed Some fine material may be obtained
down. They are not in silent meditat:on from old mine dumps. In the early days
merely gem seekers. of mining when fabulously rich ore was
It is true that there are great areas ill encountered, it was customary to care
the Mid-West that hold little interest for lessly cast away valuable ores. The op
the collector. Much of this region is level erators were waxing rich, and often the
prairie country. However, there are some miners were careless. Some of these old
THE GEM MINERALS 23
While agate and many other gems are found in alluvial deposits, some are being won
from veins. Showing mining valuable gem agate from a vein deposit in Arizona. Huge
masses, weighing hundreds of pounds may be obtained in this manner. Photo by Charles
Hill, Cave Creek, Arizona, agate mines.
mine dumps have long since been re of labels, and on each container place the
worked and run through the maw of the proper label. Your memory may prove
crushers in the mills, but a very large faulty when you return home. You will,
number, not large enough, or not con of course, always have your prospector's
veniently situated, still remain intact. pick handy; this is your most universal
Collecting on a mine dump often re single piece of equipment.
quires no more equipment than the cleav The novice at gem hunting will likely
ing hammer. It is easy and pleasant to sit not be enabled to readily recognize good
at the foot of a dump and rake down and material when it is seen in the rough in
sort over the debris for specimens. In the the field. This is a matter that requires
dump of an old silver property, it is not a little experience, to enable ready "on'
at all uncommon to retrieve a fine rich sight" recognition of suitable gem cutting
silver specimen originally overlooked or material. The novice is just as likely as
cast aside through carelessness. Then the not to cast away valued pieces and return
beautiful crystals of the gangue minerals, with almost worthless material. In some
and the zone of oxidation minerals, are cases it is difficult for even the more ex
always present. Your entire vacation can perienced to recognize a good specimen,
be spent with pleasure and profit at one especial\y where the exterior is water
of these old mining camps. worn and drab in color. Usually chipping
Depending on where you prospect you off a small corner of a specimen will
will require an assortment of tools and suffice to reveal its true quality, on the
packing materials and containers. Work freshly broken surface. Or it may even
ing in hard rock, chisels and hammers are be necessary to saw off a section to view
indicated. If you visit one of the sage the interior, as is the case with a\1 intact
covered desert localities of the west, you thunder eggs, nodules, and the like.
will want a heavy pick and shovel, as In order to gain a good working knowl
when surface material is lacking, digging edge in the proper recognition and ap
may be indicated. praisal of rough gem material, the novice
If you expect to collect fine crystals and will do well to view the specimens in ad
similar fragile material take along pack vanced collections. Or typical material
ing material and suitable containers. Mas of specific value and quality may be pur
sive or water-worn materials can be safely chased from supply firms, in order to en
cast into a burlap sack and dumped in able the novice to separate the sheep from
the car. In a\1 cases take along a supply the goats, as it were.
A great many of the supply firms in

various parts of the country are largely
dependent upon the field worker to re
plenish their supply of rough gems, min
erals, fossils, and geological specimens.
The hobbyist coIl e c tor will invariably
obtain more or less duplicate material,
and if this is of suitable commercial qual
ity it may be readily disposed of in quau
tity to supply firms.
Many home gem cutters manage to
make the hobby pay its way through dis
posal of surplus material finished in their Tracks across the sage. The prospector in
home shops. This income frequently suf the Western states, seeking out little known
fices to pay for wheels, saws, and other trails to reach isolated regions, is often con
necessary supplies. Poor quality material fronted with auto tracks branching In vari
ous directions, with no sign posts to mark
i, in little demand, it is quite common, the correct route. This is typical of the Red
and often hardly worth the cost of lapi Desert region of Wyoming. False tracks may
dary treatment. It costs no more to apply lead one to a summer sheep camp. The ex
perienced prospector will generally know
lapidary treatment to good quality ma what trail to follow.
terial than it does to inferior junk. In
selling to a supply firm, retail prices are
not to be expected, the dealer must meet apple-green jade has been found in Wyo
the cost of handling, selling, advertising, ming. In the earlier days of discovery,
and realize a profit in the transaction. this fine jade was at times sold for as
Few other hobbies hold comparable pos low as $5.00 per pound in the rough.
sibilities and versatility. Now the same grade brings from $50.00
The readers who are interested in pros to $75.00, and the supply is not plentiful.
pecting for gems in the Pacific Northwest Some of these valuable masses weighed
region are referred to the book Northwest as much as 185 pounds, but most of them
Gem Trails, listed on page two. ranged fro m 10 to 45 p 0 u n d s each.
Enormous masses were also found, some
THE JADE FIELDS weighing as much as 4,000 pounds, rating
For many years the Orient supplied all among the largest masses of jade ever
the jade used in the American gem trades. found any w her e. One of these large
A few pieces of jade float had been found masses, weighing about 2,700 pounds may
at various places in the United States, be seen in the Chicago Museum Natural
but little thought w~s given to the exist History.
ance of possible domestic deposits.
Several years ago jade was also dis
In 1935, two Lander, \Vyoming pros
covered in California. While California,
pectors brought in some heavy but drab
including several localities, has produced
appearing w ate r w 0 r n boulders. This
a quantity of jade, little of it is of a color
marked the discovery of the great \Vyo
ming jade fields centered around Lander. and quality suitable for gem cutting. How
During the next ten years a heavy influx ever, magnificent ornaments have been
carved from this material. Wyoming and
of gem hunters and prospectors worked
the barren hills in the Lander region. California are the only two states where
Few of them failed to find valuable jade. jade has been found in position, or in
While jade has been found in position commercial qua n tit i e s. Isolated float
in the Lander region, alI production to p!eces of jade have been picked up from
date has come from what may be termed time to time at various places in the
placer deposits, since all the masses of Country, but nearly always these have
jade found show more or less water wear. been pieces showing traces of having once
And in nearly all cases the jade (nephrite been worked, similar to the jade found in
variety jade) has been found resting on old Mexico.
the surface, in surface debris, and in dry A jade boulder or mass found in the
washes. Naturally these were soon de field, may easily passed by as just another
pleted but jade is still being found in Wyo common roc k. 0 r w hen jade occurs
ming comes into the high grade class. mixed with common rock, it will be dif
Mu.ch of it is lacking in good green color, ficult to separate same by outer appear
or It may be too opaque or dull, and suit ances. The experienced jade hunter will
able only for carving work, and not for be enabled to readily distinguish jade
gem cutting. However, many tons of fine from common rock, solely by hefting.
THE GEM MINERALS 25
• Alaska Gem hunters en route to the fabulous Jade Mountain in the Kobuk River region
of Alaska. During the summer months, the jade fields can be reached by canoe travel.
Little hunting or prospecting has been done in this notable Jade field, owing to its isolation.
A detailed description of a visit to this region appears in the June 1953 issue of The MIn
eralogist Magazine.
With a little practice this skill can be try. Common opal, when well colored. and
acquired, since jade is about twice as not too opaque has value in the gem
heavy, bulk for bulk, as common rock. trades. Some of this opal may be drab
Sampling a mass of jade for quality, by colored, or colorless, and it mayor may
breaking off a small fragment. may' also not show a strong yellowish-green fluo
be deceptive since jade often has a worth resence, due to the presence of small
less outer crust, due to weathering of the amounts of uranium. The colorless type
mass. The inner portion or inner core i, usually called hyalite. or hyaline opal,
may be high grade and valuable material. and often found as coatings on volcanic
Due to its fibrous structure. a water worn rocks. Uranium fluorescent opal has been
mass of jade will be very difficult to found, in Georgia, Nevada, Arizona and
break by ordinary hammering. The mass elsewhere in the United States. Other
should be brought in and diamond sawed than specimens, it usually has 110 com
by an experienced rock cutter. mercial significance.
While there have been no spectacular Fire opal, in commercial amounts has
discoveries in the "Wyoming and Califor been found in only a very few parts of
nia jade fields in recent years, these areas the Country, notably in Virgin Valley,
have continued to produce small quanti Nevada, some 30 miles south of the little
ties of good material. The reader who is town of Denio, Nevada, at the Oregon
interested in working the California jade boundary line. Here we find the only op
fields is referred to the specialized book erating precious fire opal mines in the
California Gem Trails, listed on page two. Country. Opal prospecting has been car
This book also describes many other Cali ried on here from time to time for many
fornia gem fields other than jade. years. Much of the ground has long since
Opal Common colored opal, that is been filed on and prospected. The cele
opal which. is colored but now showing brated Rainbow Ridge Mine, is the main
flashes of color as seen in precious 'fire" present day survivor of many former
opal, is found in many parts of the coun properties.
Sapphire. SOr.1e sap phi r e has been

found at various places in the Country,
including the gem placers of North Caro
lina, but these have long since been
worked out. Montana has produced by
far the greatest amount of sapphire, and
some of the old placer and lode pro
ducers are still in operation. \¥hile not a
great deal of sapphire prospecting is now
being done in Montana, there are still
good possibilities waiting. References to
Montana sapphire have been made pre
viously.
Diamond: Diamond pipes or diamond
groun'd have been found in only one place
in the Country, near Murfreesboro, Ar
kansas. This discovery was made in 1906,
and for a time the ground was worked on
a commercial scale with considerable se
crecy. Apparently the venture was not a
success, for after a time operations ceased.
More recently the ground was opened
to public digging for a small fee, with
the stipulation, "k e epa n y diamonds
found". Elsewhere in the United States,
at various places, isolated and authentic Sketch map of the Hart Mountain opal
fields of Lake County, south central Ore.
diamonds have been found from time to gon. This is one of the very few regions in
time. These have been few and far be the United States where "fire" opal has been
tween, we may state. found. A detailed description of this region
appears in the February 1954 issue of The
Garnet. This common gem has been Mineralogist Magazine. An opal valued at
found in many parts of the country, often $400.00 Is reported to have been found here.
in placer grounds, or even in the ant hills
of Arizona. In Idaho, at several localities, gem was once mined in some quantity in
good gem grade garnets of large size Nevada, Arizona, and California, but pro
have been found in stream gravels. Prob duction is now at a low point. Not much
ably the finest star (asterated) garnets high grade was produced at any of these
found in the Un i ted S tat e s occur in early day workings.
Idaho. These have been described in the Rhodonite. This opaque gem of a pleas
book Northwest Gem Trails, by the pres ing pink color, has been found at a num
ent writer. Good quality star garnet in ber of localities in the western states in
the rough has a ready market. cluding California and Oregon. It was
Garnet sands are also of value for abra also found in the old mine working at
sive purposes like the familiar garnet Butte. This gem may be found in large
paper used in industry. Garnet is often masses and as water worn boulders along
associated with other sands, of detrital stream beds, in southwestern Oregon and
minerals having commercial value. Hence Northern California. In good color qual
a deposit of this kind of the right quality ity it has value as a gem material.
and quantity could hold considerable com Included along with agate in the quartz
mercial value. family minerals, are a number of other
Red garnet, present in large amounts, gems that are worth investigating when
may color beach sands red, and are often encountered on a prospecting tour. These
termed "ruby" beaches, seen at a num include the many types of jasper and jasp
ber of places throughout the world. The agate. The quartz gems are described in
green sand. beaches of Honolulu are due some detail, along with where found in
to the presence of large amounts of the The Agate Book, listed on page two.
gem olivine (peridot). The ruby beaches Gypsum is ordinarily not regarded as a
of Nome are well known. These sands gem material, but the alabaster variety
are usually too finely divided to have any is widely used as an ornamental stone,
value as an abrasive material, however fashioned into various shapes. by carving
plentiful they may be. and turning on a lathe. The alabaster of
Turquoise. This colorful blue and green Wyoming and Montana at one time com
THE GEM MINERALS 27
----------------------------- ---------------------------
Some magnificent Montana moss or scenic agates, from the noted Yellowstone River
region in the eastern part of the state. Cut and polished agate gems of the grade and qual.
ity, bring high prices, ranging from about $10.00 to over $50.00 for a single finished piece.
These are by no means common, but the gem prospector never knows when a single large
agate of this quality may be picked up in the fields, north of the Yellowstone River. Aver
age Montana moss agate sells for around $1.00 a pound, but a single high grade rough agate
may bring anywhere from $100.00 upwards. Phot shows cut agates in natural size. From
the collection of Stanley Twedt, West Glendive, Montana.
prised a sizeable local industry in the been familiar to prospects, but it

production or ornaments and novelties remained for some enterprising individual
for sale to tourists. Gypsum is also widely to promote the development and use of
used in the arts and building industries, these materials. These developments in
hence any deposit or indications of such clude the utilization on common, but well
are weI! worth investigating. colored rhyolite rocks, common to many
In copper mines, various valuable gem parts of the West. The "Wonder Stone"
minerals may be found in the upper work of Nevada is a good example, and has
ings, or in open cuts and trenches dug been exploited for some years. More re
while prospecting a copper deposit. These cently in Oregon and elsewhere various
valuable gem materials include the fine types of colored lava rock deposits are
green chrysocolla, blue azurite and green being utilized with profit.
malachite. Much of this fine material was In some cases the rock is used as
found when the great copper mines at mined for applications like ornamental
Bisbee, Arizona were first opened. Later rock .walls, and in rock gardens. In other
when the mines reached depth, these gem instances the colorful rock is mined, and
materials were no longer found in the sawed into flat sections, and used like
workings. At one time, when plentiful, tile or brick, as ornamental fronts on
chrysocolla had only nominal value, now homes or a business building, or per
since good quality material is scarce its chance as an interior decoration in a
value in the rough may be $50.00 per night club. These natural occurring build
pound and u p war d s. Gem prospectors ing materials as usually quite durable and
have found high grade material on the resistant to weathering, and if they are
old waste dumps in some of the great of a pleasing color or pattern arrange
copper camps of the West. ment, they can often be utilized as a
A large number of deposits of orna building or ornamental material.
mental stones are being utilized in a com There seems to be no limit to the utili
mercial manner. Many of these have long zation of ornamental stones, and the
present trend in architecture seems to be

turning more and more to natural stones.
We have seen many new ones brought
into use dJriog the past decade. For years
we have driven past a prominent rhyolite
rimrock. Presently we see a large quarry
operation going on. 'vVe hasten on in
chagrin, when we realized we had years
of opportunity to file claims on the
ground, or purchase same for a nominal
price.
It would appear that almost any type
of unusual rock, however common and
prosaic it may appear in the field has
possibilities for utilization in one way or
another. For example some of this color
ful rock tends to weather and break into
large flat slabs. These large and angular
slabs might make ideal flagstones for out Early day prospecting and collecting sam·
. door use. Trucked into a city, material of pies at the dakelte(schroecklngerlte) deposit
this kind will often bring a fancy price In the Red Desert, 45 miles north of Wam·
per ton. I t would appear that the pros sutter, Wyoming. The secondary uranium
deposit Is carried in a thick seam of crude
pector in the field would do well to give lIypslte, showing in the horizon between the
these seemingly worthless materials some two black lines. Partly indurated arkose
thought. 0 f ten the y are situated on above and below the canary yellow uranium
ore. Photo taken in Lost Creek wash, which
ground that is worthless for grazing or ha,s exposed the deposit. The deposit is re
farming, hence it is likely to be Public Do ported to extend over some 5,000 acres. The
main ground open to mining entry. Any source of the uranium has not been discov
deposit of this nature, on open ground, ered or determined. Photo by Dake in 1936.
can be protected by filing a mining claim
at only a nominal cost. interest as an early day munitions fac
Gem Obsidian. While ordinarily ob tory, supplying the Indians with arrow
sidian may be best classed as an orna points, knives, and many tools, long be
mental stone, it does find use as a gem, fore the white man appeared. The Indian
when found in suitable quality. The vari must have operated this factory for many
ous "iridescent" types found in California centuries. judging by the broken discards
and Oregon, have been widely utilized as
found at Glass Buttes.
a gem material. Obsidian is often avail
able in large flawless masses, hence this Quite an industry was developed. The
material is often cut into large ornaments Plains Indians had no obsidian, hence
like, book-ends, spheres, paper weights, this material was traded widely by the
and desk ornaments. Modoc County in Western aborigine, for items like buffalo
California has produced great quantities robes. \Ve find this Western obsidian ill
of gem grade obsidian. the Indian Mounds and graves of the
The Modoc County locality lies about Midwest.
five miles east of Davis Creek, California, You may be lacking ill experience to
in the Warner Range of mountains and enable your ready recognition of a valu
covers an area of about eighty acres. Ap able gem material when prospecting. All
parently the iridescent obsidian is re you need do is to bring in a sample of
stricted to this area as the material found the material that appears to have value
to the north and to the south shows no as a gem. A retail jeweler may not be en
play of colors. abled to tell you if it has any value or not,
Large flawless masses, weighing up to but take the sample to one of the many
150 pounds have been found in Modoc gem and mineral supply house, scattered
County. throughout the Country. Here you may
Glass Buttes, two pro min e n t land get a prompt appraisal of the value, if
marks, on the south side of the highway, any, of your discovery. These firms all
some 60 miles east of Bend, Oregon, on carry advertisements in the several gem
the Bend-Burns Highway, has produced and mineral magazines, now being cir
many tons of gem grade obsidian. A very culated on a National scale, including
fine grade of iridescent obsidian is found The Mineralogist Magazine, 329 S.E. 32nd
here. This locality is also notable for its Avenue. Portland 15, Oregon.
CHAPTER THREE
The Metallic Minerals
Various minerals, for convenience of High-grade bauxite will not "grit" be
description, are usually classified accord tween the teeth when bitten upon. Silica
ing to their properties and uses. Those is likely to be one of the chief impurities
which are often cut into gem stones are of bauxite, and over 8% is likely to ren
der it unsuitable for treatment. The ore
termed gem min era I s. Minerals from
should carryover 55% aluminium oxides,
which we 0 b t a i n metallic metals, like equivalent to about 30% of the metal.
tungsten, copper, aluminum, beryllium,
Some of the aluminium silicates, like
lead, zinc, tin, iron, etc. are termed me dumortierite, andalusite, sillimanite, and
tallic minerals. The non-metallic minerals kyanite, are valuable ceramic minerals,
include those which do not yield true finding wide use in the manufacture of
metals, like silicon, calcium, boron, sodi items like spark plugs. Deposits of these
um, lithium, graphic and a number of minerals may be of considerable value.
others. The cerium and yttrium elements
Antimony. There are many deposits of
comprise a group by themselves, gener
antimony within the United States, but in
ally referred to as the "rare earth" min
the past few of them were worked for the
erals or elemen ts.
antimony alone. Usually the metal was re
We a;e well supplied with some of the covered as a by-product, in -various base
metallic ores like iron, but a number of metal operations, like lead and zinc min
them are regarded as minerals, ing. At one time, much of our antimony
and are in good demand at nearly all was obtained from the great deposits in
times, but more especially' in time of war. China. It is widely used to harden lead,
These include the chromium and tungsten and is used in bearings and type metal to
minerals, both found in sizeable deposits a considerable extent. Stibnite is the chief
in the United States. We are lacking in source of antimony. The mineral can be
some of the vital strategic minerals, no readily fused, in thin slivers in a candle
tably nickel and tin. Both of these must flame.
be obtained by importation. Hence any
,Chromium. This is one of our import
discovery of a sizeable deposit of either ant and widely used strategic metals. Its
nickel or tin, within the United States, use in various types of stainless "steel" al
would obviously be of great potential loys. Some of these alloys carry no iron at
value, even if a low grade nature. all, but may be referred to as "steel".
Aluminum Ores. Vas t quantities of However, chromium added to iron, adds
aluminum are used at the present time. many important properties to iron, in
This is a far cry from the day when cluding a higher fusing point, and resist
aluminum was first manufactured in small ance to rust. In the development of mod
quantities and at great cost, merely as ern items like the jet engine, rockets, and
a laboratory curiosity, when its value was the like, chromium has assumed added
greater than that of gold. Since then, importance, along with nickel, vanadium,
manufacturing refinements, and mass pro tungsten, titanium, and cobalt.
duction has brought down the price to a Chromite is the main ore of chromium.
point where many items in common use It is a dark, often nearly black colored
are cast or fabricated from this light mineral, and quite heavy to the "heft".
weight metal. Chromite is invariably associated with
Aluminium is commonly found in vari green serpentine, and the dark-green peri
ous clays, but to meet with commercial dotite rocks. It is generally found in
requirements, certain qualifications must pockets, masses, and irregular lenses.
be met with. Bauxite is the common ore This may make mining costly and un
of aluminum, mined in huge tonnages in certain. Chromite in the United States
Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia. We appears to be limited to three great ser
have also imported large tonnages from pentine belts, situated in Montana, Cali
British Guinea. Bauxite may be of al fornia, and Oregon, Chromite is some
most any shade of color including red, times magnetic, but if not, heating in a
yellowish, brownish, and white. It is soft hot flame, like a coal fire, will make it
~nd light in weight. A chemical analysis respond readily to a magnet. Chromite
is needed to determine its possible com must be of a specific minimum grade to
mercial value. qualify in a commercial manner.
POPULAR PROSPECTING
Columbium-tantalum. These two valu

able metals are often found associated in
the same deposit, neatly always placer.
No large deposits have been discovered
in the United States. Small deposits have
been found in the Black Hills of South
Dakota. Industry awaits the discovery of
a suitable U. S. source, as we are now
wholly dependent upon foreign sources.
Copper. We need mention little here
about copper, for its many uses and im
portance is well known. Various cop
per minerals are found in a great variety
of rocks, including the volcanic, sedimen
tary, and metamorphic rocks. The chief
ores of copper, are the sulphides, and
these when exposed to weathering in an
outcrop, will bring about extensive col
orings, with vivid blues and greens pre
dominating. Even the novice could hardly
miss an exposure of this kind, but it is
well to remember that a small amount of An earlier day prospector with his field
copper can do a lot of coloring. So color outfit. The one with the hat on is the pros
pector. The day of the prospector with his
alone may not be taken as a criterion of burros, wandering across the Southwestern
value. desert regions, in search of gold, is prac
Iron. In all probability the prospector tically gone. The modern prospector goes
forth In Jeep or car, equipped with electronic
is not likely to find any new commercial Instruments.
iron deposits within the United States.
These have long since been taken up for
granular or fine compact form, galena
exploitation. Weare now turning to' out
may be intergrown with various silver,
side regions, like Labrador, for our fu
zinc, and other minerals.
ture supplies of iron. The great high
An outcrop of lead is not likely to pre
grade iron deposits, mined for many
sent unaltered galena. The minerals to
years, in Wisconsin and Minnesota, will
be noted in the outcrop, are likely to be
eventually be mined out. There are a
white or grey in color, and of a non
number of large, but low grade iron de
metallic appearance, like anglesite and
posits remaining untouched in the U. S.,
cerussite. Or the outcropping lead min
but at the present time it is not economic
erals may be gray, brownish, or green
ally feasible to work these, when high
ish. The lead phosphate, pyromorphite,
grade ores are available (like Labrador)
may run from white, through gray, green,
in great quantities.
brown and yellow.
Lead. We appear to have no shortages Any of low fusing base metal minerals
of lead, for this soft metal is produced in of lead, and zinc may be readily identi
a number of mining regions throughout fied by fusing with a blowpipe on a block
the country, including Idaho, and the of charcoal, using a small amount of sodi
well known Tri-State district. Lead min um carbonate flux. A whitish or yellow
erals are frequently associated with zinc ish powder coating will appear on the
and silver minerals, and it may be recov charcoal at the point of fusion, and at a
ered as a by-product in a silver mine. little distance will appear small metallic
Galena is the most important ore of globules of lead or zinc.
lead, and when pure carries 86% of the Manganese is an important metal,
metal. It has a characteristic metallic ap widely used to alloy iron for various in
pearance, and is quite heavy; when once dustrial purposes. The most important
seen and handled it is not likely to be deposits appear to be in foreign countries,
overlooked or confused with some other but large deposits have been found in
mineral. Galena may be found in perfect Montana, Minnesota. Colorado. Alabama,
cubes, of small or large size, but most and Arkansas. Some of these are found as
often it is found in a granular form, likely manganese iron ores.
to carry more or less silver, and often The most important manganese min
zinc. The cubes are invariably pure gal erals are quite black in color and include
ena, not carrying zinc or silver. In the pyrolusite and psilomelane. These usually
TaE METALLIC MINERALS 31
A one man mining operation in Arizona. Prospectors often find themselves in rough
country. Here an asbestos and serpentine mine overlooks the Salt River Canyon in central
Arizona. (Photo by Guy Ransom)
occur as an earthy mineral, soft and soil fying this ore. The red colors of hema
ing the fingers when handled. These ores tite and other iron oxides, are wholly dif
often accumulate in "bogs" as the result ferent from those of cinnabar, and when
of weathering of other minerals like man the two are once seen together and com
ga.nite. The "bog" ores are light in weight. pared, they can not be mistaken. Cinna
Rhodonite and rhodochrosite are other bar, even when impure, is very heavy to
manganese minerals, usually pink in color, the "heft" in a hand size specimen.
and not ordinarily utilized as a source of If a rock carrying cinnabar is powdered
the metal. However, these minerals when and rubbed on a clean copper coin, the
found in good color, and compact form, coin will become silvered or amalgamated.
are valuable as gem cutting materials. One of the most sensitive tests for mer
A good deal of manganese has been re cury; is the ultraviolet test, sensitive to
covered from the celebrated zinc mines of less than one part in a thousand. The test
Franklin, New Jersey, mainly as a by is simple. The powdered ore is roasted on
product. Franklinite is one of the import a small iron spoon in a bunsen flame, and
ant manganese minerals at this locality. held between an ultraviolet lamp (with
The ores of Franklin are also widely filter and short wave length) and a screen
celebrated for their powerful fluorescence coated with powdered willemite. If even
under the ultraviolet lamp, and many of minute amounts of mercury are present,
them can be readily identified by this same will appear as dark clouds on the
means alone. screen. The test is conducted in a dark
Mercury. This liquid metal is at its room. Screens of this kind are available
highest price in history at the time of from Ultra-Violet Products Company,
this writing. Mercury has changed widely South Pasadena, California.
in price from time to time, often render Cinnabar deposits are limited through
ing mining of a speculative nature. In out the world, and in the United States
many mercury mines, there is a minimum it is presumed that all the large deposits
cost of mining the ore, and mining can be have long since been found. The mineral
carried on at a profit, only when a cer may be found in almost any type of rock.
tain price is reached. For this reason most Practically all the cinnabar mined in· the
mercury mining operations have had a U. S. is from California, Texas, Oregon,
long intermittent history of operation. Arizona, and Nevada.
The chief ore of mercury is the red col Molybdenum has properties and uses
ored cinnabar, a. sulphide ore. Even the similar to those of chromium, finding wide
novice should have no difficulty in identi" use in special steels and various alloys ·€>f
POPULAR PROSPECTING
iron. It is sometimes found associated

with tungsten. Molybdenite is the chief
mineral, and the great deposits of Climax,
Colorado supply much of our needs. It
has also been mined in New Mexico, Ari
zona and Utah. Small amount from Cali
fornia are recovered as a by-product of
tungsten ore.
Molybdenite usually occurs in granitic
rocks, or in volcanic rocks closely asso
ciated with granite. The mineral occurs
as small flakes or foliated, often in quartz
veins. It has a shiny silver-grey, metallic
appearance, somewhat similar to flake
A small, light weight, pocket size, battery
graphite. It is quite soft and may be operated Geiger counter, suitable for the
readily crumbled between the fingers. casual or weekend prospector. This unit is
Rare Earth Metals. Some 20' different fitted with small neon blinker lights, as
shown at top, and with outlet to plug in ear
metals have been termed "rare' earths". phones. It has no meter, regulators, or other
They are not necess-arily rare in their oc convenient attachments. This type of instru
currence, but rather they are difficult to ment is in the $30.00 and $40.00 class, and
they are sensitive as instruments go.
separate from their ores. For many years
most of them have found only limited
uses, but with the recent developments in Gallium, rhenium, germanium, indium,
science and industry, some of them are rubidium, and thallium may be included
finding wide applications and a growing in this group. In all probability history
demand. Some of them are described here. will repeat itself here, and some of these
Thorium has been of little value, but elements for which we now find little use,
this radioactive metal, very similar to will in the future assume considerable
uranium, has assumed considerable im importance and value. Chemical and
portance. While so far as can be learned, spectrographical analysis are the only
it has not yet been used for atomic en reliable means of evaluating ores in this
ergy, but it is assumed that it will be used group.
in the future. Thorium is a constituent of Silver is recovered in considerable.
monazite sands, found in various parts of quantity as a by-product in the mining
the United States including North and of various base metals, including lead,
South Carolina, Idaho, Florida, and Ore zinc, and copper. As a rule silver is found
gon. In Oregon, The U. S. Bureau of only in volcanic rocks. At the Butte, Mon
Mines has developed a commercial m<;thod tana copper camp appreciable amounts
for the recovery of zirconium from the of silver were found only in the gossan
beach sands, and it is assumed other capping the copper veins, and for this
metals are recovered as a by-product. reason, Butte at one time was not highly
Zirconium is one of the "rare" metals to regarded economically.
find recent important uses. Some of the Silver is usually found as a dark, nearly
domestic monazite sands carry up to black colored sulphide, argentite and
about 8% thorium oxides. Separation is stephanite. In the outcrop various oxi
made by gravity washing and magnetic dized ores of silver may be found. includ
methods. ing cerargyrite. the white "horn silver".
Selenium and Tellurium, are often re Two of the richest silver camps ever
covered as a by-product in the treatment known were discovered in an accidental
of copper and gold ores. Selenium is find manner when a camp fire was set over
ing wide applications in the new minia a rich outcrop, and silver nuggets found
ture tubes used in radio and television in the ashes. Silver City, Idaho, and the
equipment, and many other electronic in celebrated Barrier lode in New South
struments. It is often associated with ura Wales. Australia. were discovered in this
nium and vanadium ores in New Mexico manner. It will be seen that the light or
and .the Colorado Plateau region. dark colored, clay-like horn silver in an
Cerium is another member of this group outcrop can be readily passed by for a
finding wider applications, and also recov long time, as was the case with many fab
ered from the monazite sands. It is used ulous si1v~r deposits of history.
in the "flints" of cigarette lighters and Silver may be found in association with
radio and electronic tubes. many other minerals. In some cases the
.--~-~.~---~ ~---~-----~---- ...

THE METALLIC MINERALS 33
~
..
l
I I
!
A portion of the "Rock Room" of Wayland W. Magee, a retired farmer of Bennington,

Nebraska. Magee is a part time prospector who spends most of the summer making long
field trips into the Rocky Mountain states, prospecting for uranium and thorium. Many of
the samples he gathers on his prospecting tours are given to colleges to be used for teaching
purposes. Magee has a light pick. up truck, fitted for his tours, and which can be used for
sleeping. Many retired persons have become part time prospectors, primarily as a hobby.
silver will predominate, while in other do cating and staking out what later proved
posits the silver is only a by-product. to be not only an exceedingly rich silver
\Vhen the famous Great Bear Lake, Can property,but still later became the sec
ada, uranium deposits were first found, ond greatest and richest deposit of ura
prospector LaBine had only silver and co nium in the whole world. The lesson here
balt in mind. LaBine had a good working is obvious, that dependence upon blind
knowledge of mineralogy and he was en luck is wholly unreliable.
abled to readily recognize the outcrop from Titanium has in recent years found ever
a description he had read in an old geo increasing applications. For a long time
logical report. For many years, prior to its most common use was as a pigment in
the invention of the atom bomb, these white paint, superior to the oxides of
celebrated deposits were worked only for lead and zinc.
the silver, copper, and radium. The ura Rutile and illmenite are the two import
nium was waste matter and went out with ant titanium minerals, and these are in
the tailings. We may regard this dis variably found in p I ace r deposits in
covery made by LaBine as one of the greater or Ie sse r amounts, supplying
most classical of them all, rating along more than 90% of our commercial needs.
with the more recent uranium discovery Under magnification, rutile and i11menite,
of Vemon Pick in Colorado. if present in the placer sands, can be rec
LaBine did have a good working knowl ognized as dark colored heavy minerals.
edge of mineralogy, and did not start out Through methods developed by the U. S.
to prospect in a "blind" manner. He went Bureau of Mines, metallic titanium is
to a public library and dusted off some now recovered on a commercial basis.
old geological reports. In one he read of Titanium alloyed with iron and other
a geological exploration made by a field metals is finding many important uses, in
party some years previously into the cluding the very hard titanium carbide.
Artic regions of Canada. He read the Tungsten is one of our most important
printed description of what indicated to strategic minerals in time of war, but is
him might well be an outcrop of silver also invaluable for numerous peace time
cobalt. He set forth and did succeed in 10 applications. It is unique in that it is not
POPULAR PROSPECTING
only tougher than ordinary steel, but it All tungsten minerals have a high spe
will also retain its temper when operated cific gravity, and even lower grade ores
at high speed, and run red hot as a ma will be distinctly heavy to the "heft" in
chine tool. Hence this metal in recent hand size' specimens. Scheelite is generally
years has served to revolutionize many light in color, almost cream-white when
machine shop practices. Tungsten car pure, but always heavy. The iron tung
bide for machine tools is also well known,
in addition to the ferro alloys of tungsten. states are very dark in color, ranging
from dark brown to quite black. They
The most important deposits of tung
sten in the United States are in Colorado, often occur in distinct crystals. A con
Nevada, California, Arizona, and South siderable amount of the iron-tungsten ores
Dakota. Small and scattered placer de were mined in Boulder Coun ty, Colorado
posits have been found elsewhere. Tung during World War I. This was before the
sten minerals are invariably found asso discovery of many of the present day
ciated with granitic rocks, and since these scheelite deposits. The Colorado deposits'
minerals are tough and resistant, they are are centered around Nederland.
often noted first' in placers, and their Cuproscheelite is usually greenish in
source traced by panning. The chief com color, while tungstenite may be noted as
mercial tungsten minerals are scheelite, a bright-yellow powder on other tungsten
ferberite, and wolframite. 'The lesser ones minerals in an outcrop. During the past
include hubnerite, tungstite and cupro few decades a number of important scheel
scheelite. ite discoveries have been made in the des
Scheelite and cuproscheelite fortunately ert and mountain regions of southern
are both strongly fluorescent under a California, and in all probability there
short wavelengfh ultraviolet lamp. This still remain deposits to be discovered.
property has proven of great utility not To qualify commercially, a tungsten de
only in prospecting for these minerals, posit need not be "rich", since ores carry
but also in their recovery from the ores in ing as low as 2% of the oxide are in de
milling. So characteristic is the bluish mand, and if the deposit is a large one
colored fluorescence of scheelite, that ores of 1% or less can be worked at a
once noted it can hardly be forgotten. profit, as is done at Atolia, California.
Moreover, any minute size fragments of Tungsten is one of our most valuable
scheelite in a placer sands can be in common metals.
stantly recognized under the ultraviolet Powellite is one of the lesser tungsten
lamp. Chemical an:llysis for tungsten is minerals. It is an alteration product of
slow and costly. scheelite, with some of the tungsten re
Unfortuniately, the iron tungstates, fer placed by molybdenum. Powellite is seen
berite, hubnerite and wolframite, never as a dull yellow powder, coating ores or
show fluorescence, however they do not filling cracks and seams. It may be noted
appear to be as widely distributed in the with scheelite, especially in the zone of
United States as is the calcium tungstate, oxidation. Powellite has a distinct fluo
scheelite. Cuproscheelite has part of its rescence and may be readily noted under
calcium content replaced by copper, and the ultraviolet lamp. Its fluorescent color
this tends to change the bluish fluorescent will be dependent upon the amount of
color to a yellowish one. The ultraviolet molybdenum present, and will vary from
lamp is by far the most valuable tool for whitish to a distinct yel1ow. The char
the tungsten prospector. Portable, battery acteristic strong blue fluorescence of pure
operated lamps are available for field use. scheelite will also be altered by the
Sample testing under the lamp should be amount of molybdenum and copper which
done in darkness, but a heavy blanket will may be present. In fact the molybdenum
serve to offer darkness for daytime test content of tungsten concentrates may be
ing in the field. A few small and typical estimated from their fluorescent color.
samples of scheelite and cuproscheelite, Comparison standard color charts are
purchased from mineral supply houses, available for this purpose. Even small
will prove invaluable to familiarize the amounts of molybdenum will suffice to
prospector with these ores. alter the fluorescent color of scheelite.
'I
CHAPTER FOUR
I
The Non-Metallic Minerals
The non-metallic minerals are those sists of the silicious skeletons of minute
which carry no metal as such. They are water plants called diatoms, hence we find
more commonplace and familiar than the deposits of this nature as a sedimentary
metallic ores, and most of them are found one, originally layed down in water. Some
rather widely. There are many factors of the deposits are quite pure and of con
which enter into the commercial utiliza siderable thickness and extent. A speci
tion of a deposit of non-metallic mineral. men of diatomite wiII float on water,
These factors include quality or grade of while the tripoli type wiII not float, there
the material, size of the deposit, presence being a slight difference in specific gravi
of various impurities, economy of min ties. These material find many commer
ing, and the matter of transportation to cial uses, including uses as water filters,
the point of use. Thus we find many and polishing agents. Tripoli is so soft it
otherwise excellent deposits of little pres will crumble in the fin g e r s, but the
ent value owing to one or more of these minute grains are hard enough to scratch
factors. Competition with other deposits (and polish) steel.
also enters into the picture. Other abrasives of commercial value in
Non-metallic minerals include items clude, high quartz content sands, various
like gravel and rock suitable for high types of compact sandstones, pumice, and
way construction. In some part of the novaculite. The latter material, a com
country, like the Midwest, these may not pact claystone is widely used as an "oil"
be readily found, or they may be situated stone for sharpening tools. Common pum
at some distance and involve costly trans ice finds many uses as an insulating ma
portation. Limestone rocks suitable for terial, and the ground powder as a pol~
calcining to make Portland cement is also ishing agent in the metal industries. Pum
a valuable non-metallic. The perlite type ice is common to many parts of the West,
of obsidian has in the past decade found where it was originally blown out of vol
valuable applications in the building in canoes. A chunk of pumice readily floats
dustry. It is significant that the gross on ·water. Only a comparatively few of
value of all non-metallic products, mined the many Western pumice deposits are
annually, exceeds the value of the metal suitable for commercial use. Pumice is al
lic ores. Coal and petroleum may also be so used as an aggregate in light weight
regarded an non-metallics. Only the non concrete.
metallics within the scope of the part It would be difficult, if not impossible,
time prospector will be considered here. for the prospector to determine the possi
Abrasives find wide use in many in ble value of any non-metallic deposit
dustries. While huge amounts of manu when seen in the field. If a deposit ap
factured abrasive like silican carbide (Car pears to have value, .and a large quantity
borundum) are used, yet great tonnages available, typical samples should be taken.
of natural ones are mined each year. Pum The U. S. Bureau of Mines, Washington,
ice, diatomite, tripoli, quartz, and garnet D. C. has issued a large number of free
are among the best known abrasives. "Information Circulars" per t a i n i n g to
Some of these are also used as polishing mos t of the non -metallics. These excellent
powders in the metal industries. It will circulars detail some of the commercial
be seen that a deposit of a suitable abra requirements for each specific material.
sive is likely to have a wide and steady Possible buyers are also included in most
market. "Sand" papers and garnet coated of the Circulars.
papers are widely used in the woodwork Many of the s.tate mining bureaus issue
ing industries. The "sand" type is usually similar circulars and bulletins, giving de
coated with crushed quartz, graded to tailed information on the non-metaIlics
suitable grit sizes. found and mined within the state. These
Diatomite, also known as diatomaceous valuable publications also list possible
earth, is a friable, earthy material, usually buyers. A list ~f possible buyers, and
whitish in color, and composed of about market prices, would soon become obso
90% silica. Infusorial earth and tripoli are lete, hence they are not included in this
in this classification. This material con work.
--------------------------------~-------------------------------
The tendency of many prospectors has

been to start a search for a buyer, with ,Bit.H.....lai" "? •G~", hUIfit"n
"""",-_ _-....,Clt4lCtd h~.,. right out."
out first learning if the deposit they have
located would hold commercial value. As
a rule, buyers of non-metallics are not in /
terested in carrying on exploration or

testing work. This is outside their field.
Hence any work of this kind must be
done by the claim holders, usuaUy at their
own expense. A deposit meeting with all
the commercial requirements, will usually
not go begging for buyers of the property
or the product of the property. Many
times a prospector has come to the writer
with a few hand samples, searching for
a buyer, and not knowing the true nature
of their discovery. This seems like get
. ting the cart before the horse.
Asbestos is used in great quantities in
the United States, we have few good de
ous ceramics. Common brick clay is
posits of the fibrous "serpentine" type.
rather widely distributed, but the ptob
This is the variety that occurs in compact
lem is to find deposits not too far sit
thread-like form, and may be spun into
uated from where the finished product
threads and woven into cloth. One of its
is used. Here again, transportation is an
most familiar uses is in brake band lin
ings. Most of our supply is imported from important factor. The better grades of
Canada and elsewhere. It brings a high clay are used in the manufacture of the
price. Our best known deposits are in finer ceramics. Various types of clays,
Arizona. This high tensile strength as like fuller's earth and bentonite are mined
bestos invariably is found in and closely in large amounts. In order to determine
associated with green serpentine rocks. if a clay is suitable for commercial use
The amphibole type of asbestos is a.1so it must be tested by one of the many
found fibrous, but the individual threads users of clay.
are short and greatly lacking in tensile
strength, and can not he spun or woven. Feldspar is another ceramic mineral,
It is of much less value than the former. but not in the clay class. This material is
Barium in the minerals barite and with mined widely in quarries, many of which
erite, are found associated with various are along the Atlantic Coast. Feldspar
sedimentary deposits, including clays. carries a rather high potassium content,
The mineral barite is usually white or and is often utilized as a source of this
light in color, and quite heavy when pure element. Feldspar is frequently mined in
or nearly so. Various impurities may quarries in pegmatite dykes, where a host
render the deposit dark in color. of other minerals are usually won, in
Building stone including marhle, gran cluding valuable sheet mica, quartz crys
ite, sandstone, and various attractively tals, and in some cases valuable gem min
colored volanic and sedimentary stones
erals are encountered in the workings.
find a diversity of uses, despite active
competition by various artificial building Some of the New England "rock" quar
blocks in the concrete class. These arti ries have produced small amounts of
fical blocks are usually made light in pitchblende, encountered from time to
weight by use of light weight aggregates, time in pockets in the workings. Produc
like pumice, in the cement mixture. There tion of gem stones is speculative and un
are many deposits of suitable natural certain, there being no way of telling
building stones, and more and more of where or when a valuable gem pocket
these are being utilized, hut in all cases may be opened.
the economic requireml:nts are rather Fluorspar (fluorite, mineral name) is
rigid and close. used in huge amounts in the iron smelt
Clays are widely used in the ceramic in ing industry, where with limestone it
dustry, and include many types for vari forms a needed flux. The element fluorine
J
," i
THE NON-)IETALLIC MINERALS 37
Many types of colorful rocks are now being used in the building industry as ornamental
stones. V. P. Cutler, California collector, hold a pair of book ends made from the colorful
and well known Nevada "Wonderstone." This ornate and colorful stone has been mined in
Nevada for some years. It is '1 hard and durable stone, with the better grade passing into
the gem quality class. Large quantities of this remarkable rock have been quarried and
shipped for many years.
i, also obtained from fluorite. Practically plications. Marl is one type of limestone,
all our fluorite is obtained from the mines in great demand for the manufacture of
of southern Illinois, centered around Rosi portland cement.
claire. At the time of this writing, these Phosphate rock for a long time has been
deposits were not active, since the min widely used as a fertilizer, and as a source
eraI was being imported from cheaper of phosphates. Some 9 million tons are
foreign sources. mined in the United States each year.
Gypsum (plaster paris) is used in quan These deposits are of various types, and
tity in many industries. The familiar pias the largest and best known ones cover
ter board is widely used in the building great areas in Florida, Idaho, and Ten
industry, and in cement manufacture. It nessee, with lesser extensive deposits in
i3 found in large sedimentary beds, where some of the other states. The known re
it was originally precipitated from lake serves in Idaho alone are estimated to
waters, like on lake bottoms in arid re run into the billions of tons.
gions. Its color may be snow-white or One of the most recent developments
light-brown, depending on any impurities in phosphate rock in recent years, is the
present. Gypsum is soft and may be possibility of the recovery of the small
readily scratched with finger nail. amounts of uranium present. The uranium
Limestone and chalk are also used in content may amount to only a few ounces
quantity in many industries. Limestone per ton, but when the enormous tonnage
is essentially a calcium carborate (calc is considered, this can be an important
ite). A drop of hydrochloric acid applied source of valuable uranium, especially
to a sample of limestone will cause it to when the deposits of the Colorado Plateau
"fizz" vigorously. Chalk will not fizz, un become mined out. A considerable amount
less a substantial amount of limestone be of research has been done in connection
present, as an impurity mixture. with the extraction of uranium from this
Some 200,000 tons or more of lime'stone rock. Feasible technical methods have
are mined each year, for use in agricul been given for the amounts of uranium
ture, chemical industry, smelters, glass recovered from this source.
industry, and many other important ap It would not be feasible to treat phos
phate rock for its small uranium content now being exploited. For example, there
alone. However, the crude rock is put are great areas in southern Idaho, and
through various types of treatment for adjacent Wyoming, of phosphate rock of
various uses, and these include some which comparatively little is known.
chemical treatment. Hence, by the addi Doubtless much of this ground is on the
tion of some added treatment, the urani Public Domain, and open for mining
um can be recovered. It has been an7 entry.
nounced that several of the present phos Coa1. Some of the great low grade coal
phate plants are now recovering uranium, deposits of the United States, carry small
and additional plants will be so equipped amounts of uranium, similar to the phos
in the near future. phate rock, these include the great coal
The prospector may well regard the deposits of South Dakota. Investigations
potential future value of these deposits, now being made may reveal the coal to
as only a very small part of them are be a valuable future source of uranium.
CHAPTER FIVE
e Uranium Minerals
There can be no doubt that the present all his power needs-that enormous store
uranium "rush" is the greatest prospect house of nuclear energy that will never
ing boom the world has ever known. The die. Astronomers tell us that the sun is
tremendous interest in locating new de an enormous hydrogen "bomb," not an
posits of uranium (and thorium) is not explosive one, but a source of energy that
just confined to the United States and has been constant and steady for at least
Canada, but is universal throughout the 500,000,000 years that we know of, and
world. A far greater army of uranium perhaps a total of at least 3 billion years.
hunters are in the field, than any gold or They estimate that there is enough hydro
diamond rush of history has ever wit gen present to keep the sun pouring out
nessed. The rewards for uranium discov its same vast energy for at least another
ery are just as great, as those of history. 30 billions of years. Man of the future
The Atomic Energy Commission has need not worry about sources of power.
in the past decade paid out many millions The uranium hunter need not have any
for uranium ores bought in the Colorado special skill or training. Vernon Pick and
Plateau region, in addition to added mil Charles Steen, were not geologists or
lions paid out in the form of bonuses, and mining engineers, they are in the amateur
substantial sums for trucking and road class, still they made enormously valuable
building aid to reach isolated deposits. In discoveries, through some study, plus hard
short, Uncle Sam will spend practically work in the field. We have called atten
any sum of money to obtain the vital ore. tion to the fact that a knowledge of the
During the past few months, Asso appearance of the common uranium min
ciated Press reports have described a erals offers an enormous advantage to the
number of profitable uranium finds, in prospector.
cluding the discovery of Vernon J. Pick, Science has provided a most delicate,
who was paid some $9,000,000 cash for his sensitive, and accurate instrument for the
claims. Other discoveries are described as uranium hunter, the Geiger counter. Latel"
having a value of some $20,000,00 along developments have produced the still more
with handreds of lesser valued properties, sensitive scintillator, designed primarily
many of them in active operation. Most for prospecting large areas from airplanes
of these are in the Colorado Plateau re and truck. Both of these instruments are
gion and in adjacent Arizona and New regarded among the most sensitive known
Mexico. There are still many opportuni in the detection of very minute amounts
ties for discovery. of a substance.
The universal search for uranium is not The Geiger counter is available in many
for military needs alone. It is predicted types and price classes ranging from
that within the next several decades our about $30.00 on up into the hundreds, for
known reserves of coal and petroleum will portable battery operated field units. Lab~
be largely depleted, or have reached a oratory Geiger counters for quantitative
point of depletion where we will be work run into the thousands of dollars.
obliged to turn to various low grade re Scintillators are more complicated in con
serves at a much higher production cost. struction and at the present time start at
It is expected that long before this. the about $350.0'0 up.
development of atomic energy will have The average part time prospector will
'reached a stage where it can well compete find a standard priced Geiger counter
with coal, petroleum, and water power de ample for his needs and purse. We have
rived electrical energy. We are told that often been asked what type of equipment
the present known reserves of uranium is used to prospect by plane or auto.
would suffice the present world needs for Equipment of this kind is used by the
about a century. However, the demand Atomic Energy Commission and various
for electric power is growing at a rapid corporations, but eqiupment of this kind
rate, so that eventually even the reserves is complicated and runs into the thousands
of uranium (and thorium) would perhaps of dollars to outfit a truck or jeep. More
not suffice. over, specialized knowledge is required to
Eventually man will turn to the sun for operate equipment of this kind. and this
we feel is beyond the scope of this book,

and its readers. Foot work is indicated
for the prospector. In addition to a COUll
ter, a hand size rock pick will comprise
the next important part of equipment for
prospecting.
All uranium ores, rich or lean, off
invisible particles of energy called "radi
ations." These are given off at a constant
rate, and can not be changed by any
me2.ns known to science. These' radiations
are picked up by the Geiger counter and
scintillator, and are identified by various
means, including clicks, flashes from a
neon signal indicator and by meter read
ings. Various types of instruments will
have one or more means of indication,
counting or recording these radiations
from any tpe of uranium (and thorium)
ores. When in the field, these radiations Taking a timed "station" reading of radio
are only of an approximate qualitative activity in the field. The earphones shown
nature. are not needed with the automatic "click"
recording meter. A stop watch is used to
Quantitative tests of reasonable accuracy accurately record time tests of rate at
may be made by testing samples of the which radiations are received from an out·
ore, in a place where the background crop or suspected buried deposit.
count is known and fairly constant, and
this count compared with a known stand ing a larger quantity say from 10 to 50
ard. Invisible particles of high energy, pounds or more, holding the instrument
known as cosmic radiations, constantly
bombard all parts of the earth, and these close to the sample. A large sample, even
are picked up by every Geiger counter.
though very low grade will obviously,
These cosmic rays come from an un make up for its leanness by its bulk of
known source in outer space, and our sun radiations,
is probably a contributor, but this is not The same facts hold true in field work.
definitely known. The rate at which these

Even a small pocket or deposit of rich
cosmic radiations come will vary at dif ore, fairly near the surface, would register
ferent places and in different instruments,
on the counter. In a similar manner, a
hence each Geiger counter will have a
specific "background" count for anyone huge deposit of a lean are would give a
area, and this count is deducted from the similar count. Uranium radiations will
count obtained from an outcrop in the penetrate various depths of solid sub
field or when testing a sample. stances, but there are limitations, hence
Samples may be best tested indoors and the Geiger counter or the scintillator both
in the same place where the background have their limitations as to what depth
count is known from repeated tests made and distance detection is possible. This is
and the average taken. A basement is a why core drilling is done to prove or dis
good place, where the background count prove a uranium deposit. The cores are
will usually be found at its minimum. In brought to the surface and tested in the
this manner reasonably accurate tests laboratory.
may be made. The radiations given from all uranium
Attention is called to the fact that a ores include what is called the alpha, beta,
very small amount of a very rich ore, and gamma radiations. The first two are
like pitchblende that runs 70% or more weak and of low velocity, and low pene
uranium will make any counter "run" fast. tration power. The gamma rays, same as
On the other hand a similar size fragment are found in X-rays, have much greater
of ore running say only 0.01 % or 0.001% penetration powers, but still they have I.
uranium, is likely to not even record on their limitations. In general these gamma '.
the average Geiger counter. However, radiations will be stopped by about three
tests may still be made on even very lean inches of solid lead, one foot of solid
ores, but breaking up the mass, and test- volcanic rock, and about two or three feet
'-:--_ .. --.-,..-~-
THE URANIUM MINERALS 41
A fine large specimen of the botryoidal type of nearly pure pitchblende. From Eldorado
Mine, Great Bear Lake, Canada. -Pitchblende has a high specific gravity, more than three
times that of ordinary rock, hence specimens of this kind are distinctly heavy when held
in hand. Any black or dark colored rock, like basalt, obsidian, and furnace slag, can be
readily distinguished from pitchblende by th'eir greatly inferior specific gravity.
of loose sand. rock or surface dirt. The Basically, all Geiger counters are alike
much more powerful cosmic radiations ill their mode of operation. A tube known
will readily make these penetrations. . as a Geiger tube is the heart of every in
There are some exceptions to this gen strument. A simple, low priced instrument
eral rule. In the case of huge and very has this tube. Going into the higher priced
rich deposits of pitchblende, like those of counters, various pieces of equipment are
Great Bear Lake in Canada, radiations on added, including meters, neon flash lights,
the surface will be detected at greater automatic counters, and various other
depths. Here again volume enters into the items, and this accounts for the price dif
picture. Field tests of this kind involve ferences, plus better types of tubes in
complicated and costly testing equipment, higher priced equipment. A counter uses
beyond the scope of the prospector. The only small amounts of power, usually not
range of depth at which a scintillator will much more than an ordinary flashlight,
operate is greater than that of the Geiger hence the dry power batteries will gen
counter. Here again various factors will erally have long life where the counter
enter into the picture like. the nature of is not operated over long periods of time.
the overburden, the size and quality of the Manufacturers of various types of
orebody, and. most important of all is Geiger counters and similar instruments,
whether the overburden is radioactive. In issue printed instructions for use. These
the latter case, either a Geiger counter qr should be read carefully and observed.
a scintillometer may then be effective in
locating an orebody at a depth of a few URANIUM HUNTING
hundred feet. But if radioactivity does not Uranium ores are spotty and irregularly
extend to reasonably near the surface, distributed, usually in relatively small de
neither instrument can be relied upon. posits, and prospecting constitutes in al\
Core drilling will be indicated. The scin localities an important factor even after
tillator is said to be about 100 times more commercial development has commenced.
sensitive to gamma rays than the Geiger Many of the uranium minerals are brightly
counter. However, this need not startle colored (either yellow ore green), and
the prospector, for by no means has the even the black varieties have a character
latter instrument become obsolete for its istic appearance, so that ore bodies are
intended purpose and field of utility. readily recognized if they outcrop. More
42
often, however, they do not outcrop, and

then the search for ore involves a careful
study of the geological conditions.
There are certain indications for carn
tite, but no rule in prospecting can be
given, except that good judgment might
be shown in choosing a favorable loca
tion. The erratic nature of the occur
rences is indicated by the fact that an
average of 14 per cent of the total time
spent on working the claims operated by
the Bureau of Mines in 1924 and 1925 was
spent in search for ore.
In prospecting and in delimiting ore
bodies, after they are discovered, all the
usual methods may be employed - test
pits, tunnels, core drills, and churn drills.
Even core drilling, however, is uncertain
unless the holes are closely spaced, for
there is usually little continuity to the
deposits.
Spence has stated that the pegmatitic
minerals that contain uranium/thorium, Pillar in the Uranium Belle Mine, Hamm
in amounts ranging from small traces to Canyon, San Miguel County, Utah. Lower
substantial amounts, may exhibit a me portion of pillar is light gray colored sand
stone; upper portion is thinly bedded sand·
tallic or non-metallic character and ap stone carrying uranium and vanadium. Photo
pearance. Often, it may be difficult to de . taken in 1921 when mine was worked pri.
cide off-hand into which of these cate marlly for the radium and vanadium content
gories a particular unknown mineral of the rich carnotite ores.
should be placed, since many black
species appear to be metallic, and only In dykes composed of pink or red
one examination of small fragments under feldspar, the color of the spar around
a strong lens or a microscope does their uranium/thorium minerals is usually of
non-metallic nature become apparent. This a conspicuously darker brick-red shade;
is evidenced by the fact that thin chips in white feldspar dykes, such minerals
or splinters are translucent, usually ex often cause a brownish or black dis
hibiting a characteristic red or brown coloration in the enclosing rock.
color, even though the massive mineral
Hugh S. Spence has stated that pitch
itself may appear opaque.
blende is the only u ran i u m mineral
In general, it may be said that any con known to occur in the form of definite
spicuously heavy, black or dark-colored veins or lodes. It may be difficult to
minerals discovered in a pegmatite should identify with any certainty by its out
be tested for possible uranium/thorium ward characteristics; w hen relatively
content. Such minerals may be difficult pure, however, its exceptional weight
to distinguish visually from magnetite serves to suggest its nature. The ab
and ilmenite - both common in pegma sence of any indications of crystalline or
tites - or from rare tantalite-columbite, grain structure, or of cleavage, is help
wolframite, and cassiterite. G rea t e r ful, the mineral breaking with a smooth,
weight serves to distinguish them from irregular, fracture and having a dun,
black tourmaline, one of the commonest somewhat greasy or pitchy appearance
dark - colored pegmatite minerals, and or lustre. It sometimes occurs in botry
also from hornblende. oidal, or kidney - like masses, or crusts,
The presence of a bright yellow or which under a lens are seen to have
orange crust or powder surrounding a radiated structure. In this last form,
dark mineral is almost conclusive evi pitchblende somewhat resembles hema
dence that it contains uranium; and small tite iron, but it may readily be distin·
plates or scales of a yellow or emerald quished from a hematite. by the black or
green color on cracks and joints in a greenish black color of its streak or
rock are a useful indicator of nearby powder, which for hematite are a strong
primary uranium are. red.
•
THE URANJ{TM ~nNERALS
Sawed and polished section (left) of rich pitchblende ore, Eldorado Mine, Great Bear
Lake, Canada. Light colored lines in the photo are veins of pitchblende, forming network
around brecciated fragments of rock. AutoradJograph (right) showing association in greater
contrast. The advantage in using a smooth, flat, sawed surface for taking autoradiograph
is that, a sharp focus picture witl be obtained.
URANIUM GUIDE SUMMARIES form, but sometimes occurs in layer or

Hugh S. Spence has summarized sev bands having botryoidal or kidney-like
eral main points to be remembered in surfaces.
connection with the mode of occurrence (3) Deposits of a bedded, replacement,
of uranium minerals, and these are espe or stockwark character; in which the
cially good for the prospector to keep uranium minerals are a minor constitu
in mind. He states that, broadly speak ent of secondary origin and nature and
ing, the occurrences may be divided int have been emplaced through the agency
the following three main types: of surface or circulating waters. Occur
rences of this type may be found in both
(1) Individual crystals, or nests, pock
sedimentary and igneous (granitic) rocks,
ets, or similar aggregates of crystals
and usually they carry little, if any, trace
usually of small size and extent sparsely
of primary uranium minerals.
and irregularly scattered through dykes
of granite pegmatite. The variety of ura Secondary uranium minerals found in
nium minerals occurring in this manner such deposits are characterized by vivid
is large, and embraces a large portion of and brilliant colors in tones of yellow,
the known species. orange, or green. They are usually in
the form of soft powder, crusts, or tufts,
Distinguishing characteristics of such
occasionally being more massive. They
minerals are black color, metallic appear
seldom ex h i bit distinguishable crystal
ance, heaviness, and good crystal form.
form, except in the case of the two com
(2) Veins, or lodes, of similar charac moner s p e c i e s tobernite and autunite,
ter to the general run of those of other which occur in small well-developed thin
metallic minerals such as zinc, lead, cop plates.
per, etc. Pitchblende, the richest and
commercially the most important ore of A general summary and guide of the
uranium, is the only primary uranium fluorescence characteristics of uranium
mineral that occurs in deposits of this minerals includes:
type. It may be the dominant mineral, I. Primary uraninites (pitchblende)
or, as sometimes the case, be in the do not fluoresce.
nature of an accessory in veins of other II. A number of secondary uranium
metallic ores, notably those of silver, bearing minerals are highly fluo
cobalt, and nickel. Pitchblende is charac rescent, i.e., those which contain
terized by black color, metallic appear the uranyl group. In chemical
ance, greasy or pitchy, lustre and dense, tests, which alter primary min
massive texture. It never exhibits crystal erals, substances are produced
which compositionally are analo

gous to the secondary minerals.
III. In practically every case of fluo
rescence the characteristic yellow
green, or a hue of this is observed.
IV. Generally, the more soluble urani
erous minerals are those which
are fluorescent.
V. The largest number of fluores
cent uranium minerals are those
which have a specific gravity of
approximately 3.5. Few with a
high gravity fluoresce.
VI. Fluorescence is best excited by
short wavelength ultraviolet 'radia
tion, e.g., wavelengths of 2537 A.V. Radioautograph of a rich pitchblende speci.
men. The light colored network of lines, are
VII. Primary uraninites after weath small veins of pure pitchblende.
ering frequently alter to second
ary and fluorescent species. In active matter in the specimen. A rich
this way a dual detection may and nearly pure $pecimen of pitchblende
be made with the lamp. will strike film wit h i n twelve hours,
while a very lean sample like the urani
PHOTOGRAPHIC METHODS ferous hyaline opal from North Carolina
The radiations from radioactive sub will require weeks of exposure.
stances are all capable of affecting a A metallic object like a flat' key or
photographic plate. Since the radiations coin placed between the specimen and
penetrate opaque matter, a wrapped and the film will appear in outline after the
undeveloped pho,tographic p I ate may film is developed in the usual manner. Ir
serve for the detection of radium, urani regular mineral specimens may be sawed
um and thorium, as ores or other ma to obtain a flat surface prior to exposure
terials containing these substances will, in to film. The flat surface will' give a
effect, "take their own picture." sharper and clearer outline of the radio
Practically any film will serve for the active areas within the specimen.
qualitative de t e c t ion of radioactivity, When large numbers of specimens are
though care must be used in interpreting tested by the photographic method it is
results. A positive test for radioactivity convenient to cut small numbers from
is not conclusive for radium and uranium. lead foil and use these for the identifica
Mesothorium and thorium will also affect tion of the plate (if affected). Likewise,
a sensitive plate. Tests for radioactivity in order to avoid the false effects of
will therefore s how only whether the pressure, it is wise to support the speci
specimen contains uranium and radium men above the film by blocks or some
or thorium and mesothorium or all four other mechanical means, though permit
elements. The appearance of the sample ting one face of its surface to remain as
will generally indicate which of the ele close to the sensitive emulsion as possible.
ments are present, but in case of doubt,
The ability of a radioactive mineral to
other more specific tests should be con
strike or blacken a photographic plate
ducted.
varies according to the uranium and/or
Likewise, mas s i v e specimens may thorium content of the specimen. There
"strike" a photographic plate, giving the fore, it can be expected that the various
appearance of exposure, merely as a re minerals will act differently, some pro
sult of pressure. ducing an image within a matter of a
To test a sample for uranium or radio few hours or less, but others requiring
activity, lay the mineral to be tested on up to several weeks to provide an effect.
a film or plate holder containing un
exposed film or pIa t e. If uranium is ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT AND
present in any considerable quantity the FLUORESCENCE
plate will be acted on within a period If the limitations and characteristics

ranging from twelve to forty-eight hours, of ultraviolet light and florescence are
depending upon the quantity of radio- well understood, these methods will prove
One of the dumps of the Club Camp Mine in Hieroglyphic Canyon. Lower San Miguel
River, Montrose County, Colorado. Photo taken in 1921, when the workings were active, Ore
was mined primarily for its radium and vanadium content. In 1921, uranium was a waste
product. This mine and many others were actively worked for radium and vanadium, for
some years, until the rich p!tchblende dep.osits were discovered in the Belgian Congo. The
Colorado and Utah radium. uranium mines could not compete, and were closed down.
highly satisfactory in prospecting and But this overshadowing of the utility of

detecting uranium minerals. They are of the ultraviolet lamp and fluorescence
no value for the thorium minerals. Fluo tests for uraniferous materials no longer
rescence alone is not indicative of urani exists.
um, since certain non-uranium minerals The usual chemical and physical tech
will fluoresce under ultraviolet light. niques employed for uranium exploration
However, in this fact there lies a double and analysis are often time consuming,
value, since a prospector may run on to expensive and difficult to use. It is for
a deposit of zinc, tungsten, or other val this reason that prospectors, mining en
ues which certainly should not be ignored. gineers, chemists and physicists now
The non-uranium minerals which fluo very frequently rCly upon the ultraviolet
resce yellow to green, as do certain lamp.
secondary u ran i u m minerals, include Discoveries With Lamp
willemite (yellow to green, with short A number of uranium localities have
wavelength ultraviolet), various silicas actually been discovered by use of the
and calcites. The main ore minerals of ultraviolet lamp. In other instances, the
uranium - pitchblende and carnotite-do lamp proves a valuable adjunct in trac
not fluoresce un I e sst hey have been ing veins of primary ore by the fluores
specially treated, say by f u s ion with cence of secondary uranium minerals.
sodium fluoride into a small bead or by Outcroppings of primary ore frequently
all acid solution treatment. yield to an ultraviolet inspection, since
The ultraviolet lamp has in recent they may be covered with secondary
years proven highly satisfactory for pros minerals.
pecting and detecting uranium in various In the Great Bear Lake regions of
minerals. Its values for this purpose have Canada, the secondary mineral zippeite
not been widely appreciated, since the shows the presence of pitchblende out
lamp is also useful for locating and croppings by its bright fluorescence. Two
appraising such valuable commodities as new regions in California have been
zinc and tungsten, as well as petroleum. prospected by the lamp. One of these,
4<6 POPULAR PROSPECTING
at Randsburg, yields a secondary mineral su

of uncertain composition, a species that
is probably akin to schoepite. The Rands
burg mineral fluoresces brilliantly, and
pockets of the ore can easily be located
in a pulverulant gangue earth with the
lamp. The other California locality, at
Darwin, provides a green fluorescent
uranium mineral that has not been iden
tified. Veins of the Darwin material can
easily be followed with ultraviolet light.
Dakeite was fir s t discovered near
Wamsutter, Wyo., by its intense yellow
green fluorescence. This rare species is
found disseminated throughout gypsite
as small particles and as small yellow
colored nodules.
Dozens of localities throughout the
world have first been discovered uranif
erous by fluorescence. These areas yield
silicas and opals which have a bright
yellow to green fluorescence, indicating
trace amounts of uranium. The lamp is
the only method known by which urani
um can be positively identified in the
silicas, since the concentration of uranium
is far below the limits of the most sensi
tive physical and chemical tests available. PROFILE OF
oORMATIONS GAMMA RAY l~n">ITY
Last year, for example, an enormous
Radiolog of drill core, showing essential
deposit of uraniferous silica was discov features on approaching radioactive mineral
ered near the Mutton Mountain locality, which Is not penetrated (the anomaly) and
Oregon, and this discovery was directly the values observed when a richer body of
ore is approached and finally penetrated by
due to an ultraviolet examination. While the bit.
this silica, and others in the same class,
has no commercial value as an ore, choice Strong Fluorescent
specimens bring high prices as collectors'

items. Another i1lustration of uraniferous Autunite .................... :............. yellow-green
silica is the material found in Nevada, Beta-uranopilite ......................Yellow-green
Colorado and Wyoming. Chalcolite (cf tobernite) ......y el1ow-green
FLUORESCENT URANIUM Johannite (variable) ..............Yellow-green
MINERALS Metatorbernite .......................... Yellow-blue
The strongly fluorescent uranium min Dakeite ....................................Yellow-green
erals are the uranium phosphates, arsen Torbernite .............................. Yel1ow-green
ates, sulfates and others which fluoresce Uranocircite ............................ Yel1ow-green
with a strong yellow-green color. The

Uraniferous hyalite .............. Yel1ow-green
uranium carbonates fluoresce more of a

green color. Uranophane ............................YeHow-green
The non-fluorescent uranium minerals Uranopilite .............................. YeHow-green
usually have a drab color, often being Uranospathite ........................ YeHow-green
black or brown. The fluorescent, second Uranospinite ............................Yellow-green
ary minerals are usually light in color, U ranothallite ........................................Green
sometimes being light yellow, and gen

erally have specific gravities approxi Medium Strong Fluorescent
mately half of the pitchblendes. The Gummite (variable) ............................. Violet
following table lists the fluorescent re

Beta-uranotile .............................. YeHowish
sponses of uranium minerals, these color

values being green irrespective of the Uranotil ................ _........................Yellowish
locality. Zippeite ..........................................YeHowish
THE URANll7M MINERALS 41

--------------------~--~~~-~~====~----------------~
A modern type of highly sensitive Geiger counter, compact, and light in weight. Battery
operated for field use. Recording gauge and control buttons shown on Instrument.A volume
control loud speaker for the "clicks" eliminates the need of earphones and blinker light.
Oremaster Geiger counter manufactured by Whites Electronic Company, Sweet Home, are.
URANIUM MINERALS The natural uranium oxide, pitchblende

A uranium mineral is not necessarily or uraninite, is perhaps the most extra
an ore of uranium. Before a mineral bear ordinary mineral which has influenced
ing uranium can be considered an ore, it man's history. In it uranium was first
must not only contain extractable quan discovered, then helium, and later the
tities of uranium, but also fit require radioactive elements polonium and radi
ments common to the ores of other ele um. Now we learn that pitchblende con
ments, and must be found in quantities tains traces - almost infinitesimal quan
which make working worthwhile. tities-of the atomic explosive plutonium,
Of the more than 100 minerals which presently obtained only by man-made
bear uranium, only two have been re methods. And it goes without saying
sponsible for the greater part of the that the world's source of still another
world's stock of uranium and vanadium. atomic power yielding element, uranium
In the future this picture might be 235, lies in the natural sources of urani
changed. but presently the ores of ura um like pitchblende.
nium and radium are those called carnO
tite and pitchblende. CARNOTITE
Between these two minerals--carnotite Carnotite is found in a number of
and pitchblende - there are about four localities in the world, and in the United
principal elements, and numerous trace States outside of Colorado and Utah, but
and impurity elements. which account for the latter deposits are the only ones
their compositions. These elements in which have been commercially worked.
clude uranium, oxygen, vanadium, potas Prior to the discovery of rich uranium
sium, aside from the radium which is ores elsewhere, the Colorado - Utah de
invariably present in more or less con posits were mined extensively, primarily
stant ratio to the uranium. (One part for their radium content.
radium for every 3,400,000 parts of ura Carnotite is a potassium uranium
nium after equilibrium has been reached.) vanadate which is orthorhombic, but
Although uranium and vanadium are most often found as a yellow amorphous
chemically unlike, they are found together powder, it is yellow and may be tinged
in one of their most important ores, greenish or have brown iron stains; in
carnotite. Vanadium is a member of the frequently dark brown to blackish due
phosphorus group of elements, and ura to organic material, H. 4. G. 4.1. Both
nium is more akin to molybdenum and hardness and gravity vary widely, ac
tungsten. Geochemically, the two ele cording to the purity of the specimen;
ments are magmatically opposed. Vana thus, H. 2-2.5 and G. 3.5-3.9. Typical
dium is most common in ferromagnesian analysis of carnotite from Montrose
rocks, while uranium minerals are fre County. Colo., gave 54 per cent uranium
quently found in granites and pegmatites. oxide and 18 per cent vanadium oxide.
POPULAR PROSPECTING
Contains an average of 3,4 parts radium wit h octahedrons and dodecahedrons.

per 10 million parts uranium. The potas Uraninite crystals are rare.
sium in carnotite may be substituted for In the massive for m (pitchblende)
by calcium, giving "calciocarotite" which uraninite may be found in broken part
is better known as tyuyamunite, and this icles cemented in matrices of various
is related to another derivative, rauvite, materials, also botryoidal or reniform,
a hydrous calcium uranium vanadate. having a banded structure. May be den
dritic aggregates of small crystals; also
Carnotite is found in a number of lo
colloform.
calities in the world. Often found as
loosely cohering masses mixed with Brittle, with uneven to conchoidal frac
ture, H. 5-6 average about 5.5 in high
quartzose material, not infrequently re
grade specimens. G. 9.0 9.7 for most
placement in organic material like leaves specimens contammg admixed earths,
and logs. ranging upwards to 10.63 (Chihuahua,
PITCHBLENDE Mexico), but as low as 6.4 with massive
The known deposits of pitchblende, altered forms. Natural crystals, G. 8.0
sufficiently rich and extensive to be com 10.0 (uraninite; coil 0 for m varieties
mercially exploited are relatively few. It (pitchblende), G. 6.5 - 8.5. Calculated on
is true that pitchblende and the uraninites the basis of uranium dioxide, G. 10.88.
are rather widely scattered throughout Uraninite is always more or less oxi
the world in small amounts, but in gen dized, and with increasing oxidation, the
eral these are of less importance from a gravity drops markedly. Gravity is like
commercial standpoint than the "big wise decreased when the uranium is sub
three" Canada, Belgian Congo and stituted by thorium and rare earths.
Czechoslovakia. The Canadian pitch Luster submetallic, sometimes greasy
plende is the richest known considered or pitch like (hence the name "pitch
as tonnage grade ore. The Great Bear blende"), and dull. Opaque. Color drab
Lake deposits are also thought to be the and usually dark: deep steely or velvety
most extensive known; at least this' was black, brown - black, greyish, greenish
true until 1941. with similar streak. In very thin splinters
The actual extent of the Great Bear the high grade material may be translu
Lake pitchblende deposits has not been cent on the edges. Polished surface may
completely divulged, and will probably be pale grey, with brownish tinge.
remain secret for some time to come. Natural uraninite, pitchblende and
In the uraninite group are included other varieties always more or less oxi
such amorphous or crystalline varieties dized. In face an outcropping may be
of uranium oxide as Pitchblende, Cleve greatly altered because of this property.
ite, Nivenite, Broeggerite. The terms Actual composition variable. Theoretic
"pitchblende" and "uraninite" are often ally given as a uranate of uranyl (U,O.)
used synonymously, but the term "pitch or an uranium dioxide (UO,), but natural
blende" is applicable only to the impure, material ranges between these two in
amorphous form of the mineral which composition, with tetravalent uranium
often has botryoidal surfaces with a con prominent. Thorium and the rare earths
choidal fracture. Uraninite is isometric, may be present in varying amounts, the
in octahedrons, sometimes with dodeca former as high as 14 per cent, the latter
hedral faces. Infrequently found in cubes mainly of the lanthanum and yttrium
r
.'
THE URANIUM MINERALS
Cake examines the old bullet holes, made some 70 years ago during the "battle of The
Post Office" in S.E. Oregon. The ruins of an old stage station, and oombination post office,
store, stable, hotel, saloon, and gambling hall. The faintly legible insoription on the door,
reads "Post Offioe - Store." This region of Harney and Malheur Counties in S.E .Oregon.
comprising some 20,000 square miles, much of it Public Domain, is one of the last frontiers
for gem and uranium hunters.
groups. Pitchblende contains little or no identical with some other previously de
thorium dioxide and little or no rare scribed species. In other cases some have
earths, with water often present. May been later shown to be mixtures of pre
also contain lead, zirconium, nitrogen, viously described minerals. Some of the
helium, argon, and metallic sulfide im more important thorium minerals are
purities from association in metalliferous here included since they are radioactive,
veins with the sulfides of Ag, Pb, Co, and thorium being similar to uranium,
Ni, Fe, Zn, Cu, and others. it is quite possible that in the future
Approximately 125 uranium and thori thorium can and will be used as a source
um minerals have been described in the of atomic energy, the same as uranium.
mineralogical literature. The greater part At present, pitchblende and carnotite,
of these have been found only in small have contributed practically all our ura
amounts, and often at only one or a few nium. Since there are comparatively few
localities in the world. Hence there are of these deposits of any great tonnage,
only a comparatively few uranium and it is obvious that eventually we shall be
thorium which are of present concern and obliged to seek other sources. There are
importance in supplying the much needed great known deposits of quite low grade
uranium. The more important uranium uranium ores, which at present are not
minerals are described here in some de economical to operate on a commercial
tail, while those of mainly academic in scale. Present technical methods for ex
terest are merely enumerated. tracting uranium from the very low grade
In some instances the species standing ores, would prove prohibitive from a cost
of some of the more obscure uranium standpoint, in the face of competition of
minerals are in question. In some in the better grade ores. In all probability
stances, a uranium mineral described as with future improvements in refining
a new species, has been later found to be technology, and by force of necessity. we
will eventually turn to the very low grade Carnotite is the principal ore mineral in
uranium ores. the United States and tyuyamunite is
There are three general types of radio found in Russia. Autunite is a phosphate
active, i.e., uranium and thorium bearing of uranium and lime, containing as much
minerals: (1) The primary uranium min as 50 per cent of uranium. The color is
erals or uranites, (2) the secondary ura described as greenish - brown to sulfur
nium minerals and (3) the so called yellow. It is soft (hardness 2 to 2.5) and
"complexes," columbium-titanium tanta rather light (specific gravity 3.5 to 3.9).
lates of the rare earths, uranium and Torbernite is a green colored mineral of
thorium, including silica. similar composition, containing copper
Type 1. The uraninites, which are the instead of calcium.
richest in uranium, including such crys Type 3. The columbium-titanium tan
talline varieties as broeggerite, deveite, talate complexes include betafite, sami
and certain uraninites found in the United resite. ampangabeite, euxenite, blom
States and East Africa. These varieties strandite, samarskite, fergusonite, and
occur in pegmatites in well developed other minerals. These substances have
crystals, though these crystals rarely. rather common characteristics and are
exceed two centimeters in diameter. easily recognized because of their high
Pitchblendes are amorphous uraninites, density (over 4), black or dark brown
and they occur in metalliferous veins, color, and greasy, brilliant fracture. Min
especially associated with sulfides of sil erals of this group were first discovered
ver, lead, nickel, zinc, and other' heavy in Norway and Greenland (euxenite,
metals. blomstrandite, samarskite. and ferguson
The terms "uraninite" and "pitch ite). Later a deposit of euxenite was
blende" are often used synonymously, found in Brazil, but now by far the most
but the term "pitchblende" is applicable important deposits are those in Mada
only to the impure, amorphous form of gascar, which furnish several unique
the mineral, often with botryoidal sur varieties, notably betafite, samiresite, and
faces and a conchoidal fracture. Uranin ampangabeite, all of which are rich in
he; when crystallized, belongs to the uranium. Certain minerals of this group
isometric system. It is black or grayish contain thorium in varying amounts, and
black in color, often with a glossy or the radium extracted from them may
pitchlike luster. The hardness is approxi contain substantial quantities of meso
mately that of steel (5.5). Its specific thorium.
gravity is often high (5 to 9.7), according The following are the more important
to its purity. The composition is some or the better known-uranium and thorium
what indefinte, and it is usually described minerals.
as a uranate of uranyl, together with AUTUNITE. A phosphate of uranium
variable quantities of lead, calcium, iron, and calcium. A strongly fluorescent, sec
copper, bismuth, thorium, zirconium, and ondary uranium mineral, often formed in
other rare and common elements. the alteration of pitchblende. Hence we
Type 2. The various secondary ura may find this lemon - yellow, pulverent
nium minerals include phosphates, car mineral appearing in outcrops of pitch
bonates, arsenates, sulfates, silicates, plende or other rich uranium minerals.
vanadates, and uranates. Most of these When pure or nearly so, it contains ap
are charcateristically colored bright green proximately 60 per cent uranium oxide,
or yellow. The most important are hence this mineral would be of consider
autunite and carnotite. Formed relatively able commercial value if found in any
recently, these secondary minerals have quantity. In the United States it is often
not reached equilibrium (1 Ra :3.4 million found in the granite pegmatites associ
U). The uranium-radium ratio, therefore, ated with pitchblende. Its powerful fluo
may vary over fairly wide limits. rescence and bright color serves to iden
,Carnotite is an amorphous, soft, pow tify it, without the aid of the Geiger
dery material, occasionally talcose or counter.
waxy in character. The color is generally CALCITE carrying small amounts of
brilliant canary yellow, though it may be uranium, as an "impurity," have been
discolored by iron, organic matter, or found at many localities throughout the
other substances. It is essentially a hy United States. Under this heading we
drous potassium uranium vanadate, some- . may include aragonite and quartz (agate
times associated with the hydrous calcium and chalcedony included). :The amount of
uranium vanadate, known as tyuyamunite. uranium present in these mirterals, as
~". ": "j
Prospecting trails lead one to many romantic places in the Western States-old deserte.d
mining camps, now known as ghost towns. Part of what was once the main street of Aurora,
Nevada, is shown here. Impressive two and three story buildings once dominated Main
Street, in this city of 10,000 population when it was booming. Tall sage brush now lines
this street where once stamped the hordes of eager gold seekers. (Photo by Guy Ransom).
extraneous matter, is usually very small, mainly in the western states. In all proba
generally less than 0.001 per cent. More bility minerals of this type are deposited
over, the identity of the included uranium by percolating waters passing through
mineral is usually unknown. However abnormally high content uranium country
small the quantity of included uranium rock, thus picking up abnormal amounts
may be, it is usually enough to make this of uranium to be redeposited elsewhere.
uraniferous calcite, aragonite, or silica, So far none of these minerals have been
strongly fluorescent under one of the of any commercial value, owing to their
ultraviolet lamps. In view of the fact that low grade nature. However, they may be
the material is fluorescent, we would an indication that somewhere in the vi
assume that the included uranium mineral cinity, and perhaps at some depth, there
is one of the several secondary fluores many or may not be a rich body of
cent uranium minerals. "mother" uranium.
While these uraniferous minerals are D A K E I T E. Originally (1937) de
usually found in granite rock regions, scribed as a new species. Since then it
known to be abnormally high in radio has been shown to be identical with the
activity. This is especially true at many previously des c rib e d schroeckingerite,
localities in Wyoming where we find a Found only in the Red Desert, 40 miles.
number of common minerals showing north of Wamsutter, Wyoming, where it
strong fluorescence, due to included ura occurs over a wide area as yellow nodules
nium. These items may include opalized and lumps in impure gypsite clay. This
wood, agate, common opal, jasper, and yellow sulphur-like mineral is strongly
the like. Or uraniferous agate may appear fluorescent under all types of lamps.
in regions not specifically high in radio FERGUSONITE. A columbate-tanta
activity, like the southern Wasco County late of rare earths, with small amounts of
locality in central Oregon. uranium. Resembles pitchblende in both
Usually this type of uraniferous mate color and specific gravity.
rial will fluoresce best under short waves, GUMMITE. One of the important and
and often of a characteristic yellowish most widely distributed alterations prod
green. Specimens of this kind are found ucts from the weathering of pitchblende.
widely distributed in the United States, It is usually of varying composition and
color, but usually deep red or reddish· bien de. It is usually brieht green in color,
brown. It is usually found as an amor and fluoresces' strongly with a greenish
phous gum-like substance, hen c e its blue color. Torbernite is generally found
name. The name has been applied to sev as small masses of a pulverent nature or
eral varieties of similar uranium minerals. loosely compact.
When present in an outcrop of pitch URACONITE. A uranium sulphate
blende, its vivid color serves as a ready said to be similar to or identical with
identification. zippeite, and also strongly fluorescent.
METATORBERNITE. An alteration URANOCIRCITE. Similar to autunite,
product derived from torbenite. Fluo and also brightly fluorescent. The follow
resces a characteristic bluish-yellow col ing "urano" minerals have been found to
or, and may be found associated with be fluorescent, but some may be identical
pitchblende. Fluorescent metazeunerite with other uranium minerals, uranochal
has also been described as a rare mineral. cite, uranophane, uranopilite, uranospath
ite, uranothallite, uranotile.
MONAZITE. This unique mineral is
found widely distributed, and often ill . ZIPPEITE, A uranium sulphate, carry
~arge deposits at various localities, includ lI1g about 68 per cent uranium oxides,
mg the beach sands of North Carolina, yellowish in color, and strongly fluores
Brazil, India and elsewhere. It is impor cent. I t has been found at various locali
tant for its contained rare metals and ties throughout the world, but its most
thorium content, the latter being va;iable. interesting occurrence is at Great Bear
If and when, thorium becomes important Lake, where it is not found in the work
in atomic energy, great quantities of this ings, but appears on the pitchblende ore
element would be available in the sand dumps when the ore is piled in the open
deposits at many localities. Monazite is waiting summer shipment. This is a good
regarded essentially as one of the many indication of how quickly alteration may
rock forming minerals, from whence it take place in a uranium ore. Zippeite is
originates in the sands. also found associated with some carnotite
deposits, in which case the former could
SAMARSKITE. One of the rare earth be readily identified by its fluorescence.
minerals carrying uranium, columbates
and tantalates. The uranium content The following uranium and thorium
varies, averaging approximately 10 per minerals have been described at various
cent oxides. Its colors and appearance times in the mineralogical literature. So
and weight are similar to those of pitch far these have been of minor interest in
blende. the uranium picture. These will be found
described in standard works like the
TANTALITE. While not essentially a Dana Textbook of Mineralogy, and the
uranium mineral, it may show radio Dana, System of Mineralogy volumes.
activity, due to included uranium or The species status of some are in doubt.
thorium. It resembles pitchblende in most
of its physical properties. Bassetite, Besquerelite, Betafite Bran
nerhe, Broeggerite, Clarkeite, Cleveite,
THORIANITE. One of the rare earth Coracite, Cyrtolite, Dewindite Dumonite
minerals carrying various amounts of Eliasite, Ellsworthite, Eucras'ite, Euxen~
thorium, or the thorium may in part be ite, Fourmarierite, Gadolinite Gilipinite
replaced by uranium. Alters readily to
Hatchettolite, Hyblite, Lanthi~ite Ishika~
gummite-like minerals. It may be found
waite, Johannite, Kasolite, K~tangite,
as dark colored, heavy pebbles, in placers. Lambertite, Liebigite, Medjidite, Nastur
It may be mistaken for pitchblende. an, Parsonite, Phosphuranylite, Pyro
THORITE. A thorium silicate, brittle, chlore, Randite, Rauvite, Renardite, Row
usually black in color, and quite heavy. landite, Samiresite, Schoepite, Sengierite,
It may appear orange in color, when it is Sharpite, Soddyite, Thucholite, Troeger
referred to as orangite. When pure it ite, Volglianite, Volgite, Walpurgite
carries up to 72 per cent thorium oxides. Xenotime, Zeunerite. '
The uranothorite variety ranges up to
10 per cent uranium content, the uranium URANIUM DISCOVERIES
replacing some of the thorium. Thoro There are a large number of known
gummite is another alteration product. occurrences of uranium and thorium
TORBERNITE. A copper uranium minerals in the United States, but the
phosphate, found rather widely distrib carnotite deposits of Utah and Colorado
uted in uranium deposits, or in granitic are by far the best known. Pitchblende
formations carrying pockets of pitch and its alteration products are widely dis
----------------------
tributed in small amounts, notably in the
pegmatites and granitic rocks in the New
England states, North and South Caro
lina, Texas, the Rocky Mountain states,
and elsewhere where rocks of this type
occur.
In most cases the uranium minerals
are found as small isolated pockets, en
countered during quarrying operations or
mining other minerals. Often these pock
ets produced excellent specimen material,
and much of this pitchblende and the
associated secondary uraninites found its
way into private and public mineral col
lections.
All known types of rocks are radio
active to some extent, but in some parts
of the United States, there are great
areas where the country rock is abnor
mally high in radioactivity. This is es
pecially true of much of the rocks of
Wyoming. Percolating waters passing
through country rock of this type fre
quently leach out enough uranium to A popular field type, battery operated,
render various silicious minerals strongly Geiger counter, manufactured by Fisher Re
search Laboratory, Palo Alto, California. The
fluorescent. instrument may be used with or without the
There are great areas in Wyoming light weight probe or prospecting stick
;'''{here I a r g e deposits of chalcedony, shown In the photo. Geiger counters are also
invaluable for testing suspected uranium
agate, common opal, and silicified woods specimens. By the use of known percentage
carry very small amounts of secondary uranium specimens, approximate quantita
uraninites, but enough to render them tive work may be done on samples.
highly fluorescent - showing the charac
teristic yellow-green of uranium. De According to the Arizona Department
posits of this type have been noted in of Mineral Resources, in a 1948 report by
Oregon, New Mexico, Georgia, and else Chas. H. Dunning, there is an extensive
where. Aragonite and calcite may also uranium deposit located in Hack's Can
present a strong fluorescence, account
yon, 37 miles southwest of Fredonia. The
able for on this same basis.
uranium mineral appears to be torbernite
Arizona or metatorbernite, and the ore assays up
Uraninite has been reported at the to 2.50 per cent uranium. The property
Happy Jack mine, Wrightson district, has been worked siuce W odd War I, for
Santa Cruz County. In Mohave County, copper, and the uranium was discovered
it is of interest to note that gadolinite is by fluorescence under ultraviolet light.
found in the Aquarius Cliffs in pegmatite, The mineralized area constituting the
30 miles south of Hackberry and near uranium deposit is at the contact of the
Kingman, about 6 miles west of Chin Lee Coconino Sandstone layer of the Grand
Valley and 2 to 4 miles south of the Utah Canyon Series, and the underlying bed of
state line. Thousands of pounds of gado Hermit Shale. Details of this occurrence
!inite have been gathered from drifting are hidden by the talus fill along the can
sand dunes by the Indians and some fine yon wall, but there has evidently been
gems have been obtained. Gadolinite is considerable displacement because the
also found here and elsewhere with mineralized rock in the mine is distinctly
peridot. Coconino Sandstone but occurs at a level
Early in 1948 an effort was made to below the normal floor of that bed
realize the value of the carnotite situated where the Hermit Shale should be.
on the Navajo Indian Reservation, where The ore-rock is a typical fine grained
also vanadium was to be extracted. The white sandstone. Many authorities con
Indians were to obtain a 10 per cent roy sider this layer of the Coconino Sand
alty on all mineral compounds except the stone as being aeolian or wind blown.
vanadium. Copper carbonates and silicates appear
irregularly in the seams and are dissemi Utah and Colorado. Carnotite mining had
nated. The fluorescent mineral mentioned been carried out in Colorado on a small
has not been determined for certain. It scale, even before the discovery of radi
fluoresces like willemite but no such um. Parsons records that in 1881, Andrew
mineral can be observed and a spectro J. Talbert mined some of the ore, mainly
graphic analysis shows no zinc. It could for its small gold content.
be a calcitic coating on some of the sand
In 1911 Joseph M. Flannery, of Pitts
grains, but is more probably an opalitic
type of sand. In any event it seems to burg, organized the Standard Chemical
have no bearing on the uranium content Co., to exploit the carnotite deposits for
and is of no economic importance. 'their radium content, and as a' by-product
they contained vanadium. In the earlv
Torbernite or metatorbernite (copper days the U. S. Bureau of Mines carried
uranium phosphate), an apple green min out a considerable amount of pioneer
eral of platy appearance, appears in the work in the study of these ores, and in
seams and disseminated throughout the field investigations, notably under the
groundmass, and as a cementing material direction of Frank L. Hess. Various
holding the fragments of brecciation. It private operations were carried on over a
no doubt accounts for a large portion of period of years, until 1921, when domestic
the general uranium content. production of radium salts reached its
Arkansas peak. In 1923 the Standard Chemical Co.,
largest American producer, treated only
About 0.5 per cent of thorium and 0.1
the stock pile of ore on hand in its re
per cent of uranium are reported to ac
duction plant, and assumed the agency
company the titanium ore, which has
for the distribution of Belgian radium in
recently been found in an almost inex
the United States.
haustible deposit, Howard County.
The principal productive deposits in
California Colorado and Utah are all of carnotite;
Few uranium minerals have been re roscoelite, Gypsum, copper carbonates,
ported in California. Uraconite occurs as and rare vanadium minerals mav be as
coatings in the Rathgeb mine, near San sociated with it. The carnotit~ occurs
Andreas, Calaveras County. Uraninite in chiefly in sandstone. Sometimes it im
acicular crystals has also been noted in pregnates the sandstone, but it is likely
the Rathgeb mine. Melhase has reported to be concentrated along the cracks or
well-formed crystals of xenotime, in the bedding planes or in pockets, where it
Southern Pacific quarry n ear Nuevo. may be accompanied by petrified wood,
Autunite occurs in the Summit Diggings bones or other more or less fossilized
near Randsburg. Yellow autunite as organic matter. Carnotite also occurs in
sociated with green plates of torbernite New Mexico and Arizona. The deposits
was reported from a locality in the north in both these states, though largely unde
eastern part of San Bernardino County. veloped, may be of considerable im
An interesting uranium mineral has portance.
been recently reported from the Rands Smarskite, gadolinite, and allanite have
burg district, tentatively identified as been noted near Devils Head, Douglas
schoepite. The mineral is highly fluores County, Colorado. Radioactive zircon and
cent and found in an eight foot outcrop columbite occur on Elk Creek, EI PasO'
ping. The mineral occurs as a thin film County, as do xenotime and zircon at
of very small grains, yellow in color. nearby localities, e.g., St. Peter's Dome.
Optical and crystallographic data are Uraninite is found in the Gregory dis
incomplete at this time; the find may trict, about Black Hawk, Gilpin County;
represent a new species. also a Domingo Mine in Gunnison Coun
In 1948 uranium "in hopeful quantities" ty. Columbine has been reported in Jef
was reported near Beaumont, in Mar ferson County. Colorado has also pro
shall Canyon. The discovery occurred on duced pitchblende, to the extent of per
a 300 acre ranch, and the material is haps 150 tons or more of low-grade ore,
stated to be ore grade. mainly from Gilpin County.
During the past few years a consider
Colorado able number of isolated deposits of car
Carnotite is by far the most important notite have been discovered in Colorado
uranium bearing mineral found in the and Utah. These vary greatly in size and
United States. The large deposits which extent and may be largely regarded as
have been exploited commercially are in "pockets." Frequently these are worked
THE URANIUM MINERALS
General view in Hack's Canyon, Arizona, where a discovery of uranium has been made.
This photo is typical of the uranium regions of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Lighter colored strata, near center line, is Cononio (Permian) sandstone. The strata below
that which erodes in a more slanting manner is Hermit (Permian) shale or Supai Formation.
by small independent operators, and in nite. Columbite is also found there .At
some cases as "one man" projects. The Hales' quarry, Glastonbury, and at Willi
ores which are extracted are sent by truck mantic, as well as Middleton, uraninite
to one of the several large ore treatment is also seen. Monazite is found at Nor
plants which have been set-up in the wich, Portland, Watertown (near the
carnotite areas. The treatment plants, in Naugatuck), and Willimantic. Columbite
>"olving huge investments, are operated is observed at Glastonbury and at Mid
by large private corporations. dletown.
The ores treated are paid for on a basis Pitchblende has been described from
of uranium and vanadium content, as several quarries at Middletown, Glaston
indicated by the A.E.c. Prospecting is bury, and Branchville. Many of the fine
encouraged, and when a suitable deposit rich specimens of pitchblende, uraninite,
is located and proven, financial aid can and various secondary uranuim minerals
be readily obtained. Recent advances in found in the pegmatites of the New Eng
treatment technology enables the eco land States have foqnd their way into
nomical handling of quite low grade ores. mineral collections, both public and pri
The scope of these advances will un vate.
doubtedly be extended in the futUre, as Georgia
considerable sums are being constantly Radioactive minerals have bee n re
expended in researches to this end. ported at a number of localities within
A considerable amount of literature on the state of Georgia. Uranophane is
uranium in Colorado and adjacent re found in joints of granite at Stone, De
gions, has been issued by the U.S. Bureau kalb County; it is coated thinly by hya
of Mines and the Atomic Energy Com lite, the uraniferous and highly fluores
mission. These agencies also carryon air cent common opal of Stone Mountain is
and ground surveys of various regions in ,vell known. Xenotime occurs at Clarks
the Colorado Plateau. Printed bulletins ville, Clark County; allanite is found in
and papers are issued from time to time to Lumpkin County.
keep the prospector informed. This liter
ature is available direct from the Atomic Idaho
Energy Commission, G ran d Junction, A number of uranium and thorium
Colorado, and the U.S. Bureau of Mines, minerals have been found in the state,
\Vashington, D. C. mainly as small fragments found in the
placers operated in the central part of
Connecticut the state. The new mineral brannerite,
The Branchville locality is famous for carrying over 50· per cent uranium and
its uranium minerals, the s e including thorium oixdes, was found in a placer
uraninite, autunite, gummite and tober operating in the Stanley Basin region,
~------------------------
and described by Hess and Wells in 1920. other secondary uranium minerals. Cyr
The bed-rock in the basin is said to be tolite, an alteration product of zircon, is
granite cut by pegmatite dikes. The bran found as small well-formed crystals em
nerite is doubtless derived from the peg bedded in feldspar, assocated with the
matites. The radioactivity of the mineral uraninite and manganese dioxide.
varies with the specific gravity. the
higher the gravity the greater the radio Massachusetts
activity. Autunite occurs at Chesterfield, alollg
with columbite, and numerous rarer ac
Fergusonite, columbite, and samarskite
cessory minerals. Allanite is found at
have all been recovered from the placer
Athol, Belcherton, South Royalston, and
dredges operating near Idaho City, Boise
Bolton. Columbite is observed at Bever
County. Only small amounts have been
ly and at Northfield. Rockport has been
recovered. Aeschynite and Cuxenite oc
reported to yield both fergusonite and
cur as small water worn pebbles at vari
cyrtolite.
ous localities in central Idaho. From
Montana
placer concentrates obtained near Center
Monazite has been found in the black
ville, Boise County, Hess has reported
sands at Princeton, in Granite County;
water worn pebbles and crystals of poly
also, Madison County, at Norris; and, in
crase, some reaching a diameter of one
Powe!1 County. Thorianite has bee n
half inch. The mineral is also found at
known to ccour at N orris, in Madison
Idaho City.
County, for many years, but apparently
Thoruim b ear i n g monazite sand is has never been mined.
abundant at more than 30 localities in 10
counties in Idaho. The Idaho monazite Nevada
is probably lower in its thorium content Carnotite has been found on )01l1t5 in
than similar sands from Brazil and North gold ores in the Atlanta Mine, Lincoln
Carolina, but with the increasing demand County. Southwestern N e v a d a yields
for cerium metals and the utilization of some fluorescent opal and silica. Mona
thorium as a source of atomic energy, zite Occurs in the black sands at Carson
the Idaho deposits are of potential im City, in Ormsby County. There is ura
portance. The monazite is derived from nium in Lincoln County, 50 miles ~orth
the granitic rocks of the great central of Pioche, where it occurs with vanadium
Idaho batholith. in an unidentified mineral resembling
The main monazite localities of Idaho carnotite (tyuyamunite).
are as follows: Ada County. occurs in New Mexico
black sands at Boise and Boise Basin; Samarskite is found in a pegmatite
Adams County, Meadows, Snake River, dike, some ZYz miles southwest of the
and John Day Creek; Boise County, has village of Petaca, in the north-central
been mined at Centerville, and is found part of New Mexico. Radiographs have
in placers near Placerville, Idaho City.
shown that the mineral is composed of
and elsewhere; Canyon County, Payette
not one, but two species. Before 1924 no
River; Clearwater County, Orofino, Dent,
uraninite or its alteration products had
and elsewhere; Idaho County has the
been found in this region, but in 1928
best deposit at Warren district (placer);
grains of uraninite were observed in peg
L e m h i County. at Leesburg; Lincoln
matite dikes, ranging from 2-4 millimeters
County, at Minidoka; Nez Perce County,
in diameter. These were accompanied by
Musselshell Creek, 28 miles east of Greer,
alteration products, namely, gummite and
and 10 miles from Weippe; Owyhee
uranophane in what is known as the Frid
County, at Oreana.
lund dike.
lJrnaphane has been found in Boise Metaborenite is found at a locality near
County, at Carterville. ' Silver City. It fluoresces a bright green,
A number of new and promising ura and occurs disseminated as minute green
nium finds have been recently made in ish plates in a nonfluorescent matrix.
the state. Autunite occurs sparingly in some of the
Maine ores of the White Signal district, Grant
'C"raninite is found in the pegmatite County; museum specimens are found in
minerals of Black Mountain, Rumford. the Sylvanite district of Hidalgo County,
It is observed as minute crystals in and and in the San Lorenzo district of So
on c1eavlandite in the form of dendritic corro County.
growth. Some of the uraninite has altered Carnotite is a relatively rare mineral,
to gummite, autunite, uranophane and except in Colorado and Utah. It is found
,
THE URANlL'M MINERALS 57
A broken axle can mean real trouble for the prospector far out on the rolling sage cov
ered hills of Nevada. The old model A Ford shown here was one of the most reliable carll
for the prospector, until the introduction of the modern 4·wheel drive Jeep.
in small amounts at a few localities in NGrth Car()lina

the state. Cyrtolite was reported from a Pegmatite formations are common to
locality southwest of Las Vegas in San both North and South Carolina, and as
Miguel County. Cyrtolite is an ill-defined ill the New England States, va rio u s
species, and is possibly an alteration uranium and radioactive minerals are
product of zircon. found, usually in limited amounts in these
Fergusonite from the Fridlund dike, 2Yz formations. Generally the "pockets" and
miles southwest of Petaca, was described limited areas of the uranium minerals are
by Hess and Wells in 1930. Gummite as encountered during mining or quarrying
sociated with uraninite was also found operations. Small amounts of pitchblende
in the Fridlund dike. Monazite carrying and its alteration products have been pro
an average of 0.1 per cent uranium oc duced for many years as a by-product
curs in the Petaca area. Samarskite in of the feldspar and mica mines.
fine large specimens occurs in the Frid
lund dike. Pitchblende and uranophane Rare radioactive minerals have been
occur in the Black Hawk district, Grant found in varying quantities widely dis
County, and in the Petaca district, Rio tributed in North Carolina. The state has
Arriba County. yielded large am 0 u n t s of monazite,
among others. Monazite is found in Alex
New York ander Co u n t y, at Brindletown, Burke
The magnetite mines in the Adirondack County, in the placers with malacon,
region have yielded some excellent speci xenotime, columbite, cyrrtolite, ferguson
mens of allanite. This species is also ite, allanite and thorite. This locality has
found in abundance in the Smith mine, produced xenotime crystals an inch
Mineville, in Essex County; also spar across, of a sage to grass - green color.
ingly at the Bedford feldspar quarries in Hydrofergusonite and samarskite are
\Vestchester County. Cyrtolite has been also found.
mined and utilized from the latter lo Columbite and autunite are found in
cality. Uranothorite has been observed Alexander County; allanite at Balsam
at Port Henry. Other species which have Gap Mine, Buncombe County; columbite
been reported in various N ew York lo ill the same county; large masses of
calities (by Manchester) include allanite, monazite associated with zircon in Madi
columbite, gummite, monazite, thorite, son County (Mars Hill. In Henderson
torbernite, uraconite, uraninite and xeno County, at Green River, on the south
time. Pitchblende is found near Peek side of Blue Ridge, there occur allanite,
skill. auerlite, polycrase, zircon, monazite,
,
xenotime and crytoliteo Iredell County areas were soon mined out, and these
yields allanite (Statesville); Mecklen notable deposits have remained untouched
burg County (Todd's Branch), monazite. for many years.
Mitchell County has long been a Pennsylvania
source of rare radioactive minerals. Uraninite and various secondary urani
Hatchettolite, gummite, columbite, sam um minerals have been reported from a
arskite, altered samarskite, rogersite, number of localities in the state. Usually
cyrtolite, fergusonite, uraninite, urano these are encountered in quarying work
til, phosphuranylite, autunite, and monaz or in mining. Uraninite, and several al
ite, are found in a number of localities. teration minerals were reported from
Rutherford County yields similar species. Philadelphia County, Fairmount Park.
South Carolina has produced minor The uraninite is generally extensively
altered on the exterior, with often an un
amounts of uranium minerals. Uraninite altered core of uraninite comprising the
and nivenite are found associated· with interior of the mass. .
allanite near Marietta, Greenville County.
Anderson County yields some columbite Carnotite has long been known ill con
\vith allanite and other rare minerals. glomerate on Mount Pisgah, three-quar
ters of a mile north of Mauch Chunk,
Oregon in Carbon County. It occurs in a small
There are several indications of urani area of the rock known as the Potts
ferous formations in Oregon; these com ville Conglomerate, often found as the
prise the highly fluorescent silicas and cementing material holding small pebbles
opals, none of which has commercial together. The carnotite has been known
value as a source of fissiQnable metal since 1874, but it has been used only as
at the present time, though fine speci a source for mineral collectors, and no
mens are highly prized by collectors. commercial workings have been under
taken. Carnotite is also found in the
Large masses of uraniferous silica are Williams quarry at Easton, just north
found at Pueblo mountains, south of the of the city. Other radioactive minerals
Steens mountain area, near Denio in are also found in this quarry.
Harney County; also the material is
found scattered over the ground and in Allanite is found in Chester County,
submerged masses near the Warm at Bethlehem, in East Bradford and Cov
Springs Indian Reservation, in southern entry- townships; also, at Princeton in
Wasco County. In the latter instance, Lawrence County; Lehigh County, at
the perlite deposits frequently show Allentown; Philadelphia Co u n t y at
more radioactivity than the surrounding Frankford, nearly all of which localities
rocks. Fluorescent silica is also found yield the allanite in granitic rock
near Madras in Jefferson County. Often South Carolina
the material is associated with agate,
Monazite is found in deposits of com
chalcedony and common opal, and with
mercial value in Anderson, Cherokee,
rhyolite, especially the Mutton Mountain
Greenville, Laurens, Oconee. Pickens,
district of Wasco County, near the Warm
and Spartanburg Counties. It has beel}
Springs Reservation.
mined near Gaffney, Cherokee County,
Monazite is frequently found in Ore and south of Greenville, in Greenville
gon, especially in the black sands, where County. Polycrase is found 4 miles from
it has been known to occur for many Marietta, in Greenville County. See
years; this is also true of tantalum, co North Carolina.
lumbium and other thorium minerals.
Zircon is known to be widely distributed South Dakota
in Oregon. The pegmatites of the Black Hills have
The metal zirconium, derived from the produced small amount of pitchblende
sands carrying zircon, has recently come and various alteration products. usually
into prominence. The U. S. Bureau of as small pockets encountered in mining
Mines at Albany, Oregon has carried out operations. Autunite is found in the peg
researches in the recovery and refinement matites of Black Hills, near Keystone,
of this metal, for various commercial uses. as at Custer and Spokane. Tantalite and
What future the black sands of the Ore columbite are also found in the pegma
gon coast may hold still remains un tites. Tantalite 0 c cur s in Pennington
known. At one time these sands were County, n ear Keystone. Columbite is
mined for their gold content, but the rich found in Custer County, and has been
mined near Laughing Water Creek, north Torbernite occurs in Kane County, at
of Custer; in Lawrence County, Tinton the Virgin 'River; also, San Juan County,
area, and is abundant in gold placers in in the La Sal Mountains. Uranospinite
the Nigger Hill district, in the Yolo and is found 9 miles south of Pahreah in
Centennial claims; in Pennington County, Kane County. In Wayne County, a urani
in pegmatites near Hill City, Oreville,
um sulfate has been reported as occur
and in upwards of a dozen mines near
keystone. Uranocircite is also found in ring in a fine-grained sandstone with cop
this locallty. Uraninite, torbernite and per carbonates near Fruita.
autunite are found in Pennington County, Uraninite is found in small amounts at
at Bald Mountain. Ogden Canyon, Weber County. The un
common uranium mineral zeunerite is
Texas found occasionally in the ore of the Cen
A number of rare minerals were found tennial Eureka mine as minute yellowish
in some quantity in the now inaccessible green crystals in barite, Tintic district, in
Barringer Hill locality in Llano County; Juab County.
nivenite was described here for the first Utah yields tyuyamunite a Ion g with
time. Gadolinite has been reported in carnotite and other vanadium minerals in
small quantities in Burnet County, and Emery and Garfield counties; also, Grand
is found in the red granite area with the County, prominently crystallized at Rich~
exception of one locality. Fergusonite, ardson, with carnotite, and on Pac k
gadolinite, yttrialite, allanite, gummite, Creek. The mineral tyuyamunite is found
nivenite and cyrtolite have been reported in San Juan County, in East Canyon and'
in a locality five miles south of Blufton. Big Indian Creek; also, Uinta County, as
Utah small de p 0 sit s in pre-Cambrian(?)
quartzite, on Red Creek, Browns Park,
The southeastern Utah carnotite areas with copper minerals.
are described in more detail in the section
for Colorado. This uranium ore has been Virginia
known for years in Emery County, and The pegmatites of Virginia are of in~
mined on the east flank of the San Rafael terest both because of the variety of rare
Swell, 13 miles southwest of Greenriver, and interesting minerals which they con~
in Upper Jurassic(?) sandstone; it occurs tain and for the reason that they have
in Temple Rock and along ·the South served as sources of specimen material
Temple Wash, with uvanite, metahewet hom time to time. The deposits are found
tite, and other uranium and vanadium in the crystalline belt of Virginia which
minerals. and with asphaltite on the is situated between the Blue Ridge Moun
southeast side of the swell and along the tains on the west and the coastal plain on
San Rafael rvier. Carnotite is found in the east. The Amelia area, located in
Garfield County, on the east and south Amelia County, is of interest in connec
west flanks of the Henry Mountains, tion with radioactive minerals.
especially on 'C res c e n t and Trachyte
creeks; also in Grand County, near Rich Washington
ardson, where it is mixed with calciovol Monazite is found in the black sands
borthite 'and copper minerals, and 15 to at Moclips and Grays Harbor, G ray s
20 miles southeast of Thompsons with Harbor County; also in the sands of the
tyuyamunite. Columbia river, Douglas County, and at
Carnotite occurs in many place in the Wilmot bar on the same river, in Stevens
La Sal Mountains, particularly on Pack County.
Creek; also in San Juan County, with Wyoming
many deposits in Dry, Big Indian, and In general the country rocks of Wyo
Lisburne valleys north of Monticello. ming show radioactivity to an abnormal
The ore is also found in Washington degree, indicating they doubtless carry an
County, near Washington, Silver Reef; abnormal amount of uranium and thori
\Vayne County, in the north end of the um. Percolating waters passing through
Henry Mountains. these rocks frequently leach out soluble
Autunite occurs 9 miles south of Pah uranium saits, along with silica, and later
reah, in Kane County; also in Washing deposit the silica as uraniferous agate,
ton County; Silver Reef, in sandstone chalcedony. and common opal. For this
formerly worked for silver. Monazite oc rea son great quantities of fluorescent
curs irt Uinta County, in the black sands agate and common opal have been found
of Green River, Jensen district. at many localities in the state. The water
One of the many annual exhibits sponsored by the many amateur gem and mineral
clubs throughout the Country. Hundreds of private and commercial exhibits may be seen at
these gatherings of the prospectors, gem hunters. mineral collectors, and rockhounds. These
exhibits of specimens are of considerable value to the novice, enabling one to gain a good
idea as to what type of materials are in demand and their approximate value.
worn pebbles of moss agate, generally as small hard grains and nodular masses
known as Sweetwater (locality) agate, distributed throughout the gypsite. In
are widely known, and fluoresce the some places the deposit has a thickness
characteristic yellow-green of uranium, of 3 feet or more, near or at the surface
under short wavelength ultraviolet light. in many places. The deposit has not been
The schroeckingerite deposits, on Lost prospected enough to learn its extent,
Creek, in the Red Desert, some 40 miles but it appears to extend over a consider
nor t h of Wamsutter, are perhaps the able area, and is located at a high eleva
most extensive deposits of uranium in tion on the flat backbone of the Rocky
the state., These deposits were first noted Mountains. The origin of the mineral has
by local residents in 1936, and thought not been definitely established, but was
to be sulfur, as the mineral is quite fri no doubt derived from the weathering of
able and has a color very similar to some primary (pitchblende) deposit. The
sulfur. mineral is highly fluorescent, a yellow
The deposits were first visited by the ish green.
write in 1936, and identified as uranium. The next most notable deposits of ura
Specimens were studied by Dr. E. S. nium are situated near Lusk. and these
Larsen of Harvard and described in the have been operated on a commercial
February 1936 issue of The Mineralogist. basis. Several important secondary ura
The minerals was first thought to be a nium minerals are included in the Lusk
new species (dakeite), but later shown deposits.
to be identical with schroeckingerite. Allanite occurs in Wyoming near Al
Schroeckingerite of Wyoming occurs bany Station, in Albany County, in peg
in crude clay-like gypsite, over a con matite. Monazite is found in the black
siderable area. The creek water flowing sands of the Bald Mountain district, in
through the deposits are also slightly Carbon County, and has been reported in
uraniferous. The yellow mineral occurs Sheridan County, from the Bighorn Mts.
./
CHAPTER SIX
Notes On Prospecting
During the past few decades, a number very great mojority of the progress made
of new instruments have been developed has been in those instruments designed to
which have proven of considerable value aid in the exploration for structures favor
in the location and exploration of various able for the accumulation of oil and gas
mineral deposits. These instruments are and in the proper development of pe
in wide use by professional and scientific troleum deposits once they have been
exploration companies. Suitable instru found. The reason for this is directly re
ments in this class have also been de lated to the tremendous economic return
signed and manufactured especially for to be realized from the successful location
the prospector. These include tools like of an oil bearing structure. Hence, tre
the Geiger counter, portable ultraviolet mendous sums have been made available
I amp s, scintillometers, magnetometers for research and development of any type
and similar instruments used in geophys of geophysical equipment that could in
ical prospecting and exporation work. In any way facilitate the location or develop
cluded in this class are various types of ment of petroleum deposits. Among the
metal locators, widely used in military various items of equipment in extensive
work in the detection of buried mine use at present for petroleum exploration
fields. are the reflection seismograph, the mag
One of the pioneer manufacturers of netomer, the gravimeter, and electric and
geophysical prospecting equipment, is the
1
radioactive logging devices. .1
Fisher Research Laboratories, 1961 Uni In spite of the fact that there has not
versity Avenue, Palo Alto, Calif. This been a tremendous amount of funds avail
well known finn has kindly supplied us able there has still been a steady develop
with the following information pertinent ment of geophysical equipment for other
to the possibilities, and general utility applications such as the location of ores
of this type of modern equipment. \Vhile and placer channels, the solving of foun
these instruments arc not highly com dation problems for the engineer, and the
plicated, yet the instructions for their use study of ground water levels and quality.
should be carefully noted in order to use
these tools in an intelligent manner.
Among these are the different types Elf
inductive electromagnetic equipment, the
.,J
During the past twenty to thirty years ground and airborne magnetometer, the
much has appeared in print concerning portable ref r a c ti 0 n seismograph, the
the invention and development of differ Geiger counter, and the ultra-violet or
ent types of equipment designed to aid in black light.
the locations and development of subsur Naturally, some of the methods men
face mineral deposits of significant eco tioned above have different applications
nomic value. The claims of the com in the various fields of geophysical pros
panies marketing these items as well as pecting. For example, the seismic and
the pseudo scientific writers describing magnetometer methods can be used in oil
them have created in the public mind exploration problems as well as in certain
many false or at best semi-correct im types of ore exploration problems. In the
pressions as to just what can be accom following paragraphs, the different com
plished through the use of modern geo monly accepted methods of geophysical
physical equipment. exploration will be outlined in their sim
Some of the more common misconcep plest form. Particular attention will be
tions are that instruments exist to locate paid to inductive e lee t rom a g net i c
gold and silver as such and to differ methods.
entiate it from any enclosing or asso One of the oldest methods of successful
ciated ores, that subsurface water can be geophysical exploration still in common
definitely located by means other than use today is that using either land or air
drilling, and that the large petroleum borne magnetometers. The met hod in
companies have some method of telling in volves the careful study of the effect of
advance whether or not there is oil be different rocks and ores on the earth's
neath a given piece of property. magnetic field. The principle will be un
It is obvious from a study of the patents derstood when it is recalled that an ordin
issued over the past twenty years that the ary pocket compass is often seriously af
fected by the presence of certain types of

mineral deposits.
The magnetometer is no more than a
ve r y sensitive and carefully calibrated
compass type instrument and is effec
tively employed in locating magnetite rich
iron ore deposits. In addition it has been
and is commonly used in looking for
basement rock structure anomalies that
wiII perhaps be indicative of over-lying
sedimentary rock structure.
Since the conclusion of the sec 0 n d
World War, it has been common practice
to make large scale magnetometer sur
veys by means of an airborne magneto
meter. In this way it is easy to rapidly
evaluate very large areas at a compara
tively low cost. Ordinary ground magnet
ometer instruments are still in use, but
have been restricted to smaller scale
problems. The instruments involved in
this type of work are necessarily quite
expensive. Further. the interpretation of
Metal detectors find many applications.'
the data obtained is often involved and These remarkable instruments are widely
requires considerable experience. Hence, used by treasure hunters and explorers. They
it is general practice to employ contract also find use in tracing out cover iron water
parties to perform the work and provide pipes and the like. OccasionaUy. the treas
ure hunter may find a can of gold coins, but
prepared interpretations. generally he will dig up a lot of metal cans.
horseshoes. and an assortment of metal ob
Seismic Methods jects. The depth at which this battery op
Seismic methods may be classified into erated unit will function is several feet, de
pending upon conditions. but the depth of
two major subdivisions. refraction and re utility is limited. Manufactured by Fisher
Hection. The reflection method is almost Research Laboratory, Palo Alto, .California.
exclusively a p p lie d to oil exploration
problems. It involves setting off an arti It is also possible to obtain considerable
ficial shock, and car e f u I study of the information as to the geological nature of
travel times and paths of the shock waves the overburden and bedrock. Applications
as they are reflected back from different of this method can be found in searching
subsurface horions. By so doing, it is for petroleum type structures, in tracing
possible to measure in detail the attitude the position and extent of buried placer
of sedimentary strata to depths of 15,000 channels, and in measuring the amount of
feet. overburden to be removed in stripping
With the refraction method of seismic operations.
exploration, a shock wave is also set off Iu the late 1920"s and 30's this technic
by the explosion of a buried charge. The found extensive use in the location of
shock waves generated by this explosion buried salt domes along the Gulf Coast;
are refracted instead of reflected from however in recent years, it has been al
subsurface boundaries, and are in turn most entirely supplanted for this use by
picked up by sensitive geophones set out the reflection method. As with the mag
at carefully measured distances from the netometer, the seismic method requires a
point of origin of the blast. By carefully considerable investment in equipment, as
measuring the time the wave takes in well as technical knowledge of operation
traveling from the point of origin to the in interpretation. Hence, it is general
position of the geophones, it is possible practice for most of the large petroleum
to compute the velocities of the wave companies and mining firms to employ
front through the surface overburden and contract crews of specialists.
different subsurface strata or bedrock.
Through studying these travel times and Electrical Methods
the resultant velocities, it is possible to All methods of geophysical prospecting
compute the depth to the different strata depending for .their functioning upon elec
or to bed rock. trical properties of the earth may be clas
NOTES ON PROSPECTING 63
sified under this general heading. The

major standard subdivisions are described
as methods employing (I) natural earth
potentials (2) applied currents (3) indic
tion currents.
Natural Earth Potentials
Due to the oxidation of certain types of
near surface sulphide ores, electro-chemi
cal differences of potential are sometimes
generated. Such natural currents, when
sufficiently pronounced, may often be de
tected and accurately traced on the sur
face of the ground. It has been found
from experience that the practical appli
cation of measuring these natural cur
rents is restricted almost entirely to the
discovery of sulphide ore bodies.
Applied Currents
Dire€t or alternating current is applied
to the soil or bedrock by means of some
definite pattern of well grounded elec
trodes. Surface electrical potentials so ob
Light weight mineral and metal dete<:tor,
tained are a measure of the earth's ability widely used for locating buried metallic min
to carry or conduct the applied current. erai deposits, and any metal objects includ
Inasmuch as different rocks and minerals ing coins. Ores best suited for location by
differ greatly in their ability to carry or this field, battery operated instrument, are
the conductive metallic sulphides and any
conduct electric currents, it is possible to native metallic ores. This type of instru
use this fact in geologic prospecting. ment is effective at any reasonable depth,
Under favorable conditions problems and this In turn is dependent upon the size
and nature of the ore body and its covering.
relating to the determination of depth of Manufactu..ed by Fisher Research Labora
overburden, the location of conductive tory, Palo Alto, California.
ore bodies, the water table, dikes, faults,
and contacts can be aided in their solution ing unit. Electrical methods employing a
by this method. Here again successful op vertical loop transmitter for inductively
eration requires a large outlay for equip energizing the ground are the most wide
ment plus extensive experience in the ly used of the electromagnetic methods.
correct interpretation of the data. The
most common method of applied current Fisher Research Laboratory, Inc., has
prospecting is known as the Earth Re developed two related types of instru
sistivity Method. Electric Logging as ments for this method of prospecting.
used in the petroleum industry is a form With one of these two the transmitting
of both the natural potential and applied and receiving units are designed to func
current methods. tion separately. A large vertical transmit
ting loop is operated by one member of
Induced Currents the party while a second man is required
This method applies an artificial elec to operate the receiving unit. The instru
tromagnetic field set up by high fre ment is well suited for energizing con
quency alternating current either passed ductive zones that are vertical or are
conductively through the earth by actual steeply dipping such as veins, faults, and
contact or applied inductively to the dykes buried under shalIow overburden.
ground by some type of transmitting loop. The depth range is entirely governed by
The electromagnetic field so induced is the physical conditions existing at each
referred to as the primary field and it in survey, but under f a v 0 r a b I e circum
turn induces secondary electromagnetic stances may reach several hundred feet.
fields in any subsurface conductors, such The second, and more widely used in
as ore bodies, that may be present. The strument, employs a method in which the
combined, or resultant electromagnetic transmitting' and receiving units are held
field, consisting of the primary plus any in a fixed position in relation to each
fields due to subsurface conductors is other by means of a pair of carrying
studied by means of a directional receiv- handles. This unit has a depth range of
POPULAR PROSPECTING
approximately 25 feet, also depending on all of the applications, the aid to the pros
the existing physical conditions, and is pector, geologist, or engineer is indirect
usually operated as a single unit by one in that only changes can be detected.
man. For certain types of problems the One can detect changes in the amount
receiving and transmitting units can be of radioactivity, changes in the conduc
separated and employed in a manner sim tivity of the earth, and changes in the ve
ilar to that of the large vertical loop field locity with which a shock wave is trans
transmitter. However, the depth range is mitted. It is in the interpretation of what
not appreciably increased. The unit is these changes mean that the value of
suitable for locating any relatively con these modern instruments comes to the
ductive body within the range of the in fore. To express it in another way the
strument. prospecting aids that have been discussed
When operating the large field trans are no more than tools for the use of the
mitter the receiver is held in a horizontal prospector just as the pick and shovel are
position so that a null or minimum is tools. And similarly each can contribut.e
registered on the receiver visual meter to the understanding of the prospector's
and in the receiver earphones. Traverses particular problem. No single instrument
are then made across the strike at dis in itself can provide the answer.
tances of from 50 to 200 feet from the re Each particle of information obtained
ceiver. Indications of subsurface conduc through the use of modern exploration
tive bodies are received in the form of in equipment must be added to the sum
creased dial tone and meter reading. total of information available before any
When such an indication is found it answer can be given. If all of this is kept
will . be necessary to tilt the receiver to in mind then it can be said without fear
again obtain the null position. When the of contradiction that modern science can
conductive zone or orebody is passed it provide invaluable aid to the modern
will be necessary to tilt the receiver in prospector.
the opposite direction to again obtain the Metal Detectors
null position. The extension of lines per
pendicular to the plane of the receiver The Fisher Research Laboratories of
when so tilted will point toward the con Palo Alto, California, also manufacture
ductive body so that it is possible to ob metal and treasure detectors, which are
described here. Like all similar instru
tain information as to the depth and at
titude of the vein or ore body as well as ments, these have their valuable uses, and
its plan or surface location. their limitations. Where indicated these
instruments are in wide use, and will be
When using the smaller, coupled, in
strument the receiver is carefully balanced found invaluable.
to the null position over barren ground. Consider for a moment the vast wealth
When the instrument is then carried over accumulated and then lost or buried in
a conductive body in which a secondary the centuries past. Consider the ultimate
field has been induced, an increase in disposition of the great wealth and loot of
visual meter indica~ion is observed plus the pirates and bandits so numerous dur
a marked increase in earphone tone. ing the early days of this country. Con
The effectiveness of work with either sider the large quantities of family silver
of the two types of equipment described ware and savings hidden to protect them
above will depend on several important and subsequently forgotten. What has
considerations: happened to this great wealth? For the
1. The length, and shape of the most part it lies buried in long forgotten
ore body. sites. It lies at the disposal of some mod
2. The depth of the ore body. The de ern explorer with determination and fore
tectability of a conductive body decreases sight willing to acquire and use the latest
very rapidly with increasing depth. and most scientific instruments in his
search.
Interpretation The M-Scope Metal and Mineral De
One very important point that has been tector is this instrument. It enables the ex
by-passed so far in this discussion is the plorer through the use of the most ad
extreme importance of a thorough knowl vanced electronic principles to literally see
edge of the geology of the area and of into the earth, beneath floors, into old ado
the physical characteristics 'of the ores be and brick wails, through shallow fresh
and rocks to be encountered before any of water, and through pavements. It enables
the discussed instruments can be effec the explorer to rapidly and thoroughly in
tively applied. It should be noted that in vestigate large areas, to feel confident
A view in Last Chance Canyon, of Southern California. Note the tilted sedimentary
formations comprising the backqround hills. This region is a favorite for part time gem
hunters. A detailed description of this region appears in the book California Gem Trails.
that he has uncovered all bullion or treas and conductive minerals including gold,
ure as well as any other metal objects of silver, copper, iron, etc., can be found with
interest and value that may be present. equal ease. Native gold, silver and copper
Valuable mineral deposits can be de and the metallic sulphides are the ores
tected through the use of M-Scope equip most suited for this method of geophys
ment. Included in geophysical equipment ical exploration. For those interested in
are instruments for detecting conductive mining, the more prominent of the me
ores present in veins, lodes, pockets, and tallic sulphides include pyrite, chalcopy
placer deposits: radioactive ores and ma rite, pyrrohotite, galena, chalcocite, cin
terials such as carnotite and pitchblende: nabar and molybdenite. Some of the ox
and fluorescent ores such as the highly ides such as magnetite and maganite are
valuable tungsten ore scheelite. These are also good conductors.
but a few of the many varied and valuable Explorers need no special knowledge or
applications of M-Scope equipment. experience in order to successfully oper
The Fisher M-Scope Metal and Mineral ate metal and mineral detecting equip
Detecting Equipment is scientifically de- ment. Full and detailed instructions and
'signed to pro v ide in practical form a illustrations are provided. It is only nec
sound and usable metal and mineral de essary to adjust a few controls in order to
tecting instrument. In its simplest terms operate the equipment. Once the neces
the equipment mea sur e s or detects, sary tuning has been done the instrument
through the use of induced electromag will retain its sensitive adjustment even
netic fields, changes in the relative elec when operating over rough terrain: or
trical conductivities of the material over through heavy brush. Only one man is
which it is carried. The term conductivity needed for efficient operation so that the
refers to the ability of a material to con treasure seeking explorer need not divulge
duct an electric current. Since metal ob his secrets to anyone. All of the instru
jects and metallic ores are generally much ments are highly portable for greater
more conductive than the surrounding ease of operation and transportation.
soil or rock it is evident that they can be Once the area to be explored has been
detected as conductivity changes if they reached the instrument is assembled and •
lie within the range of the instrument. adjusted over ground that is known to be
The theory of operation is founded on barren of treasure or bullion. The instru
carefully established scientific facts. ment is then carried over the suspected
All metal objects can be detected since site. When the lost treasure is crossed the
the instruments do not depend for their instrument's receiver will detect it by
functioning on the magnetic properties of means of a loud buzzing in the receiver
the buried materials. Hence, all metals earphones as well as a clear and sharply
66 POPFLAR PROSPECTING
defined indication on the large visual in able amount of diamond was then used
dicator. to salt the ground.
The depth to which ALL metal and Posing as honest prospectors, they took
mineral detecting equipment will function in a San Francisco banker (Ralston) for
depends upon: some $600,0'00 for the pro per t y. The
The metallic surface area of the deposit. banker had sent a mining engineer to ex
The moisture content of the ground. amine the ground, and sure enough the
The length of time the metal object engineer reported favorably, and actually
sought has been buried. returned with a handful of rough dia
The type of instrument used. monds and a few rubies. A second, and
Buried treasure including gold or silver not so trusty examiner revealed the hoax
coins, metal chests, family silver, gold or when he discovered a partly cut diamond
silver bullion, and near surface placer on the ground.
gold concentrations. We offer the following, not for the
Lost or burried tools-pliers, hammers, reader to make use of, but for his self
wrenches, keys, weapons. protection.
Pavement covered manholes, valves, Shotgun Method
stubs, etc. Salting may take place in the mine
Lost or buried metal surveyor pro!Jerty itself. The shotgun method is very simple
markers. and effective. Gold filings from coins or
MetaL beams, plumbing, or electrical jewelry, loaded into a IZ-gauge shotgun
boxes behind brick or plastered walls. shell are fired at random at the vein to
Here are some of the limitations and make good ore out of the poor. Carefully
performances of equipment of this kind. placed shots make even better ore. A
Will detect both magnetic and non slight variation of this scheme is to load
magnetic minerals. dynamite with the filings. Using this
Will not identify individual minerals dynamite the examiner, who blasts down
but will indicate the presence of metallic a fresh face in order to avoid any chance
ore bodies within the depth range of the of saiting, unwittingly enriches the ore
instrument and approximately outline the himself. In dry mines the faces may be
surface area of the deposit. painted with gold chloride or silver nitrate
Will not locate underground water or solutions to up the values.
oil deposits.. (There is no scientifically ac Cases are on record where "veins" were
cepted instrument for this purpose.) actually made in fissures in the rocks. In
Will locate, within the depth range of one such case cassiterite, the ore of tin
the instrument used, local pockets in an was very cleverly mixed with other min
otherwise barren vein, veins and bodies erals and tamped into cracks and points
of metallic ores, and rich placer deposits. of the barren country rock. A soluble sUi:
Will not automatically lead, point or cate was then added, and, when this had
direct to a mineral deposit. (There is no solidified, a truly art i f i cia I vein was
scientifically accepted instrument for this formed. "Vhen later the hoax was ex
purpose.) posed, an experienced Cornish miner who
Will not locate Uranium ores-you need had originally reeommended the property
a M-Scope Geiger Counter for this pur explained that "he was not accustomed
pose. to the particular vintage of champagne
Will eliminate much unnecessary and used on the expedition."
time consuming digging and trenching.
Salting Sample
SALTING A MINE A less difficult and less expensive means
Salting a prospect or a mine property of salting is to adulterate the samples.
is a very old practice, and has been fre When the sample is being taken, the metal
quently applied to gold properties. How may be flicked into it from the ash of
ever, one of the most notable swindles in a contaminated cigar, or dropped in en
this field is the great Diamond Hoax of closed in a ball of prepared clay. Long
the 1870's, when two clever swindlers fingernails may be very useful to the
salted some ground in Wyoming, north salters. Gold, amalgam, etc., can be nicely
west of Rawlins. These two lads, had hidden under these until the critical mo
made a visit to' the diamond cutting cen ment when someone is not looking too
tersof Amsterdam, and had bought some closely.
$36,000 worth of then nearly worthless Rickard tells of Philippine women us
diamond bort, and for good measure ing this scheme. These women wore a
tossed in some red rubies. This consider "Mother Hubbard" kind of dress with a
Part of the noted Plume or flower agate diggings on the Priday Ranch of Central Ore
gon. Now known as Fulton Agate Beds. The superb gem agate occurs in veins, seams and
pockets at various horizons. The waste overburden material is removed by heavy duty
power machinery, including jack hammers, air compressor shown here. The diggings shown
here have also yielded large amounts of colorful opal filled thunder eggs. The typical sage
and Juni!)er covered hills of this reaion are shown in background. Since its discovery in
1934, the Priday Ranch locality is est!mated to have produced no less than $250,000 'in gem,
materials, mostly high grade gem agate.
pocket over the left breast. This pocket A misguided man might think himself
was provided with gold dust which was safe, when at last he has satisfied himself
transferred inconspicuously by means of that he has taken and prepared for assay
wet fingers to the gravel in the gold pan. a number of good clean samples; but look
The woman worked, each sitting up to out, Mr. Gyp is still on his tail. Even the
her waist in water, with her pan near the early alchemists placed precious metals
pocket so that detection was difficult. ill their crucible bottoms and covered
Furthermore, the gold was taken from them with wax or other substance to hide
the property being examined which made them until the assay was made. Holes in
impossible detection of fraud by means charcoal filled with gold and waxed over
of the microscope. ' served to fool the unwary then. even as
today. A more modern version of this
A Hypo Shot artifice. which came to me from a very
"Salt" can be added to samples even reliable source is the case of the pow
though they are in sealed sacks by giv dered tin in a furnace oil supply. When
ing them a '''hypodermic'' injection. Solu the furnace was fired, a stream of tin
tions of various metals are shot into the bearing oil blew merrily into the firebox
bags with a syringe. Some of these solu coating everything at hand with the re
tions are very difficult to remove after markable element.
they have dried. Such salting cannot al
ways be detected by panning. Filings Salted Crucibles
blown into the sacks this way are ef Fluxes and acids used of the assay can
fective, but are more easily detected. be "salted" too, as can the crucibles. In
Where samples are crushed and quar one instance new crucibles were soaked
tered on the property, there is always in gold chloride and silver nitrate and
a chance that some villian will spill a little dried. The assayer, failing to run blanks
"salt" in the machines that are used or in for a check, was greatly fooled; and need
the samples themselves, using the long less to say his reputation was ruined.
fingernail act again. He might employ a There are assayers too, who don't mind
different technique here though and use being fooled a little; in fact who will pur
a dirty handkerchief instead. ' posely make out false reports. One suc
cessful engineer once told me that "Wher weights or aluminum weights substituted
ever ore is bought and sold there will be for platil1um could be used in this farce.
someone doubting the results of the as Thus it is seen that the ways of the
sayer." I was this man's assayer, and he "salter" are many and clever. In fact, one
told me to be a hundred percent sure of might ask, is there any protection against
every assay I made. In some cases, as such a racket? The answer is yes, but
many as two dozen assays were made to only by eternal vigilance.
get one result, but results were worth Samples must be taken carefully, notes
all the effort; for, although there were and observations being recorded at time
many controversies between buyer and of sampling. Several low-grade samples
seller, there was never an argument over which are known not to have been tamp
the validity of an assay after all dissatis ered with, can be mixed thoroughly and
fied parties had tried several umpires and divided into unequal parts, and each part
lost. saved separately. It will be impossible for
Besides making deliberate, false reports, anyone to salt these so that assays will be
an analyst might be guilty of "innocent" the same. If, then, the assays are unlike
salting. This is the result of carelessness and high, the samples have been salted.
in keeping crushing equipment, reagents, Cutting a fresh face of ore before sam
and the laboratory in general clean, or the pling protects samplers against the pos
result of improper preparation of the sam sibility of either a salted face or a dressed
ples. Most carelessness will lead to high face. Faces that change their appearance
results, though some procedures, such as in many places when newly blasted should
careless mix i n g or improper fluxing, put· one on his guard.
might bring about low assays. All samples should be quartered be
High Grade Ore fore being sent for assaying, one portion
being saved for future reference and an
High grade can be added to the mill cir
other for panning. Every sample should
cuit in the same manner as it is slipped
be panned for "salt" such as amalgam,
into sample sacks. The crushing plant,
metallic filings, or other foreign material.
ball mill, feed, tables, floation cells, or
Fine particles of lead added to the pan
. reagent feeders are possible points for
helps in checking accuracy of the work;
adding the "salt." Reagent feeders that
they should be recovered.
operate continuously without attention
serve very nicely since they are incon Another portion of the sample should be
spicuous. washed and both the pulp and washings
Dressing the Mine assayed. Gold chloride, gold cyanide, sil
ver nitrate, or copper chloride used for
Some methods of defrauding prospec salting can be detected in this manner.
tive buyers do not call for the addition of
foreign material, but rather the removal Uranium Mines
of undersired portions of the vein. Dress In a small way, an effort has been made
ing the mine, as such practice is called, re to salt a uranium property by similar
quires that low-grade ore be mined out methods, but with little success. Uranium,
leaving nice large chunks of rich stuff to chemical salts, soluble in water have
stare the sampler in the fact. Fine look been used in some instances. However,
ing specimens scattered over the dumps the cost and difficulty of obtaining any
add to the attractiveness of the under quantity of this material has served to
ground picture. Such lures are termed discourage frauds of this nature. Any sub
"sucker bait." stantial amount of uranium salts would
False Weights have to be obtained through bootleg
Deception by these and many other sources, and at a high cost, if available.
means can take place; but assuming they Refined uranium salts, dumped into a
don't, there is still a way of tripping the mine property would effect the Geiger
unwary. That is by the use of fraudlent counter and the scintillator in the same
weights. Let us say, for example, that the manner as the crude uranium ores.
gold is obtained in exactly the right
amount from representative samples, and PEGMATITE PROSPECTING
that the true weight of the gold, repre Pegmatite dikes are rather widely dis
sents, therefore, the true value of the ore. tributed throughout the world. California,
But on determining the amount of gold Oregon and Washington abound in these
in the buttons, if the weights have had easy to discern formations. Possibly only
corners cut away or bottoms filed down, a short distance from your home you may
the results will be falsely high. Hollow locate one or a pumber of pegmatite dikes,
General present day view of the ghost town of Aurora, Nevada. Most of the standing
buildings are stone or brick. The original wooden structures were generally salvaged and
carted away, or fire took its toll. This old mining camp once held a population of some
10,000 gold seekers, prospectors, miners, and the many human leeches that follow their for
tunes. When the diggings in the hills in the background were exhausted, the treasure
seekers promptly left for greener fields. (Photo by Guy Ransom).
which are likely to yield a host of speci place very slowly, and this in turn en
mens, including various gem minerals. abled enormous single crystals to "grow"
For example, the pegmatite dikes of San or "segregate." Cavities are also charac
Diego County, California, are noted for teristic of pegmatite formations, and often
their production of gem quality tourma these open pockets may prove bonanzas
line crystals. The pegmatites of the New - pocket filled with gem mineral crys
England states have for many years pro tals of various kinds. Almost 100 dif
duced a wide range of minerals and gems ferent mineral species have been found in
in superb crystals. the pegmatites of the New England
Regarding pegmatites. Dana states states. Often the surface outcroppings of
"In connection with deep-seated, coarse the pegmatites can be traced for many
grained igneous rocks, especiaIly granite, miles. Since the pegmatite rock is often
we frequently find mineral deposits known more resistant to weathering than the
as pegmatite dikes, or veins. These bodies surrounding "country" rock, the former
have the general shape 'and characterists is noted as a hill or ridge, higher than the
of an igneous dike, or a broad mineral surrounding terrain.
vein, though in certain respects they dif
fer markedly from either of these. Peg Many Minerals
matite dikes run through the main mass Minerals found in the pegmatite dikes
of igneous rock, or fill fissures in the sur include a number of gem minerals like
face rocks. The dikes are characterized by beryl, emerald, topaz, quartz, amethyst,
very coarse crystallization." tourmaline, kunzite. and a number of rare
gem minerals. Often these occur in no
Slow CooEng tably large crystals of great perfection.
Owing to the fact that pegmatite gran Beryl crystals (non-gem quality), some 14
ites were originally injected into the sur feet in length and weighing many tons,
rounding formations at some distance be have been mined in the pegmatites of the
'low the surface, cooling of the mass took New England states.
POPULAR PROSPECTING
Rare Elements surveyed the region around Great Bear

Minerals of the rare elements and rare Lake, from the air, especially the area
earths are also common to pegmatite around Echo Bay, the scene of Bell's
dikes. For example, the famous Barringer early observations. The survey made a
Hill, Texas, pegmatite yielded a large lasting impression on Labine.
number of uranium and thorium minerals, In March 1928, Labine and a partner
and numerous rare earth minerals, some went by the water ways as far north as
of which were new to science at the time was possible. Then with a crude sled, the
of discovery. Lithium, tungsten,' tin, tan two men hauled almost a ton of supplies
talum, and columbium are also found in to Echo Bay, from the headwaters of the
pegmatites. Feldspar and mica are also Camsell river, a terrifying journey of
common to pegmatites. Some of the sin hardships that required full six weeks. En
gle, feldspar crystals mined in the Black route his partner, Charles St. Paul be
Hills pegmatites weighed hundreds of came snow blind, but they ,dared not stop
tons. en route for fear the Spring thaws would
The enormous mica "books" are derived melt the snow and ice and leave them
from the pegmatites. In short, the host stranded and facing death on the open
of minerals found in the pegmatites are Barrens.
invaluable to the industries, arts, and sci Taking his place in front, Labine har
ences. nessed his blind partner in position and
after days of agony reached the compara
LABINE'S DISCOVERY URANIUM tive safety of Echo Bay on Great Bear
Perhaps some may not realize how Gil Lake. With his partner disabled, Labine
bert Labine made his world shattering managed to scout around and he soon
discovery of Pitchblende, at Great Bear found what he sought, the cobalt bloom
Lake, in northern Canada, far north of stains, outcrops of heavy masses of native
the Arctic Circle. silver, and a heavy black mineral, which
in his new academic role, Labine at once
Back in 1900, J. Mackintosh Bell of the
recognized as pitchblende.
Canada Geological Survey, made a detailed
study of the salient geological features And so the Eldorado Gold Mines, which
of that then little known country in the had failed to develop a gold mine in Mani
ice-bound north. For some 30 years Be1l's toba, now began to produce fabulous rich
report gathered dust and remained in ob ores of uranium, accompanied by equally
scurity as a geological curiosity. In 1930 fabulous quantities of silver. Labine, truly
Gilbert Labine's sharp eye fell upon the a man of destiny, served early notice on
old works of Bell. Labine was an itinerant an incredulous world that the atomic age
mining stock salesman, but he and his was about to become a reality.
brother were fired by the Bell reports, Not alone was the uranium discovery of
and by stories of mining as told by their Labine highly important, but his work
uncle, Jim Labine. also led to the discovery of gold at the
The Labine brothers, falling into the world famous Yellowknife district farther
spirit of a mining community in which south on Great Bear Lake. It is safe to
they resided, were soon engaged in pros say that the discovery made by Labine,
pecting and gained valuable experience rates as the most important or among
in the noted Cobalt and Porcupine dis the most important mineral discoveries
tricts of Canada. Gilbert Labine was soon ever made.
aware of his technical deficiencies and he Some may have been under the impres
enrolled at Haileybury Mining School sion that Labine, was merely a wandering
where he went through a comprehensive prospector who by sheer good fortune
course in mineralogy and geology. Armed stumbled upon this discovery. Dispel the
with this fresh knowledge, Labine struck thought. Labine was an intelligent man
out for the far north to investigate Bell's and a student. He first made a detailed
old reports of 1900, where green stains of study of early geological reports, then he
copper and cobalt bloom had been re prepared himself with a knowledge of
ported. mineralogy and geology,so when he did
Labine's mineralogical training sug go into the field he ,was qualified to
gested to him that wherever cobalt oc identify what he saw.
curred silver should be found also. At th Labine had no Geiger Counter, he had
time he did not even dream of pitch no large geophysical crew, and 110 finan
blende. Flying from Edmonton, Labine cial backing to speak of. He made his dis
NOTES ON PROSPECTING
A gem hunter in the Black Hills of South Dakota. June zeitner of Mission, South Da·
kota, searches through the rock of a talus slope, hunting the valuable and elusive Fairburn
typ'e of agate. A trained and skilled eye is required to distinguish the gem pieces from the
worthless rock.
covery through his own knowledge as a no use for a gold pan, or a pick and
student, and shall we add a good measure shovel. They preferred to take their gold
of intestinal fortitude. There are some with the sword. That, incidentally has
1,300,000 square miles of bleak and for been the approved method through the
bidding territory in northern Canada, and centuries.
the casually wandering prospector of ·the That observation is more political than
old school would stand little opportunity mineral, but I am not "viewing with
of making a chance discovery, let alone alarm." The Russians, those astute poli
being able to survive in some of this re ticians, once sold us a tremendous min
gion. The Great Bear Lake uranium de eral deposit for only seven million dollars.
posits have been Nationalized, and are be Single mines in Alaska have since pro
ing operated with more or less secrecy, it duced more than this sum, and the sur
is understood that the entire production is face has today hardly been scratched. Yet
goin to the U. S. A. at the time of this purchase there was op- .
position in Congress for this "waste" of
BY PASSED BONANZAS money.
Patrick Fancher, an old timer in the 'When Alaska is made a state, a state
famous mining camp of Silverton, Colo large and potentially richer than Texas, it
rado, has given us the following ante may well give an impetus to Alaska min
dotes, where prospectors have passed by ing which will equal the Klondike rush.
fabulous fortunes, simply through their Mineralogist would flock there, and would
lack of knowledge. not make the mistakes so commonly made
Mining history is replete with many in by the old Timers, who looked only for
stances of great fortunes passed up be the yellow metal, and usually could rec
cause the prospector failed to recognize ognize few if allY other minerals - like
the value of the mineral he had found. In the rich copper ores of Alaska. Un
most cases they were minerals which the dreamed of bonanzas would be found, and
average mineral collector or student of the United States itself would receive a
mineralogy would recognize instantly. needed pecuniary transfusion. A million
The gold rush of 1849 is a good place Americans with an urge to make a better
to start. The gold-crazy Spaniards had living will succeed far bo;:tter than the
been taking their siestas over this vast best laid plans of politicians.
California treasure for countless decades. N ow let me hasten to apolize to the fair
::rhe haughty Conquistadors, however, had state of Texas for having said that any
'12 POPULAR PROSPECTING
thing could ever be larger. And the Texas Pikes Peak rush brought many prospec
cowboys who drove their longhorns over tors to Colorado, but for many years they
the Chisholm Trail can be excused for failed to recognize the tremendously rich
not having recognized the vast mineral tellurides at Cripple Creek. Here in the
wealth beneath them. Prospecting for oil San Juan Mountains the silver miners
and the like requires more equipment than threw away the rich gold of the Campbird
a pan and a burro. and Tom Boy.
The wagon trains of 1849, enroute to. When Leadville was in its infancy a
California, it goes without saying, passed character named Chicken Bill salted a
by vast wealth in silver and gold and shaft and sold it to the fabulous Haw Ta
other minerals in their haste to reach the bor. Bill boasted about it in the saloons,
far West diggings. The human tide rolled but his joy was short-lived. Tabor sank
up to the Pacific, and then flowed back the shaft a little deeper and the mine paid
to the Rockies where decades later vast off into the millions. He had found an
mineral wealth was found. other great mine.
A few lovable old prospectors had Another character of that period was
stopped to pan gold in Nevada's Carson driving a tunnel but became discouraged
river and its creeks. They found enough and sold it for a small sum. The new
gold to keep them in bacon and beans, owner hit a bonanza within ten feet. For
and an occasional bottle, but their efforts ever after, when he was in his cups, "Ten
to separate the gold from the sand was foot" McGinnity would proclaim to all
hampered by the "blue mud." A passing and sundry, ''I'll never quit another tunnel
Mexican informed them it was "La Plata," until I've driven just ten feet more."
but the prospectors were neither rock
hounds or linguists. They failed to recog Perhaps we modern rockhounds should
not judge the old prospector too harshly.
nize the Mexican word for silver, so the
fabulous Comstock Lode was undisturbed On Bartlett Mountain in Colorado, is the
great Climax Molybdenum mine. produc
for decades.
ing today some 16,000 tons of ore per day.
Comstock himself was a Can a d ian Opened less than 2S years ago the Climax
sheepherder. He was one of the thirsty stock has jumped from ten cents a share
gold panners, and was therefore on hand
i
I
when the silver lode was found. He staked
to around $60.00. Thousands of miners
and prospectors had passed over the Cli
1 • out claims worth many millions, but he max properties, but we will overlook that
never made a dime. When a good drink too. For in 1890 the Colorado School of
ing companion hit town, Comstock would Mines, no less, had identified the mineral
ask him if he had a claim. If he had none as graphite.
then Comstock presented hirtl with one.
It is small wonder that Comstock was the LOST MINE FABLES
most popular man in camp and lent his "Lost" and ficticious mines of reputed
name to the lode. fabulous wealth have long held a fascina
One of his cronies. 01' Virginny, took a tion and lure. In recent years there has
dim view of the whole business and was been an unusual amount of activity di
jealous of his friends prominence. So dur rected toward the hoped for rediscovery
ing a drinking argument one day he scruf of these "lost" mines-if they ever existed
fed a mark in the street and announced: as reported. There must be 50 or more of
"Then I call this spot Virginny." And these in various parts of the United
Virginia City it is today. States, which have been referred to in
Some of the boys did make fortunes print at various times during the past
but they could not hold on to them for decade. As far as we have been enabled
long. A lady who kept a boarding house to learn, none of them have been rediscov
for the panners accepted shares in their ered, despite the fact that thousands have
claims in payment of board bills. In view searched, some having continued search
of the tremendous fortune this lady made, ing for many years, expending substantial
it would appear that the cost of food in sums of money, time, and suffering con
those days exceeded even today's high stant disappointment.
prices. 'vVe have no objections to anyone
As the wave flowed back eastward it searching for "lost" mines, but it does
passed the veins at Goldfield, Tonopah, seem like these individuals are bucking a
and numerous others, which were not dis losing game, with slim chances of success,
covered until early in this century. The if indeed their objective even exists.
--------------------------------
Fireplace partly faced with sawed slabs of colorful fluorescent rocks, mounted in plaster
paris to form removable and portable plaques. The use of sawed slabs on fireplace fronts
and similar ornamentation, offers a neat and easy means of installation. Commercial and
private ornamentations of this nature are increasing the demand and value of these materials.
Nearly every human being has within perate and pitiful condition oi suffering.
him that lure of discovery. the same lure Mayhe the dying prospector made a
by which Columbus discovered America, rough sketch map, and passed it along to
and by the same lure which Magellan his benefactor. In the case of the most
sailed the seven seas. noted Oregon lost mine, the Blue Bucket,
Practically all these so-called lost mines some youngsters gathered up a quantity
we read of have an almost identical his of gold nuggets and filled a blue colored
tory. The familiar one where a prospector bucket, hence the name. The blue bucket
or party, out in the wide open spaces, was presumably tied to a wagon and thus
made a fabulous discovery. Then their reached civilization, just a few steps in
water. and food ran out, or perchance In advance of starvation and blood thirsty
dians beset them. In any event they had Indians.
only time to scoop up some of the rich Many of these lost mine fables are of
rock. or a handful of gold nuggets, make comparatively recent history. but they
a dash to civilization and arrive in a des also date back to the time when the white
, !
POPUI,AR PROSPECTING
man first trod America, back to the days amongst the metallic elements. Tremend
of Coronado. They include fabulous gold ous demand for aluminum, and magne
and silver mines and gem deposits, but all sium have brought about wide activity.
have the similar history, once discovered Not so long ago most of these met'als
and then "lost." Even the original discov were merely laboratory curiosities, and of
erers have never been enabled to return little commercial worth. The single de
to the proper spot. This would seem most velopment of the jet engine, for example,
incredible. vVe can well imagine a city has brought forth a number of revolution
lad losing himself in the forest or desert ary metalurgical miracles. Even a huge
wilderness, but hardly an experienced, deposit of common obsidian may be of
considerable value, if of suitable quality
mountain or desert man. Still that's the
as a building material aggregate.
way the tales read.
In the field of gems, there are still
We can not think of any more fascinat
many opportunities for valuable discov
ing and thrilling rea din g matter than
eries, perhaps none of fabulous worth, but
these many published works on "lost"
still worth hunting. In descriptive lure,
mines. The available descriptions, maps,
this field of discovery has never been ex
and other data, are invariably so vague,
ploited in the ~ame manner as the lost
and permeated with so much hearsay in
mines. Often when we have an inquiry
formation. that in most cases it would ap
for lost mine data, we suggest a book giv
pear that the deposit, as described is of
ing authentic data for gem discoveries, but
questionable existence. Hence the chances
these lads are simply not interested. This
of making any discoveries of this nature
is quite understandable.
based on this type of data, are practically
nil. Still thousands follow this lure of For those who will follow the lure of
hope and discovery, which beats in the "lost" mines, we offer here The Great
hearts of every human being. Diamond Hoax of the 1870"s. This is quite
authentic, and a matter of historical rec
\Vhat we are getting at is that it seems
ord, and not based upon' any vague hear
unfortunate for one to waste his time in
say. As a matter of fact the Bank of Cali
a search for a ficticious objective. During
fornia, at San Francisco closed its doors
the past few years we have had numerous
inquiries pertaining to information on lost through this swindle, after Banker Rais
mines and the like. ton had handed out some $600,000 in cash,
Here is the story. Diamond bort at the
There are still many opportunities for time it was bought in Amsterdam was
discovery in fields where the chances are worth only about twenty-five cents per
far better than in the lost mines field. \Ve carat. it is now worth around $4.00 per
may cite. for example, the uranium pros carat, and some $35,000 worth was used
pectors, where rich and profitable dis to "salt" the ground. A good deal still re
coveries have been made in both the mains to be screened out provided the
United States and Canada during the past exact place of salting is found.
decade. Uncle Sam spends millions of dol
lars, conducting surveys, gathering infor GREAT DIAMOND HOAX
mation to pass along to the serious urani This swindle rates as one of the most
um prospector. This is not vague or hear fantastic pieces of chicanery and fraud
say information, and many have profited ever per pet rat e d, and incidentally it
by acting on this data. gained the perpetrators a neat sum of
The possibilities of discovery in the field money. The best printed description of
of gold mines, lode or placer, have be this hoax was written by Asbury Har
come increasingly less with the passing pending (1913), his book The Great Dia
decades. Hence the once familiar gold mond Hoax, printed in San Francisco.
pt'ospector with his burro, has passed in Unfortunately this fascinating classic has
to history. and is now replaced by the jeep been long since out of print. and is an
rid i n g prospector carrying a Geiger item hard to obtain. A brief outline of the
counter, or similar electronic equipment. swindle, as given by Harpending, may be
The development of science and indus of interest.
try during the past few decades has Along about 1872, two innocent appear
brought forth a tremendous demand for ing "prospectors" approached a prominent
many new metals, including uranium, ti San Francisco banker with the fantastic
tanium, zirconium, tantalum, tungsten, story of the discovery of a great diamond
nickle, lithium, a whole series of the rare field. Naturally, as bankers go, the in
earth elements, to name just a few, tended victim was very skeptic, but the
Gem Hunters on a Sunday often throng the Oregon Pacific Ocean gem beaches. These
sands, in places are loaded with zircon, iIImenite, monazite, garnet, mangetite, and other
valuable minerals. In an earlier day these "black sands" were worked for their gold and
platinum content, but these isolated rich 'patches were soon worked out. For many years
efforts were made to ut!lize these sand minerals with little success. With the ever increas
ing demands for the newer metals, it is likely these sands will eventually come into com.
mercial prominence.
con men had a sack of diamonds (rubies, ered slightly, over a considerable area.
etc., thrown in) to bolster their claims. Hence by careful search it was possible
After considerable negotiations, during to pick up a stone here and there. Simple
which time the diamonds were examined enough, but effective in this case. Count
by various experts, preparations were ing the cost of the salting, and allowing
made to send "experts" to the field to for expense money, the two sharpers
verify the claims made. These men re made about $600',000 net profit to divide,
ported back to the banker that the claims which they did.
were not false, and they even brought As near as the writer can gather from
back diamonds to offer as proof. various sources, the locality of the salting
Finallv after more conferences. the is in the Red Desert country, some miles
banker -and his associates handed over north and east of Wamsutter, Wyoming.
to the swindlers some $660,000. Shortly Anyone who is familiar with this region,
afterwards. others were sent to examine situated on the barren backbone of the
the claims, and a keen mining engineer Rocky Mountains. will appreciate that
. finally found a diamond that plainly this would be an ideal place for a hoax
showed marks of lapidary treatment. The of this kind.
whole hoax then blew up, but in the In 1872, it was absolutely unsettled
meanwhile the slick promoters had de country, just as it stands today. In the
parted for parts unknown. past it was only visited by sheepherders
It came out later that these two men with bands of sheep during a few months
had gone to one of the diamond cutting of the summer, and so it is today, except
centers of Europe and had bought up 'I. that now jade hunters and uranium hunt
quantity of greatly inferior rough dia ers swarm over the country during July
monds, rubies, etc., to the tune of about and August-the only safe time to go in
$35,000, to be used to salt the ground. there, as the elevation is around 7,000 feet
L nfortunately, for the swindlers, there and the stranger may be trapped by a
was among this lot a single stone that sudden blizzard in any other month of
had been on the diamond lap, and tossed the year.
aside as a reject, and not finished. The most reliable information seems to
The diamonds and other rough gems be that the two swindlers, accompanied
were scattered upon the ground, and cov by the banker's representative, went by
i6 popeLA R PROSPECTING
rail to Rawlins (then called Rawlins on any wrist watch or alarm clock will
Springs), Wyoming, on the Union Pacific prove fully effective as the mineral sam
Railroad. At that time there was no rail ple, despite the fa c t that the actual
way station at \Vamsutter, situated some amount of radium present in the luminous
miles west of Raw lin s. At Rawlins paint is sub-microscopic in size.
Springs, the party engaged a team of The several dry cell batteries in any
horses and a buggy. and hit out across counter will eventually need replacement,
the open country. just as we may do and this had best be done by sending the
today by auto.
instrument to the factory, where old bat
According to the length of time they teries will be replaced, and the instru
are said to have traveled, and the direc
ment checked to make sure everything is
tion of travel, this would place them any
where (details always vague) from 20 to in good order. The instrument takes very
45 miles northwest of Rawlins Springs, little energy from the batteries. about the
and this in turn would have landed them same as the pocket size flashlight. Even
somewhere in the Red Desert, north, and if the counter is used very little, the dry
perhaps east of Wamsutter. Nowhere does batteries will eventually, after about 18
there appear any specific reference to the months, become exhausted through "old
exact spot of the salting, one can only age," and will require replacement.
infer from various older writings, and The manufacturers of Geiger counters
familiarity with the country, after reading. will replace the special batteries at a low
the several printed descriptions. cost, and with little profit to themselves,
It so happens that jade has also been in addition to checking the instrument. If
found in this same region along with de· someone not familiar with the instrument
posits of uranium. The uramum is permitted to t:\mper with it, the factory
deposits are situated 45 due 110rth can not be held responsible if something
of Wamsutter. They were first described goes wrong.
in the February 1937 issue of The Min \Vith ordinary care and usage the Gei
eralogist Magazine, by Larsen of ger counter will last a lifetime, aside from
Harvard University. At time the the batteries. Rough handling and sub
uranium was thought to be a new spedes, merging in water will soon ruin it, or
and was named "dakeite," but it is prob cause extensive damage.
ably the previously described species
known as schroeckingerite. URANIUM WANTED
Over 5,000 acres of ground haye been In view of the wide interest in uranium
filed on, and early reports claimed the minerals, and the extensive use of Geiger
uranium mineral was noted over most of counters, there is an unusual demand for
the area. The present writer is inclined to specimens of pitchblende, as well as all
agree with this claim of extent. based on other uranium minerals. Daily we receive
personal observation made some years numerous inquiries from readers of The
ago. However, information is lacking as Mineralogist Magazine, relative to the
to the commercial possibilities of the de availability of rich uranium ores. Speci
posit. mens desired for comparative purposes,
and for use in testing Geiger counters,.
So those who may wish to prospect in
electroscopes, and similar instruments.
this great area of the Red Desert. should
All rich uranium minerals, like pitch
keep in mind the diamonds and rubies in
addition to the jade and uranium possibili blende. now bring premium prices. con
ties. The manner in which the ground siderable more than in the pre-atomic
bomb days, and still the supply is no
was originally salted, it would seem rea
sonable to assume that rough diamonds w her e e qua I to the demand. Supply
and rubies still remain to be found. houses stock of the richer uranium min
erals appears to be practically nil, or
GEIGER COUNTER CHECK specimens are not being offered, if in
It is advisable to check the workings of stock. For testing and comparative pur
the Geiger counter from time to time poses, the richer specimens need not be
This may be done in different ways, us over 1 x 1 or 2 x 2 inches in size.
ing any radioactive sample of a mineral If any supply firm or individual has a
or other substance. Any small and rich stock of the richer pitchblende (or other
specimen of uranium, like pitchblend2 will species) ores, could readily dispose of
cause Geiger counters to work like mad. them. and at premium prices consider
Lacking uranium samples, luminous dials ably higher than several years ago.
Gem hunter at work at the foot of Pony Butte, on the celebrated Priday Ranch in
Central Oregon. The shallow, open pit digging, covering only a few acres, shown in the fore
ground, produced at least $35,000,000 worth of high grade, colorful moss agate. This portion
of the diggings became exhausted after several years effort on the part of hundred, of
diggers from all over the United States. Additional richer grounds were discovred at a
higher elevation on the same property, and these are now in active exploitation.
HOLE IN THE GROUND described as tin white, grayish white,

Generally speaking, a "mine" is a hole brass yellow, bronze yellow, and other
in the ground, but it is needless to say colors. Dana gives the color of marcasite
that every hole in the ground is not a as being pale bronze yellow. Both mar
mine. "Prospects" are potentialities; there casite and pyrite assume varying hues of
is no rule for appraising them, other than color under various degrees of oxidation
experience and the application of good and doubtless some of these discrepancies
judgment, followed by development, if can be accounted for by oxidation.
warranted. To make an accurate diffentiation be
However, it must be borne in mind tween pyrite and marcasite the material
that every mine, even the best was once should be examined under good white
a humble prospect; they are like in light, as a yellow artificial light may
fants, with brief pasts and unknown fu tend to impart a yellowish tinge of color.
tures; babies and prospects have much in A freshly fractured surface or a surface
common; a single blast may blowout all well cleaned with hydrochloric should be
the ore in one, just as the whooping used and compared with a know standard.
cough may end the uncertain existence Under these conditions marcasite will
of the other. On the other hand, a period clearly appear tin white to grayish white,
of development may bring forth a highly without any trace of yellow, while pyrite
profitable mine, just as a healthy baby will show at least a faint yellow. A rough
matures into a strong and robust adult. surface will not show the colors plainly
and mixtures of the two minerals may
DISTINGUISHING MARCASITE also lend difficulty.
FROM PYRITE
Pyrite and marcasite are generally dis SCHEELITE PROSPECTING
tinguished by their differences in color, Another highly successful method of
crystallization, density, and ease of oxi prospecting for scheelite (tungsten), is by
dation. But when the material is seen in a the examination of dril1 core samples un
granular massive or concretionary nodu der ultraviolet light. Recently one of the
lar form, the color guide will prove for most important tungsten discoveries yet
the collector the best means of determin made in Idaho was by this means. An
ing these minerals. antimony deposit ne<:or Stibnite, Idaho was
The color of pyrite is generally said to being prospected by drilling. Examination
be pale brass yellow, while marcasite is of the drill cores, taken from depth re
vealed the unexpected presence of scheel THE SUNSHINE MINE

ite. Moreover, according to the amount The story of the Sunshine Mine in the
of tungsten revealed by the ultraviolet Couer d' Alene mining district of N orth
light the Idaho deposit holds promise of ern Idaho, reads like a chapter out of
becoming important.
Arabian Nights. This noted· silver prop
The tungsten mineral, scheelite, fluo erty has returned to the original stock"
resces only under radiations given from
holders many thousands of dollars for
quartz tube of ultraviolet units
which give off wave length radia each dollar invested at the outset.
tions. The characteristic blue color of The Sunshine Mine was originally staked
scheelite is best revealed if the ultraviolet in 1884 by two prospectors-Dennis and
light unit is fitted with filter number 986. True Blake. The Blake brothers had no
Examination of drill core or other sam idea they were standing upon a fabulous
ples under ultraviolet light is quick, easy, wealth in silver-one of the biggest and
and can be done at practically no cost. richest ever known in the United States.
The qualitative detection of scheelite by Nature had hidden the silver down in the
chemical means is obviously at a disad earth and covered it with a huge layer of
vantage. As a matter of routine, all drill rock and dirt.
cores and similar samples should be ex For many years the brothers scratched
amined in the laboratory under various around upon the surface digging shallow
ultraviolet units, for the possible presence holes whever a thin finger of ore had
of suspected or unsuspected minerals in found its way to the surface. The little
addition to tungsten are they did recover was rich in silver,
A t ten t ion is called to the fact that but locked up in so much waste rock. The
scheelite is sometimes stated to fluoresce ore won by hard labor was h2.nd sorted
yellowish. Hundreds of samples of scheel and when enough had accumulated it was
ite tested by the writer revealed only the carried out by Fack burro for shipment to
chaj"acteristic blue color. However, the the smelter. Sometimes they labored for
tungsten minerals powellite and cupro a year or more to accumulate enough for
scheelite fluoresce 3. strong and charac a shipment.
teristic yellowish color. Molybdenum or Finally, after years of hard labor, the
copper may replace part of the calcium brothers had accumulated a tidy sum,
in scbeelite to form powellite or cupro and then decided to lease the property to
scheelite. Scheelite may in some cases be those who had funds for exploration and
coated by either of these tungsten min development. The leasing company, at the
erals. Hence in testing drill cores, hand outset, had difficulty in financing the
s~mples, outcroppings, or placer sands, ,'lork and it was decided to sell stock in
for the possible presence of tungsten, due the venture. The property had been ex
attention sbould be given to yellowish as amined by numerous mining engineers,
well as blue fluorescing material. and was always turned down as being too
NOTES ON PR()SPECTING 19
-------------------------------- -------------------------
80 POPPLAR PROSPECTING
small and uncertain for serious invest volcanic glass and suggests that the term
ment. "perlite" would be more appropriate for
The promoters selected Yakima, INash this material. Perlite is defined as a vol
ington, as a likely place to dispose of canic glass with concentric, shelly tex
stock to the numerous prosperous fruit ture and ust:ally with a notable percent
growers residing in that region. Stock in
the Sunshine was purchased by many age of water in chemical combinat:on.
residents of this region, for what proved Just what bearing, if any this perlite
later to be only a very small fraction of may have in the genesis of the agate
its real value. Shares in the venture once filled nodules has not been worked out.
sold for less than one dollar, and has re but seemingly there must be some defi
turned to the stockholders many millions nite relationship. At practically every lo
of dollars since 1927. The workings have cality where agate-filled nodules are found
produced well over 100,000,000 ounces oi in the rhyolite of Central Oregon, a seam
silver, most of it won from depth. A sin or flow of perlite will be noted. The nod
gle dollar invested in Sunshine, in the ules have, so far as can be learned, not
early 1920's when the stock was low, been found within the perlite, but the
would today be worth many thousands, presence of this volcanic glass is gener
paid out in cash dividends and stock ally noted either immediately above or be
splits. low the nodule bearing horizon in the
At depth, considerable lead and an ti rhyolite. The various volcanic glasses (in
mony was encountered in the silver ores, cluding perlite) of Central Oregon, are
and the Sunshine has produced some 20, generally high in silica content and would
0'00,000 pounds of valuable antimony. correspond chemically to rhyolite. In
short, obsidian. perlite, pumice aad rhyo
AGATES WITH PERLITE lite are essentially the same chemically
Collectors of the colorful agate-filled but differ in texture.
nodules ("thunder eggs") of the Central Experienced collectors of agate-filled
Oregon region have long noted that nodules in Central Oregon have learned
these agate masses are invariably asso to note and investigate outcroppings of
ciated with a dark colored volcanic glass volcanic glass (perlite), for possible as
resembling obsidian and termed such. sociation of agate. Often tracing float
Dr. Austin Rogers, of Stanford' Uni pieces of perlite up a hillside has re
versity has examined specimens of this vealed a deposit of agate filled nodules.

Popular Prospecting 1955

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What mineral is associated with agate nodules in Central Oregon?

Popular Prospecting

A Field Guide for the Part"time Prospector

FOR STRATEGIC METALLIC and NON-METALLIC MINERALS.

FIRST EDITION -1955

Mineralogist Publishing Componr

Books for Prospectors, Uranium Hunters,

Gem Cutters and Collectors

NORTHWEST GEM TRAILS - Describes hundreds of localities in Oregon, Wash­

Tile Mineralogist Magazine

FOREWORD ............._..._........_......_........._._ ....__.._..................... , .................... _. __ .__ . 4

Occurrence of Ores ...._....______ ._____ .._.._..__~. ____ ._ ... __ ._ ......................_....___ .. 7

Gem Stone Placers ...__ ._.... _......_..................... ,...._............................_..... 13

Lode Deposits ........_.................................... _......................................... 15

II THE GEM MINERALS ....................................................................... 19

The Jade Fields ...................................................................................... 24

III THE METALLIC MINERALS ...................................................._..._ 29

Chromium ........................................_..............................____ ................._.. 29

Rare Earth Metals ....._...._...._..............._.....................____ ........... """""" 32

IV THE NON-METALLIC MINERALS ................................._............ 35

Building Stones .............................. _............._........._.,............................. 36

Phosphate Rock ................. _........_........................................................... 31

V THE URANIUM MINERALS ............................................._._._._. 39

Gieger Counters, Scintillometers ...................................................... 40

Uranium Hunting _..................,.............................................................. 41

Uranium Minerals ................................................................................., 47

Uranium Dis,coveries .................._......................................................... 52

VI NOTES ON PROSPECTING .......................................................... 61

Seismic Methods ......................_._ ..__ ._.__ ........_...................................... 62

Metal Detectors ..............._......_......._......_......._...._......_.............. _............. 64

Salting A Min'e .............................._...._......_._ ...._........__ ................ _........... 66

Pegmatite Prospecting .......................................................................... 68

Lost Min.e Fables ................................................................... _..._._._ .. _.. _ 72

Great Diamond Hoax ............................................................................ 74

portant in the formation of valuable ore

been done. In September, 1954, A. P. resistance to wear, weathering, tough­

Part time prospectors. The Zeitner family of the ,

just go to the nearest garage or machine

A typical Southwestern desert prospect. Thousands of these "showings" are scattered

color appearing may be an indication of common and include a number of com­

may account for green stains that to the

The Gem Minerals

comprised of high grade gem agate. The

A great many of the supply firms in

Sapphire. SOr.1e sap phi r e has been

prised a sizeable local industry in the been familiar to prospects, but it

present trend in architecture seems to be

The Metallic Minerals

Columbium-tantalum. These two valu­

iron. It is sometimes found associated

.--~-~.~---~ ~---~-----~---- ...

A portion of the "Rock Room" of Wayland W. Magee, a retired farmer of Bennington,

The tendency of many prospectors has

terested in carrying on exploration or

we feel is beyond the scope of this book,

known source in outer space, and our sun radiations,

NORTHWEST GEM TRAILS - Describes hundreds of localities in Oregon, Wash

FOREWORD ............._..._........_......_........._._ ....__.._..................... , .................... _. . . 4

Occurrence of Ores ...._....__ ._ .._.._..~. __ ._ ... __ ._ ......................_....___ .. 7

been done. In September, 1954, A. P. resistance to wear, weathering, tough

color appearing may be an indication of common and include a number of com

Columbium-tantalum. These two valu

which compositionally are analo

The strongly fluorescent uranium min Dakeite ....................................Yellow-green

erals are the uranium phosphates, arsen Torbernite .............................. Yel1ow-green

black or brown. The fluorescent, second Uranospinite ............................Yellow-green

sometimes being light yellow, and gen

following table lists the fluorescent re

vealed the unexpected presence of scheel THE SUNSHINE MINE