I have spent a good portion of my life “in the
field” hunting for fossils and later prospecting for rocks and minerals. And, it seems the older I get, the more
“stuff” I haul to the outcrops in my pickup, or hoofing it with my
backpack. Today a prospector needs
multiple hammers, pry bars, gads, shovels, sacks, cell phone, GPS units, bags,
acid bottles---you name it. The only
thing missing, and at times I wish it were available, is dynamite!
I often wondered what “the old timers” hauled out
and how they prepared for prospecting.
Well, in searching the archives at PPLD Penrose Library Special
Collections I ran across a little book entitled Prospecting for Gold and Silver
by Arthur Lakes of the Colorado State School of Mines (published in
1895). I thought it might be worthwhile
to take a look at Lake’s advice for much is apropos today!
“The regular prospector, as a rule, has …learned by
observation, the appearance of different ores, their different values, how the
veins appear on the surface…and the use of a pick, shovel, and blasting
powder….he has become too restless to stick to steady work…the life of a
prospector offers many attractions to one who is restless and loves to roam and
who loves to find something new.
The best education for a prospector would be a
course at a school of mines, where he will learn the elements of geology,
mineralogy, assaying, etc….A little knowledge of blowpiping may also help him.
[NOTE: do students in mineralogy class still learn how to use a blow pipe?]
Having left his school, he should learn the
practical use of the pick, drill and blasting powder…A little carpentry will
teach him how to make a handwinch, and a few lessons in blacksmithing, will
teach him how to sharpen and temper his tools.
Professor Lake followed “Mr. A. Balch” in describing
the needs for an outfit. “First: two
pairs of heavy blankets weighing about 8 pounds each. Second:
a buffalo robe or a blanket lined poncho. Third: suit of strong gray woolen clothes,
pair of brown jean trousers, a change of woolen underclothing, woolen socks,
pair of heavy boots, soft felt hat, three or four large colored handkerchiefs,
a pair of buckskin gauntlets, toilet articles, etc. Fourth: a breech loading rifle or shot gun
and a revolver. Ammunition. Around his
waist is a strong sash to carry his holster and knife, in a sheath. Pipe and tobacco. Fifth: a sure footed native
or mountain pony. A Mexican saddle …and
a long lariat. Sixth: …a poll pick and
prospecting pan. Seventh: a frying pan 8 inches in diameter of wrought
iron, a coffee pot, tin cup, spoon, and fork, and matches in a tin box, pocket
compass, a spy glass. Eighth: bacon, flour, beans, coffee, pepper, salt,
and a box of yeast powder. Ninth: …a
pack animal or a donkey.”
I often wondered why I became interested in rocks,
minerals and fossils (See BLOG: Geophilia; 10/5/11). Now I know---it appears that I am “one who is restless
and loves to roam and who loves to find something new”. Now if I could find my buffalo robe and buy
some blasting powder I would load up the mule…..!