FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[vic rzonca]

My work took me to a small, former, mining town near the divide and Loveland pass, in Colorado. In the very interesting mining and industrial debris, from the 1800's, spread around the site, I found this 6" diameter drill core, penetrated by a 1 1/2" drill hole. In casual conversation, describing my find, with my friend Robert Cook, Geosciences Professor Emeritus at Auburn University, he, of course, had an explanation of what I had found. He proceeded to describe the ability of mud loggers, on the smaller hole, to locate the vein and the core drillers to triangulate to prove the vein. My find was that proof. Anyway, my question is this, is there a way I can clean, read, shine up the mixed sulfides - Au bearing pyrite and acanthite? I intend to weld up a display for the George Rowe Museum in Silver Plume, CO., relating Cooks story. Again, can I, should I clean the ore vein? Just for optics. Thank you.

[Joseph DOliveira]

Hi Vic,
I use VIM cream cleaner and a tooth brush. It has a very fine abrasive which is good for removing light oxidation and it puts a nice shine on many of the sulphide/arsenide minerals.

[Peter Lemkin]

Not in answer to your question, but a comment to your find....how the hell did they thread that needle by bisecting one core with another? Unless they were very close to it, that is quite an amazing feat, as far as I know.... Now, with lasers and more precise positioning something like that would still be difficult, but this was long ago, and my hat is off to the people who did that!...... I'm no mining engineer, but can imagine the work and precision involved.

[vic rzonca]

I agree, Peter, the skill involved was impressive. Cook said these guys took pride in being able to do this type of thing. To this day they have drill competitions. Remember, back in the late 1800's and early 1900's this was a gold-silver rush town at 9500' and outside the brothel (which I'm working on) and the saloon (which is across the street) what else did they have to do but sharpen their tools and skills?

[Peter Lemkin]

I've been there many a time collecting on the old dumps! I like the photos!