Arthur Lakes, generally considered to be the "Father of Colorado Geology," taught geology at the Colorado School of Mines, but also saw the need for a book that laymen could use in their quest to "strike it rich." The result was Prospecting for Gold and Silver. Published in 1895, the book became extremely popular and was followed by several later editions. As valuable today as it was over a hundred years ago, this book is a great resource for today's prospector, historian, or anyone who just wants to know how prospecting and mining is done. Lakes, renowned as an extremely interesting speaker, was also a very good writer and teacher. He used those skills in this book to explain such things as what to take on a prospecting expedition, where and how to look for gold and silver, basic geology, fossils, how to "study" rocks for mineralization, the types of minerals found in the Rocky Mountains, and mining techniques (including placer mining or gold panning). In addition, Prospecting for Gold and Silver includes descriptions of various mining regions in Colorado. Lakes also provides basic information on examining a mine, sampling a mine, "salting" a mine, and mining law, although most of this data is useful only to historians.