THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF EDSEL MURPHY TO THE UNDERSTANDING
OF THE BEHAVIOR OF MINERALS AND MINERAL COLLECTING
(OTHERWISE KNOWN AS MURPHY’S LAWS)
It has long been my consideration that the contributions of Edsel Murphy, specifically his general laws delineating the behavior of inanimate objects, have not been fully understood or appreciated. It is probable that this is, in part, due to the inherent simplicity of the laws themselves. The following corollaries to his well-known “Murphy’s Laws” have been derived by me based on years of experience and hundreds of test occurrences. I have taken the liberty of appending friend’s names to these phenomena, with an absolute conviction that the experiences are universal in nature, and that every collector has found each of them to be true.
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MURPHY’S FIRST LAW- IF ANYTHING CAN GO WRONG, IT WILL
Laws of Weather
Lannie’s Law – Any week of five consecutive clear and sunny weekdays will have rain, sleet or snow on Saturday AND Sunday.
Pete’s Principle – Cloudless days will overcast at the time when you reach the mine access road.
Edward’s Extension – The precipitation will begin when you reach the halfway point while walking (uphill) on the access road.
Ervin’s Further Extension – The intensity of precipitation will increase in direct proportion to the distance walked on the access road.
Ellie’s Observation – All precipitation will cease, and the sun will come out the instant you return to the car.
Laws of Equipment
Charlie’s Principle – While visiting the one quarry of the year where hard hats are required, a quick glance in the car trunk will prove that yours is home in the garage.
Ray’s Corollary – That same garage will prove to be greater than 200 miles from the quarry.
Dick’s Law – A dropped tool will land in a vug where it will do the maximum possible damage to the specimen. (Also known as the Law of Selective Gravitation).
Stewart’s Enigma – The laws of chemistry prevent a man-made chisel from being stronger than basalt.
Ronnie’s Rule – Upon returning to the car after a six mile hike from the dumps with a 150 pound sack of rocks, it will be discovered that you left your new pry-bar at the site.
