.....there's a way of increasing the chances of finding magic, is there?

I had to restart my game because I did something stupid in my last one -I don't want to explain cause I'm too embarrassed by it. Last time I found magic the first time I explored a crack. Now I can't seem to find any no matter what. I keep sending my chief down since he's got a max for gathering thinking that will help, but all the doofus finds is tech points.

When you reach the point in the game that you get a lemur he will do all the crack diving for you, mine has brought up 98 magic, he brings up more magic than anything else.

I'm not that far in yet - but I finally got my people to find some magic, enough to make a jump potion.

Now I'm stuck with them refusing to get water to put out the fire to get the diamond.