374 Influence of Mines upon Land and Livestock 



Name of Minekal Relative Abundance Remarks 



Pyromorphite (3Pb3(PO,)2 . PbClj) Traces ... Covering galena exposed to 



air 

 Blende (ZnS) Next to galena in abun- 



dance 

 HemimorphiteorSmithsonitc(zinc Small quantity 



silicate) 

 Calamine (zinc carbonate) ... Very small quantity 



Iron pyrites (FeS.)... ... ... Abundant at some mines Fairly free from arsenic 



JIarcasite (FeSj) ... Amount not large 



Clipper pjTites (CuFeSo) ... ... Workable amount only Only traces of arsenic 



at few mines 

 Malachite (Cu(0H)2 . CuCOj) ... Small quantity 

 Azuritc (2CUCO3 . Cu(0H)2) ... Very small quantity 



Manganite (hydrated oxide of man- Occurs only at few 



ganese) mines 



Siderite (carbonate of iron) ... do. do. 



Composition of Mine Eefu.se. 



In order to ascertain the nature of the mine refuse likel^^ to be carried 

 from the mines on to the land samples were taken of the 

 (a) mine heaps, 

 {h) river waters, 

 (c) sediment from leats and river beds. 



The results of the analyses of these samples are given in Tables II, 

 III and IV. 



Samples 1 to n were taken hj an official of the Teifi Board of Con- 

 servators with the object of providing information to a Special Com- 

 mittee of the Cardiganshire County Council holding a public enquiry 

 into the destruction of fish life in the Teifi by mine polluted water. 

 These samples were forwarded to me periodically during the summer of 

 1917 and were analysed as they arrived. 



As a result of pollution with mine refuse all fish life has been destroyed 

 in most of the rivers of North Cardiganshire. 



Table III shows the nature of mine refuse at its source and Tables 

 II and IV that of the refuse in course of transit on to the land. The 

 following are some of the deductions which may be drawn from the 

 analytical figures in these tables. 



(a) Lead and zinc compounds appear to be the only metalliferous 

 substances present in such quantities as are likely to inflict injury upon 

 plants and animals. In the mine heaps, and also in the leats and rivers, 

 copper and arsenic are present only in very minute quantities. In a few 

 districts, however, the amount of iron pyrites present is such as may lead 

 to harmful effects upon vegetation. 



