[ 



1869.J Minitig. 811 



considerabla attention. The copjier lodes in the lusizwa Mountain, 

 about 12 miles from the southern boundary of Natal, are remark- 

 able. Some comparatively small workings have been carried on 

 about 80 miles from Port St. John, The deposit here is described 

 as about 18 feet thick by 2^ feet in depth. From this description 

 it is evidently not a vein, but a heel. This is clearly in a state of 

 decomposition, since it is said the ore is replaced by a yellow 

 ochreous deposit [gossan of miners) containing nodules of very 

 pure carbonate of copper or malachite, varying in size from a pea 

 to masses of 10 or 15 lbs. weight. Some miners from D'Urban 

 penetrated deeper into the mountain, and again found a similar 

 deposit. Portions of considerable masses have been found to con- 

 tain as much as 56 per cent, of metal, the average, however, being 

 from 30 to 40 per cent. Silver was found to the extent of 5 '30 

 ounces to the ton of copper, and a trace of gold was detected. 



Chromium is stated to have been discovered in large quantities 

 in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Chromate of iron of fine quahty 

 has also been found in Victoria. We understand samples of this 

 mineral and antimonial ores of good quality have been shipped to 

 this country with a view to determining their real commercial 

 value. 



In a cave in the mountain of Galenstock, which it is well 

 known separates the cantons of Berne and Urich, a valuable deposit 

 of topaz has been recently found. 



Tin mines in Siam are, on the authority of the ' Journal of the 

 Society of Arts,' about to be worked. We quote the paragraph : — 



" Another tin district is about to be opened at the Isthmus of 

 Era. The immense value of the tin-workings at Junk, Ceylon, or 

 Phuket, supposed to be not less than 150,000 tons per annum, 

 has incited a Chinese merchant to propose the active development 

 of the Kra Mines, and as tin is supposed to abound along the whole 

 range of the Malay peninsula there are many who believe in his 

 success. He is to have the government of the district to enable 

 him to cany out his designs. The river of Kra is the southern 

 boundary between British Burmah and Siam." 



Seeing that the annual production of tin is as follows : — 



Tons. 



England 7,296 



Banca 4,260 



Billcton 1,900 



Other parts 3,000 



Total .. .. in,456 



— the 150,000 tons said to be produced at Junk is an evident 

 absurdity. During the past year the Chinese merchants have been 

 the largest buyers of British and Dutch tin, to which circumstance 



y 2 



