25 



submitted samples tt) three mauufacturers ushig furuiiduiii, all ui' 

 whom expressed the opii]i(m that the mineral would be of no value 

 for abrasive purposes. Two of the firms also stated that th^y did not 

 consider the material to be corundum. On this point, however, they 

 were reassui*ed and informed that the (examination of the material at 

 the Imperial Institute showed that it was an unusually pure corundum, 

 containing 97.1 per cent, of alumina, whilst in hardness it was equal 

 to any other variety of the mineral, except ruby and sapphire. The 

 unusual appearance of the corundum, which probably gave rise to the 

 doubts expressed, is due in part to its gi'auular character and in part 

 to its freedom from decomjiosition by silicitication along certain 

 plashes, which causes a tendency to split into small flat plates. Both 

 these characteristics, they were informed, ought to increase the value 

 of the corundum as an abrasive. 



The communication of these facts to the firms in question resulted 

 in an offer from one of them to make a thorough test of the mineral. 

 Before going to the trouble and expense of such a trial, the firm desires 

 to know the price at which corundum could be delivered in London. 



Another firm asked for a quotation for the 5-cwt. sample which 

 was available, and also for quantities up to 1,000 tons per annum : 

 (1) c.i.f. Liverpool, and (2) f.o.b. at port of shipment. 



The firms wex-e invited to make offers, but this they declined to do. 



It is now necessary, therefore, that an approximate quotation should 

 be given of the price at which quantities of corundum equal in quality 

 to the sample can be delivered at London, Liverpool and Ne^v York, 

 or placed on board ship at Singapore or other convenient port. 



Subsequently, a sample of this corundum has been submitted to 

 a firm of merchants with whom the Imperial Institute was in corres- 

 pondence in regard to other minerals. This firm sent a j)ortion to 

 a customer on the Continent, who reported that the mineral is of good 

 quality and would have a value of about ^820 per ton, c.i.f. Hamburg. 

 The Imperial Institute is also in correspondence with a firm in the 

 United States with regard to this coruudiun, and it appears ])robable 

 that a fair market for the material can be found if it can be supplied 

 in large quantities at reasonable rates. 



It would be an advantage if the Imperial Institute could now be 

 placed in communication with some firm in the Federated Malay 

 States willing to take the matter up, so that their name cuuld Ije 

 given to firms in this country desirous of buying supplies of the 

 mineral. 



Utli October, 1906. WYNDHAM K. DUNSTAN. 



