28 TIN MINING IN PERAK. 



The following are a few samples of auriferous tin -sand 

 from Batang Padang of which assays have been made: — 



There is no way of arriving at the average proportion of 

 gold in the tin -sand, for it differs in every mine, and also 

 very largely in different parts of the same mine. As a rule 

 it is more abvmdant in the bottom layer of wash -dirt, and 

 richest in this again in those parts which fill the gutters or 

 lowest channels of the "kong" or bed rock. In some mines 

 it is fairly regular in its distribution throughout the wash -dirt, 

 and there are places where it is possible to wash gold out of 

 the earth clinging to the roots of the grass and weeds growing 

 on the surface. 



As already mentioned the quality of the gold dust is 

 generally very good, but in a few places there is much silver 

 mixed with it. This is the case in the gold from the Bukit 

 Mas valley and from the upper part of the Kehndai valley. The 

 gold in these places is light brass - colou^red and the grains are 

 little rounded. The explanation is, of course, that the gold is 

 quite near its matrix and has not undergone the refining action 

 which always takes place when re- deposited in the alluvium. 

 The lode gold from Bukit Mas mine in Batang Padang contains 

 on an average 20 per cent of silver, and is consequently quite 

 pale in colour. An assay of some of this gold shewed the 

 following results : — 



Fine gold 7814 



Silver 21-86 



10000 



