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Mineralogical Description of the Island of Banka. 101 



They were ponderous ; siliceous particles appeared on the frac- 

 ture, alternating with portions of a metallic lustre, and the surface 

 was ochreous. A few consisted of minute particles approaching 

 the nature of sandstone. 



The mineralogical appearances in the two districts last de- 

 scribed, were very similar to those of the western peninsula of 

 this division of the island. This similarity was displayed, not 

 only in the arrangement of the strata, but particularly in their 

 relative proximity to the surface ; it likewise appeared id the con- 

 stitution of the more fixed parts of the island. Various circum- 

 stances did not permit me, in this part of the island, to extend 

 my researches to the range of central hills ; but the promontories 

 which descend from them towards the west and form Tanjong 

 Mantling, (which I passed in proceeding to the mines of Belinyu,) 

 as well as extensive districts in the neighborhood, are covered 

 with large piles of granite rocks. Numerous veins of red iron- 

 stone have been discovered below the surface at the mines of Be- 

 linyu, and in the vicinity of Lumut we met extensive hills, com- 

 posed of them, and which are in immediate conjunction with the 

 alluvial plains above mentioned, bounding the Bay of Klabbet. 



The northern portion of this peninsula up to point Tanjong 

 Tad a is completely unknown ; nor can I say any thing from per- 

 sonal Observation of that tract which bouuds the central range of 

 hill on the east, extending from point Tanjong Tuvving to the 

 confines of Sungie-Iiat ; but the information I obtained from va- 

 rious natives at Belinyu and Lumut, tends to shew that many 

 portions of it are stratified like the districts of the mines on the 

 west side of the range of hills ; and from trials made during my 

 residence at Banka, it appeared that these strata contain a suffi- 

 cient quantity of the ore of tin to encourage an attempt for ex- 

 tracting it. The district of Mapur is in this situation, and it is 

 followed in the south by that of Dsheniang, in which mines are 

 at present worked that are under the superintendence of Sungie- 

 Ji ^t. As to the districts of Belinyu and Lumut, it is proved by 

 the daily trials at present instituted to obtain productive situations, 

 that the richest strata have been exhausted in the course of forty 

 years successive mining. 



(To be continued.) ,-•♦••«. 



