a a ~4 
On the Occurrence and Distribution of Gold in India. 58: 
It may be added, that to the north-west of Sambalpur there 
are a number of parallel quartzite ridges which, in places, have 
much the appearance of veins, whether they are bedded or not 
they are, I think, worthy the attention of the prospector for gold. 
Fine quartz reefs also occur in many parts of the district. 
OrIssA.—In the province of Orissa gold is reported to occur in 
the sands of the river Brahmini, in the Pal Lahara, where it is 
said to be worked to a considerable extent.* 
Similarly, it is believed to exist in various rivers in the Native 
States of Dhenkenal and Keonjhar.t 
The above rivers drain areas in which metamorphie rocks are 
alone believed to prevail; but the already quoted memoir, how- 
eyer, contains the following passage, which may be read in con- 
nexion with the passage above as to the occurrence of some of 
the gold in Sambalpur :— 
** Gold is occasionally washed in the Tikaria river, and was also, a few 
years since, obtained from the sands of the Ouli, The latter case is 
rather interesting, since the localities are in a sandstone country through 
which the Ouli mainly flows.” 
SouTH-WESTERN BENGAL, or THE CHUTIA NAGPUR PROVINCE.— 
In giving an account of this area I think it well to quote in full a 
paper} by myself, which records the results of my researches in 
the districts of Singhbhum and Manbhum. 
I do so because I believe this area has not received the attention 
from prospecting companies which it deserves. In the neigh- 
bourhood of Chaibassa, the chief town of Singbhum, I have 
been especially struck with the auriferous aspect of the rocks. 
The earthy slates and shales with inagnesiam schists, and nume- 
rous quartz reefs are precisely the rocks which, judging from all 
experience, ought to yield gold :— 
“Theexistenceofgoldin the districts of the south-west frontier of Bengal 
and in the neighbouring tributary states has long been known. It is 
found not only in the sands of many rivers and streams, but in some 
instances it has been mined for in the alluvial and other superficial 
deposits. 
“Colonel Haughton in his interesting memorandum ‘ On the geolo- 
gical structure and mineral resources of the Singhbhim Division,’§ has 
* “Mem. Geol. Survey of India,” Vol. [., p. 88. 
t Sterling: ‘‘ Asiatic Researches of Bengal,” 1825, Vol. XV., p. 163. 
t “ Records Geol. Survey of India,” Vol. I, 1869. 
§ “Jour. Asiatic Soc., Bengal,” XXIII, p. 103, 1854. 
