90 ball: geology of the rajmehal hills. 



2. I could only prove one seam of ore, but judging from the evidence accumu- 

 lated at distant points by previous observers, tbe statements of miners and the 

 declaration of Mr. Casperz, there is no reason to doubt that a second, and sometimes 

 a third, seam is met with. 



3. Having therefore— 



1st — The ore proved in the Damra, Ganpur, Seebpaharee, Doodhia, Kanda and 

 Barkatta fields ; 



, 2nd — The certainty that more than one seam exists ; 



Zrd — The probability that each area of laterite, hitherto unexamined, will if 

 tested be found productive : 



There is in my own mind no doubt as to an abundant supply of iron-stone 

 within a moderate distance of Mullarpore. 



4. Works calculated to turn out an average of 500 tons of pig-iron per month 

 could be furnished with ore from the Damra field alone for the next thirty years— 

 a period beyond which the present generation need scarcely look ; whilst, by in- 

 creasing the mining radius by 2 or 3 miles, ample ore could be raised to furnish 

 very much larger works. 



6. The greater proportion of the ore is excellent and possesses a high percentage 

 of iron. The analyses may, perhaps, seem to indicate a ratber larger amount of 

 silica in most of the ores than is justifiable when the term "excellent" is employed ; but 

 this arises from the circumstance that, in selecting samples for laboratory investi- 

 gations, I was ever anxious to prevent too sanguine an estimate being made, and I 

 preferred to err on the side of depreciation, knowing that if, notwithstanding this 

 under-rating, the specimens still proved good, or moderately good, a high qualifying 

 term might justly be applied to indicate the average ore. 



6. Compared with iron-stones of the Eaniganj field, the ores of the loha 

 mehals are much richer in iron. 



7. I would draw attention to the necessity of introducing a rational system 

 of mining when large quantities of ore will have to be raised. An immense waste 

 of labour occurs in mining the ore by bell pits as at present. The scale of opera- 

 tions ought to be more extensive, and efficient drainage will be indispensable. 



8. There is an abundance of good kunkur. 



9. There is no coal* good enough for use in a blast furnace, and the supplies 

 must come from the Eaniganj field. 



* This only refers to coal examined in the Brahmini. V. B. 



( 244 ) 



