APPENDIX. 



On the Magnetic Iron Ore of Kunjamullay, near Salem, South India. 



Salem being now within a day's journey of Madras, and its neigh- 

 bourhood being therefore easily accessible, we may take this opportunity 

 of noticing some very valuable beds of magnetic iron ore occurring in 

 the immediate vicinity of the town of Salem, and almost in contact with 

 the Railway."^ These beds are situated on and around a fine isolated 

 mountain called Kunjamullay, which lies about 6 miles to the west- 

 south-west of Salem town. 



The summit of Kunjamullay, which is situated in latitude 11° 36' 

 north, and longitude 78° 7' east, is nearly the central point of a fine 

 lofty ridge rather over 4 miles in length in an east to west direction, 

 and attains an elevation of about 3,000 feet above the sea, and of 1,000 

 above the surrounding plain.f Around this ridge the several beds of 

 magnetic iron ore form, in plan, very elongated and somewhat irregular 

 concentrical ellipses, the major axis of which is- parallel with, but lies a 

 little to the north of, the ridge as shown in the annexed map, (PL V.) 



The very distinctly bedded rocks composing this mountain mass 

 belong to the great gneissic rock series of Southern India, the whole of 

 which has apparently undergone great alteration since the period of depo- 

 sition, and may hence properly be looked upon as metamorphic rocks. Of 

 those in the adjoining area we have given a detailed notice above. 



An exact section, showing all the various beds, could not be obtained, 

 for, although the several beds are very well marked, they are generally 



* As tliese iron beds lie -withiii Salem district, they of com-se come imder the lease- 

 rights of the Porto Novo Iron Company, which extend also over the four districts of South 

 Arcot, Coinibatore, Malabar, and South Canara: 



t The Railway Station at Sooramiingalam has been ascertained by levels taken by 

 the Railway Engineers to have an elevation of 914'64i feet above the sea at Beypoor. 



( 379 ) 



