8Q KING : NELLORE PORTION OP THE CARNATIC. 



" The dip is 68° south ; the country rock is mica" slate and decom- 

 posed ; the lodes have a casing- of laminated trap and the ore is found in 

 quartz reef, the trap forming- the head and foot wall. 



" The assay of the ore from this reef made by Richardson & Co., of 

 London, was 28f th per cent, pure copper. 



" The thickness of this reef is about 2 feet 7 inches where I worked 

 on it, but I have reason to believe, from two blows of quartz to the west 

 of my working, that the reef is much larger than where I cut it ; but, 

 as I have above stated, it would not do for me to open on it where I 

 was likely to get a rise of water, and the object of my visit to the field 

 was merely to see if the reef would pay, so as we might arrange for 

 them with the Rajah of Calastry, in whose ground they are; and 

 further I knew that by sending ore from outcrop and 9 feet men of 

 practical experience in England would be able to form a very good idea 

 as to what would be the value of the lodes in depth. 



" After satisfying myself as to the lode continuing in depth, I ripped 

 up some 55 feet along its line to east, to prove its continuing in that 

 direction, and to get its true bearings. 



" After satisfying myself on those points, I abandoned this lode. 



" The ore is very easily got, and you can judge from the following 

 statement what the cost of raising a ton will be : — 



Commenced work on 11th : coolies ... ... Rs. 8 6 



12th : „ ... ... ,,993 



Water rising fast, 9 feet; 13th: „ ... ...,,9 9 3 



Total ... • Rs. 27 3 



" Work done : — 

 Opened up (115X32X9) cubic feet, through Morambo or decomposed gneiss, baled 

 water, and took out ore to the weight of 7 or 8 tons, besides poor outcrop, down to 5 feet, 

 for Rs. 27-3-0; or removed 33,120 cubic feet of ground for the above sum. 



" These figures will serve as a data for making a rough calculation as 

 to the cost of raising ore. The general remarks will give a data to 

 calculate from as to cost of carriage, smelting, &c. 



No. 2 Lode. 

 " On the 14-th I prospected and discovered a second lode in outcrop, 

 about a mile from the village to the east. As on the first lode, I com- 

 ( 188 ) 



