238 D. Hooper — Occurrence of Melanterite in Baluchistan. [No. 4, 



tan; l in the Ramganga and Garja Valleys, in Kumaon ; 8 on shales of the 

 Kaimur tableland, Central Provinces ; 8 in the Langyin Valley, Central 

 Assam ; and at the headwaters of the Attaran River, Tenasserim. 4 ' 

 That the green copperas as used as a dye is often very impure, is shown 

 by an analysis of a sample made by J. Stevenson in Bihar 6 who found 39 

 per cent, of anhydrous ferrous sulphate ; the pure crystallised sulphate 

 should yield, according to the formula FeS0 4 , 7 H 2 0, about 54 per cent, 

 of the anhydrous salt. 



A note might be added regarding the mineral Phulmdk, sent by Mr. 

 Hughes-Buller as a mordant in dyeing employed by the Brahuis, or in- 

 habitants of the highlands of Baluchistan. Phulmdk is found in the 

 Koh-i- Sultan, a hill in the Western Sanjrani district. At Kundi, south 

 of the Koh-i-Sultan, some of this " mak " was found in the course of 

 sinking a well. The water was consequently very saline and unfit for 

 drinking purposes. The average price paid by the Nashki Banias for 

 Phulmdk varies from Rs. 5 to Rs. 6 per maund. It is said to be used as 

 a mordant while Zagh is used as a dye. 



This mineral has recently been described by Mr. E. Vredenburg in his 

 " Geological Sketch of the Baluchistan Desert " (Memoirs of the Geologi- 

 cal Survey of India. Vol. xxxi., Pt. 2 (1901), pp. 278-279.) Describing 

 the region of the solfataric volcano, Koh-i- Sultan, Mr. Vredenburg 

 states — " The clays are impregnated with sulphate of alumina, which 

 is extracted and used as a mordant under the name of " Koh-mak." 

 The efflorescent salt is known as " Phul-mak." 



Mak is a term given to the soft ferruginous lithomarge, occurring 

 in the hills south of Saindak and in the Koh-i-Sultan, and is collected 

 and carried to Kandahar for dyeing purposes by Kakars and Babars. 

 (T. H. Holland, Records of Geological Survey of India, Vol. xxx., 129) 

 Mak or Lak was also collected by Major G. W. Brazier Creagh, I.M.S., 

 from the Cheltan Range and was reported to give a black dye called 

 Lak-i-Siah with leaves of the Kangak shrub. Specimens examined in 

 the Laboratory of the Geological Survey were pronounced to be yellow 

 marl containing large quantities of sulphate of iron. (lb., Vol. xxx., 

 253). 



Although the substance termed Mak appears to differ in appear- 

 ance and properties, the identity of the Phulmdk has been set at rest by 

 an examination of two samples sent by Mr. Hughes-Buller. One speci- 



1 T. Hutton, Calcutta Journ. Nat. Hist., Vol. vi., 597. 



2 J. D. Herbert, Asiatic Researches, Vol. xviii., Pt. 1, 229. 



3 F. R. Mallet, Memoirs Q.S.L Vol. vii., 121. 



* E. Riley, Journ. Ind. Archipelago, Vol. iii., 395. 



* Geology of India, Vol. iii., 419, 



