IRON. 67 



of ore, which seems to be about 20 feet thick, but it is obscured 

 a good deal by surface soil. Above it, is more actiuolite rock with 

 crystals of magnetite, and then fine-grained gneiss dipping north-east 

 at 30°. The magnetite of the main band occurs as an aggregation of 

 irregular crystals about the size of peas. These cohere but slightly 

 to each other, so that the rock is easily crumbled. In places the ore is 

 pure magnetite, but more usually it includes a varying proportion of 

 actinolite. At the other spot where the ore has been worked, it is a 

 schist, composed of magnetite, micaceous hematite, actinolite, and talc, 

 irregularly interbauded; the last three also including octahedrons of 

 magnetite. Specimens of both kinds of ore have been assayed by Mr. 

 Tween with the following results : — ^ 



Percentage of iron. 

 Magnetite ... ... ... 71'50 



Micaceous hematite ... ... 59*89 



Neither contain any phosphorus or sulphur. 



The ore has been smelted at Sikbhar, but to a very trifling extent.* 

 At the time of my visit there were only two furnaces, one of which was 

 new. Neither was in blast at the time, but the method of smelting 

 seems to be quite similar to that usually practised in Bengal. The 

 micaceous hematite is not used, as it is said to yield a soft iron, 

 unsuited to the manufacture of knives, &c, and it occurs besides in 

 comparatively small quantity. The magnetite is well suited, in its 

 texture, to native furnaces, from the ease with which it is crumbled down 

 into convenient sized grains. It is more difficultly smelted than the 

 micaceous hematite, but the ' kamis ' (as the Nepali workers in iron are 

 called) assert that it yields a steely iron peculiarly well suited for 

 making kukris and bans, from its combination of hardness and toughness. 

 The raw spongy iron is sold at Sikbhar at six sirs per rupi. By the 

 kamis it is re-heated and hammered out into small bars, which are 



* The outturn, according to Jitman, a kind of munshi at the mines, has heen only 

 80 mans of iron since the mine was opened. 



( 67 ) 



