1841.] Report on the Kaolin Earth of Mysore, 1G3 



I have been unable to procure certain information regarding the price 

 at which the inferior kinds of impure Soda are sold in England, but 

 when the expensive and laborious process as above described, is con- 

 sidered, it seems almost impossible that any product can be made 

 at so cheap a rate, as that procured by the simple manipulation required 

 for the mineral salt. 



1 have endeavoured by sending to England samples through a com- 

 mercial gentleman to make this report more complete, by being able to 

 state the value of the article on certain grounds, but have been un- 

 successful, the point appearing to depend in great measure on the im- 

 port duty which will be charged in England By the present regula- 

 tions, natural alkali imported from places within the limits of the Ho- 

 norable Company's charter pays a duty of 2 shillings per cent, but to 

 ascertain the point it appears to be necessary to ship a few tons, and 

 then try by experiment at what rate of duty the article will be admitted, 



I am aware that some years ago attempts had been made to introduce 

 Indian Soda into the English market, but which failed in consequence 

 of the opposition of the English manufacturers, but I submit, that the soils 

 now pointed out, yielding by single crystallization a pure Soda, were not 

 before known, and in consequence, in the former experiments to which 

 I refer, it became necessary to fuse the salt for the purpose of purifying 

 it, which expensive process of course prevented a successful competi- 

 tion with the manufacturers of England. 



Report on the Kaolin Earth of Mysore. — By Capt. J.Campbell, 



Assistant Surveyor General. 



A great portion of the level surface of the table land of Mysore, is 

 formed of a red ferruginous arenaceous earth, resembling much some of the 

 softer varieties of the upper red sandstones of England. 



This formation, which may be called for convenience ' Red Marie,' is 

 superposed upon a continuous bed of hornblendic granite* and is con- 

 nected with it by a graduation, both in structure and composition, 

 through an interposed layer of white kaolin earth which is found be- 

 tween the two. 



The kaolin is in some places several feet in thickness, and is generally 

 of a pure white colour, and soft greasy feel, and is sometimes mixed 

 with a fine quartoze sand in small quantity. 



This kaolin is mentioned by Dr. Heyne, who mistook it for pipeclay. 



