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164 Report on the Kaolin Earth of Mysore. [No. 110* 



The extent of this bed of kaolin I have not had an opportunity of 

 ascertaining, but I know that it is found from Bangalore as far north as 

 Nundydroog. 



That this kaolin is fitted for the manufacture of the finer kinds of 

 pottery and porcelain I have been able to ascertain by direct experiment, 

 in consequeuce of the laborious process, and, to an individual, expensive 

 apparatus required to grind it down to an impalpable powder, by stones 

 of hornstone under water : but from its mineralogical characters I 

 believe there can be little doubt of its being of finer quality than many 

 kinds in England. 



My attention was called to the mineral in consequence of being en- 

 gaged in researches on the fusibility of the rocks and minerals of the 

 Salem district, generally called igneous, in which it was necessary to 

 expose them to a very high degree of heat, in a wind furnace sufficiently 

 powerful to fuse cast steel, and for which I could procure no crucibles 

 at a sufficiently cheap rate, and 1 have found this kaolin, w T hen mixed 

 with an equal quantity of finely pounded quartz, to fully answer the pur- 

 pose of affording crucibles and covers, upon which the most intense heat 

 has hardly any effect, the outside being only slightly glazed by the alkali 

 of the fuel, and the crucible being very slightly softened. They are 

 also much superior to those called Hessian, in not cracking, unless by very 

 extreme changes of temperature. 



In Calcutta, there are probably many manufactories carried on in the 

 fusion of metals, &c. where this earth would be of great value, and it 

 might even be useful in the manufacture of fire bricks, for lining furnaces, 

 &c.,. if the carriage by land for 200 miles would not render them too 

 expensive. 



At Madras, at the mint for making mufles and crucibles, at the Gun 

 Carriage manufactory, and in several other manufacturing depots, this 

 kaolin might be useful ; and a manufacture of the articles might be 

 either established at Bangalore, or the earth itself might be transported. 



Coarse Chinaware is an article of import from China, and plates of this 

 ware are purchased in considerable quantities by some of the Natives at 

 4 annas each, while it is reasonable to suppose that these articles might be 

 manufactured in Mysore at a cheap rate, without the necessity of any 

 very expensive machinery being required. 





