1840.] Asiatic Society. 1143 



Tin is an ore little found except in England, or in the Eastern Islands, and Malayan 

 Peninsula (we know nothing of the Tin mines of Mawar or Ava) but with such additi- 

 ons as we shall be able to make to the collection, from specimens already in the Muse- 

 um, we may consider it as tolerably complete with respect to this metal. The desiderata 

 are— good accounts of the Saxon and Bohemian works, and ores, with specimens. Of 

 the Chinese and Malay Tin smeltings of the Eastern Islands, with samples of their 

 ores; and specially of their refuse or slags, which last are probably well worth exami- 

 nation. It is said that both silver and gold have been found in them ; and there is a des- 

 cription of Tin brought from Borneo, which is sold to the Chinese at Sooloo, and other 

 places, for exportation, at a very high price; this is said to contain one or both of the 

 precious metals. For our Eastern provinces, the investigation of every fact of this 

 kind is of high importance. 



V. Copper.— T)\Q copper ores are about seventy in number. They are also 

 mostly an English assortment, comprising only the ores most usually found and 

 worked in England. Several of the Indian, Asiatic,* and American copper-ores 

 now in the Museum, will form valuable additions to this series. Our desiderata here 

 are however numerous, we require some of the continental ores of Europe, and a series 

 from South America, especially of those which exhibit the mixtures (or combinations) 

 of copper and silver, or copper and gold. We are promised, I observe, as with the 

 tin ores, samples of the English ore in all the stages of its progress, from the mine till 

 it leaves the smelting house, with its slags, which are so instructive to the working 

 speculator. But we require these both from England, where the smelting of copper 

 is a separate trade, and the poorest ores are turned to the best account, and where all is 

 performed by coke ; and also from such countries as South America, many parts of 

 Germany, &c. where charcoal alone is used. It is evident that even under the most 

 scientific management, the modes of smelting, as governed by the fuel, must greatly 

 influence results. The preceding remarks (at p. 9.) on the fuel, which may 

 be available in certain situations, fully apply to copper as to iron works. 



VI. Lead Ores. — We have but nine of these (of but one or two varieties) in the 

 collection ; and these again, with one or two expections, of the commonest kinds. 

 Every thing therefore is to be acquired in this department. We can supply something 

 as to Indian specimens from the Museum. The lead ores, independent of their value as 

 lead, deserve high attention, particularly those of the argentiferous class, which in 

 fact run into the silver ores, containing at times so much silver, as to render the lead of 

 little or no importance. 



VII. Antimony, Manganese, Zinc, and Tellurium. — We have in the collection but 

 eight or ten specimens in all of the three first of these metals, though they are all 

 of importance ; we shall be able to supply a few from the Society's, but we may say 

 pretty nearly, that every thing is wanting in this section. The Indian and Eastern 

 ores of antimony are deserving of great attention, for none of them have been yet 

 examined, and they are so commonly met with, that some will no doubt in the end 

 be found to belong to the class of antimonial silver ores. I mention the auriferous 

 Tellurium in the section on gold. Captain Tremenheere's paper announces, I ob- 

 serve, an assortment of ores and specimens relating to zinc and the manufacture of brass. 



* Asiatic copper ores. With reference to my remarks at pp. 4 & 5, I may mention here as a 

 confirmation, that we have in Colonel Burney's collection of minerals from Ava, an ore of copper 

 (with the same half-roasted from the Burmese workings) which is certainly not a common one, and 

 perhaps new to the English miner at least. 



7g 



