§36 Report on the Copper mines of Kumaon, [Nov. 



The yellow sulphuret of copper, or copper pyrites, in its perfectly 

 pure state yields about 30 per cent, of metallic copper ; and though not a 

 rich ore, is the most important of any from its abundance, and from being 

 generally more to be depended on for continuance than the richer 

 varieties*. In England, more copper is obtained from it than from all the 

 other ores together ; and, should this mine be prosecuted to a greater 

 depth, I have no doubt, that the strings of ore above mentioned, will 

 be found to lead eventually to solid ore, when data as to the actual 

 capabilities of the mine may with certainty be obtained. 



In the event of an experimental mine being established here, a new 

 adit, 80 fathoms in length, will require to be brought in lower down 

 the hill, so as to reach the present mine 10 fathoms below the entrance, 

 and drain the whole of it, along with a considerable quantity of new 

 ground, which the natives report to be very rich, but say they cannot 

 work it on account of the accumulation of water. 



About a couple of hundred yards to the north, and in the same hill, 

 is another deposit of copper. This is laid open to the surface during 

 the rainy season, and allowed to fall together again, as soon as the 

 water, employed by the natives to carry off the talcous mud from the ore 

 ceases to be plentiful. An awkward attempt had been made by the 

 present teekadar (lessee of the mine), to mine this with timber, but( 

 without success ; and it was at the time I visited the spot abandoned, 

 and the works lying full of water. To have an effective mine here, it 

 will be necessary to sink a perpendicular shaft of 12 fathoms, and to 

 bring in an adit about 50 fathoms in length, so as to come under the 

 works above described about eight fathoms, and lay open a space of 

 ground, also believed to contain a considerable quantity of ore. 

 Sheera mine — tergunah of Barrabeery. 



The mine of Sheera is situated on the northern side of a hill, some- 

 what higher than the one at Rye, and is entered by an adit, which is 

 driven south in the course of an evidently non-metallic vein, (no traces 

 of copper being found in it :) and this the natives must have made use of, 

 to assist them in penetrating the dolomite rock, which, with beds of talc, 

 constitutes here likewise the formation where in the ores of copper are 

 discovered. Nearly 33 fathoms from the entrance, the adit strikes 

 a copper lode, on which a level passage is driven, that continues west- 

 ward, its course being about 10° south of west, and dip northerly from 

 45 to 50°. Scarcely any thing could be seen of this lode, which has 

 been all taken away, and its place supplied with timber, until I arrived 

 at the end of the level, (18 fathoms in length,) where it seems to inter- 



* Extensive beds of copper pyrites occur in the mining districts of Sweden. 



