52 HOLLAND: MICA DEPOSITS OF INDIA. 



In some places, near Ghorunjee for instance, and also near Bagjunt, 

 the felspar shows the peculiar opalescent appearance of the moonstone, 

 and small fragments mi^ht be used for cheap jewellery. Pale-blue 

 and pale-green beryls have been found in several localities, and in one 

 mine, near Muhaisri in Monghyr district, a crystal g inches in diameter 

 was found to include large, transparent and flawless fragments of a 

 pale-green colour. The peculiar tint of the aquamarine was often 

 observed, but not in transparent beryl. Crystalline, dolomitic lime- 

 stones occur near Gawan, and at Dhelwa, 5 miles further north; 

 whilst small fragments of noble serpentine were found associated with 

 the dolomite at the latter locality. Garnets are common throughout 

 the district, and some of those in the coarse, flaky biotite-schist have 

 the correct colour, though they are rarely clear enough, for the manu- 

 facture of cheap jewellery. 



Details of the methods employed in mica- mining and the prepara- 

 tion of the mineral will be found in Chapter VI. Nearly every occur- 

 rence of valuable pegmatite has its peculiarities in the relations of the 

 mica to the other constituents ; but the variety is too great for 

 detailed description, and the veins present no common character 

 which would be of general use as a guide in exploitation. In some 

 cases the hanging-wall, in others the foot-wall, contains the best 

 mica, whilst in many instances the whole vein has to be worked out 

 in order to secure the uniformly distributed " books " : the special 

 features of each vein must be settled in every particular case by 

 intelligent prospecting ; there is no rule to supersede common 

 sense. 



There is one feature in this area which is certain to inspire the 

 curiosity of those interested in its geological features, although it has 

 no necessary connection with the mica-mining industry. The well- 

 marked ridge running for about three miles parallel to, and on the north* 

 east side of, the railway line near Nawadih station, is composed of a 

 peculiar breccia, which, at first sight, resembles a broken and recemen- 

 ted hornstone. Another row of small hillocks, made of the same 

 material, rises above the cultivated soil further to the north-north-west, 

 ( 43 ) 



