MINING PRACTICE. 87 



merely the exploratory stage of a mine opened by recognised mining 

 methods, and the latter (working a deposit of similar richness) will 

 commence an indefinite period of steady and uniform returns when 

 the former has reached its limit of remuneration. A single instance 

 will neither completely confirm, nor will it disprove, this statement ; 

 for no form of mining is without its risks, either of unexpected 

 variation in the mineral deposits, or of unforeseen errors in manage- 

 ment. But those concerned in the mica-mining industry will never- 

 theless watch with interest the result of the operations now being 

 undertaken by the Indian Mica Company, which is laying out capital 

 under the advice and management of Mr. A. Mervyn Smith near 

 Bendi in the Hazaribagh district, where they have departed from the 

 old local custom, and are opening out a pegmatite-vein by systematic 

 development of drives from vertical shafts. The work has scarcely 

 as yet passed the exploratory stage, and the relations between the 

 expenditure and returns are consequently not uniform ; but the results 

 so far obtained will nevertheless be instructive to other mica miners. 

 The following details are extracted from a note by the manager, 

 Mr. A. Mervyn Smith, who has, with the consent of his Directors, 

 kindly given me all the information at his disposal :— 



The vein now being worked at Lalki, near Bendi, has a strike of north-west 

 - south-east and an average underlie of 45° E. to north-east. It cuts obliquely 

 through the mica-schists of the country, and, as is generally the case with pegma- 

 tites which do not conform to the foliation-planes of the surrounding schists, it 

 varies considerably in thickness, shape and direction, showing a tendency also to 

 send off numerous apophyses. The underground workings, which do not go 

 beyond a depth of 102 feet, communicate with the surface by three vertical shafts, 

 and an incline of 1 in 6. Although carefully timbered and provided with proper 

 ladder ways, the coolies objected to the vertical shafts, and the incline was pri- 

 marily made as a concession to their prejudices ; but it has also been found to he 

 otherwise very useful. It is now provided with a tramway, served with a haul- 

 ing engine and 3-feet twin drums, by which the excess of rubbish, not used for 

 stowing in the mine, is brought to the surface. A double, 4|-inch, ram, Cameron 

 pump keeps the mine dry at ordinary times, its work being supplemented during 

 the rainy season by a self -filling water-truck run along the incline. Altogether 

 i>533 feet of drives and cross-cuts had been made up to July 1901. Last year's 

 work cost Ri3,74o and included, in drivages and sinking, a total of 916 feet, which 

 works out to the extremely low rate of R15 per foot, covering all except London 

 charges. The material excavated in the overhand btopes is mined and removed to 



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