1854.] and Mineral resources of the Singhbhoom Division. 113 



In 1847, I ascertained beyond a doubt that the metal existed. A 

 small quantity of the ore was rudely smelted. This gave a little 

 metallic copper. Since then the Zemindar of Dholbhoom and 

 Seraikela have turned their attention to the matter, and some forty 

 or fifty maunds of the metal are now extracted annually during the 

 dry season. 



The localities of the veins known to me are Booreetopa in Khur- 

 sowa, Narainpore and Jamjora, in Seraikela, Landoo, and in fact the 

 whole circuit of the Dhoba hill, Rangamuttee hill, a spot on the 

 south side of the Kapergadee Grhat, Badea, Ooraon Grhur, and a 

 spot near Kamerara, all in Dholbhoom. 



The vein in Khursowa lies east and west. It is situated about 

 three miles south of the town and a little northwest of the Moza 

 Booree Topa. The vein has been laid open at intervals for about 

 half a mile, but the diggings are nowhere more than about ten feet 

 in depth. The matrix appears to be schists and quartz. The most 

 promising specimens of the rocks picked up on the spot gave 25 

 per cent, of metal, but it was so largely contaminated with iron, as 

 to be attracted by the magnet. I think it probable that the vein 

 is now quite as well worth working as it ever was ; the operations 

 have been entirely superficial, and it is manifest that a large portioiL 

 of the vein remains absolutely untouched. 



Copper was formerly mined in a hill still called Tamba Doongree,* 

 near Narainpore in Seraikela. The old shafts are very small and irre- 

 gular. The largest was sixty feet deep. All appear to have been de- 

 signed to be perpendicular. A very superficial inspection showed that 

 the miners had worked completely at random. The hill consists of 

 schists, in contact with trap ; the strike of the strata is No. 86° 

 east, and its dip about 45° north-east, but no regard appeared to 

 have been paid to either. The only rock on which I saw any trace 

 of copper was a trap, or possibly a very much altered schist. No 

 attempt that I am aware of has been made to re-work this vein. 

 The workings, as far as I could ascertain, were entirely vertical, so 

 that the vein must have been quickly passed through, and in such 

 case, would be as good a speculation as ever. The old shafts are 

 about twelve in number. 



* Copper Hill. 



Q 2 



