478 Examination and Analyses of Copper ores. [No. 5. 



There are also a few specimens of contorted mica schist with a 

 little pyrites. 



A careful sample of all these ores gave in 1,000 grains. 



Grains. 



Earthy Silicates, 856.00 



Per. Ox. Iron, 1 1 3.00 



Bismuth, 7.00 



Protox. Copper, 17.12 Copper. 



13.57 



993.12 



Loss (principally Sulphur), 6.88 



1000.00 



Hence the pyrites are found be principally iron pyrites with but 

 a small per centage (of If per cent.) of copper. 



It will be observed that my analysis is one of the whole rock. 

 No doubt far better results would be obtained by pounding and 

 washing, but this would be a very expensive process with so tough 

 a rock, and require the care of experienced miners, for I found that 

 much of the pyrites had a tendency to " wash off" as it called, from 

 the extreme fineness to which the scales of it are reduced in the 

 mortar and exist in their natural state. 



Altogether then, unless richer ores are found, this is not one worth 

 working ; but it may be well worth sinking a shaft (common native 

 well-sinkers will go to a good depth in a dry soil) to see what lies 

 below. No surface indication, rich or poor, should be taken as an 

 index to what a mineral scite really is. 



II. — Mungwah Ores. 



This ore is mostly, or rather wholly, Actinolite rock, white, grey 

 and yellow brown. The dark grey specimens approach to a micaceous 

 hornblende rock and the lighter and white ones are Tremolite ; all 

 varieties of hornblende. The rock contains every where specks and 

 nests of pyrites, and in some specimens minute nests of magnetic 

 iron ore. 1,000 grains of this rock, from about a pound of it carefully 



