MICA AND ITS USES. 75 



We find the following description of the Dunwee Mica Mine in the report 

 of the Geological survey of India : — 



This is situated in Purgunnah Currucdyah, about midway between the 

 base and summit of a mountain 600 feet high, forming the south-eastern 

 extremity of the valley of Dunwee, near the village of the same name. 

 The fflitterinsj effect of the mica in the sun was the chief attraction to the 

 eye on entering the valley, and rendered the concealment of the mine by 

 the jealous Mahajans impossible. 



The mountain in which the mine is situated consists of the coarse crystal- 

 line gneiss, the strata being inclined at an angle from 60 to 80 degrees with 

 the horizon, alternate at short intervals with beds containing flakes of mica, 

 an inch in thickness, and varying in length and breadth from six to twelve 

 inches. 



These massive plates of mica are loosely agglutinated with large rhom- 

 boidal crystals of felspar, and occasional detached lumps of pseudo-morphic 

 quartz, the latter often containing schorl, the whole being embedded in a 

 soft scaly talcose matrix, from which the mica is easily removed. 



The excavations are formed at all points within the space of 50 yards in 

 breadth, and 300 in length ; some being carried perpendicularly down 

 between the strata, and others horizontally, in each case following the 

 direction of the strata. 



About 50 to 100 men and boys are employed in extracting the mica, and 

 as many more women and children in sorting it and smoothing the rough 

 edges of the flakes, so as to render them portable. 



In the village were several Mahajans, some superintending the works, 

 others acting as agents for the supply of mica; while the numerous bul- 

 locks with panniers, and the heaps of packages of mica in bags ready for 

 despatch, give the place a busy appearance. 



There are two other great mica mines in the same neighbourhood ; one 

 of these is at Dhoba, near the Dumchanee Pass, in Purgunnah Curruck- 

 dyah, and the other at Quadrumma, in the purgunnah of that name. They 

 are said to be larger and better mines than the one here described, which 

 has only been recently opened. 



The Dhoba and Quadrumma mines have existed for many years, each, it 

 is said, affbrdiag annually upwards of 100,000 maunds of mica. The mica 

 is sold at the mines at 4rs. (8s.) per maund. One lakh of maunds are said 

 to be transmitted annually from the Dunwee mine alone to Calcutta, via 

 Bancorah, where it is sold at Company's rupees 7-8 per maund, or 30 rs. 

 for four maunds. 



Mica is in general request throughout India, and is largely employed in 

 decorative purposes at native festivals. From what I could learn, three- 

 fourths of the supply for all Hindustan would appear to be derived from 

 the three mines here alluded to. It therefore becomes a question whether 

 the produce of these mines might not be made available to the public 

 revenue. 



The additional cost of a rupee or two per maund imposed in the form of 



