KCONOMIC MINERALS. 119 



•the opening up of the serpentine asbestos of Thetford. Canada 

 (which has a much stronger fibre than hornblende asbestos), there 

 has been a tendency to unduly disparage the hornblende variety. 

 For very many purposes to which the substance is put this quality 

 of <n-eat strength of fibre is a matter of no moment as compared 

 with purity, silkiness, softness, flexibility and length of fibre, 

 b which qualities the Idar asbestos is particularly good. It can 

 be dug up in sticks of about a foot long which soften readily on 

 macerating them in plain running water yielding a perfect fibre 

 without any hard cores. It is probable that large amounts are 

 realisable, although here again the State might be well advised 

 to take every measure to have the quantity available ascertained 

 by more excavation work than I was able, to undertake during my 

 limited operations. Its ordinary uses for mill-board and steam- 

 packing, etc., are well known, but the following quotation from 

 "Mineral Industry" for 1914, p. 51, may be read with interest in 

 this connection : — 



" Each year brings new uses and new demands for asbestos and an ever increas- 

 ing market. The demand for building purposes, e.g., shingles, asbestos lumber and 

 sheathing will doubtless increase year by year as bomber becomes more scarce 

 and more expensive ; furthermore its use as a heat-resisting and especially as an 

 insulatory material will necessarily increase and, so far as is known, it cannot be 

 satisfactorily replaced by any substitute. Asbestos cement sheets are being exten- 

 sively employed as a fire-proof and moisture-proof material in (lie construction 

 of sanatoria, barracks, schools, motion-picture houses, etc. In brief, asbestos, 

 together with cement, would seem to be destined to take a most important place 

 as a future building material for many reasons because of its adaptability and 

 cheapness." 



Another mineral or ornamental stone associated with the 

 steatite deposits is serpentine. This is feebly exposed at a few 

 points as already known, especially in the Thuravas and Kokapur- 

 Vartha areas ; but the indications are that it would be found in 

 large masses below the covered parts within all the areas of the 

 magnesian rocks. Some of the varieties are sufficiently hand- 

 some when polished for indoor decorative stone-work and for other 

 small carved objects (see further details pp. 104, 108). Small traces 

 of the hard variety of serpentine known as boivenile, are found 

 associated with the white pyroxene of Hamanvada. Magnesite, 

 dolomite and chromile also occur sparingly within the same areas 

 as so far explored and as described in the earlier part of this report. 

 Manganese : No large deposits of manganese ores are known 

 in the State. Besides a few narrow veinlets in the Delhi Quart- 



