COPPER. 119 



through to the open air in small inclined shafts. Timbering had 

 been introduced wherever necessary. The labour employed con- 

 sisted of about 20 men and all low grade ore was being thrown 

 away on dumps near the mine. 



I doubt if there is much left in the mine in the parts worked 

 by the Chinese, but it might be worth examining to see if the deposits 

 extend to greater depths than they have been able to exploit them. 



Ta-tsang-kuan-miao copper prospect, Meng-hua T 'ing district. (Lat. 



2 5° I 5 / : long. ioo° 20'). 



This locality is situated in a ravine formed by a small stream 

 flowing from the north-east to join the Mung-hua Ho, about 2 

 miles to the east-south-east of Ta-tsang-kai, a village about 10 

 miles north of Mung-hua Ting on the Ta-li Fu route. 



The road is in good condition except for the last § mile, where 

 it ascends the narrower part of the ravine. Prospecting commenced 

 here in 1909 and when I examined the place in March 1910, work 

 was still in an exploratory stage. 



The country rocks consist of soft red and white sandstones 

 interbedded with well-laminated grey shales striking north-east to 

 south-west and dipping south-east at about 40°. Reddish grits 

 and conglomerates with quartz and other pebbles up to one inch 

 in diameter are common in the vicinity. These rocks belong to 

 the lower horizons of the Red Beds series. 



There are two inclined drives on the south bank, following a 

 well-defined shale band with its dip. The first of these was said 

 to be about 300 feet long, and enters the hill about 50 feet above 

 stream level. The portal was timbered but the face was not visible 

 as the drive was flooded. The second tunnel was 80 feet above 

 the stream and follows the same band with its dip slope. It was 

 commenced when the lower working was flooded out and had been 

 driven about 120 feet. The roof and sides were standing well 

 and no timbering was necessary. Traces of malachite were visible 

 in the roof. From specimens of ore shown to me at the mine, I 

 concluded that the shale contains pieces of bornite about the size 

 of pigeons' eggs coated with thin crusts of decomposed matter 

 containing green and blue carbonates of copper. The central cores 

 of the nodules were clean and of good appearance. No informa- 

 tion was obtainable as to the amount of ore extracted. 



