242 



ON THE MINES AND MINERAL 



another superiority which is no inconsiderable one : a freedom from wa- 

 ter, and consequently, from the expence and trouble of drainage. One of 

 the effects of this advantage is, that the miners have been enabled to fol- 

 low the deposit of the ore, in all its ramifications and changes of direction : 

 and the interior of this mine, presents quite a different appearance from 

 that of others ; being a succession of chambers, situated at various levels, 

 and in various directions. 



The ore is of that kind called grey copper ; (the Fahler^ of the Ger- 

 mans.) Many species, chemically speaking, perfectly distinct, have been 

 confounded under this name. Four at least are certain — 'One of which con- 

 tains iron as well as copper ; two, iron and arsenic, but in different propor- 

 tions ; and the fourth, iron and antimony. They are all sulphurets, and 

 the yield of copper is from thirty to fifty per cent ; that is of the pure mi- 

 neral : for no working ore, can ever be expected to give that proportion. 

 The Dhanjmr ore, is the most valuable of the four : and contains fifty per 

 cent, of copper; besides iron, and sulphur. It is always amorphous, either 

 massive or disseminated. Green carbonate is sometimes found, but in 

 no quantity. 



The P6h'i mine, or mines, are situated in a talcose schist : which 

 on one side, passes into a talcose gneiss ; and on the other, into a chloritic 

 schist. All these rocks are so soft, and even rotten ; as to have render- 

 ed vain every precaution of the miner: and the galleries excavated, have 

 been constantly subject to accidents. When I visited the place: they 

 had all fallen in : and, there was no lessee. I was unable, therefore, 

 to procure proper specimens: and can only judge from the imperfect 

 indications observed, in examining the rubbish of the mine. These seem- 

 ed to point to, VITREOUS, and, purple copper ; the two most valuable 

 of the sulphurets : the former, yielding eighty per cent, metal. The 



waters ' 



i 



