OCT. — mar. 1858-59.] Silver Lead Ores in Kurneol District. 287 



ally the ore occurs extremely rich in the precious metal, it is usual 

 in the occurrence of argentiferous galena in England and else- 

 where, for it to be thus unequally distributed through the ore. 



The yield of metallic lead was ascertained, in the experiments 

 above alluded to, to be seventy per cent, of the dressed ore. 



The average yield of silver upon all English lead mines was, 

 in 1854, 16 J (sixteen and one-third) ounces per ton of lead, the 

 richest mine giving 84 (eighty four) ounces, the poorest 3j (three 

 and half) ounces per ton of metallic lead obtained in the year. 



With respect to the ore from Gazelpiilly, no further assays could 

 be made, the mineral lately received at the Mint from this place 

 proved, on inspection, to consist almost entirely of sulphate of 

 baryta, with traces only of galena in it. 



It is not however for silver only that the mines must be looked 

 upon as of importance ; the lead also is a valuable metal, the 

 crude ore, if obtained in moderate abundance, and without any 

 extraordinary expense on account of " dead-work" being in itself 

 of sufficient value for the lead only to bear considerable cost in 

 transit to any part where it may be required to be conveyed for 

 smelting. 



The prices of dressed lead ores realized at the 

 * North Wales. Holywell # sales varies from £i 0 -0-0 to £18-12-6 



per ton, containing the average per centage of silver, above stated, 

 for English mines. 



As an important feature in the Coilcontla mine, I may mention 

 that I am informed it is probable, the Northern Division of the 

 Madras Railway will pass within twenty or thirty miles of its site, 

 and as there does not appear to be much timber in this district, 

 the Railway when completed will offer a facility for conveying the 

 ore to any more convenient part of the country for the purpose of 

 being smelted. 



It is however upon the probable produce of the mines that the 

 main question depends, and I think it would be desirable for 

 Government to obtain, at some small cost, further evidence upon 

 this point. 



