298 Silver Lead Ores of Kurnool and [No. 8, new series. 



working, and alihough I have above stated an amount I extracted 

 from a denned length, no conclusions are to be drawn from it of 

 any future yield. 



The chief value to be attached to them must of course be on 

 the large percentage of silver which has been shown to exist in 

 parts of the vein ; as regards the value of the lead, it is not pro- 

 bable that however productive in the crude ore a mine in either of 

 the places named might prove, the mineral could be profitably 

 worked for this metal only as an article for commercial export for 

 the requirements of the country, however, the present market price 

 of pig lead in Madras, viz., £29-10 (average) per ton offers an 

 ample margin for profitable working to meet these demands if not 

 too limited in amount. 



As the Government for Military purposes are large consumers 

 of this material, it would appear to me very desirable that some 

 small works partaking of the nature of exploring operations, but at 

 the same time with the view of supplying their Arsenals, &c, with 

 lead were to be undertaken by the Government, by these means 

 more satisfactory evidence would be obtained upon which to esta- 

 blish works on a larger scale either by the Government on its own 

 account or by any party of adventurers who might think favorably 

 of the circumstances. 



I am informed by the Inspector General of Ordnance and Maga- 

 zines that 100 tons of lead are annually required for the use of the 

 Army. 



In hard ground it is estimated that a vein of lead having width 

 of 3 to 4 inches, or that proportion of ore disseminated can be pro- 

 fitably worked : a heading or gallery five feet in height along such 

 a vein would yield 4,000 lbs. of ore, or somewhat above one ton of 

 metal when reduced for every six feet in length, 200 yards there- 

 fore of such a heading, would give 100 tons of metallic lead. 



It would be desirable to sink a small shaft at the bottom of 

 which such a heading could be executed ; at Coilcontlah arrange- 

 ments for pumping out the water would be requisite, with two 

 sets of the pumps in use in the Department Public Works, a depth 

 of about 20 yards from the surface might be reached. 



