Scien t ific In (ell igencc. 



[NO. 4, NEW SEMES, 



pect with case to select at least 10 or 12 cwts. perhaps more, which 

 will be nearly if not entirely pure and free from laterite, clays or 

 particles of quartz, and from which I hope that a fair estimate may 

 be formed of its commercial value, when the working of the mine 

 is properly conducted. 



u The plumbago deposit is at a place called Ponalaul in the Oola- 

 malakul Property about 10 miles from Trcvandrum in a North East 

 direction on the road to Arccnaud. It is found in a rather loose 

 gravelly laterite, and 4 or 5 feet below the surface. 



" A hole of about 15 to 20 feet diameter and about 4 to 5 feet 

 deep was first sunk to the plumbago which appeared to form a 

 nearly horizontal layer of from 1 to 2 feet in thickness, but its 

 breadth was not correctly ascertained. Having laid open the 

 whole surface of the plumbago in the pit, and as it seemed to tread 

 in a South West direction, a trench 13 C was dug from the well at 

 13 towards C about 18 feet long and 3£ to 4 |deep until the 

 plumbago vein or deposit was again met with, and it was traced as 

 far as C where a narrow trench was dug at right angles to B C, 

 and the Graphite was there again found. From the limited area 

 exposed in the original pit about lj ton of Graphite was obtained. 

 The deposit appeared to be extensive and traces of Graphite were 

 also discovered in other holes sunk at various distances from tho 

 main deposit. The total quantity of crude or uncleared ore 

 brought in was about 2,700 lbs., of which perhaps 3 or 400 lbs. 

 may have been strictly foreign matter or laterite clays, but in some 

 of the masses it required a good deal of trouble to get rid of the 

 clay which formed thin seams or partings in the masses of ore, and 

 which to separate entirely from some of the smaller lumps, requir- 

 ed a good deal of abrasion and loss. "With more care and leisure 

 which I could not at the time readily afford, I have no doubt I 

 might have obtained from 1,800 to 2,000 lbs., instead of as now 

 only 1,000 to 1,200 lbs. of pure Graphite from the crude collection 

 of 2,700 lbs. 



" The hire for digging the above 2,700 lbs. crude ore was about 3 

 Rupees, the carriage by men to Trevandrum 12 Rupees or total 15 

 Rupees or at the rate of about \ Rupee per 100 lbs., or for the 



