OCT. — aijlr. 1858-59.] Stive?- Lead Ores in Kurnool District. 285 



On some of the Silver Lead Ores, in the Kurnool District. By P. 

 W. Wall, Esq. 



(Communicated by Government.) 

 Under the instructions .conveyed by Government, I have visited 

 the localities alluded of Gazelpully in the Nundicunnamah pass of 

 the Nullimallah Hills and Coilcontla in the Dhone Talook of the 

 Kurnool district. 



The mine near Gazelpully is situated about seven miles from this 

 village, and at the foot of the range of Hills forming the Eastern 

 Ghauts, which at this part are composed of sedimentary and me- 

 tamorphic rocks. 



The ore occurs in a matrix of sulphate of baryta, from the sam- 

 ples I was able to inspect, in very small quantity; — the indications 

 are such as to lead to the inference that further working would re- 

 veal the ore more abundantly distributed. 



The matrix however being a very friable material, the cheap 

 native labor of the district, used for breaking and picking the ore, 

 would greatly assist towards rendering the mining of very inferior 

 samples profitable. 



The character of the enclosing rocks, is rather favorable for the 

 execution of mining operations in them. 



The locality is a very dense jungle ; timber adapted for mining 

 purposes and which is required to be of strength and durability 

 under exposure in wet and damp situations, could no doubt be ob- 

 tained from it, the ore could also by means of the charcoal procur- 

 ed from this jungle be smelted in the neighbourhood. The clear- 

 ing of the jungle possibly reducing the feverish nature of the district. 



The Coilcontla mine is situated amidst Hills of Granite and 

 other primitive rocks, the ore occurs in a very hard silicious matrix, 

 occasionally very much disseminated through it, much would there- 

 fore, require to be crushed and washed, to separate the ore from 

 the enclosing gangue, this would be done with somewhat more 

 labor and difficulty than when dealing with the Gazelpully ore, the 



Vol. xx. o. s. Vol. v. n. s. 



