S74 
MANGANESE DEPOSITS OF INDIA: MINING. [PaRT III 
except what they can blend in with the highest grade ores without the 
product falling below the standard. But much of such ore as is rejected 
could probably, with a little trouble in cleaning it, be sold at a profit, at 
least at times of high prices. It seems moreover to be overlooked in 
India that much of the ore that is rejected because it is too high in 
silica, although it is not very much below marketable standards as 
regards manganese contents, could be worked up into a merchantable 
product by crushing and concentrating. Each particular case would 
., r , . need investigation to see if such a process 
Possibility ot washing, . ^ _ 
concentrating, and briquet- could be Commercially successful, considering 
ting, smalls and fines. ^-^^ distance of the markets. But I think that in 
many cases the treatment of this ore would pay, at least at times of high 
prices. And in the event of the ore being smelted in this country for 
the manufacture of ferro-manganese there could be little doubt of the 
financial possibility of such a project. It is probable, however, that, if 
the Indian manganese operators have considered any such project, they 
have rejected it because they can supply all demands from the easily- 
won lump-ore of high grade, and not because they have seriously 
determined that it would be financially impossible. In case then the 
Indian manganese operators are content to make use only of the high- 
grade lump-ores, I think they should recognize that they are probably 
throwing away large quantities of material that has a possible value 
in the present and a more probable value in the futui-e, and that they 
should make some attempt to stack the lower grade and siliceous ores 
separately from the waste thrown on the dumps. 
Methods of Mining, Washing, Briquetting-, etc., used 'Abroad. 
The reasons why I think that washing, and concentrating if necessary 
the fines, and crushing and concentrating the low-grade ores at present 
thrown away, and in either case either bagging or briquetting the product, 
could be made a commercial success, is that it has been done in several 
cases before in other parts of the world. Thus Mr. H. Kilburn Scott 
. ., in some notes appended to a letter sent to me 
Briquetting in Brazil. . -,,^r^n e i i • 
m February l!»Ob refers to the briquetting of 
manganese- ores in Brazil as follows : — 
'The Usina Wigg, the principal mine operator in the Ouro Preto Branch Line 
deposits, commenced last year the erection of a pUxnt for briquetting the finely 
divided ore after reducing its moisture contents. 
