8 
On the Minerals of the 
[Jan. 
At Patharghdt again the same calcareous substance has flowed over a stratum of 
the red concrete sandy matter, mentioned as found there, and entering its crevices, 
has united with it into one mass. 
This calcareous matter at Paingti has also formed a very different substance from 
the above mentioned tufa , or at least has in decay suffered a great change of ap- 
pearance, forming a friable granular substance ; but it retains traces to show, that 
it has formerly resembled that which X suppose to have changed from the argillace- 
ous breccia. This is a very considerable mass, into which the cave under the old 
Mudursah, described in the topography, has been dug. 
In this portion of the district the quantity of metallic matter, in the form of ore, 
is not very considerable, and it is iron alone that has been discovered. The rich- 
est mines of Virbhum are close adjacent to its S. E. side, and probably are connect- 
ed with it in mineral affinity, for mines were formerly wrought at Virkati in Sultan- 
gunj, and at Kal.daspur, in Ambar, both on the eastern side of this division • but 
these have been abandoned, and are now entirely choked, so as to be inaccessible. 
The former were situated in a stratum strongly resembling the indurated clay of 
Jaypur, abovementioned ; and at Jaypur I found plates of iron ore, forming a mas. 
con iguous to that clay and separated from each other by argillaceous matter, 
strongly impregnated with iron. They are not attracted by the magnet have a 
somewhat conchoidal fracture, very fine compact grain, no lustre, a° venr dark 
reddish brown colour, and red streak. 3 
The finest iron mine, however, in the district, is on the hill named Ramkol a little 
south from Partapur, which I have already had frequently occasion to mention - 
but this also has been abandoned, the people in that vicinity having been totally 
abandoned to sloth. The mine is a horizontal stratum some way up the hill run 
ning to an unknown extent between two solid masses of whin or trap which com- 
pose the hill. The stratum of ore was said to have been about 7 feet perpendicular 
thickness ; but, having been wrought exactly in the same manner as the quarrv of 
khari on Modiram, the roof has fallen, and the exact dimensions cannot be ascer- 
tained. The whin immediately adjacent to the ore is decayed, or, as the natives 
not unaptly say, is dead, which rendered the precaution of pillars still more ne- 
cessary. The ore is of two natures. In the UDner nart nf tho * 
is called laU,«, and is attracted by the magnet , in the under pmVis^’ 
IS called kanya , and is not attracted. This is said to u Harder, 
it would appear to be specifically lighter and should th r ' °”' alth0 “S h 
metal. Both are black with a common lustre’ and confai er * fore contain least 
which to me give an appearance of its having’undergone' fusion Tr“- a ” d d ° tS ’ 
the only mine in the district, which Europeans would con a Th “ 15 P robabl 7 
. In this » art of *• strict, as we., as i„ theThW of“neT7d 
is a very common appearance which T ti.- i mineral divisions, there 
vapoum issuing fronTthe 
pebbles that are lying on the surface of the earth h fra & ments of stone and 
ish enamel, quite thin and superficial. The stonp«Tth C ° Vered witk a kind of brown- 
hmds, nor does any one in the same space seem to ““ C ° Ve, ' ed are of all different 
ittle distance, are in no manner affected. esca pe, while similar stones, at a 
In September 1810 at Masdhari Pahar about in 
the territory of the northern tribe of mountaineers C ° SS T' ^ Kalika P ur > in 
ace o t le hill, said to have been about 0 l C !“ Siderab . le s P ace ° f Cor- 
ing a cavity 10 or 12 cubits deep. The cavol fc 7 ’ SU “ k Awards, leav- 
oon ned. Tiie soil was a red clay, mixed with' ** T fiUed witb water, but 
termediate country was so inacces ib“ Z V ”T ° f st °ne. Th in- 
CUr,os “y- ’ ‘ hat 1 could “ot find means to visit this 
