PART 2.] 
King: Gold-fields of S.-E. Wynad, 
43 
The average proportion of gold for fifteen trials on different reefs is at the rate of seven 
pennyweights to the ton; and it is almost certain, that many of these would have given 
a better outturn, could more perfect crashing apparatus have been used at the time. 
The fineness or touch of the ore is inferior to that of Australia, but it compares favor¬ 
ably with Californian reef gold. The percentage of 86'86 is given above as a fair average, 
for on looking at the differences between alluvial and matrix gold in other regions, it is 
found that they agree very closely with the difference between this sample and the alluvial 
ore of the upland ; while the assays of the Skull reef, and the upland and low country 
washings do not exhibit any gradation consistent with the amount of exposure to which the 
two alluvial golds must have been subjected. 
In Australia these ratios are as follows : 
C. 
C.g. 
Percentage of 
pure gold. 
Alluvial gold 
... 23 
If 
... 97-500 
Matrix gold 
... 22 
Of ... 
... 92-875 
Difference 
1 
Of 
... 4-625 
Californian tables give about the same 
difference, but the 
fineness of the gold 
lower, viz., 21 c. 0 eg. or 88'00. 
The Wynad experiments give— 
C. 
c.g. 
Percentage of 
pure gold. 
Alluvial 
... 21 
3f 
... 91-95 
Matrix 
... 20 
2f ... 
... 86-86 
Difference 
... 1 
H ... 
5-09 
This close approach of differences for the three countries implies also that a richer gold 
than this is not to be expected from the reefs; though it must not be forgotten, as already 
stated, that the ore from the small veins and leaders is evidently superior. 
The reefs are easily got at, the gneiss traversed by them being often wonderfully decom¬ 
posed almost to any reasonable depth. For a long time there may be no necessity for deep 
sinking, as a large quantity of stone is held in the many rounded hills so common over the 
country, and thus little trouble is to be anticipated in getting rid of water in the mines 
when drives can always be made at low levels. The very prevalent idea that the gan<nre 
must necessarily he richer the deeper it is searched, will doubtless he brought to bear on any 
mining which may be carried out; but the safer plan in a preliminary opening up of a 
country like this will be to work at what will pay, rather than venture to mine ground 
requiring expensive pumping apparatus, in which there is—after all that has been written 
on the subject—no absolute knowledge that there must be more gold. It is worthy 
of notice that the present surface of Wynad has probably only been exposed after a slow 
wearing away of over 2,000 feet of superincumbent gneiss which was once continuous 
between the Ailgiri mountains and the Aellaramulla range, in which also these quartz veins 
may have been continued in their upward hade to the westward; and supposing that reefs 
become richer in depth, then the richness now got of 7 pennyweights, by denudation of 
2,000 feet, is not any great increase on whatever may have been the state of things at the 
then higher outcrop; while, if the same ratio of increase is to be counted on, any further 
considerable increment of gold can only be expected at a greater depth than is likely to be 
reached on the plateau. A reasonable view is that the occurrence of rich streaks of gold 
will be exceedingly variable ; while the prevalence of very fine gold dust in Malabar indi- 
