PART 1.] 
Hall: Gold in Singh/mm, Sfc. 
11 
The occurrence of a sharply defined terrace of older alluvium round the west base of 
the Garo hills, and corresponding with the well known Madhoopoor jungle deposits in the 
plains to the south, is noticed with reference to the changes that have atfected the delta of 
the great rivers. 
October 1868. 
On the occurrence of Gold in the district of Singbhdm, &c., by Val. Ball, Esq., 
Geological Survey of India. 
The existence of gold in the districts of the south-west frontier of Bengal and in the 
neighbouring tributary states has long been known. It is found not only in the sands of 
many rivers and streams, but in some instances it has been mined for in the alluvial and 
other superficial deposits. 
Colonel Haughton in his interesting memorandum ‘On the geological structure and 
mineral resources of the Singhbhum Division,* has given an account of the gold washing, 
and enumerated several localities where gold mining had been, or was, at the time of bis 
visits, carried on. He also quotes from a letter from Mr. Kobinson in which that gentleman 
states the results of his attempts to establish gold-mining under European superintendence. 
At Eohobe in Oodipur where operations were commenced and shewed some prospect 
of being fairly remunerative, the climate proved so “hot and unhealthy” that it was found 
that no European could live there, and the works wore given up. 
Colonel Haughton says that “ the metal was found some years ago in considerable lumps 
in the Sona Nuddee of Sonapet in Tamar on the northern extremity of Singhbhum, 
“ and much is still found there.” 
I have invariably found that the washers have traditions of nuggets having been found 
at intervals. 
Tho cases of the gold having been found in situ are undoubtedly rare. Colonel Haughton 
speaks of it occurring in (in situ?J “a little north of Assuntitlea in Khursowa,” 
hut further on he states “ I have not heard of any instance in which tho metal has been 
found attached to a stone, so that the former statement must only mean to imply that it is 
mined for in superficial deposits.” Dr. Emil Stoelir statesf that traces of gold were found 
in the copper ores of Singh hum. 
A Mr. Emerson was specially employed by the Singbhum Copper Company to investi¬ 
gate the gold resources of the country. Ho is said to have crashed a quantity of quartz 
and to have found traces of gold in it; but his operations do not appear to have been suffi¬ 
ciently successful to encourage him to continue. 
When in Chaibassa last April, I was shewn a small nugget of gold in a quartz 
matrix. It was said to have been obtained in the Kappergudee Ghat near Kalkapur 
in Dholbhum. 
It is not within the scope of the present paper to give a complete resume of all that is 
recorded on the subject, hut rather to give an account of what has actually come under my 
own observation in those portions of the districts which have been examined geologically. 
During the season of 1866-67, Mr. Ormsby and myself fanciod we were able to connect 
the occurrence of gold in the streams with the existence of certain submetamorphic rocks 
(magnesium and mica schists, slates and quartzites) which were then for the first time met 
with in M&nbhum. 
Being anxious to put this connection to as I'igid a test as circumstances would admit of, 
and wishing to define, if possible, the exact boundaries within which gold certainly exists 
and may ho reasonably looked for, I with some difficulty persuaded two gold washers (man 
* 
* J. A. S. li. XXIII, p. 103, 1851. 
n t 11 if f ' Bemorkupgeii tiber don District Singhblium in Bencaien. Viortcl Jahrs'sclirift der Naturforschendeu 
Gesclschatt, Zurich, oth year, Part i, i860. 
