PART 4.] 
Ball: Copper of Bhalbhum and Sing libitum. 
97 
Some of the manufactured copper was thus reported on at the Calcutta Mint:— 
“ Three slabs weighing about 139 lbs.; these were subjected to lamination and proved 
to be suited in all respects for purposes of coinage. The quality of this metal is excellent, 
being scarcely inferior to the best, equal to the average and decidedly superior to several ship¬ 
ments of imported copper.” 
(Sd.) B. Baied Smith, 
Mint Master. 
As it is almost impossible at the present day, without excavating in the mines to a 
considerable depth, to obtain more than a few specimens of the carbonates or oxides of 
copper which lie near the surface or incrust the walls of the galleries, it is most fortunate 
that we are able to avail ourselves of M. State's researches and opinions. His presence 
during the mining operations and subsequent examination of the ores in Europe have 
afforded him the most favorable opportunities for ascertaining the precise nature of the 
ores obtainable in the deep mines. 
It may be taken as a fact fully established by the analyses quoted above, that exceed¬ 
ing^' rich ores of copper do occur in Singhbhum. Before proceeding to the discussion of 
the practical question in reference to the possibility of working the ore with profit, it is 
necessary to allude to the— 
Metals in association with the Coppeb. 
It is a matter of the greatest importance to ascertain the proportion of other metals 
which ordinarily occur associated with the copper. Supposing the ore even not to contain a 
sufficient quantity of copper to make it pay to extract it alone, it might still, if it included 
precious metals, be worked with profit. Such is the caso with the argentiferous ore or 
Fahlerz from Eisleben in Prussian Saxony. 
In the assays of three specimens of ore by Messrs. Phillips and Darlington quoted above, 
the ounces of 'silver per ton of oro vary between 1 and 2j. M. State found traces, 
but only traces, of gold and silver; while Mr. Tween did not obtain even a trace in some 
ores and smelted copper which I brought from Jamjura. 
Small quantities of Bismuth were found in some of the ores. 
Having in the previous pages pointed out the two-fold manner in which the copper 
ores occur—both in lodes and in beds—and their quality, the discussion of the practical 
question whether the ores are such as can be worked with profit in this country may now 
he entered upon. The facts and collateral circumstances which must influence a decision 
may be grouped under the following heads :— 
I. Character of the ores and their mode of occurrence. 
II. Experience of previous miners, ancient and modern. 
III. Local circumstances.—Position of mines; Means of communication and distance 
of marts; Supplies of labor, fuel and lime; Proprietory; Climate. 
IV. Comparison with other countries where ores of similar character and occurring 
in a similar manner have been worked. 
I. Although rich ores exist, their mode of occurrence is so capricious and uncertain 
that working them must necessarily involve an enormous expenditure. 
Ores of very much inferior quality if they occurred with a continuous unbroken lead 
which could steadily be followed up by the miners might, even under various unfavorable 
conditions existing in Singhbteim, be worked with profit. 
M. State distinctly speaks of good ore having been found at many points, but in nearly 
all cases an unusual richness of the deposit proved to ho purely local and confined to nests 
which were speedily worked out, and unremunerative copper-permeated schist met with 
further down. 
II. Many of the ancient mines have been so thoroughly worked out that it is often 
impossible to find more than mere particles of carbonate incrustations. 
