727 MINERAL PRODUCTIONS OF THE TENASSERIM PROVINCES. 
.Rs. 11. 6 As. 
„ 13. 4 
” 1 13. 10 
the experimental 
These tin beds are composed of the debris of granitic rocks mix¬ 
ed with the ore, which varies in size of crystal from that of fine 
sand, to that of an ordinary quartz pebble j their extent is unknown, 
and the depth of the metallic deposit at the principal workings, 
from seven to twelve feet; those at Mallevan being superior in 
this respect. Some of these deposits contain a small quantity of iron 
either as an oxydulated iron sand, or tungstate of iron ; but the 
general quality of the ore may be stated as being a pure peroxide, 
yielding a produce ef 70 to 75 per cent of pure metal:—specimens 
of cleaned ore sent to England have been reported upon as yielding 
75 per cent of metal, and worth in that state £46 per ton. 
The following statement shews the ascertained relative qualities, 
and the cost of production of the tin deposits of Banka, the Malay 
Peninsula, and these Provinces at a cost of per cwt. 
100 parts Banka ore yield 58 parts of metal. 
do. Malay Peninsula do 65-77 .... do. 
do. Mergui Province „ 70-75 .... do. 
do. Kaban lode Tin „ 80-82 .... do. 
the latter cost of production is deduced from __ __ 
labor of several parties hired for the occasion, and is averaged from 
the produce of several stream localities ;—such data is obviously 
defective, but the draw-backs attending all trial operations of the 
kind, will prove perhaps considerably above the rate at which the 
Chinese miners produce the metal; from whom however a truthful 
statement so immediately affecting their own interests is not to be 
expected ; but from the greater facility afforded in the extraction 
of the ore at Kahan and its greater purity, it will be seen from the 
following extracts from the Captain Tremenheere’s report that the 
cost of production would approach that of Banka. 
Extracts from Captain Tremenherre’s report to Government on 
the tin deposits of the Mergui provinces. (31st August 1841.) 
“ The streams themselves are rich in tin, which may be collected 
from the beds in considerable quantities. The process by which it 
has been deposited for long periods and for many miles along the 
line of valleys throughout which they flow, appears to be in active 
operation at the present day—crystals of the per-oxide of tin 
washed down by the rains and deposited with sand and gravel 
in their beds may, by changes of the rivers caused during the 
freshes, be quickly covered with a few feet of gravel and soil. The 
older deposits have, as far as my observation extends at present, 
the same alluvial character, and it would be well in future operations 
to have regard to the levels in which the streams may have former¬ 
ly run. 
“ First locality visited.—The Theng-dau river on the great Tenas- 
serim. Ashan employed for the purpose collected at this spot 
11,889 ars. of ore, equal to 190.198 grs. pure metal, in an hour 
and a half. 
