MINERAL PRODUCTIONS OF THE TENASSERIM PROVINCES. 736 
and an “amorphous” carbonate ore yielding 83 per cent of pure 
metal. ^ 
The known sites of the above deposits are 
1. In the Paguh range of limestone hills which occur between 
the Yen-bani and Thoung yeen rivers, having a course parallel to 
that of the Salween river. 
2. In the mountain limestone ranges situated between the Hloni 
Bwai and the Salween. 
3. In the same formations crossing the upper waters of the 
Houndran river in the bed of which the carbonate ore occurs in 
mass. 
4. On the Zemmee river in the cavernous limestone near its 
source, and 
5. At the head waters of the Toung-Byoulc stream, which pierces 
the upraised limestone beds. 
Analysis of the three kinds gives as follows:— 
Lamillar ore Cube ore Granular ore 
Lead. 76. 00 81. 00 81. 57 
Sulphur.. . 19. 00 16. 24 15. 00 
Silver a trace 
and a specimen of compact steel grained variety of galena from the 
Pagali range gave by analysis— 
Lead.80. 24~] 
Sulphur.i.14. 06 > Spec. grav. 7. 2. 
Silver. 4. 12J 
The indications of the deposits of this metal are too numerous to 
admit of a doubt of its existence in these provinces, to an extent that 
might offer good and sufficient inducement to its being worked. The 
little that is known however of the localities of these deposits, the 
facilities they offer for a successful undertaking, and their richness and 
extent, is so meagre, that without a strict and searching investiga¬ 
tion of these points, no operation of the kind could be undertaken 
with that security, which must form the basis of all operations of 
the kind. With such evidence of the existence of these deposits, it 
would not be overstepping the bounds of ordinary expectation to 
look forward to the discovery of some valuable ores both of lead, 
copper, and silver, as the result of a minute examination of the vast 
metallic matrix formed by the ranges of mountain limestone within 
the British boundary of these provinces ; the existence of the two 
latter ores has in fact being clearly established, but their sites for 
reasons already stated are known only to the Karens of the jungles. 
The low value of the common galena ores in the English mar¬ 
ket, renders it doubtful whether mining operations for its extraction 
exclusively would be profitable, even with the advantages of water 
carriage from the vicinity of its deposits ; but in the varieties which 
exist, perhaps in the same formation, “ an argentiferous galena” 
may be discovered possessing a per centage of silver which would 
amply repay an investment of capital therein. 
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