or later, gold-mining will be established, as an important industry in Southern India.
The
retardation of this event will be caused, not by the meagreness of the
resources—they are large,—but probably by the mistaken notion that
where-ever there is gold, all the care, all the forethought that would
be deemed requisite in other pursuits may be disregarded in conducting
mining operations.
We
have little doubt of a report as favourable being the result of a
similar examination of much of our hill-country; while in reference to
the working of the reefs, the convenience for transporting machinery,
the available water power, the supply of labour and the healthfulness
of the climate, there can be no question that Ceylon presents very
great advantages.
GOLD AND GEMS IN CEYLON. (From the Veylon Observer, April 25th, 1881.)
We
have received from Mr. Anwardt specimens of quartz from his property,
Mount Pleasant, near Galle. In these there is no appearance of gold,
but a good deal of bUck mica. In some samples previously furnished, Mr.
A. C. Dixon discovered traces of gold. The professional reports of this
gentleman have also been laid before us, and we may extract a few
passages to shew his opinion of the prospects of gold reef being found
in the Southern Province near Galle. On the 15th December last, Mr.
Dixon wrote:—
"I
have examined the specimens of gold, gems and bag of sand which I
received from you on the 9th instant with the following result:—
"a. The small nugget was pure gold and weighed over 6 grains.
"b The stones in the paper parcel were fragments of gems such as corundum, sapphire, garnets, tourmaline, zircon, &c.
"c. The bag of sand contained fragments of the same mineral as >>, abounding especially in garnets, I did not find any gold in the sample se.it in bag."
On the 27th December, after a personal visit, Mr. Dixon was able to say:—
"
I saw the man who found the gold and examined the place from which he
took it. I requested him to dig more and wash it in my presence, after
which I examined the residue. I found no trace of gold in it, but
numerous fragments of gems and quartz. I then followed up the ravine to
its source with the expectation of finding a quartz reef from which the
gold might have come. I found two small reefs crossing the ravine and
took specimens from them. These I have examined and find only a slight
trace of gold not in quantity to warrant its working. There is evidence
of the occurrence of gems in the vicinity. I saw several which had been
taken from the opposite side of the hill, and judging from these they
appear to be of as good a quality as the gems at Ratnapura but not so
large in size. They were chiefly ruby, sapphire, tourmaline and cat's
eye. I have no doubt larger ones will be found. I spoke to your kangani
respecting the quartz reefs and have no doubt that if they were broken
into, it would set the matter at rest as to whether gold is to be found
there in quantity worth working. From what I saw it did not appear to
be so."
Again:—
"I have examined the specimens of quartz sent on the 17th March ami fin J in it slight traces of gold at the rate of a few grains per
ton. There is other metallic matter in the quartz, viz. iron as a
sulphide. 1 have no doubt from what I saw when there that better
samples will be sent you."
So
far therefore search at Galle has been unsuccessful, although Mr. Dixon
holds out encouragement to persevere in blasting for a reef. We trust
Mr. Auwardt's further efforts, may be crowned with success.
We learn that the result of Mr. Harvey's hurried visit to the Dolosbage, Matale and Ambagamuwa districts has been to leave matters very much as they were, save that certain out-crop3 of quartz were pronounced non-auriferous and
