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86
GOLD IN CEYLON.
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matters were not
uncommon. This must have come from some quartz reef further up in the
hills. Its occurrence on this river is referred to in the "
Kadajurepattu."
A
second instance of its occurrence in this form was in the Galle
district, where a small nugget was taken from the alluvium accumulated
in one of the ravines; it weighed over six grains, and was associated
with fragments of gems, such as sapphire, garnet, chrysoberyl,
tourmaline, &c, as well as of sulphides of some rare metals. This
deposit was due to disintegration from the matrix in which they
occurred originally. I followed up the ravine to its head with the
expectation of finding quartz reef from which the gold must have been
dislodged, and found two small reefs crossing the ravine. I took
specimens from these and found traces of gold, but not in sufficient
quantity to warrant its being worked. I have had further specimens from
these reefs of a much better character.
In
the second form it occurs in the Ramboda district, Central Province,
where several remarkable reefs strike across the valleys.
In
the third form it occurs in the pyrites of the gem-pits in the
Ratna-pura-Rakwana districts, but only in very small quantity.
From the little I have seen, it is my opinion that considerable quantities will yet be brought to light.
"GOLD IN CEYLON." (From the Ceylon Observer, May n, 1881.)
We may have to consider the propriety of taking a small contract for the supply
of quartz to the breakwater if the present liberal receipt of
rock-specimens from would-be gold-seekers continues! As a rule,
however, the pieces which reach us do not afford a fair criterion of
the quartz reefs, the specimens being taken from the surface. Among the
acknowledgements we have to make are the following:—
A
correspondent writes :—" Agra Patanas, May I.—I herewith send per this
post a sample of what, I suppose, is either metallic matter or gold
amalgam, i.e a mixture of gold and quicksilver, found in the
bank of a stream. There are traces of it all through, but it is
confined more towards the source, where marks of working still exist.
The Sinhalese must have had some object in view some years back or they
wouldn't have laboured hereabouts. Please give me your candid opinion."
There
is no gold in what our correspondent sends: the shining particles were
pronounced by Mr. Macdonald Cameron to be all mica.
Another
correspondent writes:—" Wallaha, May 2nd.—I have sent off to-day from
here a small box containing a piece of quartz. Two pieces (small ones)
wrapped up in paper have CQme off the same piece as sent, and seem to
show decided signs of gold to the naked eye. Trusting it may turn out
well."
We
regret to say again that Mr. Macdonald Cameron pronounced against the
chance of gold being found in this block of quartz: it is pyritous, the
outer portion being marked by feldspar, but it is impossible to judge
from the specimen sent of what the quartz reef proper may be like. The
small piece sent is more promising, but it is iron pyrites rather than
gold that glistens. Specimens of quartz to affoid a fair idea of the
quality of a reef should be taken from a depth of 8 or 10 feet, but
planters would require to understand a little how to explore their
ravines for the outcrop of a reef (not so much of a bed) of quartz and
then to note accurately its dip and have it traced before proceeding te
dig or blast for a sample.
" A Maskeliya correspondent writes :—
"
I have a reef of quartz which, I would fain hope, is auriferous, though
I fear it is more likely to be ferruginous! The quartz is dotted
through with
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