dark
colored particles, which glitter when rubbed down with powder, a few of
which I have pricked out, and enclose for your inspection and kind
opinion. With thanks in anticipation."
Again
we are sorry to say that the report is not favourable, although the
sample is far too small, and from too near the surface, to enable a
proper decision to be arrived at. The particles are micaceous. From
Haputale we have :—
"
Per to-day's post I send you two samples, one of quartz and one of
sand. Do either of them contain gold, as I notice some yellow substance
among them ? I picked them up in one of the ravines on this estate."
These consist chiefly of mica. Again we have the following:—
"5th May 1881.
" Dear Sir,—Evidently
Ceylon must be simply teeming with gold, for I hear that the Sinhalese
say Balangoda is the district famous in olden times for that precious
metal. By today's post I send you a sample of what I believe to be
iron-pyrites, which is, I am told a sure indication of gold. Is such
the case?—Yours faithfully,
W."
Our
correspondent is correct in describing the sample as iron pyrites,
which is common where there is but little of gold. At the same time the
Balangoda, Ratnapura and Rakwana districts have long been reported to
be rich in gold as well as gems. Of gold specimens found near
Ratnapura, more anon. Meantime, perhaps the most promising specimens of
quartz we have received so far are from Kinrara estate, Matale. Without
being auriferous these are more like what experts wish to see in
looking out for a promising quartz reef. But it is not likely planters
can prospect to advantage without professional guidance or instruction.
We are reprinting as fast as possible all the information given in the Observer during
1854 and 1869 on the subject, including a practical paper on "How to
Find Gold," and the article on "Gold" from the latest number of the "
Encyclopaedia Britannica." All this will be a help to planting
prospectors. We have also been enabled to use the reports of Mr.
Saunders, when Assistant Agent at Ratnapura, in whose time gold dust
and nuggets were found in some considerable quantity. Mr. Wm. Murray,
an old Australian digger, then declared that the evidences were most
satisfactory ; while Mr. Brough Smyth, to whom some of the gold was
referred for report, expressed the opinion that the reef, the matrix,
could not be far off, the gold liaving the appearance of not having
travelled far. The Government of the day, however, threw cold
water on prospecting proposals, and nothing was done. We shall publish
Mr. Saunders' interesting Reports in the Observer, and the
Government Agent has also been good enough to leave with us a sample of
the gold found on that occasion which can be seen at the Observer Office:—a veritable proof, that there is " Gold in Ceylon."
THE DIAMOND DRILL AND THE EARTH SCOOP.
We
have received from Melbourne papers referring to these two
labour-saving appliances. The paper referring to the diamond drill is
printed in the form of a poster, being addressed " to the mining
community" by the Bendigo School of Mines and Industries. It contains
sketch sections, and patterns of diamond drills, with accompanying
letterpress. Figure I represents a bore sunk in the Bendigo district to
the depth of 825 feet, passing through alternate strata of sandstone
and quartz, gold having been struck at 390, 512, 606, and 706 feet. The
result of this has been to send up the shares of the Company (G. G.
Consolidated) from 6d to 8s 3d. The drill employed was one which could
operate only from the surface: if it could have been taken into the
mine to work from the lower levels the results would have been much
more important. This is being done in America, and figure 2 gives an
illustration of such workings at Silver Islet, Michigan, where the
drill occupy
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