118 GOLD AND GEMS IN CEYLON.
surface;
no attempts having to this time been made at excavating, there being
not one mason or stone-worker in the district, nor a stone building of
any description except the ancient temples.
Iron.—The
varieties of iron met with are six in number: viz., magnetic iron ore,
titanate of iron, chromate of iron, iron with manganese, iron pyrites,
and yellow hydrate and red pseroxide of iron. The iron, however, in
most of these is scanty, and the ore of little
value except to extract the chrome and manganese. But there is. another
description of ore found in vast abundance, brown, compact, generally
in the state of carbonate, though still blinded with a little chrome,
and often with molybdena. This occurs in large masses and veins, one of
which I believe extends for a distance of fifteen miles. Of this,
millions of tons might be smelted, and when found near water-carriage
and fuel it may be worked to a profil. I would lay particular stress on
the very fine quality of the iron ore found in Ceylon; it is easily
smelted, and so pure when reduced, as to resemble silver. The rough ore
produces from 30 to 75 Per cent -- on an average fully 50 per cent; the
iron wrought from it requires no puddling, and steel thus made cuts-
glass like a diamond. From calculations carefully made, the metal
could, I think, be laid down in Colombo for about £6 per ton,
and this, supposing the ore had to be brought thither for smelting and
even prepared with English coal ; but anthracite, being found on the
spot, could be used in the proportion of three to one of English coal,
and much cost saved.
Remains
of ancient smelting furnaces are met with in all directions, precisely
similar to those now in use amongst the natives. The Sinhalese never go
to any trouble for the ore required; they seek a spot where the last
rains have loosened the soil, and there break out a sufficient
quantity, which is prepared in a couple of hours by the most simple
means. None of their furnaces can reduce more than twenty pounds of
ore, and this yields from seven pounds to ten pounds of good metal.
Manganese is
also found in considerable quantity, though not in such abundance as
iron, and the low price of the article does not hold out any inducement
to work it.
Chrome is
met with mostly as chromate of iron. It is found also of similar
character to that of Baltimore and the Ural. It might cost, when
brought to Colombo, three pence per pound, whilst the value in England
is represented to be about nine pence.
Nickel, in
the form of an arseniate, is found interspersed with many other ores in
the alluvium of this district; it exists in small flat pieces
resembling copper. It might be profitably exported to China, where it
is of value as a colouring matter. Nearly in the same state and
quantity, and in similar positions may be found Cobalt, another base of a fine colour and of value.
Tm.—-The
tin ores are also found in the alluvium just below the strata of
precious stones. The locality most favourable for the existence of tin
is decidedly in the eastern side of the district along the base of the
high mountain zone, and especially near the Edelgassina Pass. To work
tin mines here with success, it will be necessary, I anticipate, either
to reduce the height of the rivers or to employ powerful pumps in each
mine, so plentiful is the water and at so high a level. The position in
which this ore has been met with is precisely similar to that of the
ore in Saxony and Siberia, with tourmaline, white topaz, zircon,
garnet, and corundum.
Titan and Wolfram ores
are likewise found in the alluvium and in the iron and tin ores. They
are used in porcelain manufactures as colours forming a rich brown, a
steel green,- and steel yellow.
Molybdena.—Next
in abundance to iron exists molybdena in the Sabara-gamuwa district. It
is to be met with dispersed through all the varieties of rocks and
throughout the alluvium in small grey scales, so nearly resembling
plumbago that it is commonly taken for it. It is chiefly found in a
state of bisulphuret in the Cambrian and Devonian strata. The ore was
used in the
