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NELLORE MANUAL.

Copper ore.---Mr. Travers ' Report. - Leased out by Government. - Description of localities.---Mr. Simpson's Memorandum of successive experiments and failures .-- Mr. Campbell's last proposal. — Terms on which Government will grant leave for mining operations. — Iron ore.—Mr. Elton's Report. — Mr. Dykes' Report. — Manufacture of iron ore relieved from taxation .-- Salt and Saltpetre. — Mr. Whisb’s Report. — Mr. Dykes' Report. — Manufacture of saltpetre not to be taxed.— Nellore minerals in Government Central Museum. - Minerals of Madras Exhibition of 1857.—Dr. Hunter's list of sundry minerals.

1801 copper ore was discovered in this district. Mr. J. B. Travers, Collector, in letter to Board, dated 7th January 1803, submitted proposals from Captain Ashton for working the copper ore then lately discovered in the western pollums. The vein first discovered was near a village ( Yerrapilly ), and appeared to have been exhausted from excavations in the vicinity. The inhabitants said that copper had been made there in former times, they knew from tradition, but nothing more.

Subsequently very extensive veins were found in the neighbourhood of Gurmanipenta, four miles west of Yerrapilly. Mr. Travers opened two veins, which he followed about 20 or 30 feet. The openings were about four feet in diameter, and ran into the earth at about an angle of 45 degrees. The ore was found in masses, breaking off for two or three feet and again appearing. The veins ran obliquely towards the beds of the deep rivulets. The ore found at Gurmanipenta had a different appearance from that found at Yerrapilly, the latter not being so blended with spar as the former. Among the specimens were some very beautiful and perfect crystallizations and some pieces of a very dark iron appearance and a very black green, which two descriptions upon experiment with the blow pipe and a piece of charcoal were found to yield 75 per cent. of copper without the aid of any flux. Other specimens of ore by experiment by fire and acids were found to yield from 20 to 70 per cent. of metal. Specimens of the copper were sent home and assayed. Although not equally rich in the metal, they were found to be remarkably fusible, very free from iron, and consequently well adapted for sheathing. These mines were in consequence leased to a contractor for five years by the Government. It was thought that the direct interests of a speculator would naturally stimulate to greater exertion and a more economical expenditure in effecting the object than could be expected