DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2375#0391
378
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
Kemodu.
Common iron
ore.
CHAPTER Intermixed with theKemodu are other masses of a similar appearance,
XIX. kut which are useless. On breaking these, they are found to he in
May f. all intermediate stages ot maturation, from the common rock before
described, to almost perfect ore.
Source of the On ascending the eastern bank of the rivulet, beyond the mine
of Kemodu, I came to a conical peak on the eastern ridge; and
observed, that all the stones on its side were stained with the steel
grey of that ore. I saw none perfect on it; but on breaking the
stones I found them in all stages, from the rude rock, to a state
approaching to maturity. Indeed, many grains of pure Kemoclu were
very discernible, imbedded thickly in the substance of these
stones.
Immediately south from this, is the peak called Doda Rashy Guda,
-whence the iron ore which supplies the forges is procured. This
ore is quite the same with the black kind at Cudera Camvay, but it
is disposed in adifferent,manner. It is imbedded in large irregular
cavities of the barren stone, or matrix. This consists of plates that
are separable without much difficulty, and which, I have no doubt>
are the brown layers of the common stone of the hill separated by
the white ones having been corroded by iron. It is, no doubt, a
primeval rock ; and its strata may be traced running in the direc-
tion of the meridian, and in general vertically. The ore is simi-
larly composed of plates; and fibres of the roots of plants are found
to have penetrated into the interstices; but this, lam inclined to
think, has happened after the surface has been exposed by the
miners. I also suppose, that the ore has once been the common
stone of the hill, and has afterwards been more and more impreg-
nated with iron by some process unknown to us; in the same man-
ner as, I suppose, has taken place in the ore called Kemodu. The
various gradations from the perfect stone to the perfect ore is the
circumstance that induces me to rorm this opinion. A portion of
the rock, having been cut down with a vertical smooth face
about three feet deep, presented an appearance similar to that in
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
Kemodu.
Common iron
ore.
CHAPTER Intermixed with theKemodu are other masses of a similar appearance,
XIX. kut which are useless. On breaking these, they are found to he in
May f. all intermediate stages ot maturation, from the common rock before
described, to almost perfect ore.
Source of the On ascending the eastern bank of the rivulet, beyond the mine
of Kemodu, I came to a conical peak on the eastern ridge; and
observed, that all the stones on its side were stained with the steel
grey of that ore. I saw none perfect on it; but on breaking the
stones I found them in all stages, from the rude rock, to a state
approaching to maturity. Indeed, many grains of pure Kemoclu were
very discernible, imbedded thickly in the substance of these
stones.
Immediately south from this, is the peak called Doda Rashy Guda,
-whence the iron ore which supplies the forges is procured. This
ore is quite the same with the black kind at Cudera Camvay, but it
is disposed in adifferent,manner. It is imbedded in large irregular
cavities of the barren stone, or matrix. This consists of plates that
are separable without much difficulty, and which, I have no doubt>
are the brown layers of the common stone of the hill separated by
the white ones having been corroded by iron. It is, no doubt, a
primeval rock ; and its strata may be traced running in the direc-
tion of the meridian, and in general vertically. The ore is simi-
larly composed of plates; and fibres of the roots of plants are found
to have penetrated into the interstices; but this, lam inclined to
think, has happened after the surface has been exposed by the
miners. I also suppose, that the ore has once been the common
stone of the hill, and has afterwards been more and more impreg-
nated with iron by some process unknown to us; in the same man-
ner as, I suppose, has taken place in the ore called Kemodu. The
various gradations from the perfect stone to the perfect ore is the
circumstance that induces me to rorm this opinion. A portion of
the rock, having been cut down with a vertical smooth face
about three feet deep, presented an appearance similar to that in