POKHRI COPPER MINES

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Copper mines, which had been abandoned when inspected during the Kumaon survey (1815-1821) were represented by … mouths of the several galleries (HERBERT 1842: xcvi) that had been excavated from a beautiful emerald green straight laminar slate with high lustre passing so gradually into talcose schist of the palest colour, as to leave no doubt of their being but coloured modifications of the same rock (note 1). ETYMOLOGY: Little doubt remains that the place name Pokree (HERBERT 1842: Ixviii, xcvi; RECKENDORF 1845: 471) or Pokhri (ATKINSON 1882-1886 edited 1981, 2.1: 320) derives from the Kumaoni (Central Pahari) word -pokhri“ for a lake, pool or pond. SITUATION: On an unspecified the right side of the Douliganga (RECKENDORF 1845: 471) and somewhere in the vicinity of the village of Pokree (HERBERT 1842: Ixviii, xcvi; RECKENDORF 1845: 471-476) or Pokhri (ATKINSON 1882-1886 edited 1981, 2.1: 320) SITUATION 1843: Not seen: LUSHINGTON (1843) in: Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, vo. 12 (RECKENDORF, S 1845: 471). SITUATION 1845: After the commissioner, Mr. Lushington's report, Vol. XII. Journ. As. Soc. 1843, little remains to be said about the situation of these mines. Pokree is on the right, Dhanpoor on the left side of the Douliganga [Dhauliganga], both about six miles [10 km] horizontal distance from the river, and twelve miles between themselves. From Pokree I saw Dhanpoor distinctly, and it appeared about 1,000 to 1,500 feet [an estimated 300 to 450 m] higher situated. … The distance from Pokree to Almorah is perhaps one day's march farther than Almorah from the plains, to a point where several days' land-carriage for the metal from the river is required. Sreenugur [Srinagar] is yet nearer than Almorah, and even Hurdwar [Haridwar] can easily be reached from Sreenugur, by little flat boats steered by one man … (RECKENDORF, S 1845: 471, 474). GEOLOGY: The copper mines here are situated in the quartz or talc slate just described [see: note 1], a rock of o soft and tender a nature, as to form a very strong objection to the efficient working of them by its frequent failures in the different galleries. At the time I visited the place, they had all fallen in, and consequently no specimens of the ore were obtainable, except such as could be gleaned from the rubbish lying at the mouths of the several galleries. These pointed to vitreous copper, or the sulphuret [note 2], the richest ore known. Copper pyrites was also observed, and blue and green copper in small quantity ; whether the ore is in the form of veins or beds, it is impossible to judge in the present state of things. The water which issues from the galleries … is impregnated with the sulphate, and deposits sulphate of copper on the stones over which it flows. These mines evidently have been very productive, to judge by the extent to which they have been worked (HERBERT 1842: xcvii).. 12 (RECKENDORF, S 1845: 471). SITUATION 1845: After the commissioner, Mr. Lushington's report, Vol. XII. Journ. As. Soc. 1843, little remains to be said about the situation of these mines. Pokree is on the right, Dhanpoor on the left side of the Douliganga [Dhauliganga], both about six miles [10 km] horizontal distance from the river, and twelve miles between themselves. From Pokree I saw Dhanpoor distinctly, and it appeared about 1,000 to 1,500 feet [an estimated 300 to 450 m] higher situated. … The distance from Pokree to Almorah is perhaps one day's march farther than Almorah from the plains, to a point where several days' land-carriage for the metal from the river is required. Sreenugur [Srinagar] is yet nearer than Almorah, and even Hurdwar [Haridwar] can easily be reached from Sreenugur, by little flat boats steered by one man … (RECKENDORF, S 1845: 471, 474). GEOLOGY: The copper mines here are situated in the quartz or talc slate just described [see: note 1], a rock of o soft and tender a nature, as to form a very strong objection to the efficient working of them by its frequent failures in the different galleries. At the time I visited the place, they had all fallen in, and consequently no specimens of the ore were obtainable, except such as could be gleaned from the rubbish lying at the mouths of the several galleries. These pointed to vitreous copper, or the sulphuret [note 2], the richest ore known. Copper pyrites was also observed, and blue and green copper in small quantity ; whether the ore is in the form of veins or beds, it is impossible to judge in the present state of things. The water which issues from the galleries … is impregnated with the sulphate, and deposits sulphate of copper on the stones over which it flows. These mines evidently have been very productive, to judge by the extent to which they have been worked (HERBERT 1842: xcvii).