PACHIKHANI MINES
27.250000,88.583300
Description
At least five copper mine drifts (about 1.2 m high, 0.9 m wide and up to 17 m deep) near the village of Pachikhani (note 1) on the road to Gangtok (note 2), which contain speleothems »stained green by carbonate of copper« (note 3), were worked in1871 (note 4) and partly abandoned in 1899 (WADDELL 1899a) but »have not proved remunerative« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 22: 370). SITUATION 1899: »Up this valley, through old clearings on the hillside now overgrown with rang smelling wormwood [Artemisia var.], we passed some copper mines on our right. These copper mines are worked on very primitive and wasteful principles, and entirely by Nepalese lessees, for the superstitious Sikhimese intensly dread all mining operations. They believe that the ores and veins of metals are the stored treasure of the earth spirits; and that the removal of this treasure enrages these malignant spirits, who visit the robbery with all sorts of ill-luck, plagues of sickness on men and cattle, and failure of their too scanty crops. The Nepalese call these mines khani or panch-khani, and use the copper chiefly for their coinage. Thence through more stretches of wormwood, which with the American ageratum seizes all the fallow fields, we reach the village of Mik (3,700 feet) on the shoulder of Siok-vok, or the "Stair of the Rhinocerus." These animals were once common here, says tradition, but now they are not to be found within fifty miles down the valleyes. It is to be noted, however, that "Silok" is also the name of a giant tree (Terminalia penteptera) that is found here. We soon gained the ridge leading up to the graceful mountain, Tendong [N27°11': E088°25': 2924 m asl]. Here the headman invited us to sit down in front of his house, and treated us to Murwa beer. Then continuing our ascent, we reached Namchi (5,608 feet) and pitched our tents in a grove of chestnuts near the so-called "fort" of the feudal chief of this part of Sikhim, the Lasso Kazi« (WADDELL 1899a: 101). SITUATION 1928: »Pachikhani.– The only place besides Rathokhani [note 5] where copper ores are worked at present. The old mines, which are now deserted, were situated close to the junction of the Rorochu [note 6] and the Rahrichu streams [note 7], just by the Gangtok road. The mines worked at present occur a mile [1.608 km] further north, about 3 miles [5 km (note 8) in a direct line] south of Pakyang [note 9], also close to the Gangtok road« (Bose, P N in: RISLEY 1928: 66, 67-68) DESCRIPTION: »The Sikkim mines greatly resemble magnified rabbit-holes: meandering passages are excavated with little or no system beyond following, as far as posible, the direction of the richest lodes. … The shafts are always driven vertically in from the face of a cliff or declivity … The passages vary according to the height and thickness of the lode, and average about three to four feet in height and width; but where the rock has not yielded a paying proporton of ore, they are contracted to a size barely sufficient to admit a man's body. Access to the interior of the mines, therefore, is gained by crawling on "all fours," and in the narrowest parts by laying flat on the face and progressing after the manner of serpents. As a natural consequence … the excavations cannot be carries beyond a very trifling depth …« (Bose, P N in: RISLEY 1928: 63-64). »At Pachikhani, … the deepest mine goes down only to about 55 feet [16.8 m]. … The roofs of the galleries in the old Pachikhani have fallen in … At the entrance of one of the galleries I found stalactitic and stalagmitic deposits [speleothems] stained green by carbonate of copper … There are five principal galleries. The drift which was being worked at the time of my visit was found to be about 4 feet in height [1.2 m] and 3 feet in width [0.9 m]. The roof is supported by timbering on a large scale. Chips of bamboo are used as lights …« (Bose, P N in: RISLEY 1928: 66). »The roofs of the galleries in the old Pachikhani have fallen in [11th April 1891], as is the case with all deserted mines. At the entraance of one of the galleries I found stalactitic and stalagmitic deposits stained green by carbonate of copper, also traces of copper pyrites in slaty rocks. The dip is north-eastern; but on the east side of the Rorochu, it is E.S.E. The stream probably marks the position of a fault« (Bose, P N in: RISLEY 1928: 67).
NOTE 1: »Pachay Khani« (ROCK 1953: 948) and »Panch Khani« (WADDELL 1899a: 110) corresponds to the »Pachikhani« (Bose, P N in: RISELY 1928: 63; IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 22: 370). NOTE 2: The »road to to Gangtok« (N27°20': E088°37') is the National Highway 31A, which arrives from Kalimpong (N27°04': E088°29', in West Bengal state) to Gangtok (N27°20': E088°37') to run via Rangpo (N27°11': E088°32') to Mangan in North Sikkim. NOTE 3: »Copper ores are very widespread in Sikkim. The ore is copper pyrites, often accompanied by mundic, and occurs chiefly in the Daling beds. It is generally disseminated in slates and schists, and seldom occurs in true lodes. The analysis of a sample taken at random from the deeper part of a copper mine at Pachikhani gave 20.3% of copper« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 22: 370). »… the ore in one case at least, tht of Pachikhani, appears to occur in true lodes« (Bose, P N in: RISELY 1928: 63). NOTE 4: The area has been flocked by immigrants from Nepal since 1871 (ROCK 1953: 948). NOTE 5: »Rathokhani … close to the village of Chakang. The mines here are the oldest in Sikhim, and were in working at the time of Mr. Mallet's survey of the Darjeeling district [MALLET, F R 1874: 75]« (Bose, P N in: RISELY 1928: 71). NOTE 6: »Rorochu« (Bose, P N in: RISELY) or »Roro Chu« (AMS sheet NG45-04 Phari Dzong, U502 series, 1963 edition) and »Rora Chhu« on the tourist map "Sikkim" (1995, Madras: TTK Pharma Ltd) joins near N27°17': E088°36') the Takchom Chhu / Tukchom Chu. NOTE 7: »Rahrichu« (Bose, P N in: RISELY 1928) or Rahri Chu, Ruhri Chhu is not identified. NOTE 8: »It may be observed that distances throughout this paper are measured as the crow flies« (Bose, P N in: RISELY 1928: 69 note). NOTE 9: »Pakyang« (Bose, P N in: RISELY 1928) is indicated as »Pakhyang« near N27°14': E088°36' on AMS sheet NG45-04 Phari Dzong (U502 series, 1963 edition).
Documents
Bibliography 01/05/2016Histoire
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1871: »Since the iron bull year of the 15th century of the Tibetan era [1871], there was an influx of Gorkhalis from the neighbouring Sate of Nepal. These new comers were Newars, Bahoons, Chettris, Mangars, Jimdars and Gurungs. They filled Dallam, Chakung, Namchi, Namthon and Tsadam Rhenock, and the Pachay-khani-copper mines. From these the revenues were assessed in cash, and development continued« (History of Sikkim, folio 43, in: ROCK 1953: 948).1891.04.11: Bose, P N (in: RISELY 1928: 67) visited.
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14.0 | SITHA LINGDING | ||
| 14.9 | SING DANG (Cave near) | ||
| 17.1 | BE PHUG | ||
| 17.2 | PHIM LEB CAVE, Lingmo | ||
| 27.8 | KAHDO SANG PHUG | ||
| 29.0 | Unboo Lep | ||
| 29.0 | TSE CHU PHUG 2 | ||
| 29.0 | TSE CHU PHUG | ||
| 37.7 | DARJEELING, Observatory Hill top (Cave at) |