'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME I' [‎256v] (529/820)

492
MAD-MAD
eiders that the great fall in the price of turquoises in Europe is mainly
due to the quantity of stones of these and of the Sar-i-Ra’ish mines, which
have been sent to Europe and kept moist in damp earthenware pots till
they were sold. Out of the damp they lost their colour, and in a year
or two thus became quite faded. European jewellers in consequence have
at present no confidence in these turquoises, and buy at very low prices.
The next and last, and also most westerly valley is the one with the
Kamari mine. This mine is full of water at present, and several attempts
made to empty it have failed. It has some thick veins of turquoises; but the
stones are of no use for rings, being usually worked into armlets, seals, etc.
A little to the south of the ’All Mirzai mine lies the Khujuri mine—
very extensive, but partly filled up. It had sixty years ago very good tur
quoises, but at present it is not worked. There are many more mines
with names, perhaps a hundred, and more than a hundred nameless ones ;
but they are either parts of those already enumerated or unimportant.
Work in these mines is carried on with picks and crowbars, and gunpowder.
Blasting with gunpowder has come into vogue only within the last
twenty years. Formerly all the work was done by picks, and much better.
The picks extracted the turquoises entire. The gunpowder does more
work but breaks the stones into small pieces.
(6) The ‘ ‘ khdlcl ’ ’ mines. —These are diggings in the detritus and rubbish
collected at the foot of the above-mentioned mines, and the alluvial soil,
consisting of the detritus of rocks, and extending from the foot of the
mountain a mile or so into the plain.* The finest turquoises are at present
found in the khaki mines. In fact, good ring stones are at present only
obtainable from the khaki mines. Work here is carried on by promis
cuous diggings, without any system whatever. The earth is brought to
the surface,—sifted, and searched for turquoises ; the latter work being
generally done by the children. A fine turquoise, valued at Rs. 2,000, was
found in the khaki mines, and presented to the Shah.
(2) The salt mine is situated about 6 miles east ol the Ma’dan village,
near the little hamlet of Kara Quchi. The salt consists of an immense bed of
rock salt enclosed by gypsum and nummulitic limestone. The salt is verv
white and clear ; in many parts quite as transparent as glass.
(3) The lead mine lies about 6 miles south of the village of Ma’dan in the
Batau mountain. The lead occurs in irregular veins, striking N. 40° E.,
S. 40° W., in the slates underlying the limestones. The mine is not
an important one and has not been worked for many years ; in fact, not since
the accession of Nasir-ud-Din Shah. As soon as the news of Muhammad
Shah s decease reached Khorasan the ’Amarlu Kurds revolted and took
possession of the turquoise mines. The inhabitants of the Ma’dan village
fled to the Batau mountain, and worked the lead mine for a few months,
till order was restored and the Kurds left the turquoise mines. The mine
has since then been neglected.
(4) The millstone quarry lies about 4 miles south of the Ma’dan village,
on the northern slope of the Batau mountain. The stones are cut out of
a rough sandstone, lying under the sandstone of the nummulitic formation.
* Any one who wants to work in the IchcUci mines on his own account has to pay
the farmers 1 krdn a day for the privilege.— [Thomson.) ~
*