Correspondence, Printed Papers and Newspaper Cuttings Relating to the Persian Bank Mining Rights Corporation Ltd [‎225r] (488/586)

THE EMPIRE OF PBE 8 IA comprises an area of (586,000 square miles, and possesses
great undeveloped wealth. Ihe subjoined notes on the mines are taken from the recent
Reports ot Dr, EMIL Tietze and General A. HOUTUM SCHINDLEE.
The well-known book on Persia of Dr. Polak, published at Leipsic in 1865, contains passages
as to the mineral wealth of Persia, of which the following are translations :
Preface, page XIV., “ Its unbounded wealth in coal, iron and copper deposits only awaits exploration in order to
set on foot a mighty industry, for which the industrious character and aptitude of the labouring class seem to offer
every inducement.” Again, at page 174 (part 2), “ Scarcely any country of the earth can vie with Persia as to riches in
metals, especially copper. Nearly every district has its copper mine ; on the northern slope of the Elburz, near Teheran,
twenty such can be counted, and as many more in the environs of Kazvin.” At page 177, “ Lead is mined to such an
extent that the demand for it in the country is amply supplied and also a surplus left for export. The greater portion of
the lead ore is found near Kirman ; it is argentiferous.” “ Manganese, used in the manufacture of glass, is taken from
near Kirman.” At page 178, “ Coal, which partly lies exposed in vast seams, is not up to now mined, owing to want of
roads and the absence of demand for industrial purposes. The seam upon the northern slope of the Elburz, near Teheran,
appears already below Kazvin, at the village of If, then shows itself in the Laar Valley, especially in a hollow of the latter
called Divasia, and lastly makes itself visible near the small town of Ash, on the River Heras. Altogether the coal
formation is very abundantly represented.”
NOTES ON THE MINES.
IRON.—The iron mines near Teheran are very rich, the ore containing about 70 per cent, of metal, and are within
half-a-mile of extensive coal beds. The iron and coal occur in juxtaposition throughout the hills skirting the road from Teheran
to Kazvin (distance about 100 miles), and even considerably further west. A considerable amount of Persian iron ore contains
hardly any sulphur and no phosphorus.
COAL.—Besides the very extensive coalfields which exist in the north of Persia close to the iron mines, very fine
samples of coal—pronounced by experts to compare favourably with the finest European coal—have been obtained from the
Gisakim Hills, about 45 miles east of Bushire, at which place Welsh coal sells at an average price of 43s. 4d. per ton ! The
value therefore of these coalfields, which are said to stretch over a vast area, must be immense.
COPPER is the metal most employed in Persia, the natives making all their pots, pans, and other vessels with it.
Copper ore is very abundant and very rich ; even in 1875 some Persian blue copper ore was sold at the rate of 11 s. 8 HW.
per ton. Only a few copper mines have been worked, and that only to a small extent. Persia has no factories for rolling the
copper into plates, and a very great quantity of the latter are annually imported from Europe ; further, the smelting is so
imperfectly done that the copper is turned out very impure.
LEAL) is also very plentifully found in Persia, and the ore is rich in metal. Besides others, extensive lead mines
exist on the northern slopes of the Elburz Mountains, and within easy range of the Caspian ports ; this is exceedingly important,
as Russia requires considerably over 100,000 tons of lead per annum, and her own mines furnish her with less than one-sixteenth
of her requirements.
MANGANESE.—Very fine Manganese is obtained in the South of Persia, about 60 miles from Kerman.
BORAX.—Samples of crystals, which were examined by experts with the view of sending to ihe London market, weie
put at a very high figure ; it is found N.W. of Kerman.
ASBESTOS, which in Persia is of short but very good fibre, was only discovered there about four years ago; it is
also found near Kerman.
MERCURY.—Considerable quantities of Cinnabar may be found west of Zenjan (half way between Teheran and
Tabreez). Pure Mercury has also been observed trickling out of the basalt rocks in the same district.
PETROLEUM occurs at various places in Persia, notably near Schushter and near Bushire. A featuie
Persian Petroleum is that it is of small specific gravity, and does not therefore require (which the Baku peholeum oc,.
distillation before it can be used for lamps, &c.