Mineral resources of Georgia and Caucasia : manganese industry of Georgia

Introduction

THE Georgians are an ancient civilized race with three thousand years of existence, but in spite of that very little known, as Georgia since 1801 ceased to be an independent kingdom, was forcibly annexed by the Russian Empire in violation of the Treaty of 1783, and was never allowed to make herself known to the outside world.

GEOGRAPHY.— Georgia is situated in Transcaucasia, between the Black and the Caspian Seas (40°-49° northern latitude, and 39°-47° east of Greenwich). She is separated from the North Caucasus by the celebrated Caucasian mountain chain, which stretches for a distance of a thousand miles from the Black Sea to the Caspian, and has an average height of 10,000 feet and in some places, as in the peaks of the Elbruz and the Kasbek, even 18,000 feet.

Georgia comprises the following provinces and districts : Tiflis, Zakathal, Kutais, Sukhum, the northern part of the Black Sea Province towards Tuapse, Ardahan and Olti districts, provinces of Batum and Lazistan up to Trebizond. The total area of this territory is 43,000 square miles.

The frontiers of Georgia are : in the north, the Caucasian mountain chain ; in the east, Aderbeijan ; in the south, Armenia ; and in the south-west, Turkey.

Among the rivers the most prominent are : Kura, 310 miles long ; Ingur, 95 miles ; Rion, 140 miles ; Chorokb, 160 miles ; Terek, 210 miles.

The climate of Georgia is very similar to that of Italy and Spain. Under the protection of the Caucasian mountains and with plenty of moisture, there is a rich vegetation, and at a height of 4,000 feet there grow vast forests of oak, beech, chestnut, pines boxwood, etc.

All along the Black Sea shore orange and lemon trees are plentiful ; wonderful rhododendrons luxuriate up to a height of 9,400 feet and alpine grasses are met with even at 11,500 feet. On the high mountains there are still to be found bisons, wild goats, hogs, reindeer, antelopes, etc. There are also four hundred varieties of birds.

The climate and beautiful scenery make Georgia very attractive, the Riviera on the Black Sea.

POPULATION. — The total population of Georgia is about 4,000,000, of whom 3,650,000 are of the Christian Greek Orthodox faith and 350,000 Mohammedans.

The capital of Georgia is Tiflis, which was founded by the Georgian king, Vakhtang in the fifth century. The town has 450,000 inhabitants.

RAILWAYS AND PORTS. — The total length of railway lines in Georgia is 970 miles. The trunk line, leading from Batum through Tiflis to Baku on the Caspian Sea, is 556 miles long.

The coast line of Georgia along the Black Sea measures 345 miles. The principal ports are : Batum, Poti, Anaklia, Sukhum, Goudaut, and Rizeh.

The port of Batum is the terminus of the Transcaucasian railway line and also of the petroleum pipe-line from Baku to Batum. Batum is the transit port for the whole of Georgia, Transcaucasia, Turkestan and Persia.

AGRICULTURE. — The agricultural resources of Georgia are considerable. The following products are grown : wheat, barley, maize, cotton, rice, tobacco, tea, etc.

Wine is grown very extensively, and its quality is equal to the superior French and Italian varieties.

There is also fruit-growing on a large scale ; specially of oranges, lemons, olives, peaches, plums, pears, apples, and all kinds of vegetables.

Among other branches of agriculture silk production and bee-keeping are ancient occupations.

The country contains 'about 12,000,000 heads of domestic animals, and has vast possibilities for cattle-breeding.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY. — The principal ports for the foreign trade of Georgia are Batum and Poti.

From 1884 to 1914 the following products were exported to the countries of Western Europe from the port of Batum :

INTRODUCTION 1

Petroleum, 22,661,532 tons; manganese ore, 1,676,824 tons (the bulk of this ore was exported from the port of Poti) ; wool, 99,832 tons ; liquorice root, 369,563 tons ; grains, 406,265 tons ; silk cocoons, 23,451 tons ; oil cake, 76,100 tons ; tobacco, 2,769 tons ; albumen, 7,520 tons ; hides, 5,363 tons ; lucerne seed, 9,460 tons ; salt, 3,650 tons ; almonds, 5,692 tons ; cotton seed, 40,661 tons ; walnut logs and boxwood, 65,053 tons ; carpets, 23,800 tons ; other articles, 331,998 tons.

During the same period the following articles were imported from Western Europe into the port of Batum :

Tin plate, 526,605 tons ; timber, 650,118 tons ; bricks and tiles, 113,539 tons ; sulphur, 52,857 tons ; metals, 106,537 tons ; machinery, 45,315 tons ; chemicals, 30,392 tons ; silkworm eggs, 55 tons ; hardware, 58,518 tons ; cement, 19,215 tons ; tea, 14,986 tons ; other articles, 195,066 tons.

From 1884 to 1900, 75 per cent, of both the export and import trades of this port were controlled by Great Britain, but she was overtaken by Germany, who for the last ten years before the war controlled 65 per cent., Great Britain only participating with 7 per cent., the other countries being Austro- Hungary, France, Italy and Turkey.

The returns of shipping of all nationalities which entered and cleared in the foreign trade of the port of Batum from 1893 to 1914 are :

Ve^b.

Tonnage.

British

4,287

7,362,320

Russian

7,376

4,487,480

French

2,002

3,324,480

Auatro-Hungarian

1,914

2,271,220

German

1,074

1,760,250

Greek

2,272

1,225,345

Belgian

1,145,390

Italian . .

604,720

Norwegian

158,800

Dutch

146,600

Danish

143,540

The traffic of the port of Batum is therefore considerable. It must also be noted that for the ten pre-war years the bulk

8 MINERAL BE SOURCES OF GEORGIA AND CAUCASIA

of the German trade with this port was carried in British bottoms.

The returns of the shipping of all nationalities which entered and cleared in the foreign trade of the port of Poti (during the same period) are :

Vessels.

Tonnage.

British

1,382

2,400,800

Austro-Hungarian

420,000

German

240,820

French

230,470

Greek

190,830

Dutch

96,300

Italian

94,400

Norwegian

93,820

Belgian

50,120

Spanish

20,300

This shipping was exclusively devoted to the export of manganese ore.

The industry of Georgia is very small at present, with the exception of that of manganese, petroleum, and copper smelters — one of which belongs to the Caucasus Copper Co., Ltd. (British property) ; but there are vast opportunities for building up a huge industry, as raw materials are available in abundance.

EDUCATION. — The seat of the Georgian University is Tiflis : it has 35 professors and 1,000 students. There are also two Colleges of the Nobility, one in Tiflis and another in Kutais ; two Theological Colleges, 25 Grammar Schools, 3,000 so-called People's Schools, 15 Agricultural Schools, 18 Technical Schools, and 28 Ladies' Needlework and Carpet-weaving Schools. A considerable number of students receive education annually at the universities and colleges in France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

LITERATURE AND THE PRESS. — Georgia possesses a very rich ancient and modern literature, and there are translations of the modern classics of all countries. Nearly all of Shakespeare's dramas are translated into Georgian. There are about twenty-four daily papers and weeklies, and about three hundred and fifty books are published every year in half -million copies. Ninety

INTRODUCTION 9

per cent, of the total population of Georgia can read and write, and the many schools and libraries satisfy the eagerness of the people for education.

CHURCH. — The Georgian Church is one of the ancient Eastern Christian Churches of the world. It is second to the Greek Orthodox Church in antiquity. The head of the Church is the Catholikos-Patriarch, who is elected by the entire nation. The present Catholikos-Patriarch is His Holiness Leonide. The hierarchy includes three Metropolitans — the first of Tiflis, the second of Kutais, the third of Chkondidi — and twelve Bishops. The Georgian Church is independent from the State and its funds and properties are administered by the Laymen's Committee, and the clergy is elected by the parishes.

SOCIETIES. — The capital of Georgia — Tiflis — is the educational, literary, commercial, and social centre of the country. Many Georgian Societies have their head offices in that city, the most important ones amongst them being : the Georgian Literary Society, with 35 branches and 20,000 members, this Society being chiefly engaged in distributing popular literature amongst the peasants and in establishing schools ; the Georgian Charitable Society, with 24 branches, was started in 1914 in connection with the war, and has done great work in helping the families of the soldiers and the poor in general ; the Georgian Agricultural Society ; Georgian Historical and Ethnographical Society ; Georgian Geographical Society ; Georgian Journalists' Society ; Georgian Teachers' Society ; Georgian Artists' Society ; Georgian Technical Society ; Georgian Mining Engineers' Society ; Georgian Pharmaceutical Society ; Georgian Medical and Naturalist Society, etc.

There are also various Co-operative Unions ; the co-operative movement is very strong in the country. There are about four hundred co-operative societies — 85 per cent, of the Georgian peasantry are organized co-operators.

CONSTITUTION OF GEORGIA.— Georgia has been an Independent Republic since November 22, 1917. At the head of it is an elected President, and Cabinet Ministers are elected from among the Members of Parliament. The seat of Parliament is Tiflis.

ARMY. — The Georgian Voluntary Army has a force of 40,000 men, comprising all arms, and a fine corps of officers and

10 MINERAL RESOUECES OF GEORGIA AND CAUCASIA

experienced generals, amongst them 120 staff officers ; one staff college, and two Military Schools for officers.

POLITICAL LIFE. — The different political parties are : the National Democratic, Radical, National Socialistic, and Social Democratic. All parties are strongly democratic in their attitude and the population takes a lively interest in their conduct. The election system is based on the broadest franchise for both men and women.

Contents

INTRODUCTION GEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION

Part I Metals

1. Iron . >

2. Manganese

4. Silver — Lead and Zinc

5. Gold

6. Mercury

7. Molybdenum

8. Cobalt and Nickel

9. Antimony !. 10. Iron Pyrites

Part II Non-metals

2. Petroleum

3. Asphalt ....

4. Natural Gas

6. Salt

7. Portland Cement

8. Refractory and Building Materials

9. Onyx Marble .

10. Infusorial Earth

11. Baryta . . .

12. Asbestos

13. Lithographic Stone

14. Pumice Stone .

15. Soapstone

17. Graphite

Distribution ....

Labour .....

Participation of Foreign Capital

56 58 63 65 66 68

70 71

12 MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA AND CAUCASIA PART III

PAGE

PART V Its Development and World Importance . . . 131

1. The Ore Deposits . . . . .132

3. Dressing and Washing of the Ore . . .136

6. Export Trade . . . . . .147

7. Foreign Competition with Georgian Manganese . 161

8. Association of Georgian Manganese Producers . 173

9. Participation of Foreign Capital . . . 175

10. Outlook for the Production of Ferro-Manganese in

11. Prospects of the Manganese Industry . . 181

ILLUSTRATIONS

TO FACE PAQH

MAP 13

FRONTIER STATION, LARS, ON THE GEORGIAN MILITARY ROAD

STATION AND MT. KASHEK (16,346 FT.) . . . .64

GLACIER DEVDORAK (GEORGIA) . . . . .80

T8IKHIS ZIRI (NR. BATUM, GEORGIA) . . . .112

DARIAL PASS AND TEREK RIVER (GEORGIA) . . . 128

MILITARY ROAD, NR. SUKHUM (GEORGIA) . . . 144

OIL WELL IN BAKU ...... 160

CUSTOM-HOUSE IN BATUM (GEORGIA) .... 176

SUKHUM:

=k KUTA1S

POTI

BATUM]

FM

TURKEY

K

MAP

OF TH t

MINERAL RESOURCES

O F

REFERENCE.

F

IRON iK

COAL

M

MANGANLSE

u

PETROLEUM

C

A

ASPHALT

P j&ILVER-LELAD

S SULPHUR j

Z ZINC

D

DIATOMITL

G

GOLD

B

BARYTA

H

MERCURY

L

LITHOGR. STONE

COBALT

U

PUMICE

T I

ANTIMONY IRON PYRITES

R GRAPHITE

W'MINERAL SPRINGS

C A 3 P I A N

SEA

ZAVETPOL

GEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION

THE Caucasian mountain chain extends from the Sea of Azoff in a straight and uninterrupted line to the Apcheron Peninsula on the Caspian Sea in the direction W.N.W. to E.S.E. and has a length of about 1,000 miles.

Its western part mostly forms a single chain, while the eastern half expands in places into three or four parallel ridges and forms the mountainous region of the Daghestan.

Geologically the land between the two seas belongs to the tertiary and upper secondary orders, and was at an epoch after the deposit of the former pushed upwards by some gigantic subterraneous pressure and broken through by the igneous matter which now forms the axis and crest of the main chain, in the shape of crystalline rocks, granite, gneiss, porphyry, diorite, trachytes, etc.

This intrusion left the originally horizontal strata in a nearly vertical position, with outcrops on both sides of, and parallel with, the main ridge, their tops slightly inclined towards the south. This inclination explains why the mountains forming the main chain are generally steep on the south side, while their northern slopes cover a large area.

At a later epoch a second similar disturbance lifted the land south of the main chain, where the Lesser Caucasus was formed, also with the intrusion of the granite, porphyry, basalt, etc. which we now find in the Pontic Ridge and towards Erivan. The upright position and the direction of the strata are approximately the same as in the main chain.

Considering that all these strata were originally more or less horizontal and formed part of the bottom of a sea which then covered most of Europe, and from which the Caspian was cut off by these upheavals, it will readily be understood how fossils and minerals of undoubted marine origin are to-day found on many mountain-tops.

At the same time the age of the original strata, as shown by their fossils, proves that the two great earth movements must have taken place in the tertiary period, that is to say, at a comparatively late date of the earth's history, so that these mountains may be called young and have not yet been destroyed or considerably altered by the inevitable erosion.

As to the formations which to-day constitute the surface of the Caucasus, it must be mentioned in the first instance that the main ridge formed at the Jurassic epoch a barrier between two sea basins of quite different nature. The tertiary deposits from these waters therefore also vary considerably, according to their position north or south of the main chain.

The lower Lias, which represents the oldest bedded formations in the Caucasus and is not found anywhere else in South-eastern Europe, exists here on both slopes and in contact with the central intrusive rocks.

In the northern Caucasus it is found in the shape of schists and limestones containing vegetable imprints and the characteristic marine fossils. The latter are missing on the south side of the ridge, but the vegetable traces remain, and lead in several places to underlying coal measures.

The Oolitic system is represented on both sides of the main chain by exclusively marine formations, which, however, are not yet sufficiently explored in the central and western parts. But in the Daghestan the formation appears as a powerful series of black schists containing the characteristic fossils, and as ferruginous limestones and marls very rich in remains of a great number of animal forms, specially ammonites.

North of the central massif of the main chain the Oolitic formation crops up as sandstone covered by dolomitic limestone and tertiary sediments, while south of it in Georgia, near Kutais, limestone and marls with corals appear.

The Cretaceous formation shows important outcrops on both slopes in the shape of Senonian grey and white limestones, which

GEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION 15

are largely represented in the Daghestan to a thickness of about 1,000 metres.

Eocene nummulitic limestone and calcareous sandstone are widely known on the south slopes and contain numerous nummulites and other fossils ; specially in Georgia along the Rion River this formation is well developed. But on the north side of the main chain the nummulites are entirely missing in the corresponding strata.

During the glacial period which followed the described formations the Caucasus was also covered with ice, and while the gigantic ice-sheets which had crept down from Scandinavia and covered the whole of Northern Europe to the Urals did not quite reach the Caucasian chain, the great height of the latter favoured the formation of glaciers, which radiated in all directions, covering mountains and lowlands alike, and joined in the south those descending from Mount Ararat. This period of extreme cold left its indications in numerous moraines found all over the country, and in many places on rocks marked and polished by the grinding action of the ice.

Besides the two principal earth movements which produced the main chain and the Lesser Caucasus, which run practically from east to west, later disturbances must have effected a transversal pressure and undulatory movements, resulting in depressions and elevations. A depression occurred in the basin of the Sea of Azoff , severing the Caucasus from the Carpathians, of which it was originally the continuation, while an elevation produced the Suram Ridge, running north to south, which forms a connection between the main and the Lesser Caucasus and divides eastern and western Georgia.

This ridge constitutes to-day the watershed between the Black and the Caspian Seas, cutting the territory south of the main chain into two principal valleys, one of the Kura River, which falls into the Caspian, and the other of the Rion River, which is much shorter and forms a basin open towards the Black Sea.

Similar conditions prevail in the northern Caucasus, where one of the two principal rivers, the Kuban, flows into the Sea of Azoff, and the other, the Terek, into the Caspian, both taking their sources in the central mountain stocks.

The present orographic aspect of the country is due to yet two further factors which acted upon it in recent geological times, the first one being constituted by the intrusion of eruptive rocks, which occurred independently in many places on a smaller scale. Granite and porphyry in the Erivan district have already been mentioned, while in the Daghestan mountains diabase and melaphyres are more common.

These igneous intrusions often include or are accompanied by metalliferous deposits or veins, and are therefore of the highest importance ; their frequency is, in fact, the principal cause of the richness of the country in certain minerals.

Rather remarkable intrusions in the shape of two dykes of rhyolite exist in the northern Caucasus. The principal one forms the Beshtau mountain, which reaches up to 4,200 feet above sea-level, and the Kuma mountain, which stands almost vertically like a needle to a height of 350 feet above the plain, proof that at least this thickness of tertiary deposits has been washed away. These dykes are not accompanied by any metallic deposits, but their presence is undoubtedly connected with the many mineral sources which spring up around them.

The second factor which to a certain degree influenced the present aspect of the country are the numerous volcanoes which were yet active after the great movements had taken place and whose craters are still unmistakable, principally in the eastern main chain and the Erivan district.

To-day they are extinct, and the only manifestation of seismic action are the so-called mud volcanoes, which are specially numerous in the Caucasus. They are small hills from which a dark, somewhat saline mud flows in a more or less continuous manner, driven out by subterranean gases which escape in bubbles bursting on the surface.

These flows exist mostly near both ends of the main Caucasian chain, on the Taman and Kertch Peninsulas and near Baku. The latter have in the course of time formed quite considerable hills, one of them being over 1,250 feet high. The mud is in places saturated with combustible gas and also naphtha. This flow is situated at some distance from Baku and near the sea, which itself is also often agitated by subterranean gases which eject mud and stones. In view of the volcanic nature of the Apcheron Peninsula this is not surprising.

In the Taman region the flows of mud vary considerably and have occasionally volcanic force.

GEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION 17

Similar muds, half liquid and more or less saturated with gases and of various temperatures, are also found in many other places, forming ponds without movement or apparent inlet or outlet.

Volcanic action of another kind is yet visible at the extinct volcano of Demavend, Daghestan, which appears to-day as a solfatara. It is 14,000 feet high and snow-topped, while all round it small cones have been formed from which sulphurous fumes escape.

As further secondary manifestations of volcanic activity occurring to-day in the Caucasus there are to be mentioned the numerous hot mineral sources and gaseous emanations, described in Part III, and also the frequent earthquakes.

The following descriptions of mines and mineral deposits do not claim to be a complete enumeration of all the occurrences of ores and other useful minerals existing in Georgia and the Caucasus, principally because a systematic geological survey of the country has not yet been made, in consequence of the absolute neglect by the Russian Government. The only serious investigations have been carried out by English, German, French, and Georgian geologists and engineers, who, however, mostly examined only certain mines or separate districts. Much has to be done yet to produce a complete and detailed Geological Survey of this country abounding in mineral riches.

Part I Metals

1. IRON.

THE Caucasus contains several deposits of excellent iron ores, but it has so far been impossible to smelt them in the country, on account of the absence or inadequacy of the necessary fuel, and their export has been hindered by the difficulties and the cost of transport. The application of naphtha residues, which are the only carbonaceous material really available in quantities in the country, has apparently never been tried yet for the reduction of ores, but might be of use in connection with the electric furnace.

As they are not of immediate use, most of these deposits have not been closely examined, and in many instances only the outcrops are known. The total quantity of ore contained in them is estimated at about 13,000,000 tons, as far as ascertained until now. This ore would contain about 7,000,000 tons of metallic iron.

The only deposit where a regular, though very small, exploitation is kept going occurs at Khamuli, in the Province of Kutais (Georgia). Ore has also been extracted at Ubissi and Shrosha in the same district.

Hematite ore is found at Tchatakh, S.W. of Tiflis (Georgia), in a mass of porphyry of 72 feet thickness. The ore is disseminated in it in irregular proportions, the central part containing from 23 to 65 per cent, metallic iron.

A considerable outcrop having a length of 600 to 700 yards ia visible along the River Bzibi, north of Sukhum, Georgia. It consists of brown hematite of good quality, produced probably by the oxidation of iron pyrites, a bed of which continues into the Apshri mountain.

In the south-western part of the country there are several good outcrops, as for instance near Artvin (Georgia), where rich red hematite is found in Senonian limestone, the samples from it containing from 50 to 63 per cent, of metallic iron.

Similar hematite exists also at Nadarbazar, and two deposits of it crop out near Batchinsk, at the contact of limestone and melaphyres ; this ore body is of eruptive origin.

In the northern Caucasus, in the Maikop district, there are several deposits of red hematite and magnetite, but they have never been properly investigated, although samples taken from the outcrops proved to be of remarkably high tenour, the hematite running up to 65' 6 per cent, of metallic iron and the magnetite even to 70' 91 per cent. This ore seems therefore to be purer than that produced in the Donetz Basin and will undoubtedly in. time be exploited.

Another rather famous deposit of iron ore occurs in the Terek Province, near the old fortress of Vedenoff. It was used by the celebrated Shamil for the manufacture of cannons, although the quality is not very good, analyses of samples having given the following results :

Per cent.

Iron oxide 41-73

Alumina 15-26

Manganous oxide . . . . . . . . 0-87

Loss on calcination 9-14

98-41

Near Lenkoran, on the Caspian Sea, there are also large deposits of sands mixed with chrome iron and magnetite, but not rich enough for treatment.

Similar magnetic-iron sands cover also part of the shore near Poti, on the Black Sea (Georgia).

In the Province of Elizabetpol, near Dashkesan, another large deposit occurs. The ore body consists of magnetite at the contact of diorite and limestone and has a thickness varying between a few feet and 20 yards. It is estimated to contain 2,000,000 tons, averaging 60 per cent, of metal, and running in parts up to 65 per cent, but no work has been done on it.

The quantities of ore extracted in the whole Caucasus during recent years were :

Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Ton».

572 656 924 357 532

This ore was used locally, mostly for making paints, but there is no doubt that means will be found to exploit on a commercial scale specially the Georgian deposits, which contain the bulk of the ore and are easier of access and near the sea.

2. MANGANESE.

Manganese ore is one of the three most important mineral products existing in Georgia, the other two being oil and copper. The largest and world-known deposits of this ore occur in the valleys of the Kvirila River and its affluents in the Province of Kutais, Georgia, and cover an area of 400 square miles. The available ore is estimated at 200,000,000 tons.

This deposit and the industry springing from it have been separately and exhaustively dealt with in my paper on " The Georgian Manganese Industry and its World Importance," forming Part V of the present book, and the following description therefore only refers to the other occurrences of manganese ore in Georgia, which are, however, not exploited.

The most important of these deposits exists near Akstafa (Georgia), whence samples of exceedingly rich pyrolusite have been forthcoming, containing up to 95 per cent, of manganese peroxide (60 per cent, manganese metal) and only from 0*027 to 0-035 per cent, of phosphorus. The geological formation is similar to that of Tchiaturi, the ore existing in horizontal beds interstratified with sand, which continue at the same level through three adjacent hills, the gullies between them having been caused by erosion. This deposit has not been further explored, but is worthy of attention in view of the quality of its ore and its favourable position only a few miles from the main line of the Transcaucasian Railway.

In the Tchorokh Valley (Georgia), manganese ore occurs in another interesting deposit near Kartla, on the left bank of the river and not far from it and the highroad, at about 35 miles from Batum. The ore is pyrolusite of good texture and not very friable. It exists in three layers having a total thickness of about 3 yards. The beds are horizontal and their natural outcrops make extraction easy, no expensive or complicated operations being required. Assays of samples gave 53' 60 and 64' 40 per cent, of manganese metal, from 0'07 to 0'09 per cent, of phosphorus, and from 6' 10 to 8' 52 per cent, of silica, without other objectionable elements, so that the ore seems of superior quality. An Anglo-French syndicate took an interest in this deposit some years ago, but only exploration work has so far been done in it, and the exploitation of this and other mineral occurrences in the Tchorokh Valley depends probably on the building of the projected railway through it.

Manganese ore also crops out in the valley of the Itchkhala River (Georgia), a tributary of the Tchorokh from the western side, about 20 miles from Batum. The ore is also pyrolusite, in places mixed with iron ore and containing up to 27 per cent, of iron. Only superficial exploration work has been done.

Other highly interesting deposits occur also in Georgian Lazistan, near the sea coast S.W. of Batum. This district forms the continuation of the mineralized zone of the Tchorokh Valley across the Hemshin mountain range, and most of the valleys running from the latter northwards to the sea between Rizeh and Surmeneh contain some minerals, as manganese, iron, copper or zinc.

In the Kara-dereh Valley, near Surmeneh, large occurrences of manganese ore have been traced over a distance of about 6 miles along lihe mountain-side. The outcrops, where exposed, have a width of from 4 to 10 feet and consist of high-grade pyrolusite. The nearest point of the deposit is only about 2 miles from the sea.

Similar formations exist in the Treeboli Valley. The outcrop stands out prominently and has a thickness of about 12 feet ; the lode strikes E.-W. with a dip to the N.W., and is composed of limestone showing nodules and heavy impregnations of manganese ore. The centre of the lode carries a vein of good ore, samples of which contained 49' 66 per cent.

of manganese metal. This outcrop is about 6 miles from the sea and easily accessible.

Other deposits of the same nature occur at Gooshak, where the quantity of available ore is estimated at 1,000,000 tons ; at Dharluk, 2 miles from the coast, where at least five beds of rich ore are exposed ; at Sharadek, Khraklabek-tcha, Badaheltree and Govanyak, all lying in the same district and within a few miles from the sea, where loading stages can easily be built. Water is available in every valley for washing and concentrating the ore, if necessary, and the transport to the loading places would only require short tram-lines. The cost of the ore delivered on board ship would therefore be very low.

The following analyses show the excellent quality of the ores found in this region :