Early Malay tin mining
Panning (dulang washing), the simplest method of tin mining, was usually done in streams after heavy rains had washed the tin-bearing soil down from the hills.
As early as the 15th century, alluvial tin was readily accessible from many Malayan river valley floors. Employing simple methods, the part-time Malay miners produced sufficient tin for local use as well as for export. The demand for Malayan tin increased with the development of the tin plate industry in the West. As shallow deposits were exhausted, new methods of mining deeper, requiring more capital and labour, were devised. The Malays failed to adapt to the changes, instead allowing emigrant Chinese to overtake them in the industry.
- Information in the full article includes
- Primary tin mining
- Mining methods
- Traditional uses and trade of tin
- Modern uses and trade of tin